too fragile for your love (too strong for your heart)

under the shadows of eternity (we find each other, again) pt five

"let me get this straight," jake begins, after sunghoon finishes narrating everything that has happened over the span of an entire day. "you started the afternoon with a maybe-date and ended up traumatizing three teenage girls?"

"that's about it," sunghoon mumbles, looking shamefaced.

"that's great!" he cheers, punching the younger boy in the shoulder. "congratulations, mate!"

sunghoon's mouth falls open. "wait- really?"

"why not?" he says, grinning. "you got your guy, didn't you? i say, it's a success. never mind the other- uh, discrepancies? is that what they're called?"

"who cares?" sunghoon mirrors jake's grin, slowly warming up to his celebratory attitude. "you're right! i was a total hero today. and, i managed to impress ni-ki."

"yes, sir!" he exclaims, pumping his fist. "that's the spirit- what do you wanna do, next?"

"well, i want to buy something to thank him for those custom ice skates he got me," sunghoon replies. "maybe the latest playstation model?"

"nah, man, he got those skates to thank you," he says, vetoing the idea. "a return gift like that would be way over the top. how about a box of his favourite chocolates, instead?"

"that sounds good," sunghoon says. he turns a grateful sideways glance at jake. "thanks a lot, jakey. you're a great friend."

"a great best friend?" he tries, smiling toothily. "admit it, hoon. i'm your best friend, aren't i?"

"the best-est friend to ever friend," sunghoon confirms, chuckling. "in fact, if my sister were still around, i would let you marry her."

"aw, that's so sweet!" jake says, touched. "but, i'm pretty sure i'm kind of gay. i'd let you marry my sister if i had one, though."

"...jake, i'm gay, too."

"oh, right. why are we coming out, again?"

"i don't know, but here we are," sunghoon says, pressing on the brakes to park heeseung's car right across jake's apartment building. "you want me to come in with you?"

"nah, it's boring stuff, really," he refuses. "i might be a while, so why don't you go and pick up those chocolates for ni-ki? i'll call you when i'm done."

"if you say so," sunghoon acquiesces. "your landlord gives me the creeps, anyway."

jake sticks his tongue out, in a very dubious display of maturity and dashes off, sunghoon's laughter echoing in his ears as the other boy sets about reversing the car. he chuckles to himself, recalling ni-ki's bubbly mood when he came out to meet them. the teenage vampire had an airiness about him that hadn't been present before, and now that he knows why, he's going to give back as good he will get when ni-ki starts ragging him about heeseung, again.

rounding the corner of the building, he decides to settle his rent first before checking up on his belongings. the metal stairs creak plaintively as he makes his way up, every bit as old as the rest of the building. the noise is familiar enough but, when he reaches the floor housing the single mother and her baby, he pauses, his face scrunching up in confusion.

it's way too quiet, but not quiet, as in they're probably taking an evening nap quiet.

it's quiet, as in the interior of a crypt, on a moonless night type of quiet.

it's just your imagination, jake. they're most likely away, visiting a relative or something.

he quickens his pace, bypassing the second and third floors, and finally reaching the fourth where his landlord lives. stepping over the welcome mat, he reaches out to ring the doorbell.