raspberries and mocha | heejake ✔

40

The door creaked open, and Jay stepped inside, the weight of the world pressing down on his shoulders. His eyes were tired, and the lines of worry etched across his face deepened with each passing moment. He kicked off his shoes and dropped his bag near the entrance, exhaustion flooding his body as he made his way to the living room.

Jungwon was already there, lounging on the couch, and his expression brightened when he saw Jay. He stood up and quickly padded over, snuggling into Jay's side as if instinctively sensing the tension radiating from him.

"Hey," Jungwon murmured, his voice soft and comforting. Jay let his head fall onto Jungwon's shoulder, relishing the warmth and familiarity of his boyfriend.

"Hi, Won," Jay replied, his voice muffled slightly. He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the stress that clung to him like a second skin. "I'm just...really worried right now."

"About Heeseung hyung?" Jungwon asked, pulling back slightly to look into Jay's eyes, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Yeah," Jay sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "And Sunghoon being absent for days doesn't help. With Heeseung now trying to recover, I just don't know what to do. Heeseung's always been the one to handle these situations. He's the oldest and knows how to keep everything under control. But now..." Jay's voice trailed off, a lump forming in his throat.

Jungwon squeezed Jay's shoulders reassuringly, leaning in closer. "I know it's tough, but you're not alone in this. You're doing your best to support him, and that's what matters. Heeseung hyung will come back, and so will Sunghoon. They just need time."

"But it's not just that," Jay confessed, his voice growing heavier. "Heeseung is usually the rock for everyone. And with him struggling, I can't help but feel like I'm falling apart too. It's like the one person I depend on to hold things together is unraveling, and I don't know how to handle it."

Jungwon nodded, understanding the weight of Jay's words. "It's okay to feel overwhelmed. You're allowed to be worried. But remember, you're strong, too. You've been there for Heeseung, and you've been helping me with everything."

Jay managed a small smile, appreciating Jungwon's support. "I just want to make sure he's alright. I want him to know that he can lean on us."

"Of course, he knows that," Jungwon said gently. "Heeseung loves you and values your friendship. He'll reach out when he's ready."

Jay leaned his head back against Jungwon, closing his eyes momentarily. "What about Jake? Have you heard anything from him? Everythin' aight there?"

Jungwon sighed, his tone shifting slightly. "I-It's not great. He's been a mess since he cut things off with Heeseung hyung. I think he's regretting it, but he's too stubborn to admit it."

"Ugh, I just wish they'd talk things out," Jay said, frustration creeping into his voice. "Jake needs Heeseung, and vice versa. They're so caught up in their own heads, and it's driving me crazy."

Jungwon wrapped an arm around Jay's torso, pulling him closer. "We can help them, you know? Maybe we can arrange a way for them to meet. They need to sort out their feelings together."

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," Jay said, feeling a bit of hope seep back into his chest. "I just want them to be okay again."

"We'll figure it out together," Jungwon assured him, pressing a soft kiss to Jay's temple. "You're not alone in this, remember? I'm right here with you."

Jay smiled, feeling the warmth of Jungwon's affection wash over him. "Thanks, Won. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Jungwon chuckled, nuzzling his head against Jay's. "You won't have to find out. I'm not going anywhere."

As they sat together, enveloped in each other's warmth, Jay felt the tension start to ease, if only a little. He knew the road ahead would be difficult, but with Jungwon by his side, he felt more capable of facing whatever challenges lay ahead.