Chapter Text
"No, no, no," Sunghoon silently cursed whilst running full speed down the street, a heavy bag on his shoulders heaving him down.
Dodging people in the way he finally let out a sigh of relief when he saw that the bus hadn't come it. He approached the bus stop, catching his breath from his run from the ice hall to his current position.
After catching his breath for some more moments, the bus slowly approached to a stop. He quickly got on, paying for the fare and went ahead to an empty seat to sit down on.
Before the bus departed again he put on his earphones to play music along his travel home.
The music made Sunghoons mind drift away as he thought about his practice before, thinking of how he could make his jumps more better.
Time went by unknownly, buildings and cars passing by outside the busses window, it stopping sometimes.
Sleepiness hit him suddenly in the face. Yawning, knowing that the bus wouldn't arrive at his destinationed stop any time soon, he decided to take a quick nap.
Before he though even had a chance to close his eyes, a gentle tap on his shoulder was felt.
Whipping his head around confusedly, he was met with the sight of a rather cute boy. The boy having fluffy hair, big puppy eyes and sharp features, complimenting his face structure.
Sunghoon stared at him some more before a wave of a hand was in his face. "Oh, sorry.. what can I help you with?" Sunghoon asked the boy, plucking out an earbud and stopping the music.
"Just asked if I could sit here maybe? Pretty packed at this time of hour," The boy replied, pointing with his head around the bus to show that it was actually indeed pretty packed in there.
Sunghoon nodded at his words, pretty shocked that he hadn't noticed how many people there actually was until now.
The boy smiled at him, taking a seat beside Sunghoon after he took his bag away from it to allow him to sit
"Thanks man." The boy thanked him in English, Sunghoon only nodded again as he resumed where he left off previously, continuing listening to music.
The ride resumed in silence between them except for the background noise heard thru the music by other people in the bus, getting home from work or school.
Sleepiness once again took over Sunghoon, making his eyes heavy and droopy after a long day earlier.
His head been pretty hectic lately with having an exam he forgot about completly so he didn't study for it and the next thing was him forgetting some jumps and failing them when practicing. It didn't help at all that he also forgot today was when younger children had practice at the ice rink, making it harder to practice as he didn't want to bump into someone causing an accident.
Sighing heavily, closing his eyes he put his head on the window, enjoying the music playing which calmed him down making it harder to stay awake.
"Uhm, I'm sorry to disturb you but.. would you like to lean your head on my shoulder? The window isn't exactly the most comfiess place to sleep on and you, erm look pretty sleepy," The stranger beside him quietly spoke out making Sunghoon turn his head at him after barely being able to hear him.
Sunghoon stared some at him, pondering what he should do in this situation. But, finally accepting after some while of thinking, gently but hesitantly putting his head on the boys firm shoulder.
"What stop do you need to get off by the way? Just so I know when to wake you up." Sunghoon sleepily smiled at his words, telling him the name before dozing off.
What a kind guy.
Sunghoon sighed, picking up a stray leaf on the ground, twisting and tearing it up whilst sitting on the ground leaning against a tree with his back.
Sudden embarrassment made its way to his mind, as he thought about the yesterday's incident. Hiding his face in his hands, to avoid anyone witnessing this, except no one actually would.
How embarrassing.
Sitting in that position some while, suddenly thinking about all of his life choices Sunghoon silently began regretting everything.
The wind blew cold on his hands, alongside his hair getting disheveled too as his phone buzzed from the pants pockets.
He whipped his phone out, while trying to calm himself down he saw that it was from his mom who texted him.
Quickly replying to her he stood up after realizing what the time was, almost soon for his next period. Dusting his pants off he made his way inside the school's building again to continue on with his day.
"Hey Sunghoon, you're here early?"
"Ah, coach. Yeah, the teacher suddenly had an urgent thing to attend to, so they let us leave a bit earlier today," Sunghoon casually replied putting on his ice skates.
"That's nice. How's your practice going? Sorry I haven't been able to be here quite a lot."
Sunghoon glanced up before returningto work on the ice skates. " Don't worry, I understand. It has been going alright, still need to practice a bit, so I'll be on my way now," He somewhat lied to his coach about it going alright, he didn't want to put down more people than he already have.
Especially when something like that have happened.
"Alright, continue practicing and get the jumps correct, I'll be having a close eye on you," His coach patted Sunghoon on his shoulder whilst laughing, he nodded to confirm as he walked past to the door of the ice rink.
His coach had been on a leave recently due to their health suddenly worsening, so Sunghoon must had to practice alone except the lingering eyes of other skaters around the rink or bystanders. Though practicing alone is something Sunghoon have always enjoyed so he didn't mind much.
Sighing he skated some laps around the rink while also doing some jumps to warm himself up, getting ready for his long awaited practice.
Time went by pretty quickly and Sunghoon packed his stuff up, ready to leave when a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"You're doing well, keep practicing like that and you'll.. nevermind, our Sunghoon never disappoints does he?"
"Thank you coach, I appreciate your words." Sunghoon replied back with a faint smile ignoring the paus in their words, bowing his head he continued on walking
The walk to the bus stop was uneventful, him listening to music like usually getting on the bus after it arrived.
Taking a seat he started thinking about yesterday's incident, where he met that boy who was undeniable very kind.
Staring out the window his mind started to wander off, eventually zoning out, everything going by in a daze, up until a faniliar touch rose him from his daydreaming.
Sunghoon whipped his head around to see the boy from yesterday again standing there still as if caught doing something, which he technically actually was.
Feels like dejavu..
"Oh, hi."
"Hey again, mind if I do?" The stranger pointed down at the empty seat beside the other boy. Sunghoon nodded as he met the latters eyes, him sitting down without any hesitation.
Sunghoon stared at him some before turning away, tapping on his phone to change the music. Feeling a certain eyes on him he turned back to meet the expression of the stranger.
"What'cha listening to?" The boy said in an accent pointing with his hand to his ears, meaning he meant the earphones Sunghoon currently had on.
Sunghoon stared at him before showing the boy his phone screen to show the song. As soon as he saw the phone he made a complexed expression, leaning forward as if that would help his confusion.
"Oh? I don't think I've heard that song before," He said, leaning back again in his seat pondering.
"Wanna listen?" Sunghoon blurted out without thinking.
What the hell.
"I can? Nice, thank you mate," The boy replied with a smile as he was given an earbud by Sunghoon, putting it in his ear as the song continued on playing.
Sunghoon let out a breath, glancing out the window as buildings passed by, a reflection of him in the window was seen.
The sky had slowly begun to turn darker and darker by every passing minute, winter slowly starting to make its entrance and with everyone beginning to wear padded jackets.
Some songs were able to change meanwhile before Sunghoon realized he was nearing his stop.
"Hey, I'm nearing my stop soon," Sunghoon said to the boy beside him who turned around to make eye contact.
A silence suddenly had made its way between them but it was short lasted as the stranger smiled at him, giving back the earbud.
"Thanks for letting me listen."
"Sure, no problem."
Was the last thing Sunghoon said to him before standing up from his seat, making his way out the bus to the now cold night street again
He turned around, his eyes following the bus as it continued to drive on, a happy yet sad feeling pooling in his stomach.
"Hey Sunghoon!"
Sunghoon piped up at the noise of his name, looking up he saw Heeseung making his way over to him.
Heeseung is someone Sunghoon meet in the ice hall one day when he was just sitting on the bench staring out to the ice, curious about how people was able to move around so freely on the ice.
Ever since then Heeseung would like to come and visit Sunghoon when he practiced, in awn whenever he made a jump. But he never skated, he was only there, almost like a personal cheerleader.
"Hi hyung, how's it going," He responded back, beginning to put his ice skates on.
"Nothing much you know," Heeseung put his backpack down on the bench as he sat down beside the younger.
"Is there even anything you do in your life? You're almost an adult and every time I see you you're just as carefree as usual," Sunghoon said blankly, lowkey roasting him.
"Hey hey now, I do actually have something I do. You probably won't know what it is even if I do tell you, too invested in ice skating," He replied also lowkey roasting the other which he only got a playful glare from Sunghoon.
"Sure, whatever you say hyung," He gave a smile at the older, taking off the skate guards as he made his way onto the ice.
"Brat."
Was all Sunghoon heard before he took off laughing.
Doing his usual practice and some parts of a random routine, he always felt a pair of eyes on him. But he had learned to ignore that feeling of being watched as he continued on, avoiding some other people on the ice.
Losing the sense of time, he was brought back when he saw Heeseung waving his hands above his head, meaning only one thing.
It's closing time soon.
He nodded taking a last lap around the rink before making his way to the benches, taking his stuff going to the locker rooms to change.
After changing he went out of the lockerooms seeing Heeseung by the empty front desk, waiting for him he assumed.
"You didn't leave?" Sunghoon asked the older getting his attention.
"Not yet, your coach was just here, told me to tell you that there is a new employer tomorrow which is gonna take care of the counter."
"Oh, a new employee?"
Heeseung nodded at him. "That's all I know so don't ask me for any more information. Anyway, I gotta dip now, take care of yourself and see you!"
"Yeah yeah, bye hyung." He waved back at the older who just now exited the hall, walking away