People Watching ★ 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐒𝐮𝐧

22: Unspoken words

Hanna clutched her bag tightly, glancing nervously between Sunghoon and the group of friends waiting for her outside the library. The late afternoon sun was casting golden light across the courtyard, but all Hanna seemed to notice was Sunghoon, who stood silently with his hands shoved in his jacket pockets, staring at a distant spot on the ground as if it owed him money.

Sunoo, standing a few feet away, casually leaned against the bike rack, watching this unfold like the beginning of a soap opera. Oh, here we go, he thought, already preparing for what he knew was about to happen.

"Hanna, come on! We can't be late again!" one of her friends called out, pushing her glasses up her nose as she waved impatiently.

"But I was—" Hanna started, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You were what?" another friend cut in, balancing an armful of books that looked like they could knock over a small tree.

"I was..." Hanna trailed off, sneaking another glance at Sunghoon. Her face flushed slightly, and Sunoo bit back a snort.

It was painfully obvious what Hanna wanted to say, but she might as well have been trying to confess to a brick wall. Sunghoon, of course, wasn't paying attention. His eyes were fixed on some distant corner of the campus like he was contemplating life's great mysteries—or maybe just wondering where to get dinner.

Finally, one of Hanna's friends huffed and grabbed her arm. "Hanna, we really have to go. The competition starts in twenty minutes, and we can't afford another penalty for being late."

"Yeah," chimed in another friend. "Remember last time? They almost didn't let us enter because of you."

Hanna hesitated, her eyes darting between her friends and Sunghoon, who still hadn't moved.

"Go on, Hanna," Sunoo chimed in, his voice light. "Don't let us hold you back from saving the debate team's honor or whatever."

Hanna shot him a glare, but before she could respond, her friends began dragging her toward the library doors. "Wait—!" she protested, but it was no use. The debate squad moved as one, a highly efficient machine that would not be stopped by minor inconveniences like Hanna's unspoken feelings.

Sunoo watched her disappear inside, biting back a grin. Poor Hanna. Girl's out here trying to have her rom-com moment, and her friends just yanked her into the subplot.

He turned his gaze back to Sunghoon, who hadn't moved an inch. "Well," Sunoo sighed, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets, "looks like I'm stuck with you now."

Sunghoon finally glanced up, his expression blank. "You don't have to stay."

Sunoo snorted. "Trust me, if I had a choice, I'd be at home right now, living my best life. But someone has to keep you from scaring small children with that brooding face of yours."

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "No one asked you to stay."

Sunoo ignored him, falling into step beside him as they started walking. "Think of me as your unpaid emotional support human," he continued, gesturing broadly. "I'm like one of those little dogs people carry in their purses—adorable, comforting, and occasionally annoying."

Sunghoon sighed, clearly regretting all his life choices that had led to this moment. "You're more like a stray cat that won't leave no matter how many times you shut the door."

"Aw, I didn't know you cared," Sunoo replied with a mock pout.

Sunghoon shook his head, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like unbearable.

As they walked down the quiet street, Sunoo decided to ramp up the banter. "So, what's the plan, Mr. Popular? Gonna glare at people until they evaporate? Or do you have actual hobbies?"

Sunghoon didn't answer right away, but Sunoo could see the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Sunghoon finally said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I would!" Sunoo replied brightly. "It's either that or die of boredom. Entertain me, oh great mystery man."

Sunghoon rolled his eyes, but Sunoo noticed he wasn't walking away. Small victories.