Unspoken | park sunghoon ✓

𝟐𝟎. (the one where they forget the candles.)

☂︎

SOME TIME had passed since the sports class incident and sarim couldn't stop thinking about the way sunghoon gently hugged her.

The classroom buzzed with chatter as Ms. Choi entered, her usual enthusiasm lighting up the room. "Alright, class! Listen up! I have an exciting announcement to make!"

Sarim looked up from her notebook, curiosity piqued. Shuhua, sitting next to her, nudged her arm eagerly. "What do you think it is?"

"I-I don't know," Sarim replied, her heart racing a little. She always felt a flutter of anxiety during these moments, but Shuhua's excitement was infectious.

"Every year, we hold a special event, and this year, it's going to be bigger than ever! We're having a Winter Wonderland Festival!" Ms. Choi exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

The classroom erupted in cheers and applause, students exchanging excited glances and whispering about the decorations, treats, and activities they could expect. Sarim felt a mix of excitement and anxiety wash over her.

"Here's the best part," Ms. Choi continued, raising her voice to quell the noise. "You'll be working in pairs, and I've assigned the teams to help organize different parts of the festival. It's always a boy and a girl."

Sarim's stomach dropped at the thought of pairing up with a boy. Her thoughts raced, and she looked down at her notebook, doodling absentmindedly as Ms. Choi began announcing the pairs.

"Shuhua and Sunoo will be in charge of baking cookies and treats," Ms. Choi announced, and Shuhua squealed with delight. "I can't wait to make cookies!"

Sarim smiled at her friend's enthusiasm but felt a knot in her stomach as Ms. Choi continued.

"Now, Sarim and Sunghoon will handle the decorations together."

Her heart skipped a beat, and she risked a glance at Sunghoon, who was sitting a few rows back. He caught her eye and offered a warm smile that made her heart flutter. Why is he always so relaxed? She felt the heat rise to her cheeks, quickly looking down to hide her embarrassment.

"Are you ready to have some fun?" Shuhua whispered excitedly, elbowing Sarim as they packed up their things.

Sarim nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "Yeah... I guess."

"Come on! You guys will do great together," Shuhua said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Sarim wasn't nervous at all anymore, she was looking forward to the day of the festival. She wanted to spend time with Sunghoon and Shuhua and have fun.

The week flew by in a whirlwind of preparations. Sarim and Sunghoon spent hours after school decorating the gym, hanging lights and arranging colorful Christmas decorations. Sunghoon's casual confidence put her at ease, and she found herself laughing more than she expected.

"Pass me that box over there, Sarim-ah?" Sunghoon called, pointing to a large cardboard box filled with decorations.

"Oh - Uh sure," Sarim replied, stretching to reach it from the top of a ladder. As she handed it to him, their fingers brushed lightly, and a jolt of electricity shot through her. She quickly pulled her hand back, trying to hide her surprise.

"You okay?" Sunghoon asked, tilting his head slightly, a playful smile dancing on his lips.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine," Sarim stammered, unable to meet his gaze.

Sunghoon chuckled softly, and Sarim felt her heart race. She was so grateful he was her partner. He made everything easier, even if it meant being near him.

As they worked together, the atmosphere in the gym transformed. Twinkling lights adorned the walls, and red and green  banners hung from the ceiling, creating a cozy vibe. Sarim found herself enjoying the process, laughing at Sunghoon's jokes and forgetting about her nerves.

By the end of the week, they had created a magical winter wonderland filled with festive cheer. Sarim felt proud of their hard work, but the thought of the festival looming closer made her anxious again.

Finally, the day of the Winter Wonderland Festival arrived. The gym was alive with laughter and excitement, the air filled with the sweet scent of baked goods. Sarim stood near the entrance, taking it all in as students and teachers admired the decorations.

"Look at all the lights!" Shuhua exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement as she took in the transformed space.

"It looks amazing," Sarim replied, her heart swelling with pride.

Just then, Sunghoon appeared beside her, hands in his pockets, looking as casual as ever. "Are you ready for this?" he asked, a grin spreading across his face.

Sarim nodded, trying to hide her nervousness. "Y-Yeah"

"You'll do great." His enthusiasm was contagious, and she couldn't help but smile back at him, feeling a flicker of warmth inside.

As they mingled with the other students, Sarim caught sight of Sunoo and Shuhua, who were busy at their cookie station, frosting cookies with bright colors and sprinkles. The cheerful chaos around her was comforting, and for a moment, she felt at ease.

"Hey, do you want to take a break for a bit?" Sunghoon suddenly asked.

Sarim looked up at him, feeling a flutter of nerves. "U-Um, sure," she replied, her voice shy yet intrigued. "What do you have in mind?"

"How about we grab something from the Cookie stand?" he suggested, his eyes bright with enthusiasm.

"Okay, that sounds nice," she said, a small smile breaking through her shyness as they walked side by side.

As they made their way to the Cookie stand, they spotted Sunoo and Shuhua chatting nearby, laughing together. Sunoo nudged Shuhua and pointed in their direction, grinning. "Look who's here!"

Sunghoon brushed off the teasing with a light laugh, focusing on Sarim. Once they reached the stand, he ordered their drinks, then turned to her with a casual grin. "Let's take a selfie," he said, gently wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"Uh, okay..." Sarim replied, feeling a bit shy but going along with it.

He held up his phone and snapped a picture. After checking the photo, he nodded and let out a small chuckle, satisfied. "You look cute Sarim."

Her heart raced at the compliment, and she glanced at him, appreciating the moment. They were just friends enjoying each other's company, and it felt nice.

"Let's find a quieter spot to hang out," he suggested as they stepped away from the stand. Sarim nodded, feeling a sense of comfort as they walked together, the bustling surroundings fading into the background.

But then Sunghoon's expression suddenly shifted. "Uh-oh. I just realized... we forgot the candles, Fuck" he said, glancing around the room. "They're still in the teachers office upstairs."

Sarim's heart sank. "Oh no... what should we do?"

"Let's go grab them. We'll be quick," he replied, already heading toward the stairs.

Sarim hesitated, glancing around at the bustling festival. "Sunghoon, but what if we get in trouble?"

"Don't worry. We'll be quiet," he assured her, flashing a reassuring smile.

With her heart racing, Sarim nodded and followed him upstairs. The hallway was dimly lit, and the excitement of the festival faded behind them as they walked into the office room.

"Here they are," Sunghoon said, pointing to a shelf stacked with boxes.

As he reached up to grab the box of candles, Sarim's anxiety bubbled up again. She was still worried about getting caught, and the quiet atmosphere of the storage room felt heavy.

"Sunghoon, what if—" she began, but suddenly, they heard footsteps approaching.