𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄? // 𝐉𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐍

𝟎𝟎𝟔

The following day dawned with a gray sky, matching the heaviness in Jake's heart. He had hardly slept, the weight of his thoughts keeping him awake until the early hours of the morning. When he finally fell into an uneasy slumber, dreams of Sunghoon haunted him-memories of laughter, shared secrets, and the warmth of his presence that now felt like a ghost lingering in the corners of his mind.

As he trudged to campus, each step felt like a reminder of the distance between them, the reality of their fractured relationship palpable in every breath he took. He had spent the night wrestling with the idea of letting go, and even though he had resolved to try, the prospect felt like an insurmountable mountain looming ahead.

Heeseung met him outside the student center, his brow furrowed with concern. "You okay?" he asked, his voice low.

Jake nodded, even though he felt anything but. The truth was a weight he wasn't ready to share, especially with Heeseung. "Just tired."

As they walked together through the bustling campus, Jake's mind wandered. He kept replaying the moment Sunghoon had walked away, the look in his eyes, the finality of it all. The ache in his chest felt raw and fresh, like a wound that refused to heal.

They reached the courtyard, a hub of activity where students gathered between classes. Jake's heart sank when he spotted Sunghoon across the way, laughing with someone-a guy Jake had never seen before. The way Sunghoon leaned against the railing, his smile wide and genuine, twisted something deep within Jake. It felt like a slap to the face, a cruel reminder that while Jake was drowning in grief, Sunghoon had moved on, already finding joy in someone else.

"Jake?" Heeseung's voice cut through his thoughts, and Jake blinked, feeling his stomach drop. He didn't want to be here, didn't want to witness this new reality. But it was too late.

"Who's that?" Heeseung's tone darkened as he narrowed his eyes at the sight of Sunghoon and the other guy. The playful banter between them felt like a knife twisting in Jake's gut.

"I don't know," Jake muttered, his heart racing. He fought against the surge of emotions bubbling up inside him-jealousy, anger, pain-all warring for dominance. It felt unfair, like Sunghoon had discarded everything they had built together without a second thought.

"Should we... should we go over?" Heeseung suggested, his voice low and tense.

"No," Jake said quickly, panic rising in his throat. "Let's just leave it." He didn't want to confront Sunghoon. Not like this. Not when he was feeling so vulnerable.

But Heeseung was already moving, his jaw clenched, fury simmering just beneath the surface. "No way, Jake. That's not okay. He can't just replace you like that."

"Please don't," Jake begged, grabbing Heeseung's arm. "I can't handle this right now. Just let him be."

Heeseung paused, looking torn between his protective instincts and Jake's evident distress. "But he's moving on like you don't even exist. That's not fair to you."

Jake let out a shaky breath, his grip on Heeseung loosening as he stepped back. "I know, but I need to process this. I don't want a scene."

But Heeseung's expression hardened. "You deserve better than this, Jake. He needs to know that what he's doing is messed up."

Before Jake could respond, Heeseung had already marched forward, anger radiating off him in waves. "Sunghoon!" he called out, his voice cutting through the laughter and chatter.

Sunghoon turned, surprise flashing across his face as he caught sight of Heeseung approaching. The other guy beside him, a tall student with dark hair, glanced between them, confusion etched on his features.

"Hey," Sunghoon said, his smile faltering. "What's up?"

"Who's this?" Heeseung demanded, his tone sharp and unyielding. "Another rebound? Just like that?"

Jake felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him as he hurried to catch up, desperation flooding his veins. "Heeseung, wait! Please, don't-"

But Heeseung was already locked in, eyes blazing with protective fury. "It's just a little too soon, don't you think? You can't just jump into something else right after-"

"Stop," Jake said urgently, finally reaching Heeseung's side. "Just stop it. This isn't helping."

Sunghoon looked taken aback, the color draining from his face as he processed the confrontation. "What are you talking about?" he asked, confusion evident in his voice.

"I'm talking about you and-" Heeseung started, but Jake stepped between them, desperation lacing his words.

"Please, just let it go. This isn't what I want." His voice trembled slightly, and he could feel the weight of the gazes on them, the curious stares of passing students. "It's not worth it, Heeseung."

Heeseung hesitated, the anger in his eyes flickering as he turned to Jake. "But-"

"No. You're right. It's not fair, but I can't handle this right now. I don't want to make it worse." Jake could feel his heart racing, the fear of losing Sunghoon even more intense in this moment. "Just... let's just walk away."

Heeseung opened his mouth to protest, but Jake's pleading gaze held him in place. Slowly, Heeseung's expression softened, frustration giving way to concern. "Fine," he said, but his voice was tight, clearly still angry on Jake's behalf.

As they began to walk away, Jake couldn't help but steal a glance back at Sunghoon. His heart sank further when he saw the hurt flash across Sunghoon's face-an expression that made Jake's gut twist with guilt. The truth was, Sunghoon had every right to move on; he had chosen to end things. But the sight of Sunghoon laughing with another guy, so carefree and light, felt like salt in an open wound.

"Are you okay?" Heeseung asked quietly as they moved away, his voice laced with concern.

Jake took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "I don't know," he admitted, feeling the tears threatening to spill over again. "I just... I don't know how to do this."

Heeseung wrapped an arm around Jake's shoulders, pulling him close. "You're not alone in this. We'll figure it out together. I promise."

As they walked side by side, Jake felt a flicker of gratitude for Heeseung's unwavering support. But the ache in his chest remained, a constant reminder of what he was losing, and the pain felt deeper than anything he could put into words. He was still losing Sunghoon, and every moment brought him closer to a future he didn't want to face.