ꜱᴄᴀɴᴅᴀʟᴏᴜꜱ - ʜᴇᴇᴊᴀᴋᴇᴋɪ

✦ ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ-ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ ✦

Niki - May 6th 2026

I didn't even bother to tell Jake about how shitty Jungwon was acting earlier when I joined him in our room a few hours ago. He was already unpacking with a bright smile over his face again, and I didn't want to ruin his mood. Again.

"Why is my shirt in your suitcase?" I asked, leaning deeper into the sofa as I noticed one of my favorite shirts within his clothes.

Jake rolled his eyes playfully as his quickly zipped the lid to his bag. "...why not?"

"'cause it's weird," I raised an eyebrow at him. "Tell me."

He grinned, taking a step towards me. I stared up at him skeptically as he clasped his hands together. "...are you sure you want the truth?"

My heart pounded hard against my chest when he said that. Was he about to confess feelings for me? "Yeah, I do."

Jake swallowed, making the tense silence between us even more painful. "I forgot to do my laundry before coming, so I took some of your shirts."

"Oh."

I couldn't help the anticlimactic frown that draped over my face, making Jake giggle at me. "What did you think I was gonna say, huh?"

"I-" I stuttered, but I was saved by the gracious knocking at the door. I was so grateful to answer that door, met with two faces that made my disdain return. "What is it now?"

Of course, neither of those men cared about acknowledging me. Instead, they pushed their way inside and stared at Jake, ready to give him the speech of his lifetime. "What are you doing here?"

"I already told you-"

"Not you, Niki!" Jungwon snapped, his fiery eyes glaring at me through his red locks before fixing back on Jake.

"I just decided to come with him. That's it, okay?" Jake raised his hands, but he was clearly unprepared for the storm approaching.

"Oh, yeah, sure," Sunoo rubbed his temple, "You fucking destroyed Heeseung, you know that? Are you trying to ruin Niki too while you're at it?"

"No, I-"

"You're such a hypocrite! How could you blame Heeseung for leaving Niki for you after he waited and dreamed for you to come back?" Jungwon interjected. "You did so much worse to him, and yet you still leave him without ever hearing him out?!"

So he knew about me and Heeseung's relationship after all?

"Can you guys calm down?" I begged, but it fell upon deaf ears.

No matter how hard I tried, those two never halted their mental assaults.

"You know what you really are?" Jungwon sneered shamelessly at the dumbfounded man before him. "Just a fucking douche bag. That's it, and that's all you're worth. You're gonna hurt Niki even more, just like you do to everyone in your life."