✔︎ SLOWLY • jake

o

most of the time, i would visit jake amidst his work.

whether it was because he forgot to take the lunch pack i prepared,

he didn't take a jacket on a cold day,

or he's stuck in a harsh rainfall,

i was always there to help him out.

so when he went to work,

it was natural for me to follow him throughout the whole building.

now, he's stuck in front of the large monitor, typing in stuff i couldn't comprehend.

i blanked off to let my mind replay memories that i can clearly picture;

just like the time when jake finally asked me out.

jake and i are good friends.

if he's not babying my cousin,

he was busy pampering me instead.

and that's why with no matter how large the love in my heart and how wild the butterflies in my stomach are,

i didn't have the courage to tell my true feelings.

just like anyone who had fallen for their dearest friend— i was scared to confess.

i remember that i was wearing a pastel blue dress with puffed sleeves.

my hair was tied into a braid and i had a headband that matched my blue dress.

earrings, bracelet, necklace, rings, i wore all of them.

i wasn't really a girly type nor did i enjoy bothering myself to put on all of the things i mentioned—

but i always become the most dolled up lady whenever jake would invite me somewhere.

he would treat me ice cream amidst a heated summer,

or go to picnic hang outs on a blooming spring day in a usual occurrence.

and i thought that day wasn't any different.

jake invited me to the riverside and when i heard those three words out of his mouth,

i couldn't contain my happiness.

"i like you." he confessed.

it was like a dream come true.

it was like a scene of a prince charming,

kissing his lady's hand as the birds chirp and the winds gently sway their clothes and hair.

"jake, can you come with me?" with the mention of my fiancé's name, my short time of reminiscing has been cut short.

i looked to see jake,

eyes focused at the girl standing beside his seat.

it was that girl a few days ago, chaewon.

why.... is she calling him?

my lips that were once curved up— went down.

"hmmh.." jake responded with a hum before following the pretty girl outside, and towards the building's roof.

i walked behind them, and stopped when they both stood by the railing.

"jay told me about you.." the girl started talking, and again, jake hummed in response—

as if he was uninterested with whatever the girl was trying to say.

"jake, i'm sorry."

"i didn't know your lover died."

it was a truth.. that hurts to be heard coming from a stranger.

"i was insensitive for telling you the things i told you a few days ago." the girl apologised while jake sarcastically chuckles.

"you still are." jake bitterly smiled and for the first time— he finally looked upon the girl's face.

"chaewon, why are you always following me around like a lost puppy?" jake asked with his cold eyes.

the girl was startled, just like how i was.

jake was never one to glare at anyone, even if he was mad or irritated, he never had the heart to do so.

still, the girl had the courage to say her answer to jake's rhetorical question,

"it's because i like you."