Chapter Text
Across from Sunghoon's workshop is a little fountain. On the steps in front of it is sitting a young boy. He sighs with his chin propped on his hands.
Sunghoon notices him while on his lunch break, he's munching on the bread next to the car he's trying to restore right now. The boy catches his eye immediately. He's wearing a cute pink t-shirt and he's pouting while sighing deeply over and over again. Sunghoon is struck by his beauty, it's like he shines brighter than the Italian sun itself. But he's distressed about something. Sunghoon can't help but get curious about why the pretty boy is so miserable in scenery like that.
It never hurt to ask, right? Sunghoon gets up when he finishes eating and dusts off his coveralls. He wonders if it's very stained with the grease.
The boy is still in that resigned position.
"Is everything okay?" Sunghoon asks when he stands next to the boy, casting a shadow over him. But he only notices Sunghoon when he speaks up after clearing his throat.
The boy blinks a few times, he must be dazzled by the bright sun after looking at the ground for that long. He tilts his head in surprise after focusing his eyes on Sunghoon.
"Not really." He answers finally. Well, that was about to be expected. "We just arrived yesterday but my sister is already MIA." He continues and Sunghoon isn't quite sure why the boy decides to simply confide in him. Maybe it's because of their shared ethnicity in a foreign place.
He hums noncommittally. "How old is she?"
"Twenty-two." Sunghoon can't help but snort at the serious reply. The boy scowls at him.
"It's not funny!" He throws his hands into the air dramatically. "My parents entrusted me with keeping her in check! But obviously, my beloved older sister just bolted as soon as she woke up." He grumbles some more before huffing again.
"Does she often cause trouble?" Sunghoon asks out of courtesy as he sits next to the dejected boy.
"I mean yeah... She moved out of the family house very soon and she just partied for a few months. My parents were a bit frightened and worried about her lifestyle so they sent me to live with her."
"So you're the reliable younger sibling."
"Totally." The boy nods his head. "She's my best friend and we get along but sometimes I just... Ugh! If my parents find out I lost her on the first day in Italy... They'll go crazy."
"Don't tell them then. I'm sure she'll come back soon enough." Sunghoon comforts the boy to his best.
"You think so?" The boy looks at him with shiny eyes, clearly being grateful for any reliance right now.
"Yeah. You said you're very close, right? I'm sure she wouldn't just leave you on your own in an unknown country."
"Not unless she gets into her partying whirl." The boy sighs again and Sunghoon doesn't know what else to say. "It's my first summer after graduating high school and it sucks already." The boy hugs his knees with his arms folding his body, he looks tiny. Sunghoon has to hold back the cooing urges.
"What's your name?" Sunghoon decides to finally ask the younger boy. At least now he knows he's not a minor.
"Sunoo. And you?" Sunoo peeks out over his shoulder. He's very cute. Sunghoon might be falling in love.
"I'm Sunghoon. And my break is about to end." He motions his head forward. "I work there."
"Ah, that explains the car smell." Sunoo chuckles, looking somewhat carefree for the first time. And once again Sunghoon is falling. Is it even possible to be so... bubbly?
Only after that does he notice the jab at his odor. He feigns a frown. "It's not that bad... is it?" Sunoo seems amused enough as he giggles again. Sunghoon can't help the corners of his mouth turning up in a little smile as well.
Unfortunately, he has to go now. Stupid, adult responsibilities. "Listen, Sunoo. Your holidays don't have to be bad even with your sister running wild. You can... try to have fun as well, you know?" He says as he gets up. "I know your parents expect you to supervise your sister. But you're not her babysitter. Maybe it's not my place to say anything... But she's old enough to handle herself. And you're also old enough to be your own person and loosen up." Sunghoon decides to just throw it out there. He's just some meaningless stranger and they won't see each other again so he may as well just speak his mind on the matter. Who knows, maybe it will give Sunoo something to think about and do him good.
Sunoo stares at him in silence. His inexpressive face looks kind of eerie. Sunghoon almost shivers, the boy's eyes are very sharp. Sunghoon finally puts a finger on the resemblance he was wondering about the whole time. Sunoo is foxy. It's very... enticing. He really needs to get back to work.
He gulps and bows shortly. "It was nice meeting you, Sunoo. I hope you'll have a great summer vacation after all." He sincerely hopes so. Anxiety doesn't suit him, Sunghoon hopes the boy will have a chance to flourish here.
He gets no response but that's okay. Sunghoon was probably a bit out of line. Sometimes it seems to be like that for him. It's fine. He turns around, his day still got a little better because of that precious boy.
Sunghoon feels the observing eyes on him while he walks away until he disappears inside his workshop.