𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄? // 𝐉𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐍

𝟎𝟏𝟓

As the week progressed, the tension between Jake and Sunghoon lingered like a storm cloud ready to break. The arrival of rain one Friday afternoon only heightened Jake's emotions, turning the campus into a blur of gray as students rushed about, seeking shelter from the downpour.

Jake had just left his last class when he spotted Ni-ki and Sunoo huddled under the awning of a nearby building, sharing an umbrella. They were laughing, the warmth of their relationship evident even amidst the dreary weather. Heeseung stood a little farther back, his phone pressed to his ear, clearly engaged in a conversation. The sight stirred a mix of longing and heartache within Jake.

"Hey, Jake!" Ni-ki called, waving him over. "Come join us! It's pouring out here!"

"No thanks, I'm good," Jake replied, forcing a smile as he continued walking. He needed space, a moment to think. The rain had always held a certain allure for him, a chance to wash away the feelings that clung to him like shadows. But today, it felt suffocating, mirroring the storm brewing inside.

As he made his way through the courtyard, he spotted Sunghoon standing alone under a large tree, his expression troubled. Jake's heart raced as he approached, the rain drenching his clothes and mixing with the tumult of emotions within him.

"Sunghoon," Jake called, trying to keep his voice steady despite the rapid pounding of his heart.

Sunghoon turned, surprise flickering in his eyes. "Jake," he replied, his voice strained. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Yeah, well... I needed to get out," Jake said, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on them. "Can we talk?"

Sunghoon hesitated, rain cascading down around them, but finally nodded. "Sure. Let's find somewhere drier."

They moved toward the side of the building, where an overhang provided some shelter from the rain. The sound of droplets hitting the ground filled the space between them, a heavy silence that felt almost suffocating.

"Look, I've been thinking about what you said the other day," Jake began, his heart racing as he searched Sunghoon's eyes for any sign of the boy he had once known so well. "About wanting to try again."

Sunghoon's expression hardened slightly. "And?"

"I don't know if I can just forget everything that happened," Jake admitted, feeling vulnerable under Sunghoon's gaze. "You hurt me, Sunghoon. You can't just say you want to try again and expect everything to be okay."

"I know," Sunghoon replied, his voice laced with pain. "I messed up. I was scared of how serious we were getting, and I didn't know how to handle it. I thought I was protecting you by pushing you away."

"But it didn't protect me," Jake shot back, frustration bubbling to the surface. "It only made things worse. You left me hanging."

"I know, and I hate myself for it," Sunghoon said, his voice cracking. "But please, Jake, I'm trying to be honest with you. I miss you. I can't just move on like nothing happened."

The tension between them crackled in the air, raw and unfiltered. Jake could feel the ache in his chest grow stronger, the memories of their past threatening to overwhelm him. "What do you want from me, Sunghoon?" Jake asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I want you back," Sunghoon said, stepping closer, his eyes searching Jake's. "I want to make things right. But I also need to know if you still want me. I can't do this alone."

Jake's heart raced as Sunghoon closed the distance between them. The air felt electric, charged with their unspoken feelings and the rain that poured around them. "I don't know if I can trust you again," Jake admitted, the words tumbling from his lips before he could stop them.

"I'll prove it to you," Sunghoon said earnestly, his voice almost desperate. "Just give me a chance. I can't lose you, not again."

Before Jake could respond, Sunghoon stepped even closer, the rain drenching them both. The world around them faded as he cupped Jake's face with his hands, his eyes pleading. "Please," he whispered, vulnerability etched into his features.

Jake's breath hitched as he felt the warmth of Sunghoon's hands against his skin, the closeness igniting a whirlwind of emotions within him. The storm of feelings-anger, love, regret-culminated in that moment, swirling together in a chaotic dance.

And then Sunghoon leaned in, closing the gap between them, his lips pressing against Jake's. The kiss was tentative at first, a whisper of what they once shared, but as Jake responded, it deepened, a surge of emotions flooding through him.

Jake's mind spun as he kissed Sunghoon back, the taste of rain and desperation mingling on their lips. Memories of late-night conversations, stolen glances, and laughter flooded back, threatening to drown him in nostalgia. But beneath the warmth of their kiss, the echoes of pain still lingered, reminding him of the hurt that had come before.

As they pulled away, both breathless and shaken, Sunghoon's eyes searched Jake's for a sign of hope. "What does that mean?" Sunghoon asked softly, his voice barely audible over the sound of the rain.

Jake's heart raced, uncertainty and longing twisting together. "I... I don't know," he confessed, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. "I want to believe you. I really do."

Sunghoon's expression shifted, a mix of hope and fear. "Then let's take it slow. One day at a time. I'll show you I can be better."

"I want to try, but it's not going to be easy," Jake replied, his voice trembling.

"I'll do whatever it takes," Sunghoon promised, his eyes intense. "Just don't give up on us."

Before Jake could respond, Heeseung, Ni-ki, and Sunoo rounded the corner, their laughter fading as they noticed the two of them standing together, drenched in the rain.

"Whoa, what's going on here?" Heeseung said, raising an eyebrow, a teasing smile on his face.

Sunoo's eyes widened as he took in the scene. "You two look like you just had a dramatic moment or something!"

Jake felt the heat rise to his cheeks, suddenly aware of how exposed they were. "It's not-" he started, but Sunghoon stepped in, his gaze unwavering.

"It was a moment," Sunghoon said, the seriousness in his tone surprising everyone. "We're figuring things out."

Ni-ki exchanged a glance with Sunoo, then back at Jake and Sunghoon, his expression shifting to one of understanding. "That's good to hear," he said softly, the teasing tone replaced with sincerity.

Sunghoon's hand found Jake's, fingers intertwining as they stood together, a united front despite the uncertainty that lay ahead. The rain continued to pour around them, but in that moment, the storm felt less daunting.

As they all moved toward the nearby café, Jake felt a flicker of hope amidst the chaos. He didn't know what the future held, but standing with Sunghoon, hand in hand, felt like a step toward healing, a chance to rewrite their story-one moment at a time.