𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄? // 𝐉𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐍

𝟎𝟏𝟑

As the days rolled on, Jake found himself settling into a tentative routine. He still grappled with the emotional fallout of his breakup with Sunghoon, but Jay's presence began to lighten the burden, providing him with a distraction he hadn't realized he needed. Their friendship deepened with each shared lunch and study session, Jay's humor and easy-going nature slowly chipping away at Jake's guarded exterior.

One afternoon, as they worked on a project together in the library, Jake caught himself laughing more than he had in weeks. Jay leaned back in his chair, a satisfied grin on his face. "See? I told you we'd make a good team."

"Yeah, you were right," Jake admitted, feeling warmth bloom in his chest. "Thanks for being around. It's... nice to have someone to talk to."

"Anytime," Jay replied, his eyes sparkling with sincerity. "You're easier to talk to than you think. Just remember, you don't have to carry everything alone."

Their friendship was growing, yet every moment of laughter was accompanied by an undercurrent of guilt. Jake felt conflicted, torn between the joy of getting to know Jay and the lingering pain of Sunghoon's absence.

As they walked back from the library, Jake noticed a familiar figure in the distance-Jungwon, Sunghoon's best friend. He seemed to be waiting for someone near the entrance of the building, his expression pensive as he scanned the crowd. Jake's stomach tightened at the sight.

"Is that your friend?" Jay asked, noticing Jake's sudden shift in demeanor.

"Yeah, that's Jungwon," Jake replied, his voice low. "He's close with Sunghoon."

"Do you want to go say hi?" Jay offered, but Jake hesitated, uncertainty gnawing at him.

Before he could respond, Jungwon spotted them and waved, his face brightening as he approached. "Hey, Jake! Good to see you!"

"Hey," Jake replied, forcing a smile. The weight of Jungwon's presence felt heavy, as if he were a living reminder of everything Jake had lost.

"Just finished up a meeting for the event next week," Jungwon said, glancing at Jay. "And who's this?"

"This is Jay, the new guy," Jake introduced.

"Nice to meet you," Jungwon said, extending his hand to Jay. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Good things, I hope," Jay said, shaking Jungwon's hand with a friendly grin.

"Definitely! You've already made a great impression," Jungwon replied, before turning back to Jake. "Have you seen Sunghoon today?"

The question hit Jake like a punch to the gut. "Uh, no. I haven't," he managed to say, feeling his heart race.

Jungwon's expression shifted slightly, concern flashing in his eyes. "He's been a bit distant lately. I'm just checking in on him," he said, glancing back at Jay. "But I'm glad you're making new friends."

Jake nodded, forcing down the surge of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. "Yeah, I'm trying to keep busy."

"Well, if you ever want to talk or hang out, I'm here," Jungwon said, his tone sincere. "You know, you and Sunghoon had something special, and it's okay to feel lost right now. Just take care of yourself, alright?"

"Thanks, I will," Jake replied, his voice barely above a whisper. As Jungwon turned to walk away, Jake felt an odd mixture of gratitude and sadness. Jungwon's words resonated with him, but they also reminded him of what he had lost.

"Hey, you good?" Jay asked, breaking into his thoughts as they started to walk again.

"Yeah, just... a lot on my mind," Jake said, glancing sideways at Jay. "You know how it is."