Park Sunghoon | drowned in silence

Saturday morning came quietly, sunlight spilling through Yejin's window and illuminating her small, cluttered room. She stirred under the blanket, reluctant to face the day. The events of the previous evening replayed in her mind: Sunghoon in her home, in her room, teasing her with that infuriating smirk.

Her fingers brushed over her forehead, remembering the gentle flick he'd given her. It wasn't like her to dwell on moments like these, but Sunghoon had a way of lingering in her thoughts, uninvited and unavoidable.

She sighed and pushed herself out of bed. Her mother had already left for work, leaving a scribbled note on the kitchen table: Eat breakfast. Don't skip your meals.

Yejin read it with a pang of guilt. She was grateful for her mother's sacrifices, but the weight of their reality often felt suffocating. She set the note aside and poured herself a glass of water, the silence of the house pressing in on her.

A knock at the door startled her. She froze, her mind racing. They rarely had visitors. Who could it be?

Cautiously, she opened the door, and there he was—Sunghoon, leaning casually against the doorframe. His black hoodie was slightly rumpled, his dark hair falling into his eyes, and a small bag hung from his hand.

"Morning," he said, his tone neutral but his eyes scanning her as if assessing her mood.

"Sunghoon?" Yejin blinked, still processing his unexpected appearance. "What are you doing here?"

He lifted the bag. "Breakfast. Figured you'd skip it."

Yejin frowned, stepping back to let him in. "You can't just show up at people's houses unannounced."

"Why not?" he asked, stepping inside as if he owned the place.

"It's weird," she muttered, shutting the door behind him.

"Then call me weird," he said, placing the bag on the small dining table. He started unpacking it: two sandwiches, a container of fresh fruit, and two cans of juice. "Eat."

"I don't need—"

"Yejin," he interrupted, his tone firmer than usual. "Eat."

She hesitated but eventually sat down, her stomach betraying her with a low growl. Sunghoon took the seat across from her, watching as she unwrapped the sandwich.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked between bites.

He shrugged, popping open a can of juice. "Why not?"

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting," he replied, leaning back in his chair.

They ate in silence for a while, the quiet surprisingly comfortable. Yejin found herself sneaking glances at Sunghoon. There was something different about him today—less guarded, less cold.

When they finished, Sunghoon stood and stretched. "Get dressed."

"What?"

"We're going out," he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I don't want to go anywhere," Yejin said, crossing her arms.

"Too bad."

She stared at him, incredulous. "You can't just force me to—"

"Yejin," he interrupted, meeting her eyes. His gaze was steady, almost challenging. "You spend too much time in this house. Trust me, it won't kill you to step outside for a while."

She opened her mouth to argue but stopped. There was something in his expression—an unspoken understanding, a quiet insistence that wasn't exactly pushy but still hard to ignore.

"Fine," she muttered, heading to her room to change.

They ended up in the bustling city center, where the streets were alive with the energy of the weekend crowd. Yejin stuck close to Sunghoon, feeling out of place amid the noise and activity.

"Why here?" she asked as they weaved through the crowd.

"Thought you might like it," he said, glancing over his shoulder.

Yejin frowned. The flashy stores and crowded sidewalks didn't exactly scream Yejin.

They stopped outside a bookstore, its large windows displaying neatly arranged rows of novels.

"Come on," Sunghoon said, pushing the door open.

The smell of paper and ink enveloped them as they stepped inside. Yejin hesitated, glancing around. The store was cozy, with wooden shelves that seemed to stretch forever.

"Pick something," Sunghoon said, gesturing to the shelves.

"What? No, I don't—"

"Yejin," he interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Pick something."

She hesitated but eventually wandered over to the shelves. Her fingers trailed along the spines of the books, the familiar comfort of being surrounded by stories easing some of her tension. She finally picked out a small paperback—a novel she'd been wanting to read but couldn't afford.

Sunghoon took it from her without a word and brought it to the counter.

"You didn't have to buy this for me," Yejin said as they left the store.

"I wanted to," he replied simply.

They walked in silence for a while, Yejin clutching the bag tightly. She glanced at Sunghoon, his profile sharp against the afternoon sun.

"Why are you doing all this?" she asked quietly.

He didn't look at her, his gaze fixed ahead. "Do I need a reason?"

"Yes," she said, stopping in her tracks. "You do."

Sunghoon finally turned to her, his expression unreadable. For a moment, it looked like he might say something, but then he smirked, the teasing glint returning to his eyes.

"Maybe I just like seeing you annoyed," he said, his voice light.

Yejin frowned, knowing he was deflecting, but she didn't push.

By the time they returned to her house, the sun was beginning to set. Sunghoon walked her to the door, his hands in his pockets.

"Thanks for today," Yejin said quietly, looking down at the bag in her hand.

"Don't mention it," he replied.

As she opened the door, she paused, glancing back at him. "Why are you so nice to me?"

Sunghoon smirked, stepping closer. For a moment, Yejin thought he might say something serious, but instead, he leaned down, his face inches from hers.

"Nice?" he murmured. "You sure about that?"

Before she could respond, he reached out and flicked her forehead, just like he had the night before.

"See you Monday, Yejin," he said, turning and walking away.

Yejin watched him go, her heart inexplicably lighter.

For the first time in a long time, she found herself looking forward to the week ahead.