𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄? // 𝐉𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐍

𝟎𝟏𝟐

The next day, Jake awoke to a hazy morning light filtering through his curtains, illuminating the room in a soft glow. He felt drained but slightly lighter than the previous day. Maybe it was the release of emotion or Heeseung's comforting presence, but the promise of a new day brought a hint of renewal, a fragile sliver of hope that he desperately clung to.

He stumbled out of bed, rubbing the remnants of sleep from his eyes, and prepared for the day ahead. As he dressed, his thoughts wandered back to Sunghoon, the ache still raw but somehow more manageable. Yet, the shadows of yesterday lingered in the back of his mind. He tried to push them away, focusing instead on what he needed to do.

Jake arrived on campus, greeted by the familiar bustle of students chatting and laughing as they moved between classes. But today felt different. The world around him felt alive with energy, and for the first time in days, he found himself smiling-albeit faintly-as he walked through the crowd.

As he approached his first class, he spotted Heeseung waiting by the door. "Hey, Jake! Ready for today?" Heeseung's eyes sparkled with a mixture of excitement and concern.

"Yeah, sort of," Jake replied, feeling a twinge of apprehension. "What's the plan?"

"Remember I told you about the new guy? Jay?" Heeseung said. "You're supposed to show him around today."

Jake's heart sank for a moment. The last thing he felt like doing was playing tour guide. He wasn't sure he had the energy to navigate someone else's excitement when he was still grappling with his own turmoil. But he nodded, forcing a smile. "Right. Show him around. Got it."

As they entered the classroom, Jake's eyes roamed over the sea of unfamiliar faces until they landed on a tall figure standing near the back. Jay had an air of confidence about him, his dark hair falling just over his eyes, a slight smirk on his lips as he scanned the room. He looked at ease, like he belonged there already, and Jake felt a pang of jealousy.

"Hey, that's him," Heeseung said, nudging Jake gently. "Go introduce yourself!"

Jake hesitated for a moment, his heart racing at the thought of approaching Jay. "Yeah, right," he muttered, trying to summon the enthusiasm he didn't quite feel. "Here goes nothing."

He forced himself to walk over, each step heavy with uncertainty. As he approached, Jay looked up, and their eyes met. There was something magnetic about Jay's gaze-confident yet inviting. "Hey there! You must be Jake," Jay said, his voice smooth and friendly.

"Yeah, that's me," Jake replied, his voice slightly strained. "Heeseung mentioned you. Welcome to campus."

"Thanks! I'm excited to be here," Jay responded, his smile widening. "I've heard a lot about this place. And about you, actually."

Jake's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected compliment. "Really? All good things, I hope?" he asked, half-joking.

"Absolutely! I've heard you're the go-to guy for making newcomers feel at home," Jay said, a teasing glint in his eyes. "So, what's the plan?"

Jake felt the tension in his shoulders ease slightly. "Well, we can start with the café-great coffee, and it's where everyone hangs out between classes," he said, trying to sound enthusiastic. "Then I can show you the main library, which is the heart of the campus, and then maybe some of the best study spots."

"Sounds perfect! Lead the way," Jay replied, his enthusiasm infectious.

As they moved through the hallways, Jake found himself relaxing a bit, engaging in light conversation with Jay. He quickly discovered that Jay was easy to talk to, his humor drawing Jake out of his shell. They shared stories, and Jake couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement as he navigated the campus with this new companion.

But as they passed by the courtyard, where Sunghoon often hung out with his friends, Jake's heart dropped. There was Sunghoon, laughing and joking with a group, his smile bright and carefree. Beside him stood another guy, one Jake didn't recognize. The two of them seemed to be sharing an inside joke, their chemistry apparent.

Jake's stomach churned, and he suddenly felt nauseous. It was a cruel reminder of everything he was trying to move past. He didn't want to see Sunghoon happy with someone else. "Hey, um, can we skip that area?" Jake asked, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'd rather avoid it for now."

Jay raised an eyebrow but nodded understandingly. "Sure, no problem. We can go the long way around."

As they moved on, Jake felt a mix of relief and disappointment. The laughter of his former friends echoed in his ears, a haunting reminder of the life he used to have. He forced himself to focus on the present, but his heart ached with the weight of loss.

"Are you alright?" Jay asked, glancing over at him with concern. "You seemed a bit off back there."

Jake put on a brave face, the mask of normalcy slipping back into place. "Yeah, just... a bit tired. Trying to adjust to everything," he lied. The truth felt too heavy to share with someone he barely knew.

"Hey, if you ever need to talk about it, I'm all ears," Jay said sincerely, his expression softening. "I know moving to a new place can be overwhelming."

Jake nodded, grateful for Jay's kindness. "Thanks, I appreciate it. Really."

As they continued their tour, Jake found himself laughing at Jay's anecdotes, his genuine warmth easing the tension that had settled in his chest. But every laugh was tinged with the bittersweet reminder of Sunghoon, the ache still present, like an unhealed wound.

Later that afternoon, as they settled into a cozy corner of the café, Jake couldn't shake the feeling of longing that enveloped him. He glanced around the bustling space, searching for familiar faces but finding only strangers.

"Hey," Jay said, breaking into his thoughts. "I know it's still early, but I'd love to hang out again. Maybe we can study together or check out some of the campus events?"

Jake hesitated, the idea both appealing and terrifying. "Yeah, I'd like that," he replied, though the thought of opening up to someone new felt daunting. Could he really move on from Sunghoon?

"Great! Let's exchange numbers," Jay suggested, pulling out his phone. Jake fumbled for his own, their fingers brushing briefly as they exchanged contact information. The brief touch sent a jolt through him, surprising and unsettling.

As he left the café with Jay later, Jake felt a strange mix of emotions swirling within him. While he appreciated Jay's friendship, the shadows of his past loomed large, threatening to overshadow any newfound connection.

"Thanks for showing me around," Jay said, a genuine smile on his face. "I really had a great time."

"Yeah, me too," Jake replied, forcing a smile as he waved goodbye. As Jay walked away, Jake turned back towards the campus, feeling the weight of his heartache settle heavily once more.

He was trying to move forward, but the ghosts of the past clung to him, their presence a reminder of the love he had lost. Jake closed his eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply as he struggled to find balance in this confusing mix of emotions.

"Just take it one step at a time," he whispered to himself. "It's okay to be hurt. But you're still here, and that counts for something."

With that thought, he turned back toward the path ahead, hoping to find the strength to embrace the uncertainty of the future.