Chapter Text
When the world is your oyster, you would be the pearl. Everyone would take care of the pearl, to seize the precious thing, to keep it in their grasp and call it their own.
Life is too boring for Park Sunghoon; nothing could excite him much.
He grew up in beauty, in riches most would only dare to dream, the cost of living like a cost of a life.
Everything he wants could be obtained. Everything he needs is more than what people are needy for.
But he couldn’t feel something. All his life, he has searching for a feeling to cling on, to have what most have taken for granted. Like a butterfly, he likes how those flap their wings to fly, just to keep afloat—and pass around pollen, golden dust of life for others.
So kind, so beautiful, so intriguing. If he could catch so beautiful like a butterfly, he’ll nail it down on a wall for him to keep.
So when his eyes caught on a butterfly in campus, his heart was set of having it—by whatever means he could achieve it.
So when he was hanging around with the group of people he calls friends, strolling down the long alley of club booths for the university’s open day, he accidentally laid his eyes on one, so pretty while it fluttered around people.
A boy, soft bubblegum pink hair and a smile that could rival the sun, handing out flyers for Hope-Line—a club which is a part of the Counselling and Career Services of the university. Sunghoon had never heard of them, but they were more known by the other guys in the group.
Stopping by at the booth, all decorated in purple balloons and streamers, they were approached by the crew in charge of Hope-Line’s booth, explaining about the club’s role and previous events they’ve done.
But none of that were Sunghoon’s interest—it was the boy, standing among the crew, smiling and nodding as his friend enthusiastically explain. There was something in Sunghoon’s chest, beating as he met eyes with the boy. Shiny hazel eyes, more honey-like in the sun, and he bashfully looks away from Sunghoon’s stare.
This is…interesting. He’s a butterfly. That’s the first time he’s seen a person synonymous of what he pictured a butterfly would be as a human. Studying him as a whole, he sees his committee tag hanging around his neck, ‘Kim Sunoo’ printed on in white behind purple background.
Kim Sunoo.
At the end of the promotion, his group were given flyers and promises to be present if they are in need of someone to talk to. To his surprise, the butterfly hands him the flyer personally, and as Sunghoon walks off with the group, he felt the warmth of the boy’s hand from where he was holding the flyer.
Kim Sunoo.
✦•┈๑⋅… …·๑┈•✦
Kim Sunoo, 20, a sophomore. Majoring in Psychology, taking a minor of English Lit.
Lives in the dormitory, block C, the fifth floor, room number 196.
Loves cafe-hopping, taking pictures of himself, mint chocolate ice-cream and his favorite colors are pink, purple, mint and baby blue. Afraid of heights, hates small spaces and the dark.
That’s a bit of research. That is superficial information he gathered, but there is a lot more that he could say at the top of his head.
Sunoo likes carrying a sage green satchel to class, and Sunghoon has his timetable memorized along with his lecturers and class venues.
Starting then, he feels like it was his calling. Sunoo is sparkling in front of him, and he’s got Shiny Object Syndrome. There is just something about him, something that sets him apart from the rest.
There is one time where he got out of class, and he was walking out of the lecture hall when he saw Sunoo, in his baby blue oversized sweater with his friends walking by past him. His soft laugh rings in his ears, and his smile lingers in the afterimage when he blinks.
It was easy following him around since, well, Sunoo is outside a lot. He studies in the library from 3-5 on Tuesdays while waiting for his 5 p.m. class and 2-4 on Thursday. He goes to Hope-Line committee meetings at 8 p.m. on Fridays at a café nearby campus.
His closest friends are Yang Jungwon and his roommate Nishimura Riki, often hanging out to eat and explore the city at night.
Kim Sunoo’s life is quite a fulfilling one, Sunghoon gives it as that. One with purpose, and he is full of energy and love to give.
Over the course of a few weeks, Sunghoon has come to learn so much more about Sunoo—and even more, become completely enamoured by him and his charms.
He sits at an undetectable distance, enough to have Sunoo in sight at any angle, and he keeps an eye on him. It’s his favorite pastime, and actually the only thing he does these days.
“Your hair is cute today,”
Sunghoon says, holding up the screen with Sunoo’s picture of him finishing his assignment on his laptop at the library prior in the afternoon. No one is in his bedroom besides himself, but he’s smiling.
Sunoo’s hair is fluffier than usual; must have skipped his conditioner because when he walked past him, he didn’t get the same honeysuckle scent as per usual.
Just guessing anyway. He wouldn’t know, unless.
Unless, he goes and sees it himself, right?
He turns to the other side of the bed, zooming into the picture to study how long his eyelashes are, how the eyeshadow and the fine glitter on his lids made him so sweet, so delicate—so delectable. Hunger breeds in him for something more. Just knowing these mundane details aren’t enough.
He wants more of Sunoo.
Sunoo is a butterfly, his wings are delicate, but a dashing hue deceivingly bold. He wants to know how close he could get before he flies away—or maybe, he could make him stay.
✦•┈๑⋅… …·๑┈•✦
One thing about Sunoo is that he’s so naive. So, very naive and kind.
He sees a cat on campus and stops to give them treats he keeps in his bag.
His friends would look for him to ask for help and he will never say no.
He greets every cleaner he meets on campus with a bright smile and a ‘how do you do’.
He will never turn down an invitation.
For Sunghoon, every single time he sees Sunoo doing an act of kindness, the higher the desire he has to take him away. He looks like an angel with that halo smile of his, and he always gives people the benefit of the doubt.
It’s almost as if he has never been hurt. Sunghoon likes that. He seems so pure that an innate desire in Sunghoon to protect comes out, bringing himself to follow Sunoo around like a shadow.
In a span of a week, Sunoo has forgotten his bag in cafes and cafeterias four times. And four times, he had to tell the shopkeeper to keep it safe because he didn’t want to reveal himself to Sunoo. At least not yet. He sketched out a plan in his diary on how this will play out.
And the next step is coming closer; Sunghoon has just got to be patient.
✦•┈๑⋅… …·๑┈•✦
“Hey, Oosun. You think Happy Place is still open?”
Riki asks, hanging his arm around Sunoo’s shoulder as they walk out of the hall. Jungwon squeezes out of the stampede of the students and manages to keep up his pace with them next to Riki.
Happy Place is a comic book cafe outside of campus, just a ten minute walk there. They would hang out and eat snacks there until it closes at 6. Since the lecture finished early, they would have an hour to kill before it closes. What’s a free hour compared to a hot bowl of instant ramen and comics?
“You know what? I’m feeling nachos today too, why not?” Jungwon seconds to his suggestion, already imagining the cheese dip and those nachos. Sunoo didn’t mind, he’s been working so hard lately, he could use some me-time before he starts on a study case tonight.
He nods, but before he could verbally respond, his shoulder accidentally bumped into someone, making something fall from their unzipped bag. Reflexively, Sunoo turns around and see a book on the floor, a copy of Strength Anatomy Training and the student walking away, unaware.
“Sorry guys, this dude dropped his book—let me get him.”
He takes the book and runs into the crowd of students in the cramped corridor, recalling seeing a glimpse of his height and hair when he knocked into him and tries to spot jet black hair. Ahead of him, a few people in front, he sees him and makes it to him.
He didn’t hesitate to tap on his shoulder, and when he turns around, Sunoo had a recognition of who he was. He sort of remembered his face somewhere; small face, round eyes and prominent eyebrows. The boy looked like he was in a daze, confused until Sunoo holds up the book to his sight.
“Hey, I’m really sorry but I bumped into you and this fell out,”
Sunoo explains, seeing him understanding and retrieving the book.
“Thanks, I owe you one. I would be pissed if I couldn’t find this. ”
He gives a lopsided smile, and the way he talks, is so cool. Sunoo gushes inwardly, admiring this air of nonchalance as he puts the book back into his bag. Realizing he accidentally gawked at this guy in front of him, Sunoo gets a little shy.
“I’m sorry, but you look really, really familiar. I think I’ve seen you lots,”
Sunoo comments, noting the moles scattered on his face and the beautifully strong jawline made him look pretty to Sunoo. The boy looks up, thinking until his eyebrows perked up as if he got an answer. He shot a finger gun to Sunoo.
“Pretty sure you were managing a booth during an event a while ago. Can’t remember, everything was purple.”
“Oh, the Open Day! Yeah, I’m on Hope-Line, hence the purple-ness of everything…”
Nervously giggling, Sunoo felt ten times shyer, he didn’t think people would remember him from when he was on duty. But the boy gives a smile, and Sunoo feels his cheek warm.
“That’s cool. Really intrigued me, your programs. Let me know if you guys are doing something,”
“Actually,” Sunoo remembers about a vital information, proceeding to rummage through his bag to pull out a purple flyer to the boy, “This Saturday, we’re hosting an art therapy session. Really fun, you should come if you have time to spend,”
The boy’s eyes skim through the poster, nodding, “Art therapy, gotcha. Thanks…” He trails off, remembering he does not have a name to address him.
“Sunoo.”
Sunoo gives out his name, witnessing the boy’s smile grew longer, making him weak in his heart. “Right, Sunoo. I’m Sunghoon, by the way.”
Sunghoon, okay. Sunoo repeats it ten times in his head while staring into his face to properly encode the info into his memory. “Well I’ll see you around, Sunoo.”
He excuses himself, then walks away, leaving Sunoo holding in a smile as he walks back to join his two friends waiting for him.
Sunghoon. Cool guy, tall and good-looking, Sunoo notes, intrigued with his style. If he were to guess, he would be taking Sports Science since he was carrying that book around. Let’s see if he actually shows up on Saturday.
・・・・・
Sunghoon has never felt more accomplished. He was so close to Sunoo, and he managed to get him to say his name. His senses still hold onto the lingering smell of Sunoo’s rose and jasmine perfume in his system. He couldn’t make up which one is more arousing to think of—the way he got shy and blushed while talking to him, or the way he excitedly gets him to join the event as if he wants to see him again.
He paces in his place, holding the book Sunoo handed to him, putting his fingers over the spot. He bet Sunoo’s hands are soft like a petal since he uses that rose hand cream so much, he could feel it already.
Even the way his eyes shines while talking made Sunghoon applaud his own self-restraint because if he listened to his id, he’d maul Sunoo right then and there.
Patience is the key, he reminds himself, careful not to topple this progress. He needs it to be natural and organic—less suspicions raised and more trust could be gained.
So with two more days remaining before Saturday, he maintains a safe distance. He can’t really go as close as before now that Sunoo could recognise him. But even getting a glimpse of him is enough to give him a shot of dopamine he needs.
He studies how Sunoo walks, the way he talks to other people. It differs from people, and he sees how he talks less with people other than Riki and Jungwon. He lets new people talk more.
So he should keep note of that when he’s talking to him later.
✦•┈๑⋅… …·๑┈•✦
Saturday rolls around.
Sunghoon has the flyer pinned on a soft board above his study table, having the time, date and venue all memorised from staring at it for too long.
He’s thought of all the possibilities and plays out scenarios in his head of how this day could go. Fretting is useless, he needs to concentrate on today—there is a big milestone he is set on achieving.
He comes at 8 sharp, seeing the venue—a small multipurpose room in the Humanities faculty building, enough for 200 students—filling up. A registration table with a small queue is next to the entrance. Sunghoon joins at the back of the line, waiting for his turn in front of the table who two girls were in charge. One recognized Sunghoon, waving to him.
“Oh, Sunghoon? Fancy you being here,”
“Yeah, I had nothing better to do.” The other girl was searching for his name only to frown.
“I can’t find a Sunghoon here.”
“Because he’s with me,”
Sunghoon sees Sunoo appearing from the back of the table, holding up a stack of oil pastels to stock up at the side of the table. Smiling, he breathed a sigh of relief. “You saved me again.”
Sunoo chuckled, adding his name at the bottom of the list to check it out, then giving him a few sheets of drawing block paper and a pack of pastels, nudging his head towards inside the hall.
“Meet me there in that circle—yeah, that one. I’ll settle some things first.”
“Thanks,” He thanks, holding the pack of pastels and making his way to the circle of people he mentioned, around 4-5 people with him as they sat criss-cross applesauce on the floor.
This is not how he expected to be. Other people with him? Looks like he has to be competing for Sunoo’s attention.
But it’s alright, as long as he gets to be with Sunoo for a few hours today.
Loud taps from the microphone at the stage directs everyone’s attention to the front of the hall, where the MC starts the program by introducing the speaker and instructor.
This lady, a certified art therapist steps up on stage and her slides are promptly displayed on the screen. What excites him is when he sees the committee members all walking into the crowd, stationing themselves to every circle.
And Sunoo is walking towards his direction. His heart shakes, and it gets stronger when Sunoo actually sits himself in front of the circle. His wishes were answered, and especially when he makes eye contact with Sunoo who was smiling. Smiling, he is in disbelief.
“Don’t mind me, I’m just here to facilitate you guys.”
The session starts with tranquil music playing in the background, the instructor telling them to close their eyes, imagining the feelings they have and draw them when they are fully ready.
Sunghoon didn’t care for that shit. He was in it for the money, the cash flow when he starts drawing squiggles with moss green, randomly doodling leaves as Sunoo keeps a keen eye.
The rest in the group are second and third-timers of the event, they are familiar with the exercise. That’s why Sunoo is paying more attention to him.
“You look like you have a hand at drawing already, Sunghoon,” Sunoo compliments, noticing how well-put his drawing is on his paper. Sunghoon gives him a small smile, “I kinda draw in my free time.”
Sunoo looks at him, impressed.
“Now you got my attention.”
He laughs airily, using his fingers to blur out the cloud to give a more seamless effect.
“Just doodles, nothing crazy. Actually, I haven’t done it in a while, so this feels familiar—no, homely.”
Sunoo catches the warmth in his eyes as he takes yellow and orange to blend with the leaves. Creating a small array of autumn leaves. So he must be picturing autumn while listening to the background music.
“I really picked the right person to join this, huh? What a coincidence.” He says, staring at Sunghoon’s artwork in awe. The other tries to deny it, staying humble.
“Nah, you were persuasive and smooth. Bet you made the book drop just to get me, didn’t you?”
Sunoo blushes, flustered—quickly denying the playful accusation. “N-no! I would never, it was an accident!” His reaction causes him to laugh, endeared by the way his face turns pink like his hair, shaking his head. “Relax, just messing with you.”
He replies, adding a chuckle as he puts the paper away. Listening to the instructions the lady in front is giving next; another prompt to draw out. This time, something you feel the most relevant to your life recently. Perfect, Sunghoon glances over to Sunoo next to him who was anticipating his next artwork.
“I didn’t think it was an accident, Sunoo.”
He claims out of the sudden, his hand reaches out for green again and draws out long strands, squiggly and wavy. Entangling with each other, varying in thickness and pattern. They were vines, and he adds purple into the picture, doodling circles in circles until it forms what Sunoo could see as flowers. Resembling peonies, or roses even.
“I think being here was fate.”
Sunoo’s eyes flickered from his paper to the side profile of the male. His stolid gaze on the paper, the way he looks effortless, so cool, so—handsome. As his eyes traces the lines of his nose, to the outline of his lips, he felt a fuzzy feeling in his tummy.
“Fate could mean you bringing me here,” Red, a bit of blue added in some areas of the vines and flowers, then yellow streaks here and there for the highlighting, signifying the warm rays of a sun on the messy, disordered vines.
Then, his hand stops.
“But I like to think it means me meeting you.”
His comment made Sunoo look at him again—to find his gaze, umbrous and cool, already resting upon him, accompanied with his smile.
Sunoo’s heart staggered.
Hiding his expression, Sunoo giggles, covering his undying stubborn smile.
“You have a way with words.”
“Maybe that’s the inner peace brewing.”
They spring out in laughter, Sunoo seemed much contented in conversation, he forgot to watch over the rest of the group. Not that they needed much watching anyway, they’re all adults here.
“Hey, I actually never asked you your major,” Sunghoon slips in, although, he knew. Sunoo chuckled,
“Take a wild guess.”
Sunghoon takes a pause before he blurts out the answer. He acts as if studying Sunoo, staring him up and down until he smiles.
“Psychology. C’mon, you guys are so easy to spot,” Sunghoon pretended to jokingly guess only for Sunoo to laugh out of amazement that he got it right.
“Oh no, what gave it away?”
“Wow, I don’t know—maybe it’s the way you talk, the way you look at people, the way you are in Hope-Line—then again, I’m really just guessing,”
Sunoo’s laughter ensues, and it’s spreading to Sunghoon as he snickers, knowing he got it on the dot. Nodding, he tries to stifle his laughter.
“Me being here is such a dead giveaway.”
“Mhm.”
Sunoo sighs from too much laughing, “No, but you know what? I love being in Hope-Line because I meet so many fun people—like you, for example,” He explains, finally the smile rests on his lips comfy,
“And I love listening to people. Here in Hope-Line, you really just learn to just listen to people when they need you. Like a rent-a-friend sort of thing because therapy is too expensive, I suppose,”
“Wonderful concept. I guess this is a nice, positive environment, I would come around just for the vibes.”
Sunoo keeps his view of Sunghoon, admiring the aura he has. There was something different about Sunghoon; usually guys like him don’t really care much for things like this. They always have something better to do, and he understands that it’s harder for some people to express their feelings truthfully or even think that’s relevant.
“You know, I think I should give you my number. I have a feeling we could be really good friends,”
Sunoo whips out his phone and Sunghoon does the same, receiving his number after he recites it. Saved it with his full name and Sunghoon keeps a butterfly emoji by the name.
“I’m sure we could. Let’s hang when you have some time,”
“Sure thing.”
✦•┈๑⋅… …·๑┈•✦
Art Therapy With Hope-Line: Phase 3 was a success. According to the post-mortem report and feedbacks collected from the participants, many of them gave 4 or 5 stars from the management and the activity itself.
All of the committees are satisfied, including Sunoo who thoroughly enjoyed each session and phase.
“If Sunghoon would like it, then it will be an easy sell to say that we made a great impact.”
Sharon shares, bumping Sunoo with her elbow. He only laughs at her comment, still foggy about why she and Lydia made a fuss about Sunghoon being there.
“Please, Sunoo—Sunghoon is not a nobody. He’s well-known around here. Maybe you aren’t too familiar since he’s a senior.”
Sunoo tilted his head, interested.
“Is he? Well, what does he do?”
“First of all, thank god you asked this to us instead of him—he’d probably be offended.
His father is the CEO of Sents Corp. And although he’s probably not going to inherit the business because he’s the youngest, he’s still rolling in dough.”
Lydia nods along to the other’s words, confirming her words. Sunoo was still confused, “Soooo… he’s famous because he’s rich?”
“Sunoo, you are lucky he even talked to you. Usually he just minds his own business. Like have you taken a good look at him? He’s drop dead gorgeous,”
That Sunoo can agree because it doesn’t take another pair of eyeballs to consolidate how attractive he is to Sunoo. Sunghoon could be a model, maybe with his charisma, a celebrity even.
“Ehem,”
The three of them slowly turn their heads around to see the rest of the committee staring at them, including the president, Park Jongseong.
“Keep gossiping outside of our meetings. Or fangirling, perhaps,”
Both Lydia and Sharon gave him a side-glance, giving him a thick-skinned eye roll and comforting the youngest of the team, Sunoo who was blushing out of pure embarrassment.
It was their fault anyway. He understands, now resuming his attention to the meeting. His head is still spinning around the thoughts surrounding Park Sunghoon, the boy he had just made friends with the other day.
What luck did he have to be bumping into such an influential figure? But there is no way Sunghoon is aloof. A bit reserved, might be. Mysterious could be a better word. If it’s true, then why would he talking to him out of all people?
He should be talking to someone up to par with his standard like Jongseong.
This thought follows him out of the meeting room as he plans on returning to the dormitory. With his hands holding the strap of his sling bag, he walks away when he was stopped by someone calling his name.
He turns to see Jongseong—well, Sunoo calls him Jay—walking up to him.
“Hey, what’s up?”
He asks, cheerful as usual. Out of nowhere, Jay pulls out two lollipops from his bag, holding it up to Sunoo’s face.
“Take ‘em.”
Clueless, Sunoo accepts the gesture and keeps them in his bag.
“Why the lollipops?”
“So you wouldn’t hold a grudge against me after I called you out just now.”
He says flatly. The recalling of the incident left a reminiscent of the heat on his cheeks.
“Just great. You’ve gone and made me embarrassed again.”
Sunoo acts hurt, pulling his face and marching away from Jay only for him to appear right next to him. Walking alongside him in silence until Sunoo breaks out of character, chuckling.
“Are you going to follow me around until I accept your apology?”
“That wasn’t an apology.”
He replies, looking away. Sunoo rolled his eyes playfully, “Okay then. You are not forgiven.”
Jay sighs, “What a brat.”
“Excuse me—me, a brat? I’m an angel,”
Sunoo defended himself, but Jay doesn’t buy it.
“Whatever you say. I’m just looking out for you, I didn’t intend on upsetting you or the girls,”
Sunoo shook his head, “No, it’s my fault too. Sorry for interrupting the meeting,”
Jay gives him a warm smile, stroking his pink hair like a cat.
“That’s okay. Not a big deal anyways,”
His habit of petting him is comforting. Jay has always helped him out and cared for him ever since he joined the club. Apart from Jungwon and Riki, Jay is also a great friend.
“Where are you going after this?”
“Back to my dorm.”
Jay nods, finally pulling away his hand from his head.
“Okay then. Walk back safely,”
“You too, Jay,”
And with that, they part ways, Sunoo walking off in the distance to the residence block, Jay watching out until he is out of sight.
Both are blissfully unaware that their interactions were watched over through the lens of a camera.
Sunghoon’s camera, and his vigilant, sharp eyes. His heart thumping so loud, the vibrations from his heartbeat shaking the camera.
“There is nothing more I hate than dirty people touching my butterfly’s wings.”
His rage carries him to his apartment where he paces around, restless. Thumb between his teeth as he gnaws on his nails.
His plan was stretched into a longer time-period, ensuring that it gives a more organic growth. But his guts boil from the possibility of this guy swooping in and snatching Sunoo away from him.
The closeness, the teasing, the comfortable touch and distance between them is infuriating. That was supposed to be him, supposed to be him, supposed to be him!
“Fuck!”
All he could see was red.
Sunghoon punches the plaster wall, his fist going through with the sound of cracks. A clean hole in the wall, and Sunghoon grunts. Pulling his hand out, he could see it haunting mockingly in his head—their smiles.
“How dare you.”
He seethed, stretching his fingers apart. Too overcooked by anger to notice blood and bruising of his knuckles.
Why on earth would Sunoo smile at him like that? Who was he to him? Why would someone like that guy get so close to Sunoo, touching him like it was his right?
His eyes dart to the soft board, already filled with pictures of Sunoo. Resting specifically on a picture of him sleeping in the library, his long eyelashes resting on his cheek.
He caresses his head in the picture, the shaking from fury subsiding.
“Sunoo, you shouldn’t even look at him. You should be looking at me,”
He mumbles, his eyes shaking. This is driving him up the wall. He needs to side track to find out who that bastard is, then he will proceed with his main game plan.
He needs to do it fast.