Unspoken | park sunghoon ✓

𝟐𝟒. (the one with the pathetic girl.)

☂︎

THE NEXT DAY, the final bell rang, signaling the end of the day, and Sarim hurriedly gathered her books, to drop them off in the classroom storage before heading home. The hallway buzzed with the chatter of students eager to escape, but as she made her way to the door, she paused, hearing familiar voices, Sunghoon and Lee Nayu, close by.

Curiosity and dread twisted in her stomach. I shouldn't eavesdrop, she thought, but her feet felt rooted to the spot. She leaned against the wall, just out of sight, heart pounding as she strained to hear their conversation.

"Why are you spending so much time with her anyway?" Kim Nayu's tone was incredulous. "I mean, really? Lim Sarim? Of all people? She's pathetic."

Sarim felt a knot form in her stomach, compelled to stay and listen, even though she knew she shouldn't.

"I don't know. I just feel sorry for her," Sunghoon replied, his voice laced with annoyance. "She's always alone—like a lost puppy or something. Someone has to pity her, right?"

The words hit Sarim like a punch to the gut. She felt herself freeze, disbelief washing over her. He couldn't really mean that, could he?

Does he really pity me?

Nayu laughed, a sound sharp and mocking. "Pity? That's sad and so low of you, Sunghoon. If you're just doing it out of pity, then you really should drop it. I mean, why waste your time on her? Spend it with someone who actually matters, like me. I'm way prettier and skinnier. Besides, I'm not some emotinal girl."

"Yeah," Sunghoon shot back, his voice cold and dismissive. "It's exhausting to be around her. She's just... pathetic. Always hanging around, hoping someone cares. I can't stand it."

Each of his words sliced through Sarim like a knife. The betrayal felt unbearable. How could he talk about her like that?

Sunghoon was someone she thought she could trust, someone who had shown her kindness before. But now, those moments felt like a distant memory.

"Seriously, if you need someone to hang out with, just be with me instead. I'm way better company than some sad girl. Just think about it. Why stick around for someone who's clearly a nobody? She's such a loser." Nayu pressed, her voice dripping with disdain.

Sunghoon hesitated, caught in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Part of him wanted to defend Sarim, to explain how her quiet strength and passion for art drew him in, but he silenced that voice. "Yeah, I guess I just got too soft," he muttered, trying to maintain a facade of indifference.

Sarim stood there, disbelief and hurt flooding her senses. She felt frozen, her heart racing as her mind struggled to process the scene unfolding in front of her. She had thought Sunghoon saw something in her, something worth caring about. But now, all she felt was humiliation and despair.

"Come on, just cut her off," Nayu said, her laughter ringing in the air. "She's not worth it. You know you could do better right? I'm way better."

Sunghoon's heart raced, caught between the desire to stand up for Sarim and the pressure to fit in with Nayu. "Yeah, she's just a charity case. It's not like she has anything going for her," he said, forcing a smirk, even though guilt churned in his stomach.

Sarim felt her heart shatter. How could he say those things? The warmth she had felt when they were together had turned to ice.

She wanted to scream, to demand he take it back, to explain that she was more than what he described. But all she could do was stand there, crushed.

Desperate to escape the pain
Sarim turned and fled down the hallway, her heart pounding.

She rushed into the nearest bathroom and locked herself in a stall, sliding down to the floor as hot tears streamed down her cheeks.

In that small, cold space, she let her sobs break free, each one a reminder of the way he had reduced her to nothing more than an object of pity.

She pressed her forehead against her knees, wishing she could disappear.

How could he think so little of her? How dare he think so little of her?

Meanwhile, back in the classroom, Sunghoon stood alone, the laughter from moments before echoing in his mind. As the Kim girl walked away, he felt a wave of guilt wash over him, mingled with confusion. What had he just said? Why had he let himself be so cruel?

"I'm such an idiot," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He didnt want to talk about Sarim like that. Deep down, he knew she was worth so much more.

His thoughts kept drifting back to Sarim. She was kind, talented and sweet.

The way her eyes sparkled with a passion that made her glow, the way she became lost in her art as if the world around her faded away. It was moments like those that made him realize how special she was. How her laughter could light up a room, and how the depth of her talent left him in awe.

Yet, as he recalled the warmth of those memories, he felt the sting of his own words. He had left those words unspoken, allowing the cruel remarks to overshadow the beauty he saw in her.

But instead of standing up for her, he had chosen to play along, to hide behind Nayu's cruel words. The guilt gnawed at him, making him feel sick. Why had he let himself say those hurtful things? He had a choice, and he chose wrong.

As he stood there, lost in his thoughts, he felt regret heavy on his chest. He should have defended her. He should have been better. But now, all he could think about was how he had pushed her away, how he had hurt someone who didn't deserve it.

In the bathroom stall, Sarim wiped her tears, trying to steady her breath. She couldn't believe how harshly Sunghoon had spoken about her. The trust she had started to build with him felt irreparably broken. With each deep breath, she felt a mix of sadness and anger bubbling inside her.

Eventually, she stood up, looking in the mirror at her red-rimmed eyes. All she could do was process the hurt. As she pushed open the bathroom door, she felt more determined than ever. She wasn't going to let his words define her.

But deep down, the pain of his betrayal would linger, leaving a mark she knew would take time to heal.