The Boy From The Bridge - Jakehoon

Chapter 43: The Offer 3/7

Sunghoon watched Jake leave. Just having him smile at him made his heart swoon. He evidentially wasn't being subtle.  "What's up with you?" Jay asked, catching him in the throws of attraction.

"Nothing..." Sunghoon tried to say before being cut off by Jay.

"You always say that, but somethings different with you"

"What do you mean?" Sunghoon asked, his smile had vanished from his face quickly.

"Gooey eyed day dreaming? Always staring out of the window smiling?"

"I'm doing what?" Sunghoon asked, surprised that he was becoming so obvious.

"Yeah and it's weird. So what's up - what's on your mind?"

"Just some" Sunghoon hesitated, he couldn't exactly reveal anything to Jay - it wasn't like him and Jake were anything substantial yet, "uhh, just stuff -  nothing to concern yourself about dude" Sunghoon said, trying to reassure his friend.

"Nothing or no-one?" Jay asked Sunghoon to which he didn't know how to answer. Jay seized upon his momentary hesitation, "Ha! So there is someone?"

"What no?"Sunghoon cried. 

"Who is she?"

"She?" Sunghoon said before realising he didn't want to say anything that might suggest his sexuality being atypical. "I mean, she does't go here, you wouldn't know her..."

"Oh come on Sunghoon, that's the oldest one in the book - the nonexistent girlfriend from out of school. You can talk to me, right - you just seem disconnected that's all"

"What? She's real!" Sunghoon protested before being struck by his friend's concern, "You think I seem off?"

"Off? No I wound't say that exactly, in fact I would say that I haven't seen you this well in a long time."

"You would?"

"Yeah, you carry yourself with more... confidence"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. You know you don't have to hide her from us right. Even if she looked like a boar I'm sure Heeseung, Jaeyun and I would all agree she was beautiful"

"Oh, well you don't have to worry about the guys not liking her?" Sunghoon said a little too quickly. 

"Why not?"

"I'd say I'm punching"

"You'd say you're punching?" Jay asked in exaggerated but genuine amazement. "But you think you're a thirteen out of ten"

"I am!" Sunghoon said slamming his hand on the desk, causing many of their classmates to turn and stare.

"Alright" Jay said , tilting his head in supplication. "Then tell me about this girl..."

As if by divine intervention, that moment Teacher Che walked in the classroom. Her entry brought silence to the room as all the pupils dutifully terminated their conversations.

"Yun, where's Jaeyun?" She snapped immediately, noticing Jake's absence.

____________

Jake ran his hands down his face, rubbing off the water he had splashed on it moments before. He had gone to the bathroom so he could be by-himself. Standing by the sink, he sighed at his reflection. When he had come to this school, he had felt insecure about his back story. He had feared that those around him would try to pick holes in his fabrication and that eventually he would fold, collapsing in upon himself.