raspberries and mocha | heejake

44

Jake sat in his small, cluttered office, the walls adorned with half-finished sketches and motivational quotes that felt more like cruel jokes than encouragement. His fingers drummed anxiously on the desk, and his heart raced as he thought about Heeseung. It had been a week since they last spoke, and the weight of their separation pressed heavily on him. He felt restless, the silence between them stretching out like a chasm he didn't know how to bridge.

Jake leaned back in his chair, gazing up at the ceiling as thoughts spiraled in his mind. Heeseung had been such a constant in his life, the one person who could make the bad days seem less heavy, but now? Now, he felt lost without him. Their arguments had been explosive, and cutting Heeseung out of his life had felt necessary, but the absence gnawed at him like a relentless hunger.

He had to get Heeseung back. But how? His mind flickered through ideas, all of them lacking the spark he needed to bring them to life.

"Okay, think, Jake," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair. "What would Heeseung want? What would make him forgive me?"

Jake closed his eyes, picturing Heeseung's smile, the way his eyes sparkled with mischief and warmth. He'd want honesty. That was a start. He had to be straightforward with his feelings, no more games. But was that enough? Would just saying "I'm sorry" really do the trick?

What if I planned something special? Something that shows how much I care?

His mind raced as he grabbed a notepad and began jotting down ideas. Maybe he could cook Heeseung a nice dinner—something he loved. He could set up a little picnic in the park where they had their first date. But then again, what if Heeseung was too far gone? What if he was happy with someone else? The thought made Jake's stomach churn.

"No, no, don't think like that," he scolded himself. "Focus on the plan."

He sketched out a rough outline of the evening in his notepad, detailing what he would cook and how he would set everything up. He could even invite their friends for support. But what if they ended up meddling in his plans? He shook his head, trying to push the doubts away. He just needed to find a way to show Heeseung how much he meant to him.

With each line Jake wrote, he felt a flicker of hope ignite in his chest. This was it. This was how he could win Heeseung back.

Just then, his phone buzzed on the desk, pulling him from his thoughts. It was a message from Sunoo, asking if he wanted to hang out later. Jake hesitated, then replied, "Yeah, let's meet up."

After sending the message, he thought about how he could enlist the help of his friends to make the plan work. Sunoo and Jungwon were always supportive, and they would have ideas to contribute. They could help him brainstorm or even help with the execution of the plan.

As he considered this, a burst of determination surged through him. He had to do this; he had to take that leap.

"Okay, Jake," he murmured to himself, a newfound confidence infusing his voice. "You can do this."

He gathered his things, feeling lighter than he had all week. No more dwelling on what he had lost. It was time to fight for what he wanted. With each step he took out of the office, he felt the air growing clearer around him, a sense of purpose fueling his stride.

Tonight would be the first step in mending what had been broken. He wasn't going to let fear hold him back anymore. As Jake stepped out into the bustling streets, he couldn't help but imagine the look on Heeseung's face when he finally saw him again.