𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄? // 𝐉𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐍

𝟎𝟏𝟒

The following week, as the tension between Jake and Sunghoon simmered just below the surface, Jake found himself torn. Every time he saw Sunghoon, whether in passing or at social gatherings, he felt a rush of emotions: nostalgia, longing, and a deep-seated ache that refused to fade. Meanwhile, his friendship with Jay blossomed, the easy banter and shared interests creating a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos.

One afternoon, after a particularly grueling day of classes, Jake and Jay found themselves lounging in the courtyard, enjoying the warm sun. They sprawled on the grass, surrounded by students chatting and laughing, the atmosphere vibrant and alive.

"Alright, let's make a pact," Jay said suddenly, breaking into Jake's thoughts. "This weekend, we're going to do something fun. No studying, no worries. Just us. Deal?"

Jake chuckled, feeling a lightness in his chest at the thought. "Deal. What do you have in mind?"

"How about we check out that new escape room that just opened downtown? I heard it's supposed to be amazing," Jay suggested, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"Sounds awesome! I'm in," Jake replied, excitement bubbling up inside him. The prospect of doing something fun with Jay felt refreshing, a way to temporarily escape the emotional turmoil.

As they made plans, Jake's phone buzzed with a notification. He glanced down and saw a message from Sunghoon, and his heart raced. He hadn't spoken to him since their awkward encounter at the café.

Sunghoon: Hey. Can we talk?

Jake's stomach twisted at the text. Part of him wanted to ignore it and continue moving forward, but another part craved closure. He hesitated for a moment before typing back.

Jake: Sure. When?

Sunghoon: How about later today?

After a few minutes of back-and-forth, they agreed to meet at their favorite coffee shop later that afternoon. Jake's heart thudded in his chest, a mix of anticipation and dread swirling inside him.

"Everything okay?" Jay asked, noticing Jake's distracted demeanor.

"Yeah, I just need to meet up with Sunghoon later," Jake replied, trying to sound nonchalant, but he could see Jay's concern.

"Jake, if you're not ready to talk, you don't have to," Jay said, his voice gentle. "You should take care of yourself first."

"I know," Jake said, grateful for Jay's understanding. "But I think I need to face this. I can't keep running from it."

As the afternoon wore on, Jake's nerves heightened. He arrived at the coffee shop early, tapping his fingers anxiously against the table. When Sunghoon walked in, Jake felt his breath catch. Sunghoon looked good, as always, but there was a heaviness in his expression that made Jake's heart ache.

"Hey," Sunghoon said softly, sliding into the seat across from Jake.

"Hey," Jake replied, keeping his tone neutral despite the whirlwind of emotions inside him.

There was a moment of silence as they both gathered their thoughts. Sunghoon's gaze dropped to the table, and Jake couldn't help but notice the slight tremor in his hands.

"I've been thinking about us," Sunghoon finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jake's heart raced. "Yeah? Me too."

"I didn't mean for things to get so complicated," Sunghoon continued, his eyes finally meeting Jake's. "I miss you. I miss what we had."

Jake felt his chest tighten at Sunghoon's words. "But things are different now. You wanted to break up. I thought you needed space."