try-hard •sunki au•

fifty-four

Riki stared at the tub of mint chocolate ice cream in the middle of the table, Sunoo happily scooping the other side of it.

The freshman started questioning himself how he ended up in this situation. Well, first it was because of Jay setting up a dinner with his family to discuss his graduation. Second, Jay was asking Riki to come. No, no way.

Riki has to create an excuse to say no, and the only possible excuse he can use is to say that he promised Sunoo an ice cream date. Sunoo was the only person he can use so Jay can’t ask any more questions.

So, here was Riki sitting in front of a very excited Sunoo, fulfilling a fake ice cream date. But of course, he didn’t tell Sunoo it was a date.

“Won’t you eat?” Sunoo asked. “I thought you’re craving for some ice cream?”

“Yeah,” Riki nodded, faking a smile. But not mint choco.

Riki has taken a mental note to not make Sunoo order an ice cream of the flavor he likes again. Mint chocolate is not an ice cream flavor Riki would crave for, this was disgusting for him. But who is he to decline a mouthful of the said disgusting dessert when Sunoo was the one offering?

“Say ah.”

Riki obediently did as told, pretending as if he liked the treat.

“Why’d you suddenly crave ice cream at eight in the evening?” Sunoo curiously asked. “And why bother me when you can just bother your housemates?”

“They’re all having their own life,” Riki shrugged. “No one even noticed I left, aside from my brother.”

“You have a brother?” Sunoo asked.

“Have I never told you before?”

Sunoo stopped scooping ice cream for a minute, trying to remember.

“I’m Jay’s half-brother.”

“Ey,” Sunoo said, unbelieving. “You’re obviously not a Korean.”

“I’m half Japanese,” Riki said, unconsciously opening his mouth when Sunoo feeds him a mouthful again. “An illegitimate child born out of mistake.”

Sunoo shook his head, still not believing Riki’s words.

“If so, everybody in the school should have known. Jay was like a celebrity, everyone basically knows him,” Sunoo said.

“Do you think Jay’s Dad will just let the news come out and destroy their family?”

Sunoo placed the spoon on the tub and stared at Riki. They look in each other’s eyes as if the truth was hidden in there.

“He was rich, it will only be so easy for him to hide me in public,” Riki continued, looking away. “Even if I shout it over the country, no one would’ve believed me.”

Riki felt Sunoo’s hand over his, “I’ll believe you, Riki. I believe you now, so don’t start crying in public and just eat this ice cream. I have a curfew at ten.”

Sunoo removed his hand as soon as he finished saying those words and he began scooping on the mint chocolate ice cream again.

“That’s just how life is, sometimes the person we hoped to stand beside our side will also betray us,” Sunoo spoke, a hint of bitterness lingering in his tone.

“Jungwon?” Riki asked, unconsciously accepting the mouthful of disgusting dessert again.

“My own father,” Sunoo said. “But let’s not talk about it.”

Riki stared at Sunoo, watching as his eyes get filled with sadness although there was a smile playing on his lips. He didn’t dare trying to open up the topic again because he didn’t want to see further the sadness in Sunoo’s eyes.

They have managed to finish the whole tub of ice cream. Riki was unconsciously participating in eating almost half of it, all the while getting distracted by Sunoo's mesmerizing laugh and care-free personality that Riki has only seen tonight.

Sunoo stood up to throw their trash away as Riki fished his phone out of his pocket. The device kept on vibrating ever since they sat there but Riki only ignored it.

He thought it was only Jay, or probably Heeseung who’ll only bother him all night gushing about how Jake has asked him out. To Riki’s surprise, it was Sunoo’s sister leaving him three unread messages and three missed calls.

Dad has seen the picture.

He didn’t like it.

Riki, he was furious!

Riki quickly turned the screen of his phone off before Sunoo goes back.

“Let's go?” Sunoo asked.

Riki timidly nods. He walked Sunoo until the university gate, but Riki didn't go back to their shared apartment yet. He still needs to pay someone a visit.

tengyu_