People Watching ★ 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐒𝐮𝐧

30: I trusted you.

Sunoo's chest was still tight, his hands trembling. He stood frozen for a moment longer, staring at Sunghoon's retreating figure as if he could somehow will him to turn around.

But Sunghoon didn't look back. His footsteps grew fainter, and the space between them seemed to stretch further and further.

The world felt heavy—too heavy for Sunoo to carry on his own.

"Sunghoon!"

Sunoo's voice cracked as he shouted, a desperate plea to stop the boy from disappearing into the distance.

He didn't wait for an answer, didn't care that the hallways were empty and everyone else had probably scattered. Sunoo just ran.

His sneakers slapped against the floor in a frantic rhythm as he darted through the school, weaving past startled students who gave him confused glances. But Sunoo wasn't focused on them. His only focus was Sunghoon—his best friend, the person he'd spent countless hours with, the one he'd tried so hard to help.

The one he had hurt, unknowingly, so badly.

Sunghoon hadn't gone far. He was standing by the lockers outside the classroom building, shoulders slumped in a way that made Sunoo's heart ache.

He stopped a few feet away from him, panting for breath, trying to gather his thoughts, but nothing made sense. All he knew was that he had to fix this. He had to make Sunghoon understand.

"Sunghoon," he repeated softly, taking a hesitant step forward. "Please, listen to me."

Sunghoon turned, his expression unreadable. His eyes were red-rimmed, his usual calm demeanor completely shattered.

"I'm sorry," Sunoo said, his voice small but determined. "I never meant for you to think it was all a game. I didn't... I didn't realize it would hurt you this much."

Sunghoon's lips trembled, and for a second, Sunoo thought he might snap at him again. But instead, something unexpected happened.

Sunghoon's face crumpled.

And then, without warning, he collapsed onto Sunoo's shoulder, burying his face in the crook of his neck.

Sunoo's breath caught in his throat. He froze for a moment, unsure of what to do. But Sunghoon's body trembled, his weight leaning heavily against him.

"I hate it," Sunghoon whispered, his voice muffled against Sunoo's skin. "I hate... everything about my family... and how it feels like I'm just a disappointment to everyone. I hate that I don't know what I'm supposed to do... that I can't be the person they want me to be..."

Sunoo's heart pounded in his chest. He hadn't expected this—hadn't expected Sunghoon to open up like this, to let the cracks in his armor show. But he wasn't angry. He wasn't upset. He just wanted to listen, to be there for him.

Sunghoon continued, his words trembling with raw emotion. "I know I can't be the perfect son... but all I wanted... was someone to see me... to care for me. I never thought that'd be you. You're always... so perfect for everyone else. And I just... I don't know how to handle it."

Sunoo felt his throat tighten as he listened, his own heart aching for Sunghoon. He hadn't known how deeply Sunghoon was struggling, hadn't realized the weight he was carrying all on his own. The family pressure, the loneliness—it was all too much for him.

"I care about you," Sunoo said, his voice shaking as he wrapped an arm around Sunghoon's back, pulling him closer. "I care about you more than anyone, Sunghoon. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to be anyone else. I just want you to be you."

Sunghoon didn't say anything at first, but Sunoo could feel the weight of his silent tears, soaking through his shirt. Sunghoon's breath was unsteady, his body still shaking from the sobs he was trying to suppress.

"I'm sorry," Sunghoon whispered again, his voice cracking. "I didn't mean to push you away. I just... I thought it was easier to pretend like nothing mattered."

Sunoo pulled him closer, letting the warmth of their embrace wrap around both of them. "You don't have to pretend anymore, Sunghoon. Not with me."

For a long moment, they stood there in silence, Sunghoon's head still resting on Sunoo's shoulder as he cried quietly. Sunoo didn't mind the tears. He didn't mind the weight of Sunghoon's emotions pouring into him. This was what friends did, right? They helped each other.

But as he held Sunghoon, Sunoo realized something that made his heart ache even more: he wasn't just holding a friend. He was holding someone he'd been in love with all along, someone who had been so caught up in his own struggles that he hadn't seen the way Sunoo had quietly been by his side.

Sunoo didn't want to let go. Not now. Not ever.

"I'm sorry I hurt you," Sunoo whispered, pressing his forehead gently against Sunghoon's. "But I need you to know... I never meant for any of this to happen. Hanna was just... I was just trying to help her."

Sunghoon pulled back slightly, looking at him with eyes still full of emotion, but softer now. "I know," he said quietly. "I just... I don't know how to process everything right now."

Sunoo nodded. He didn't have all the answers, and maybe they weren't ready to fix everything yet. But for the first time in a while, he felt like they were taking a step in the right direction.

Together.

"Just... don't go," Sunghoon said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not yet. Please."

Sunoo smiled, a bittersweet ache filling his chest. "I'm not going anywhere. Not now, not ever."

—-

Communication?!🫣