Alone | Jake Sim x OC

Locks

The locks that arrived that afternoon were the first red flags. 

He should've  paid more attention to what they could mean, and what they could be for. 

"JAKE ONLY ONE MORE HOUR UNTIL IZZY GETS BACK." Niki ran screeching into his room, hands and hair flying behind him in an over-zealous Naruto run. 

"I know." Jake shot a slightly strained smile at the makne, running a hand though his hair again. He fidgeted with the still-sealed plastic bag of heavy metal, mind racing faster than Yoongi's rap in I'm Fine. 

"Actually no, change of plan." Sunghoon's head poked through the doorframe. "Jin sunbae is taking her out for dinner, so it'll take a few more hours." He glanced down at Jake's lap.

"What'cha got there? Not planning to lock yourself up so you don't have to practice?" He belly-flopped onto the bed as his hyung hid the bag, the name written on it burned into his mind's eye.

"Gimme that-" Sunghoon sneaked his hand around Jake to grab the bag, his eyes landing on the same name as Jake's had before him. 

"Why would Izzy want locks-?" Jake shook his head.

"I don't know. I hope she feels safe with us after two weeks- it's not like we'll attack her." His eyes couldn't turn up to meet Sunghoon's. 

"True, but she is a girl living alone with seven teenage boys, like that's kinda sus." Sunghoon fiddled with the bag as Jake had done a few moments ago. 

"I heard what you told Jay last night." He admitted, anxiously wringing his hands. "I know I shouldn't have, but-"

"No no, it's okay." Jake smiled sadly at his friend. "I'm wondering if it's selfish to feel like this. She doesn't know and most likely doesn't feel the same. Having an idol in a group like Enhypen, I don't know, um... like...you-?" He trailed off. "-Yeah. That will cause more problems for her than any kind of weight it may lift for me. I can't do that to her. I can't even imagine the scandals we could get into, which could effect Seokjin sunbae and-" 

"Mkay calm down hyung. I see you got shy there." He smirked at his buddy, who made a half-hearted attempt to cover his vermillion cheeks. "I will call our resident love expert." 

"Wha-love expert? Oh wait no, please no-" Sunghoon drew in a breath before yelling at the top of his lungs;

"SUNOOOOOO." 

"Yes?" It took less than a second for Sunoo to commando roll into the room, leaving Jake with the suspicion that he was outside the whole time. Sunghoon pointed at him.

"Sunoo, tell Jake he's a hopeless romantic and needs to use his observation skills for a millisecond."

"Jake, you're a hopeless romantic and you need to use your observation skills for a millisecond."

"Thank you. Now tell him that he's an idiot who needs to think about his life choices before he says his feelings aren't returned."

"Hyung, you're an idiot who needs to think about your life choices before you say your feelings aren't returned."

"Yes, and tell-"

"Okay I get it." Jake held his hands up in surrender. "And don't call your elders idiots." Sunghoon grinned smugly.

"Sunoo said it to you, not me." He sighed. Sunoo sat next to them, all of a sudden serious.

"Hyung, how do you actually feel about her? Please describe it for us." Jake hesitated.

"Why?" Sunghoon and Sunoo surrounding him in a little triangle didn't bother him as much as it would have in this situation. Instead of feeling cornered, he felt protected and secure. He could speak his feelings in this space.