Echoes of Forever - psh

Chapter2

The week dragged on with a steady rhythm of classes, and by Friday, Nabi felt the weight of it pressing on her shoulders. She tapped her fingers on her desk, staring at the clock as it ticked down the minutes of the day's final class. Her focus drifted from the teacher's lecture to the bright afternoon sky outside, and the pull of freedom tugged harder than her will to stay.

When the bell finally rang, Nabi's heart raced. She gathered her things, glancing around to make sure no one was watching before slipping quietly out of the main hall. The back exit led to the school's low wall that opened up to the park just outside campus. It was her secret path to freedom whenever she needed a break from the constant buzz of school.

Nabi threw her bag over the wall, watching it tumble to the other side. With a deep breath, she hoisted herself up, reaching for the top ledge. She had climbed this wall a few times before, but every time felt a little wobbly. Just as she was about to pull herself up, she lost her footing and felt herself slipping.

"Do you need some help with that?" A familiar voice startled her, and she nearly lost her grip. Looking down, she saw Sunghoon, leaning against the wall with an amused grin, arms crossed like he'd been waiting for her the whole time.

"Oh, it's you," she muttered, rolling her eyes to play off her surprise, though her heart raced at the sight of him.

"Yeah, just me. So... skipping class, are we?" he asked, his tone light but with a touch of mockery. "Looks like you're a bit stuck there, though. Need a hand?"

"No, I've got it," she insisted, but her foot slipped again as she tried to pull herself up. Sunghoon, still grinning, extended his hand with a raised eyebrow, waiting patiently.

After a beat, she sighed and accepted his help. He effortlessly boosted her up, and she scrambled to the other side, landing next to her bag. Sunghoon followed, hopping over with the same ease and dusting off his hands.

"What are you doing here anyway?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Maybe I needed a break, too," he replied, shrugging. "Or maybe I saw you sneaking out and figured you might need a partner in crime."

"Well, I didn't," she said, but a smile crept onto her face. It was hard not to be amused by his laid-back attitude.

They began walking toward the park, the quiet sounds of the school fading as they moved further away. Sunghoon kept pace with her, hands in his pockets, his gaze occasionally drifting over to study her expression.

"So, where are we headed?" he asked after a while, his curiosity evident.

Nabi thought for a moment, glancing over at the small food stalls just past the park. "The market?"

"Perfect. I'm starving," he declared, and they headed in that direction, excitement bubbling between them.

The market was bustling with activity, the vibrant colors of the stalls and the enticing aromas of street food pulling them in. As they walked past the stalls, Nabi's stomach growled loudly, making her laugh.

"Didn't you just eat?" Sunghoon teased, nudging her playfully.

"Apparently, my stomach disagrees," she shot back, pretending to be offended. "What about you? I thought you were too cool for food stalls."

"Cool kids need fuel too, you know," he replied, grinning. "Especially if it means sampling every snack they can find."

They wandered from stall to stall, trying different treats. Sunghoon insisted on buying her a stick of fish cakes, while Nabi countered by getting them spicy tteokbokki. They laughed and joked about their choices, teasing each other about the best and worst snacks.

"Try this one," Sunghoon said, holding out a piece of fried squid with a mischievous look.

She wrinkled her nose but took a bite. "Not bad," she admitted. "But you still owe me for the fish cakes."

"Oh, I'll get you back for that," he promised, giving her a playful nudge.

After sampling various snacks and sharing stories about their favorite foods, they found a quiet corner of the park to enjoy their feast. Sunghoon was in the middle of a hilarious impression of one of their teachers when he suddenly leaned back, clutching his stomach. "I can't breathe! I'm too full!"

Nabi couldn't help but double over in laughter. "You should've thought of that before you tried to eat half the market!"

"Hey, I was just trying to keep up with you," he retorted, feigning offense as he wiped a tear from his eye. "But you should be the one worried! What if they start calling you the Tteokbokki Queen or something?"

"I'll take it!" Nabi exclaimed, laughing as she gestured like a royal. "Long live the Tteokbokki Queen!"

As the sun began to set, they finished their snacks and started the walk back to school. The warm glow of the setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, casting a golden hue over everything around them.

When they reached the school's entrance, Sunghoon turned to her, his playful expression softening a bit. "Thanks for today. Skipping class was... unexpectedly fun."

"Yeah," Nabi admitted, feeling a warmth in her chest she hadn't expected. "See you on Monday, then?"

He gave a small wave and flashed his usual confident grin. "Definitely."

As she walked away, Nabi couldn't help but smile to herself, feeling lighter than she had in a long time. She realized that a simple act of skipping class had turned into a day full of laughter and unexpected friendship, leaving her looking forward to whatever adventures awaited them next.