Chapter Text
That day, six I-landers were replaced with 6 grounders. Sunoo, having to see the I-land quarters on his first day, recognized the structure of the place. Sitting on a chair next to Jaebeom in the I-land lobby, he couldn’t help but feel uneasiness in the atmosphere.
Perhaps it’s the people. He thought while looking at the faces across from him. Maybe I’m just already familiar with my fellow grounders.
A loud beeping sound filled the room suddenly, followed by a low robotic voice giving an announcement.
“We’re going to announce the second test for I-landers…”
Oh, but I’m in I-land now. Sunoo snapped out of his thoughts about the Ground. I have an opportunity to debut here, I need to behave like an I-lander now. Determination filled his head as he focused on the announcement displayed on the screen before him.
And just like that, the 12 I-landers received their second test.
After parts distribution, one of the boys suggested for the former grounders to take a look around the I-land quarters. Sunoo recognized the practice room, a huge room lined with mirrors fit for even more than 12 people. When they reached the second floor, he marveled at the round glass floor in the middle of the living room. Sunghoon, the tall one with perfect eyebrows, Sunoo remembered, showed them the toilet. After seeing all the important rooms, they broke out according to their sleeping quarters.
When it was time for lunch, Sunoo approached Jaebeom, whom he’s most comfortable with at the moment, to eat together. Somehow, the two ended up eating at the far end of the table, away from most of the I-landers. They jokingly mentioned how the I-landers look a bit like celebrities and how the two of them felt like an outsider in that room.
Sunoo said to Jaebeom, “you know I’m a little bit shy right.” In which Jaebeom disagreed completely. They two laughed a little bit when Sunoo peeked to his left. Sunoo noticed that Sunghoon was eating quietly. Following his conversation with Jaebeom, Sunoo said in a timid voice to the boy on his left, “Su-Sunghoonie hyung…”
Sunghoon was caught off guard since he wasn't facing Sunoo, so he just looked at Sunoo and laughed a little. Sunoo was embarrassed due to his sudden action so he said, “ah sorry.” while laughing nervously. Why did I call his name like that? Sunoo thought.
After lunch was done, Sunghoon proceeded to wash the dish using a pair of neon pink gloves. He was concentrating on wiping a stubborn stain on a plate when someone asked him saying, “Sunghoon hyung.”
“Hm?”, Sunghoon replied.
“Are you close with Jake hyung?”
“Yeah”, Sunghoon said nonchalantly.
This piqued Sunoo’s interest, who was listening to the conversation next to Sunghoon.
“You two are close already?” Sunoo asked, his voice showing that he’s curious. Of course, he was. Jake and Sunoo were a unit in the first test before the contestants were divided into the I-land and Ground. How come Jake already got close to Sunghoon?
Sunghoon nodded and said, “Jake is cute.”
Sunoo felt like it was a challenge. “I’m way cuter though.” Said Sunoo confidently.
Sunghoon laughed a little at Sunoo’s response, in which Sunoo immediately added, “I’m sorry."
Sunghoon responded fast, “ah no, no.”
Sunoo then said shamelessly, “I want to get close with you, actually.”
“Me?”
“Yeah.” Sunoo answered almost immediately.
Sunghoon felt his chest tightened for a millisecond. That’s cute, he thought. And maybe Sunghoon decided then, too, that he wanted to get to know Sunoo. The way Sunoo is all sunshine and smile and is very different from him, yet Sunghoon didn't mind. The way he says all those things so casually to Sunghoon, who seems cold and unapproachable from afar. And maybe that’s why when Sunoo said he wanted to get close to Sunghoon, the elder just smiled and laughed. Because Sunghoon felt drawn to Sunoo’s energy, like the moon not realizing that it is being pulled by the sun’s gravity.