---
"you mention niki quite a lot. what's your relationship with him?" she asked, twirling her pen between her fingers.
"he's my best friend," heeseung answered with no hesitation.
she nodded, studying his expression. "does he know that?"
heeseung paused, feeling a pang of uncertainty. "i suppose... yes," he said slowly.
"have you ever considered the possibility that you are using him as a substitute for jake?" she asked, looking at him with a gentle but probing gaze.
he felt a jolt of anger and disbelief. "what? no. never." he said, his voice rising. "how can you even suggest that? they are nothing alike. they are two different people."
she nodded, not backing down. "i understand that. but maybe it makes you feel better to have someone who reminds you of jake, even if it's unconsciously. maybe it helps you cope with your grief."
he shook his head, feeling a surge of pain and resentment. "please stop. just stop. jake is dead. nothing is going to make me feel better about that. nothing."
---
jake closed the door behind him, trying to not make any noise. he leaned on the wall until he slid down on the floor. he covered his face with his hands and groaned.
"had a bad day at work?"
jake moved his hands away looking at the door that lead to the living room.
"seeing you made it worse."
sooha didn't pay attention to the comment. instead, she leaned on the door frame.
"your boyfie didn't want to give you kisses?" she asked in a high pitched, mocking tone.
"mhm... he kissed me with his fist," he said, pointing towards his bruised lip.
"fair enough."
jake got up from the floor, walking towards sooha. "it was your plan. and i don't think i want to follow it anymore."
"i'm telling you to act that way for your own good. remember, jaeyun - heeseung didn't even care about you that day. this is only an act of his, because he doesn't have any other choices. so, please, keep your dignity and try not to fall at his feet again."
jake kept silent. he must listen to sooha. she knows the best. she knows him the best. she knows heeseung the best.
"also i've got a major problem," sooha continued.
"what?"
"i hate this house. i didn't mind living in that small apartment all those years you were in australia. but now this is horrible. and this house doesn't have any good security system-"
jake walked past her, trying to ignore everything she said. what sooha didn't know was that this was the house where he once lived with his parents. the neighbourhood where he once was selling lemonade with heeseung.
