My Secret Lover

Chapter 4

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Pov. Park Sunghoon

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I jogged along my usual "I can't sleep" route, which I already knew inside out. Once to a ramen shop and then back again. From home there and back I was busy for at least an hour.

When you had a stressful and annoying life like mine, such little "walks" were routine for me. In situations like this, it is important to find a distraction so that your head doesn't burst, and your own four walls don't constrict you feeling cramped like a sardine in a can...

I left my mobile phone at home for purpose use. So, I didn't have any music but listened to the surrounding sounds. There was a slight wind and a soft rustling noise, very few cars drove by and so far, I had only jogged towards two passers-by.

From a distance, I could already see the ramen shop, so I quickened my pace and had my gaze fixed on the ground, focusing my energy to go full throttle.

"Sunghoon?"

I jogged on but glanced briefly back at the passerby who appeared to be walking past me. My gaze stopped first at the dog because it had a light-colored fur and looked creepily familiar. When I widened my field of vision and saw the owner, I stopped, startled.

Jake?!

"Ou hi! What are you doing out here at this hour?" I inquired, brushing the sweat from my forehead. Of course, the sudden stop made me breathe like a fish on the beach.

"I could ask you the same question," Jake replied, coming toward me. "Doing a bit of a jog," I replied, nodding in affirmation as I rubbed my chin for some inexplicable reason.

Was I trying to look mysterious or was I trying to cover my startled face?

"Jogging? At one in the morning?"

"And you're walking Layla at this hour?", I countered, to which I felt like slapping myself. "You know Layla? I don't even remember mentioning her!" laughed Jake, bending down slightly to stroke Layla's fur.

Well, I stalked your Instagram. That's why I know her.

"Namra once said that Heeseung's best friend has a dog named Layla," I explained, gesturing with my hands to seem more believable. "I see..."

An awkward silence ensued.

"Right... I'll be on my way then, have a nice evening!", I said briefly but realized that I now had to make my way back and Jake was just walking in that direction. "Although...", I began and looked at Jake. "Do you have to go that way? We can walk together for a bit if you feel like it. You're breathing like a fish, you could use a little break to get some new energy," he suggested, smiling warmly at me. "You're right!"

Even he thought I was a fish...

Together we struck the path. Unfortunately, even now there was a silence and I had to keep glancing at Jake, my mind fully on him and my confused feelings. I wanted to be friends with him, so I had to do something about it!

But Jake broke the silence first and asked me a question: "How are you?"

"Fine, but a bit exhausted from the day. How about you? Everything in the green?"

"Exhausted but still jogging? You're really funny, but what wouldn't you do for figure skating," Jake purred, giving me a cursory glance. Yes, exactly. Just because of the figure skating...

"What about you?", I asked the counter-question. "Can't sleep and had to clear my head somehow... I don't know!" So did I! I wonder what was going through his mind.

"Stress?", I prodded. "It depends on how you want to look at it. But I'd say something like that," he explained and then grinned at me again as if he was trying to overlook his stress.

"It's a great coincidence that we're meeting here! It's like a sign, right?" the older one quipped afterward, gently placing a hand on my shoulder. "It's like fate wants us to get to know each other better! It's about time. After all, I am Hee's best friend, and you are Namra's! Yet we've hardly ever spoken to each other, kind of ironic. Don't you think?", Jake chuckled and held his hand with the leash in front of his mouth.

"Kind of amusing when you think about it directly," I muttered, wincing in shock as Jake suddenly stumbled forward. Layla seemed to have seen something interesting and took off running, causing Jake to unintentionally release his lines. "Hey! Layla!" yelled Jake in alarm and reflexively ran off, me right behind. "Over here! Be a good girl! Come to Jake, Layla!"

We turned sharply around the corner and Layla sprinted into the park across the meadow. I mustered all my strength and made a big pike, straight for the rope. With my fingers extended I tried to grab the rope but missed and landed clumsily on the meadow. Jake stopped, braking hard, and tried to help me up. "Up you go!" he said and pulled me to my feet, rather I thanked Jake fleetingly and sprinted on with him.

Layla stopped in front of a tree and looked up as she started barking loudly. "Shh, quiet!" Jake crouched down and followed his dog's gaze. "What do you see, huh?"

When I arrived too, I braced my hands on my thighs in exhaustion, breathing in and out heavily, trying to get my breathing back under control. Now that was a chase!

Observantly, I straightened up and studied Jake's features. The way he stroked Layla's fur soothingly, his gentle smile, and that beautiful glint in his eye. I couldn't help grinning myself, wanting to look at him for hours, enjoying the slight tingle in my stomach.

"She must have had her sights set on a cat," he said with a laugh, his breathing just as slightly exhausted. "Let's leave the cat alone, he's already terrified!" He picked up the leash and rose, then looked at me searchingly. "Are you all, right? That jump looked painful."

Wow, I had completely forgotten about the fall. "So far I don't feel anything but let's see how it looks tomorrow."

Jake eyed me and came a little closer to take a leaf out of my hair. "There! Now the ice prince is shining again. I have to go easy on you or I'll be the one to blame if Namra and you mess up the competition. I discreetly feel like Namra yelling at me for falling," he purred, his eyes still fixed on me, looking for more autumn leaves or small branches. I ran a hand through my hair and giggled.

"No don't think like that! Even though, I jumped and didn't get pushed by you or anything!" I said defensively, at the end of the day it wasn't his fault. "Phu, then I can rest easy!" Laughed Jake, relieved.

Oh god, grin just wouldn't go away.

"It's late... I think we should both head home," Jake began and I could feel a small spark of disappointment in me. "If you ever go for another late-night jog or just need someone to chat to, feel free to text me. I saw that you liked a picture of me on Instagram. You can also follow me; it doesn't cost anything! I promise!"

Wait, what?

"Ah, that was an accidental uhm. So, I was like... and then it was so that...", I stammered and didn't understand why I was suddenly so nervous. Embarrassed, I scratched the back of my head and looked at Layla, obviously feeling embarrassed.

"Don't worry! I sent you a friend request, just waiting for your confirmation!" Jake seemed embarrassed too and turned slightly red. "My phone is at home; I'll accept the request as soon as I can!"