raspberries and mocha | heejake ✔

42

Heeseung slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the soft light filtering through the curtains. The familiar smell of his own bed enveloped him, but something felt different. As his vision cleared, he realized he wasn't alone. Jay was curled up beside him, his head resting on the edge of the mattress, looking utterly exhausted.

For a moment, Heeseung just watched him, a wave of warmth washing over him at the sight. Jay's hair was slightly tousled, and there were faint dark circles under his eyes, a testament to how worried he must have been. The weight of the last few days began to settle back on Heeseung's shoulders, but he found comfort in the presence of his friend, who had stayed by his side despite everything.

Heeseung shifted slightly, trying not to wake Jay, but as he moved, a dull throb pulsed through his head, reminding him of the migraine that had knocked him out. He groaned softly, bringing a hand to his forehead.

Jay stirred at the sound, lifting his head and blinking blearily at Heeseung. "Hyung," he murmured, voice raspy from sleep. "You're awake."

"Yeah," Heeseung replied, forcing a small smile despite the lingering pain. "What time is it?"

"Late afternoon," Jay said, stretching his arms above his head and yawning. "You've been out for a while. Riki was worried sick."

"Riki?" Heeseung asked, his brow furrowing. "Did he—"

"Yeah, he's fine," Jay interrupted quickly, sitting up straighter and brushing his hair out of his face. "I got him a snack, and he's in the living room watching something. He wanted to check on you first, but I told him to give you some space."

Heeseung nodded, feeling a mixture of gratitude and guilt wash over him. "I'm so sorry for worrying you guys."

"You don't need to apologize, dude," Jay said, his tone more serious now. "You were sick. That's not your fault. What matters is that you're okay now."

Heeseung felt a pang of appreciation for Jay's unwavering support. "Thanks for staying, man, I don't know how the fuck this stuff is happening to me." he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jay shrugged, a small smile creeping onto his face. "I wouldn't have been able to sleep if I knew you were here alone. Besides, who else would keep an eye on you? Riki might try to feed you snacks instead of making sure you rest."

Heeseung chuckled, the sound making his head ache just a bit, but he didn't care. "I guess that's true," he admitted.

Jay hesitated, his expression turning more serious again. "How are you feeling? Any better?"

"A little," Heeseung said, sitting up a bit more, despite the dizziness that threatened to sweep over him. "The migraine is still there, but I think it's manageable."

Jay frowned, clearly not convinced. "You need to take it easy. I can't have you passing out again. It's not like I can take care of two of you."

Heeseung reached out, resting a hand on Jay's knee. "I'll be okay. I promise."

"Good," Jay replied, but the worry in his eyes lingered. "Just...don't push yourself too hard. We need you in good shape for the wedding, right?"

"Right," Heeseung agreed, his heart tightening at the thought. The wedding planning had been stressful, and he'd let it weigh him down too much. He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the cloud of anxiety hovering over him. "I'll make sure to take care of myself. No more overdoing it."

Jay nodded, visibly relaxing at Heeseung's words. "Good. That's all I ask." He paused, glancing towards the door. "Want me to get Riki?"

"Yeah, I'd like that," Heeseung replied, grateful for the distraction of his little brother.

As Jay stood and made his way to the living room, Heeseung took a moment to gather his thoughts. The warmth of their friendship, the sense of security that came from having Jay by his side, reminded him that he didn't have to carry the burden alone. The stress of planning the wedding, the pressure of work, and the worry for Riki—they were all manageable as long as he had people he could rely on.

Moments later, Jay returned, Riki trailing behind him. "Hey, Dad! You're finally awake!" Riki exclaimed, his face lighting up at the sight of Heeseung. "I thought you'd sleep forever!"

Heeseung chuckled, feeling the heaviness in his heart begin to lift at Riki's infectious energy. "Not forever, just a little longer than usual."

Riki bounced on the balls of his feet. "Can we play something? I promise I won't beat you this time!"

"Right," Heeseung said, raising an eyebrow playfully. "Like that's ever going to happen."

Riki pouted but then grinned, looking at Jay for support. "Come on! You can be on my team!"

Jay laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, but if Heeseung ends up sick again because of your antics, I'm holding you responsible."

As they settled into a comfortable rhythm, laughter filling the room, Heeseung felt a renewed sense of hope. No matter how tough things got, he had his friends and family beside him, ready to face whatever came next. He took a deep breath, letting the warmth of their camaraderie envelop him, knowing that together, they could weather any storm.