Wonderland || Park Sunghoon

twelve

"We're not going to make it," Jungwon panted.

Jake glared at Jungwon as they ran. "Let's be optimistic."

"We're half a block away, and the bus is about to leave," Jungwon said. "I'm being realistic."

Jake just kept running, not bothering to waste his breath answering anymore. Ahead, he saw Nari stepping onto the bus.

"Nari!" He shouted, so loudly that his throat hurt.

But it worked. She heard him, and looked up. Her eyes widened, and he thought he saw her laugh.

She stayed with one foot on the bus, one foot on the sidewalk, waiting for him and Jungwon.

"Thanks," Jake gasped, rushing into the bus with Jungwon right behind him. Nari waited until the two of them boarded before stepping in as well.

The three of them sat together, and Jake fidgeted with his hands, trying to figure out how to casually bring up Sunghoon.

He couldn't think of a way, so why be subtle about it?

"Sunghoon said you guys went to the mall together yesterday."

Nari looked up at him in surprise. "Yeah," she said, a smile coming to her face. "Us, and a few other friends. Next time you should come as well."

"Sunghoon was really excited about it."

She looked at him thoughtfully, her eyes a tiny bit confused. It seemed as though she was starting to get the message.

Sunghoon likes you. Do you like him too? If you do, please do something. That boy is to shy to do anything himself.

He couldn't say any of that aloud though, he could only hint at it.

"I had a lot of fun," she said happily. "Sunghoon seems like a very nice person."

"He's wanted to be friends with you for a while, so I'm really happy," Jake told her, laughing slightly. He looked at Nari's facial expressions, trying to read them and make sure he didn't give too much away.

"Why didn't he approach me then?" Nari asked, laughing. "Do I look mean?" She asked, looking at him and Jungwon and pouting at them playfully. "People tend to tell me I'm easily approachable."

"You are," Jake assured her. "Sunghoon's just really shy."

"Well I'm glad we've finally been able to become friends," she said happily, shifting the object on her lap.

Jake hadn't noticed what she was holding before, he'd been too busy running for the bus and trying to talk about Sunghoon and make him look good.

She was holding a bouquet of white lilies.

"You're giving that to someone today?" He asked.

Her smile faltered, and her eyes suddenly turned sad. "Yeah," she said softly. "Yeah, I'm giving these to someone today."