try-hard •sunki au•

eleven

“I believed you're Riki?”

Riki confusely stared at the sophomore standing before him, holding the familiar (yet ruined) black box. He's Sunoo's best friend whom Riki didn't know the name.

“Sunoo told me to give this back to you,” the sophomore said, handing him the ruined box.

Riki took it, still confuse.

He was just standing on the usual hallway to wait for Sunoo, but instead this sophomore walks up to him.

“I don't know what's your intention for giving him the gift, but he dislikes receiving anything that is colored black,” the sophomore said.

“Uhm, why?” Riki asked.

“Just,” The sophomore simply replied.

“Where is he?” Riki asked again.

The sophomore shrugged. “It'll be better if you just leave him alone.”

The sophomore then turned around and started walking away, leaving Riki still confused.

He looked down and stared at the box, wondering. Giving gift is a fail, what else should he do next? Riki only wanted to see him smile again.

However, he didn't see Sunoo for the rest of the day. He was nowhere else to see for the next three days. It was always just his friend on their lunch table.

Riki somehow felt worried and guilty. He started getting curious of the things he did wrong for Sunoo to disappear after sending the gift back to him.

He have no idea, but he wanted to seek more personal things about Sunoo. And the urge to see his kind smile again never left his imagination eversince he saw it.

+++

Sunoo watch carefully as his sister stared at him blankly.

“Is there anything you wanted to tell me?” Sunoo asked.

His sister blinked, hesitation can be seen on her face.

She called him yesterday asking if Sunoo had a free time to meet her. Sunoo has been on request for online class after the gift incident and he has a lot of free time, so he agreed. Now, the siblings were sat in the corner of one cafe near the university.

She only gave Sunoo some extra cash and packed home-made food—which are Sunoo's favorite dishes.

She shook her head as she looked away, avoiding any eye contact.

“They are asking if you can make it home for winter holiday,” his sister speaks.

“I will try,” Sunoo said, lying even to himself.

He will not even try. He didn't even want to go home. He didn't want to see them, specifically his Dad. He didn't want to see the disappointment in their face ever again. He didn't want to feel betrayed, knowing that his own family didn't believe in him.

Sunoo stood up from his seat before his sister could see the forming tears in his eyes. He took the bag of packed food as he gets ready to leave.

“Thank you for the visit. I need to go,” Sunoo said, faking a smile.

He didn't wait for a response and just left. His walking pace faster than usual.

Sunoo and his sister used to be so close. She was always there supporting Sunoo of the things he loved. However, eversince then, everything becomes different. Although Sunoo could see the support coming from his sister, it isn't enough to fire up the confidence that was already burried deep inside Sunoo.

He will never be the same again. The old Sunoo they used to like was already dead. He just didn't want to be the person getting the spotlight anymore.

tengyu_