𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑹𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑰𝑨 || 𝐉𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐧

21

Sunghoon had promised to take Jake to his comfort place, and Jake was buzzing with excitement, even if he didn't fully understand why. His crush on Sunghoon made everything feel more intense and complicated. Sometimes Sunghoon seemed so distant, like he was building walls around himself. Other times, he was the most comforting presence Jake could imagine. It was a rollercoaster of emotions that left Jake both exhilarated and exhausted.

They had lunch at McDonald's again. Jay didn't want to stay home, and despite the tension, Jake and Heeseung decided to join him. Now, they were seated in a cozy cafe, enjoying some juice and pastries for dessert. The ambiance was warm, with soft music playing in the background and the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air.

Jay looked particularly gloomy, his eyes downcast and a frown etched on his face. He stirred his drink absentmindedly, lost in thought. "I feel awful about Sunghoon living at Jeongshimjae," he finally said, breaking the silence. "For once, even returning to Seattle crossed my mind."

Jake and Heeseung exchanged worried glances. They both knew how much Jeongshimjae meant to Jay.

"Jay, it's just a temporary thing," Jake said gently, trying to comfort his friend. "Sunghoon is just trying to find his place. You can't blame him for that."

Jay shook his head, his frustration evident. "You don't understand, Jake.It feels like he's taking over everything."

Heeseung leaned forward, his expression earnest. "Jay, we get it. It's tough. But maybe giving Sunghoon a chance to prove himself isn't a bad idea. He's part of the family now, whether we like it or not."

Jay's eyes flashed with anger. "Family? He just comes in and gets handed everything on a silver platter. I had to work for every bit of recognition I got. And now, it's like none of it matters."

Jake sighed, feeling the tension rise. "Jay-yah, hating Sunghoon isn't going to solve anything. Maybe he feels just as out of place as you do."

Jay's gaze hardened. "You don't get it."

Jake tried to stay calm. "I'm just trying to help, Jay. I care about both of you. This anger. . . .it's not good for anyone."

Jay scoffed, looking away. "Maybe you're right. But right now, it feels impossible to even be civil with him."

The table fell into a heavy silence, the weight of their emotions hanging in the air. Jay looked torn, his internal struggle evident.

Finally, Heeseung broke the silence. "Maybe we all need to take a step back and try to see things from each other's perspectives. This isn't easy for any of us."

Jay stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. "I need some air," he muttered, and without another word, he walked out of the cafe.

Jake looked at Heeseung apologetically. "I need to leave right now, wanna stay with him?" 

Heeseung nodded and smiled. "Go ahead, I'll stay with him, might as well take him to the arcade to loosen up a bit."

Jake smiled and left the cafe so he wouldn't be late to hangout with Sunghoon.

---------------

Sunghoon had lunch with the whole family, minus Jay, but he expected the older not to be there.

He felt awkward the whole time as a cousin kept talking to him and asking him weird questions. Sunghoon didn't even know his name. heck he didn't even know these people lived here. But, Jeongshimjae was bigger than he expected and it has many floors. Sunghoon was not just observant enough.