Jaeyun's gaze locked onto Jungwon's, who was still attempting to intervene. With a deep breath, he finally relented with a sigh. "Fine, I apologize for calling you a man whore. Happy now?"
Heeseung's grip loosened slightly, his expression softening...
Jake groggily rubbed his eyes as he rolled over in his bed, feeling an uncharacteristic sense of laziness and grumpiness clinging to him. He had no idea why he was waking up in such a mood, but he knew he needed to shake it off somehow. With a sigh, he swung his legs out of bed and stretched his arms above his head, hoping that a bit of movement might help clear his head.
As he pulled on a pair of shorts, a long-sleeved shirt, and a warm jacket, he decided that a morning run might be just what he needed. The cool breeze and the rhythmic pounding of his feet on the pavement usually helped him find his center again. He laced up his sneakers and headed out the door, the brisk winter air hitting his face as he stepped onto the street.
Jake's footsteps crunched on the snow-covered path as he jogged along the coast, the sea stretching out before him in a vast expanse of blue. He focused on his breathing, trying to let go of the tension that had settled in his shoulders. Just as he was starting to find his rhythm, a figure ahead caught his attention, and his irritation flared anew.
Lee Heeseung.
Of all the places to encounter Heeseung, Jake hadn't expected to run into him on his morning jog by the coast. He scowled slightly, his eyes narrowing as he muttered to himself, "Great, even here?"
He had thought his comment was low enough that Heeseung wouldn't hear it, but the other jogger had keen ears. Heeseung slowed his pace slightly to match Jake's, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Morning. Surprised to see me here?"
Jake's scowl deepened at Heeseung's cheerful greeting. "Yeah, well, don't get the wrong idea. I'm not following you or anything."
Heeseung chuckled, shaking his head. "No need to be defensive. I jog along the coast every morning. It's not like I'm trying to invade your space."
Jake shot him a skeptical look, not entirely convinced by Heeseung's words. He was about to retort when his gaze unintentionally drifted to the beads of sweat glistening on Heeseung's forehead. His jacket and shirt clung to his body, and Jake's eyes lingered on his strong physique for a moment longer than he intended.
Quickly realizing he was staring, Jake averted his gaze and murmured a distracted "Whatever."
Heeseung's lips curved into a knowing smile as he caught the subtle shift in Jake's demeanor. He had noticed where Jake's gaze had landed, and he wasn't about to let him off the hook without teasing him. "Hmm, whatever indeed," he inquired, his tone playful.
Jake's cheeks flushed slightly from the cold and embarrassment, a mixture of irritation and awkwardness bubbling within him. "Don't flatter yourself. I was just... making sure you weren't freezing to death or whatever."
Heeseung laughed outright this time, his amusement evident in the frosty air. "Right, because I look like I'm on the brink of freezing to death."
Jake huffed, picking up his pace in an attempt to put some distance between them. "Just forget it, Heeseung."
Heeseung's laughter followed him for a few steps before he called out, "See you around, Jaeyun-ah."
As the two of them continued on their separate paths, Jake couldn't help but replay the encounter in his mind. He cursed himself for letting Heeseung's teasing get under his skin, and he channeled his frustration into his run. Little did he know that Heeseung's playful banter and their unexpected winter encounter by the coast had effectively managed to pull him out of his grumpy mood, whether he wanted to admit it or not.
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