𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄? // 𝐉𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐍

𝟎𝟎𝟕

"𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐉𝐚𝐤𝐞, 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨"

The air was crisp that autumn afternoon, the leaves turning shades of fiery orange and red as they danced to the ground. Jake sat on the bleachers of the school's football field, the vibrant chatter of students around him barely registering. He had always loved this time of year-the way the world felt alive with possibility, like change was in the air. But today, his thoughts were occupied by one person, and he couldn't shake the nervous energy buzzing through him.

"Hey!" Sunghoon's voice cut through the noise, bright and inviting. Jake turned, a smile breaking across his face at the sight of his best friend. Sunghoon approached, his dark hair tousled from the wind, cheeks flushed from the chill. He was wearing a faded hoodie and jeans that hugged him just right, looking effortlessly cool.

"Hey, what's up?" Jake replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Just finished practice," Sunghoon said, plopping down next to him. "You coming to the game tomorrow?"

"Of course! Wouldn't miss it," Jake said, feeling a flutter of excitement in his stomach. Sunghoon always played with such passion, and watching him on the field made Jake feel proud to know him.

They chatted about school, friends, and upcoming plans, the conversation flowing easily as it always did. But Jake couldn't help but notice the subtle shift in the air-there was something different today, an unspoken tension that hung between them.

After a moment of comfortable silence, Sunghoon turned to Jake, his expression suddenly serious. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

Jake's heart raced. "Sure, what's up?"

Sunghoon hesitated, his eyes darting away for just a moment. Jake felt a rush of anxiety-what could it be? Did he do something wrong? But then Sunghoon's gaze locked onto his, and Jake could see a mix of determination and vulnerability in his eyes.

"I've been thinking... I really like you, Jake," Sunghoon said, his voice steady but laced with an edge of uncertainty. "Like, really like you."

Jake's breath caught in his throat, his heart pounding like a drum. "Wait, what?" he stammered, unable to process what he was hearing. Sunghoon liked him? The revelation sent shockwaves through him, a mix of surprise and exhilaration flooding his senses.

Sunghoon rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "I know it's sudden, and I've been trying to figure out how to say it. But I don't want to keep pretending like I don't feel this way anymore." He took a breath, gathering courage. "Would you want to go out with me? Like... as more than friends?"

Jake's heart soared. All the moments they had shared flashed through his mind-the late-night talks, the laughter, the way Sunghoon made him feel like he was the only person in the room. He had been crushing on Sunghoon for what felt like forever, but he never thought it would actually lead to this. "Yes! I mean, yes, definitely!" Jake exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement.

Sunghoon's face lit up with a smile that made Jake's heart melt. "Really?" he asked, his eyes sparkling.

"Absolutely!" Jake replied, feeling an overwhelming rush of joy. The weight that had been pressing down on his chest lifted, replaced by a sense of lightness. They were standing on the precipice of something new, something beautiful.

Sunghoon laughed, and it was the most infectious sound Jake had ever heard. "Great! So, how about we go out this weekend? I'll take you to that new cafe downtown."

"Perfect," Jake said, grinning from ear to ear. "I can't wait."

As they sat together, the world around them faded away. In that moment, Jake felt like they had crossed an invisible line, one that would take their friendship into uncharted territory. The excitement of it all surged through him, and for the first time, he truly believed that love could blossom from the foundation of their friendship.

They spent the rest of the afternoon talking and laughing, the nervousness of the moment dissipating into easy banter. And as the sun began to set, casting a warm golden hue over the field, Jake knew that something had changed forever between them.

In the weeks that followed, they found their rhythm as a couple, each moment filled with laughter and tenderness. But as Jake stood on the bleachers years later, watching Sunghoon with someone else, he couldn't shake the feeling that that beautiful autumn day had set them on a path that had led them right to this heart-wrenching moment.