Unspoken | park sunghoon ✓

𝟐𝟖. (the one where she walks home with shuhua.)

☂︎

SARIM shifted her bag on her shoulder, ready to pack up for the day. She could already feel the weight of another long evening ahead of her. another night in the cold apartment she and her father were living in, with nothing but silence, the kind that seemed to echo louder than her thoughts. But for now, the quiet was comfortable, and the hum of the classroom as the last few students packed up felt like a small, familiar escape.

She grabbed her sketchbook, the pages worn from her frequent use. It was more than just a book to her. It was her world, the only place where things made sense, where she could create something beautiful even when her reality was anything but.

As she slipped the sketchbook into her bag, her fingers brushed the edge of the papers and paused for a moment, an unconscious smile tugging at her lips. The sketch of Seokjin from the convenience store, it had been a while since she'd drawn him, but something about his quiet smile had stuck with her. Maybe it was just the familiarity of his kindness, the way he greeted her like she was someone worth noticing.

But before she could close her bag, a familiar voice called out.

"Sarim, You heading home?" Shuhua was standing by the door, her own bag slung over her shoulder, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "Wanna walk home with me today?"

Sarim hesitated for a moment, glancing over at her bag before nodding, and smiling at Shuhua. "Yeah, sure."

The two girls exited the classroom together, their footsteps light against the polished floor. As they stepped into the hallway, Sarim's heart felt a little lighter—there was something about walking with Shuhua that made the world seem less heavy. They walked side by side, Shuhua's laughter spilling out effortlessly, while Sarim listened with a small smile on her face.

As they neared the exit, Sarim's sketchbook, still half-buried in her bag, slipped from its position. The soft thud of the paper hitting the floor barely registered in the rush of their conversation, and neither girl noticed. The drawing of Seokjin—of the boy who had been a fleeting presence in her life, lay forgotten on the ground, unnoticed by the world around them.

"So," Sarim asked, her voice playful but curious, "what's going on with you and Sunoo? You're always blushing whenever I mention his name."

Shuhua blinked, her face flushing almost immediately at the mention of Sunoo's name. Sarim raised an eyebrow, knowing she had hit a nerve.

Shuhua giggled, her eyes twinkling. "What? No way! I'm not blushing,"

Sarim rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. "Come on, don't deny it. Every time I say his name, you turn redder than a tomato."

Shuhua groaned, her cheeks still pink. "Okay okay. Fine. I like him, alright? Is that what you wanted to heat?"

Sarim blinked in surprise but couldn't help but smile wider. "Aww, that's cute. Do you think he knows?"

Shuhua shrugged, her eyes darting away nervously. "I... don't know. Maybe. But I'm not really sure what to do about it."

They continued walking, the sound of their shoes tapping rhythmically against the pavement. As they passed the corner, the familiar neon lights of the convenience store blinked in the distance.

Shuhua nudged Sarim playfully. "Sarim-ah, isn't that where the cute guy works? The one you told me about? What was his name? Seokyun? Seoyoung?"

Sarim's heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name, her eyes instinctively looking over toward the store. "Seokjin," she said quietly, almost to herself. Her voice softened as the memory of his smile flickered in her mind.