제이크. 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝘆 ✔

chapter 6: just another hook-up

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

third person pov.

the rain continued to pour as harin stood under the awning with jake, their breaths visible in the cool air.

"do you want to stay at mine for tonight?" jake asked, his voice soft but clear, his eyes searching hers.

her heart pounded.

she wondered if jake meant no harm, but with the way he was looking at her she really couldn't tell what his intentions were.

"i don't think that's a good idea," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

jake didn't seem offended. he just nodded, his lips curving into a faint smile.

"okay. we can go to a hotel instead," he offered, glancing around. "there's one nearby."

"let's stay for the night while the rain pours," he adds.

they trudged through the rain, clothes getting soaked despite the short distance. the hotel's bright neon sign glowed against the dark sky as they approached the glass doors. jake led the way to the front desk, where a bored-looking clerk barely glanced at them.

"we'd like a room," jake said, pulling his wallet from his pocket. "but, i need to ask a favor."

the clerk raised an eyebrow, looking up for the first time. "what kind of favor?"

jake leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "i'd like to keep our identities anonymous. no records of us staying here, no word of this to anyone. i'll pay extra for that."

the clerk hesitated, eyes flickering between jake and harin.

after a moment, the clerk recognized the young boy. he clerk nodded slowly, giving in to jake's request.

"but that'll still cost you," she says.

jake didn't flinch, pulling out his card and handing it over. "that's fine."

the transaction was quick, and soon, they were handed a key card.

"room 1023, top floor. enjoy your stay," the clerk said, though the look in her eyes suggested she knew more than they let on.

"thanks," jake said, grabbing the key and gently guiding harin toward the elevator. the tension in the air was thick as they rode in silence up to their room.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

once they got to their respective room, the door clicked open, and they stepped into a spacious, modern room. the walls were a soft beige, and the floor was a sleek, polished wood. at the far end of the room was a large window, stretching from floor to ceiling, offering a view of the city drenched in rain. the sound of raindrops tapping against the glass filled the room, and the glow from the streetlights outside cast a soft, golden hue over everything.

in the center of the room stood a king-sized bed, its white linens crisp and inviting, though the sight of only one bed made harin's heart race all over again. a plush couch sat off to the side, along with a small dining table and chairs. the room was luxurious but felt intimate-too intimate for her liking at the moment.

"well, this is... nice," jake commented, glancing around as he tossed his jacket onto the couch. he walked over to the large window, staring out at the rain. "the view's amazing."

it seemed as if jaeyun was trying to fuse the tension that build up between the two of them. little did he know that his efforts were doing nothing.

harin nodded, her eyes trailing the raindrops as they raced down the glass. the atmosphere was calming, almost serene, but there was no ignoring the weight of the situation. she suddenly felt the need to fill the silence.