Sunrise at Midnight | Iljae

Chapter 12 - Flustered

The time was currently 12.30 in the afternoon and the daylight outside is successfully hidden behind the drawn curtains that envelopes Ilhoon's bedroom into complete darkness. It feels strangely warm underneath the covers, wrapped up in a cocoon after a full peaceful night of sleep. The poor boy could not even remember the last time he had felt this content.

A small sigh resonates throughout the otherwise silent bedroom and Ilhoon looks over towards the unfamiliar sound.

"S-Sungjae?" He turns to the other boy lying next to him who just responds with a low groan.

"What are you doing here?"

"We fell asleep. What else do you think?"

"Yes, I can clearly see that. But why are you sleeping in my bed?"

Sungjae sighs, "We were talking- you asked me to sing for you and you fell asleep. So, I fell asleep as well."

"I- well, you can at least stop cuddling me then."

Sungjae looks down and notices his arms still tightly wrapped around the smaller boy's waist. His body so close to his own that Ilhoon's head was almost resting on his chest. I must have pulled him closer last night without realising.

"I-I'm sorry." He stutters with flushed cheeks as he tentatively releases his grasp on the other boy. The shorter of the two feeling exceptionally awkward as he is not used to this close proximity contact.

Ilhoon moves away from the younger and sighs up to the ceiling. "She left, didn't she?" He says to no one in particular, already knowing the answer.

"Pardon?"

"Jisu. She's gone, right?"

"I heard her leave not long after I came into your room last night."

Ilhoon just nods his head at this, his face plastered into that blank expression that Sungjae is finding to get on his nerves.

"I'm sorry, Ilhoon. I don't really know what is going on, but if it's affecting you like this-"

"Just drop it please Sungjae."

"Do you know where she went?"

"Yes."

"So, why don't you just go get her if you want her back so bad?"

"It's not as easy. If her father finds out- and she wouldn't even let me take her anyway. She'd rather stay there and help the bastard than come home with me where it is safe."

"Why would she want to help him if he is as bad as you say he is?"

"She blames herself for how her father turned out. That's why. Can we change the subject, please? I'm done talking about this."

"Yeah, sure."

"Can we do something together today?"

"I-Ilhoon, I should be at my University right now. It's Monday and I'm already late."

"Please Sungjae? I really, really need you today. I need you to distract me." He says as he turns towards the apprehensive boy. He grabs his arm and locks his large brown eyes with the hesitant ones, trying to convince the other boy to stay with him.

Is he always going to pull the distraction card on me? Is this how it's going to be from now on? I can't just leave him, though, he looks absolutely broken. All of this can't be just because Jisu went back home, right? Surely there should be more to the story. Nothing adds up.