𝗔𝘀𝗵𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 [ Heesun ] 「 18+」

chapter 20

In the cozy warmth of the drawing room, the soft amber light of the evening bathed the walls, casting shadows that danced with the glow of an arc lamp. The air was filled with a serene silence, broken only by the gentle hum of the fish tank.

The glass enclosure stood in the corner, a world of its own, glowing with hues of aquamarine and sapphire. Inside, a kaleidoscope of life swirled-fishes of all colors, shapes, and sizes, gliding through the water as if their small, confined space was endless.

A vibrant red betta drifted lazily, its fins billowing like delicate silk in the water, while a school of neon tetras darted around it, flashes of electric blue and silver catching the light. Beneath them, a pearly angelfish, with a body as smooth as glass, moved gracefully among the corals, its long, flowing fins cutting through the water with a slow, majestic rhythm. They swam in circles, in figure eights, weaving through plastic plants that imitated the wildness of an ocean they would never know.

For these creatures, the tank was their entire world-an illusion of boundless freedom, unaware of the glass boundaries that shaped their existence. They lived as though nothing existed beyond the shimmering walls, as though this was all they'd ever need.

Heeseung watched from the couch, his eyes following the movements of the fish, lost in thought. His gaze shifted to Sunoo, who stood beside the tank, sprinkling flakes of food onto the water's surface. The fish eagerly rose to meet it, their mouths opening and closing in rhythmic anticipation. Sunoo's fingers were delicate, his expression soft, but a faint melancholy lingered in his eyes, reflected in the shimmering glass.

Heeseung could see it, the way Sunoo's gaze traced the same patterns the fish swam, lost in thoughts too deep to voice. The room around them felt so intimate, yet the quiet distance between them was as vast as the ocean that should've belonged to those fish. Sunoo seemed entranced by the scene before him, his heart perhaps echoing the silent question;

was this small world enough?

"I wonder..." A voice broke through Heeseung's reverie, and his attention snapped back to the girl seated in front of him. She was smiling sweetly, a smile so pure it made his chest feel tight, though he couldn't tear his eyes away-just as Sunoo couldn't look away from the fish tank.

"I wonder if we could go somewhere after exams. It's been a hell week, don't you think so, Hee?" Danyi asked softly, her voice so pleasant to the ears, so sweet and beautiful, her head tilted adorably to the side, her hair cascading like a waterfall.

Pretty.

Heeseung thought, smiling gently before nodding in agreement. Her face lit up, her eyes curving into crescent moons, but it only reminded Heeseung of his best friend's smile instead.

"Sounds like a plan. It'll be a good break before the new semester starts."

Danyi then turned toward her brother, who was gently tracing his fingers along the outside of the fish tank, following the path of a bright pink betta. The cool blue light reflected off the water, casting a soft glow across Sunoo's face, contrasting with the warmth of his amber eyes.

"What do you think, Sunoo? It'll be fun, right?"

But no response came. Instead, Sunoo offered a distant smile before quietly excusing himself, likely retreating to his room, leaving Danyi and Heeseung watching him as he walked away.

Heeseung said nothing, though a strange bitterness lingered in the air. Sunoo had always been like this-always walking away, giving them space ever since Heeseung had confessed his feelings for Danyi. Deep down, Heeseung knew that Sunoo had known for a long time, though he'd reacted with surprise and excitement at the time.