unspoken

chapter 8

"alright everyone, today you'll all be running a mile for your fitness test." coach rain announced.

many of the students collectively groaned out of frustration, not wanting to engage in this physically demanding activity.

"don't complain, this is for your grade. now start!" rain hustled.

"oh yeah, sunoo, you only have to run half the distance, since... you know," he added.

the boy nodded, grateful for his condition for once. many students shot him jealous looks as they listlessly began running.

"i wish i could run only half too." jungwon pouted, jogging right next to sunoo. "i don't wanna go alone later on"

"i wish we didn't have to do this stupid test in general." sunoo sighed.

jungwon nodded out of agreement, shifting his focus to regulating his breathing instead.

the two ran side by side, occasionally giving in and walking instead. their footsteps lightly tapped the ground in unison, as they were in a short moment of peace, feeling no need to rush since they were already last.

after what felt like hours, sunoo reached the end of his run.

"that was the most running i've even done in my life" sunoo remarked, panting, barely able to walk properly.

"you tell me. i still have to experience what we just did again." jungwon said, bent over with his hands on his knees for support.

"good luck, i'll cheer you on." sunoo said. "right after i sit down somewhere."

"alright, i needa get back to running or i might fail this class" jungwon said, forcing himself to stand upright again.

"break a leg!" sunoo encouraged. "but not literally, keep your bones intact."

jungwon let out a small chuckle before going back to the running tracks.

after another long and gruelling run, jungwon finally made it to the finish line. despite pushing himself to go as fast as he could, he still ended up last, which was disappointing, but he was too tired to care anymore.

"you're finished, how was it?" sunoo asked as he practically collapsed onto the bench next to him, his body shaking out of exhaustion.

"tiring." he wheezed. "i don't think running is for me."

"me either." sunoo related. "and uhm, i've been really dizzy I keep seeing white when i move my eyes"

"you should go to the nurse." jungwon insisted. "why didn't you go earlier?"

"I wanted to wait till you finished." sunoo admitted.

"thanks, but your health is way more important." jungwon asserted. "class is over anyways, i'll take you there."

he accompanied his hyung over to the infirmary, his arm linked with sunoo's to provide support.

"thanks for following me all the way here. you should've gotten some rest back there." sunoo said, grateful for his best friend's sacrifice.

"it's fine," jungwon affirmed. "i'm gonna go to the bathroom. just in case you don't stay in there too long"

the older boy nodded, heading into the nurse's office. after confirming that sunoo was being helped, he made his way to the bathroom, half-leaning against the wall for support.

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"so what seems to be the problem, sunoo?" the nurse inquired.

"i'm feeling really dizzy and my vision's kinda going white" sunoo informed. "just ran half a mile for gym."

"hmm, i see. it's probably low blood pressure." she replied. "sit here on one of the beds and i'll go get you a granola bar and some water." 

the boy proceeded to silently eat what he was given as the nurse stared at him, since she had no one else to attend to. although the awkwardness was uncomfortable, he did start to feel a lot better.

as soon as he finished, he quickly stood up and left the room, not forgetting to thank the nurse before leaving.

now that he wasn't nauseous anymore, he went around the halls to try and find jungwon. since it was break time, there were a lot of students roaming the halls, which made it a little harder to spot him.

he recalled that he told him he was going to be in the bathroom, so he headed over to check. however, jungwon wasn't inside. it did smell like vomit though, so he left quickly.

fortunately, he found him soon after.

"jungwon!" he called, catching the boy's attention.

"sunoo hyung! you're done already?" jungwon replied, coming towards him.

"yup, the nurse just made me drink some water and eat a granola bar, it was nothing serious." sunoo said. "but i looked for you everywhere! where were you?"

"i was in the bathroom," jungwon stated.

"maybe you left when i came, but i looked in there and couldn't find you!" sunoo exclaimed. "It smelled like throw up too, which was unpleasant."

"yeah, maybe someone uh couldn't hold it in after the run" jungwon sheepishly said, scratching the back of his neck.

"probably. that's understandable." sunoo figured.

"yeah"