off limits | jakehoon

18

Three years after graduation the group was as close as ever despite the whirlwind that had been the final stretch of university life.

Minjeong and Jake had both aced their physics degrees, pulling off what everyone jokingly referred to as a minor miracle, given the amount of caffeine and late-night study sessions they’d survived.

Sunghoon, Jimin, Heeseung, and Jay had all conquered their marketing courses, while Sunoo and Jungwon had finished their fashion degrees with flair. Ni-ki, the youngest of the group, was still in uni but was already talking big about his final year.

As for their relationships, they’d all somehow managed to thrive through the chaos. Jake and Sunghoon were still together, their love just as solid and ridiculous as ever. Minjeong and Jimin were living proof that the couple who studies together stays together, while Jay and Jungwon had become everyone’s favorite duo, whether they were bantering or being disgustingly sweet. And then there were Sunoo and Ni-ki, whose relationship had blossomed into something everyone loved to tease them about, especially since Ni-ki was still figuring out how to balance his own brand of mischief with Sunoo’s sass.

It was a Saturday afternoon, and they’d gathered at the same café they used to frequent during their college days. The place hadn’t changed much, but they had slightly less sleep-deprived and undeniably closer.

Minjeong was sitting next to Jimin, scrolling through her phone while Jake and Sunghoon sat across from them, sharing a muffin because neither of them could ever finish one alone. Jungwon was next to Jay, who was lazily stirring his coffee, while Sunoo and Ni-ki were at the far end of the table, clearly in the middle of a whispered argument about who was paying for the next round of drinks.

“I can’t believe we actually made it through” Minjeong said, breaking the comfortable silence as she looked up from her phone. “I mean Jake and I have literal diplomas in physics who thought that was a good idea?”

Jake grinned, nudging Sunghoon with his elbow. “I think we just refused to fail out of sheer stubbornness.”

Jimin smirked, leaning into Minjeong. “Stubbornness or the fact that you guys basically lived in the library?”

“Both” Sunghoon chimed in, stealing another piece of the muffin from Jake’s plate. “and it’s a good thing, too. otherwise, I’d be stuck with a boyfriend who still doesn’t know how to use a stove.”

“hey, I’ve improved!” Jake protested, but there was no bite to his words, just the easygoing banter that had always been between them.

Jay, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up with a smirk. “Improved? what are we measuring that against, Jake? The number of times you didn’t set off the smoke alarm?”

Jungwon snorted into his coffee, shaking his head. “To be fair Sunghoon, your bar for ‘improved’ is pretty low”

Sunghoon shrugged, not at all offended. “when you start at rock bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up”

The table dissolved into laughter, the kind that comes easily when you’re surrounded by people who’ve seen you at your worst and still stick around.

“So what’s next for everyone?” Heeseung asked, leaning back in his chair with a contented sigh. “now that we’re all free from the shackles of university?”

“Sleep,” Sunoo said immediately, earning a chorus of agreement.

“After that, though,” Jimin added, “Minjeong and I were thinking of taking a trip you know, just the two of us.”

Jungwon waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Ooh, a romantic getaway? how fancy.”

Minjeong rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t help but smile. “Something like that we figured we earned it.”