Say It Back || SoonHoon (#wattys2019)

fifty-eight

호시
Do I like you?

This question has kept me from getting angry at you. Honestly, it also kept me from sleeping.

I'm so confused.

Because it's different.
It's not something I felt with Wonwoo.
The hurt I'm feeling seems indecipherable.

Okay, maybe this is friendship pain.

Is it?

Do I like you?

Well, even if I do,
I'd never tell you.

I'd already know your answer anyways.

우지
"Can you please shut up for one second?" I say with a defeated groan as I close my eyes and try to soothe my aching temples.

I should be finished rushing my Math homework by now, but Parking Heecheol is here and she won't stop talking. I swear to god, I want to stuff her face with a dirty sock.

"No! I cannot shut up! You need to understand that—"

"I need to understand that x is the vertical line and y is the horizontal one," I cut her off loudly, picking up my pen to continue my work.

I have a feeling I know what she wants to say. Surely, it's something I don't want to hear.

My eyes dart towards the clock on the wall for a second. I still have twenty minutes left.

I look towards Heecheol only to see her actually thinking about what I said.

Quietly, I thank the gods for the five seconds of pure silence I am given.

"What? It's the other way around you ass!" She exclaims. "X is the horizontal one and y is the vertical."

I grit my teeth as I let out an annoyed breath. "Hey! Let me clarify something for you. We're not close, Park Heecheol. I'm also older than you. So don't think you can just talk as informally as you want."

"I don't care," her response comes half a second after, "I'm practically your only friend here—"

Slamming a hand to my desk I stood up. Seething, I say, "I don't want friends."

My own glare burns my eyes and I watch as a bit of shock flashes on Heecheol's face.

A few seconds later, her lips form a smirk. "Oh I know what you want, Lee Jihoon. Stop running away. You want him. I can tell. You like Kwon Soonyoung. Stop trying to erase these feelings. You'll break your heart in the process."

My glare softens.

She sighs, "I'm just worried, okay? I've heard much about you.. about your past. I can only imagine how painful everything was. And I know. For you, you don't really know if you can trust him. But try, Jihoon. You might miss something great."

She puts a hand on my shoulder.
I can't help but flinch.

"I'm rooting for you," she smiles, and then walks away.