People Watching ★ 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐒𝐮𝐧

21: Snacks, Secrets, and Sweet Fears

Hanna leaned in, excitement glimmering in her eyes as she surveyed her two friends. "Okay, let's make this fun! Sunoo, you start! What's your biggest fear?"

Sunoo hesitated, suddenly feeling the weight of the question like a stone in his gut. The playful banter shifted into something more serious, and he found himself thinking about his truth. He had expected silly fears about spiders or public speaking, not this. "Uh, probably... love," he finally admitted, his voice quieter than intended, the confession slipping out before he could reel it back in.

Sunghoon's eyebrows shot up in surprise, clearly taken aback. "Love? Really? You'd rather jump off a cliff than fall in love?" he asked, a teasing grin playing on his lips.

Sunoo nodded vigorously, determined to sell the absurdity of his fear. "Exactly! I mean, jumping off a cliff has a clear outcome. You know you're either going to hit the water or the rocks. Love, on the other hand? It's like asking to be shot out of a cannon without a safety net! One moment you're soaring through the air, and the next, you're plummeting to your doom."

Sunghoon chuckled, shaking his head. "I'd say you need a safety net for that fear, Or at least a good parachute."

Hanna, sensing the mood shift, interjected with a bright smile, "Alright, moving on! Sunghoon, who do you think is dating? You must have some theories!"

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, glancing between Sunoo and Hanna with a mix of curiosity and mischief. "You two?"

Sunoo's heart raced as if he'd just been caught in an embarrassing moment. "What? No! We're just friends!" he blurted out, trying to dismiss the notion as quickly as possible, a heat creeping up his neck.

Sunghoon's chuckle was warm, but there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes—a hint of curiosity or maybe even hope. "Sure. Just friends," he replied, his tone teasing but with an undertone that made Sunoo's stomach twist uncomfortably.

"Yeah, I mean, who would date him?" Hanna added panicking, nudging Sunoo.

"Exactly! Who would date a potato-head?" Sunghoon joked back, laughter escaping him like an uncontrollable wave, while Sunoo tried not to picture what it would be like to date him. The image was both thrilling and terrifying.

Sunoo's stomach did a flip. The thought lingered a little too long, igniting a mixture of excitement and dread. "I mean, it's hard to be in a relationship when your biggest fear is love," he muttered, mostly to himself, but it hung in the air like a confession waiting to be acknowledged.

"Love isn't so scary!" Hanna chimed in, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "It can be exciting! Like a roller coaster!"

"More like a dizzying ride I'm not ready for," Sunoo mumbled, avoiding eye contact with Sunghoon. He could feel the weight of his earlier admission settling between them, but Sunghoon seemed to enjoy the moment too much to let it go.

"C'mon! You're telling me you've never had a crush?" Sunghoon asked, leaning in with a devilish smile.

Sunoo hesitated, the truth tangled in his throat. "I... I might have had one or two," he admitted, "but they never end well." He shot a wary glance at Sunghoon,

Sunoo found himself smiling more than he expected, the laughter between them almost intoxicating. Sunghoon's laughter was like music, and Sunoo couldn't help but feel drawn in.

The conversation took on a life of its own, weaving between ridiculous hypothetical scenarios and over-the-top dramatic declarations. Sunoo felt exhilarated, caught in the moment. The library around them faded into the background as he and Sunghoon exchanged knowing looks, their playful rivalry evolving into something that made Sunoo's heart skip a beat.

At one point, Hanna suggested, "Okay, let's up the stakes! Next round, if you answer a question wrong, you have to eat a whole pack of those sour gummies!" She pointed to a bright green bag on the table, its contents glowing like a warning.

Sunghoon shot her a mock look of horror. "Are you trying to kill us with sugar?"

"Yes! But also... no!" Hanna laughed. "I just think it would be hilarious."

Sunoo leaned back in his chair, a smirk creeping onto his face. "Okay, okay, I'll go easy on you guys—let's say, instead of eating, you can just wear a silly hat for an hour if you lose."

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, clearly considering it. "How about we make it interesting and add some dance moves to that? If you lose, you have to show us your best dance."

"I will not be doing the chicken dance in the library," Sunoo shot back, laughter bubbling in his chest. "That's against all library rules!"

"Then you better answer correctly!" Sunghoon grinned, a sparkle in his eye that sent a thrill through Sunoo.

As the game progressed, they began to loosen up, teasing and laughing until the librarian shot them a disapproving glare. The energy in the room shifted again as Hanna nudged Sunoo. "Alright, Sunoo! Tell us something we don't know about you."

Sunoo thought for a moment, then said, "I once tried to cook a fancy dinner for my family and ended up setting off the smoke alarm. Now I stick to chips."

"Good plan," Sunghoon replied, chuckling. "But if you ever want a cooking partner, I'm here. I'm quite good in the kitchen. I promise I won't burn anything." He winked, and Sunoo felt a rush of warmth.

"Great! If I ever need a fireman, I'll call you!" Sunoo shot back, trying to keep his composure, but inside, he was a whirlwind of emotion. Sunghoon was so effortlessly charming, and every word felt like a spark igniting something deeper.

Hanna watched their exchange with an amused expression, clearly noticing the chemistry building between them. "Alright, who's next? Sunghoon? What's your biggest fear?" she asked, a playful grin on her face.

Sunghoon paused, the playful atmosphere shifting slightly. "Me? I'd say... being close to someone," he finally admitted, surprising both of them.

Sunoo's heart dropped at the honesty in his voice. "Like, close as in friends?" he asked, trying to keep the conversation light, but he could sense there was more behind Sunghoon's words.

"More like... relationships," Sunghoon replied, running a hand through his hair, a hint of vulnerability flashing across his face. "I like keeping my distance. It's safer that way."

Sunoo felt a pang of empathy. He understood that fear all too well. "I get that. Love can be scary," he murmured, feeling the air around them thicken with shared understanding.

Hanna, sensing the moment, quickly interjected with a bright smile, "Okay! Let's change the subject before we all start crying! What's your most embarrassing moment, Sunghoon?"

Sunghoon laughed, relief washing over his features as he launched into a story about a time he tripped during a school presentation, sending his notes flying everywhere. The laughter that followed filled the library, lightening the mood once more.

As they finished up their snacks, the earlier tension had shifted into something playful and light. Sunoo realized that perhaps helping Hanna wasn't the only goal here. He was slowly finding himself drawn to Sunghoon in ways he hadn't anticipated, despite their banter and Sunghoon's walls.

For now, the matchmaking plan was in motion, and the sparks flying between him and Sunghoon felt like a secret he was both terrified and thrilled to keep.