𝐈𝐌 𝐓𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐃

𝟎𝟎𝟔

The sun filtered through the curtains of Sunghoon's room, casting a soft, golden light across the floor. Jake stirred awake, feeling the warmth of sunlight on his face. For a moment, everything felt normal, the quiet serenity of the morning wrapping around him like a comforting blanket.

As he shifted, he realized he was still nestled against Sunghoon's side, their legs tangled beneath the covers. The memory of the previous night flooded back-the tears, the raw honesty, and the weight of the burdens they had shared. A small smile tugged at his lips, feeling a sense of relief that hadn't been there before.

Sunghoon stirred, blinking sleepily before turning to look at Jake, his expression brightening with recognition. "Hey," he said, his voice raspy from sleep. "How are you feeling?"

Jake hesitated, unsure how to answer. He felt lighter, but the heaviness of his struggles lingered in the background. "I'm... okay, I think," he replied carefully. "Better than last night, at least."

Sunghoon smiled, the warmth in his eyes filling Jake with a sense of comfort. "That's a start. Want to grab breakfast? The others will be waking up soon."

"Yeah, I'd like that," Jake said, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. "I'll help you make it."

They both got up, and as they made their way to the kitchen, Jake felt a newfound sense of purpose. The sun was shining brighter than he remembered, and there was a lightness to his steps that he hadn't felt in a long time. As they prepared breakfast together-Sunghoon cracking eggs and Jake mixing the batter for pancakes-they laughed and joked like they used to, the easy camaraderie slowly returning.

"Can you believe how worried everyone was last night?" Sunghoon said, a teasing grin on his face. "They thought you had gone missing or something."

"Yeah, I guess I can see why," Jake replied, chuckling nervously. "I'm sorry for freaking everyone out."

"Just promise you won't do that again, okay?" Sunghoon said, his tone shifting to one of seriousness. "We care about you, and it's not just about the group. It's about you as a person."

"I promise," Jake said, his voice sincere. "I'll try my best to communicate when I'm struggling."

As they plated the pancakes and poured syrup over them, the sound of laughter and chatter began to fill the apartment as the other members woke up and joined them in the kitchen. Heeseung was the first to arrive, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "What smells so good?" he asked, a smile breaking across his face when he saw the spread before them.

"Breakfast! You're just in time," Sunghoon announced, beaming with pride.

The others trickled in-Jay, Jungwon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki-each one of them drawn in by the scent of pancakes and the promise of a meal together. The atmosphere was light and cheerful, a stark contrast to the weight of the previous night's conversation. Jake felt a warmth spread through him as he watched his members banter and tease each other, their laughter echoing off the walls.

But even amidst the laughter, Jake felt a twinge of anxiety. How much had they noticed from the night before? Did they see the fragility beneath his smiles? Would they still look at him the same way, now that he had laid bare his struggles?

As they sat around the table, eating and chatting, Jake couldn't shake the feeling that the others were watching him closely, gauging his mood. He stole glances at Sunghoon, who sat beside him, seemingly in tune with his unease. Every time their eyes met, Sunghoon would flash a reassuring smile, grounding Jake amidst the whirlwind of emotions.

"Jake, you need to try this!" Sunoo exclaimed, breaking Jake from his thoughts. He was holding out a piece of pancake, the syrup glistening in the morning light. "I promise it's the best breakfast ever."