"Where'd he get that ball from?" Jay curiously asked after Jake narrated what happened yesterday.
Jake shrugged as he continued eating his ice cream on cup. "He played basketball for years, why does it sound weird to you that he has a basketball?"
"Because," Jay started, leaning closer to Jake to whisper. "Sana forbid him to play basketball since high school. I remember Heeseung burning everything he owns that's related to basketball even. That's when before we fought."
"What?" Jake gasped, the ice cream on his mouth almost spilled. He coughs thrice as he tried to swallow everything. His eyes got bigger as he stared at Jay.
The council president moved away, looking around them.
"That's evil," Jake commented. "She should not dictate Hees-"
"Tone your voice down," Jay speaks, looking at the entrance of the canteen. "They're here."
Jake looked behind him, watching as Heeseung and Sana entered the canteen holding each other's hand.
"They're on good terms again," Jake said as he looked back at his ice cream.
"You should be used to it by now. Next time you blink, they're fighting again," Jay said, hiding a sarcastic laugh behind his words.
Jake didn't bother responding as he continued eating his ice cream back, until he remembered something.
"What the-" Jake gasped, earning a concerned look from Jay. "I think we forgot to take it home."
Jay stared at him confused, "Take what home?"
"The basketball!"
+++
Heeseung sat boredly in front of his computer, his fingers playing with the keyboard but the screen was off. As much as he wanted to play online games, Sana says no.
"When did you have plates in your room?" Sana asked as he got out of the small comfort room beside the small kitchen space.
Heeseung looked at the sink, finding Jake's plate and bowl from the food he gave last night- already cleaned and dry on the side.
"I-"
"I saw the same design at a shop nearby, did you bought it from there?" Sana asked as she lay back down on Heeseung's bed.
"Yeah," Heeseung nodded, lying. He didn't know what could possibly happen if he will tell her the truth.
Actually, Heeseung still has a class until 5 but he ditched it. Sana says she's bored and wanted to go to his boarding house, so here they are.
"Heeseung?"
"Hm?"
"Where's the basketball I gifted you last year?"
Heeseung bites on his lips.
"I've seen it there last time," Sana says, pointing to a rack where Heeseung displayed the basketball before. "Where is it?"
"I gave it to a kid on the court."
Sana narrowed her eyes at him.
"Their ball was flattened and he's crying, so I decided to give him mine," Heeseung explained, boldly lying in front of his girlfriend.
Sana then smiled, a reaction too far from what Heeseung imagine she would react. He actually goes back to the court last night to get the ball back but he couldn't find it there anymore.
"I could buy you another one," Sana says.
Heeseung only smiled, fake. Sana's good mood was never a good sign. There's always something bad com-
Just as then, someone knocked on Heeseung's door.
+++
Jake was about to knock again on Heeseung's door but it already opened.
"Hees-" Jake's voice faltered as he realized it isn't Heeseung who opened the door.
Sana stood before the opened door wearing no other than Heeseung's large blue shirt. If she's wearing anything underneath, Jake didn't need to know.
"What is it?" Sana asked, raising her eyebrow.
Jake saw Heeseung as the second year male stood behind Sana, his arms holding her securely on the waist.
"Did I interrupt something?" Jake asked, voice almost a whisper.
"Yes."
"No," Heeseung speaks as he shared a look with Sana.
"Well, I..." Jake said, suddenly feeling embarassed. "I'm just going to get my plates-"
"Your what?"
Sana looked at Heeseung with glaring eyes as the second year male stepped back.
Jake stood awkwardly in the hallway, nervously looking up at Heeseung.
""Liar," Sana said direct into Heeseung before she threw the door close right at Jake's face.
The student council jumped back but he didn't turn away to leave, instead he continued standing there and eavesdropping.
"Why is it so hard for you to tell me the truth?"
"Because-"
"Stop explaining yourself, Heeseung! You lied to me!"
"What about the basketball? It that a lie as well?"
"No-"
"Don't you dare lie again in my face, Lee Heeseung!"
A couple minutes of shouting and the door opened again. This time, Sana is already wearing her dress. She looked at Jake one last time before she stormed out into the hallway, Heeseung following close behind her.
Jake nibbles on his lips.
+++
It's been almost 9 in the evening. The main door opened and Jake was sure it will be Heeseung now. Every boarders have come already and Heeseung's the only one outside, so it's probably him.
Jake stood up from the sofa when he saw Heeseung entering the house, thankfully Sana isn't with him. Heeseung looks at him briefly before he closed the door behind him.
"Are you waiting for someone?" Heeseung asked, voice calm.
"You, actually," Jake says. "Did I caused you trouble?"
Heeseung smiled up at him as he stepped closer, "No, it's fine. I'm the one to blame, I lied."
"What did you even told her about my plates?"
"That it's mine," Heeseung said, smiling.
Jake stared at Heeseung. The dim light from the chandelier hanging from the ceiling makes it hard for him to look clearly.
"Did she hurt you again?" Jake couldn't help but ask.
His hand went up, hoping to touch Heeseung's seemingly red cheeks but the second year male moved away.
"No," Heeseung said.
It's a lie, but Jake didn't said anything about it.
"Did you eat dinner already?" Jake asked.
"Yeah," Heeseung simply said as he walked upstairs.
Jake followed behind him until they reach their own rooms. Both male only shared a look before they quietly entered their own doors.
+++++
It was one friday afternoon. Jay stopped his car right before the corner where the boarding house was.
"Thanks for the ride," Jake said as he opened the car door and stepped out.
"Are you sure you don't want to go with me? My parents were asking to meet you," Jay asked again, for the nth time this week.
Jake shakes his head no. "Maybe next time, plus I'm shy."
Jay laughs at him before he rolled his eyes, "Shy my foot."
Jake closed the door before waving goodbye at Jay. He waited until the car left his sight before he turned around. He stopped for a moment to analyze the silhouette of two person sitting at the side of the road, talking. One has a cigarette in his hand and one is holding a paper bag. A familiar motorcycle was parked beside them.
It's Heeseung and the other boy from last time.
Jake silently walk towards them, hoping they wouldn't notice him. But then Heeseung has turned his head and saw him even before he could come close to the gate. The boy sitting beside him looked at Jake as well.
Jake smiled a little but the boy smiled wider at him.
"Hi," the boy greeted him with his youthful yet deep voice, even waving his one hand at him.
Despite the image of him in a motorcycle with a cigarette in hand, he looked too young and cute- adorable even. He looked like Sana, but a little bit calmer and soft.
"Hi," Jake greeted back.
"Hyung, give him the other box," the boy then said, nudging Heeseung on the side.
Jake turns around and opened the gate, trying not to eavesdrop.
"You don't even know him, Sunoo."
"He looked nice."
Jake entered the gate and close it behind him before he entered the house, straight to his room. Half an hour later, he heard the motorcycle finally leaving- and he heard a knock on his door.
Jake quickly puts on a shirt before he opened the door, his hair still dripping wet. He saw Heeseung standing on the hallway, holding the same paper bag from earlier.
"Sunoo wants to give this to you," Heeseung said, handing him the paper bag.
Jake only stared at it, confused. "What is it?"
"A take out from a Japanese restaurant, I think," Heeseung said. "He liked the owner's son so he keeps on coming back there."
"I mean-"
"Just take it," Heeseung insisted, shoving the paper bag in his hands.
Jake didn't have a choice but to take it. "Is he Sana's twin?"
"Younger brother, not twin," Heeseung said.
"Please relay my gratitude to him," Jake smiled.
Heeseung only nodded before he turns to his left and continued walking until his room.
"Heeseung?"
The older male stopped from opening his door and looked at Jake.
"Do you have anything else to do today?" Jake asked.
"No, why?"
Jake smiled.
April 27, 2023.
Thursday. 1850hr.
tengyu_
