Ineffable 𓇢𓆸 || Jakehoon

🌸 Chapter 23 🌸

As I sat beside Jake, the peace of the moment shattered when we heard voices in the distance. My heart sank as I recognized the sounds of soldiers moving through the trees.

"Quick! We need to hide!" I urged, grabbing Jake's hand. We scrambled back into the underbrush, our hearts racing.

"Where do we go?" Niki whispered urgently, crouching low beside us.

"We need to stick together," I said, glancing around. "Let's get deeper into the woods!"

We pushed further away from the river, trying to stay quiet as the voices drew closer. Jungwon and Heeseung took the lead, guiding us through the thick brush, while Sunoo and Eunhee stayed close behind, exchanging worried glances.

"Do you think they saw us?" Sunoo asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't know," Jungwon replied, his eyes scanning the area. "We have to keep moving."

The sounds of the soldiers grew louder, and I felt my heart race. I looked at Jake, who was still holding my hand tightly, and felt a surge of protectiveness. We couldn't let anything happen to him or the others.

"Stay low," I instructed as we ducked beneath a thicket. The tension was palpable as we crouched in silence, straining to listen. The soldiers' footsteps echoed ominously, and I held my breath.

After what felt like an eternity, the soldiers moved past us, their voices fading into the distance. I let out a quiet sigh of relief, glancing at my friends, who were all visibly shaken.

"We need to get out of here," Heeseung said, breaking the silence. "They could come back any moment."

"Agreed," I replied, looking around. "Let's head towards that old barn I saw earlier. It might provide some cover."

With a silent nod, we moved as a group, hearts still racing. We navigated through the trees, staying low and quiet, until we finally reached the barn. It stood half-collapsed, but it offered shelter from prying eyes.

Once inside, we leaned against the walls, trying to catch our breath. The afternoon sun streamed through the gaps, casting warm light on the dusty floor.

"That was too close," Eunhee said, her voice trembling. "I thought we were done for."

"We're safe for now," Jungwon reassured her, but I could see the tension in his eyes.

As we took a moment to rest, I noticed a patch of wildflowers growing near the entrance. Their vibrant colors stood out against the barn's decay, and they reminded me of the way Jake's eyes lit up whenever he saw flowers. I felt a rush of affection and knew I had to do something to lift the mood.

"Hey, I'll be right back," I said, getting up and heading toward the flowers. I carefully picked a small bouquet, then returned to where Jake was sitting.

"Here," I said, offering him the flowers. "I thought you'd like these."

Jake's eyes widened in surprise, and he took the bouquet gently, a smile spreading across his face. "Sunghoon, they're beautiful! Thank you."

Seeing his happiness filled me with warmth. "I remembered how much you love flowers," I said, my voice softening.

As Jake brought the flowers close to his face, inhaling their sweet scent, I felt the weight of our situation lift just a little. "This reminds me that even in dark times, there's beauty to be found," he said, looking up at me.

I nodded, feeling a deeper connection forming between us. "And it makes me want to protect that beauty even more."

At that moment, Jay spoke up, breaking the reverie. "You two are adorable, but we need to focus. We can't let our guard down."

"Jay's right," Heeseung added, glancing toward the barn doors. "We need to be ready to move again at a moment's notice."

I turned back to Jake, feeling the urgency in the air. "But before we do, can we talk? About what Jay mentioned earlier?"

Jake nodded, his expression becoming serious. "Hmmm okay, let's talk."

I took a deep breath, summoning the courage I needed. "I know we're in the middle of chaos, but I can't pretend anymore. I really like you, Jake. No, I love you. I want to protect you, no matter what happens."

His eyes widened in surprise, and I held my breath, waiting for his response.

"I love you too, Sunghoon. I've felt it for a while now, but I didn't know how to say it," he replied, his voice filled with sincerity.

Relief washed over me, and I smiled. "Then let's promise each other we'll fight to stay together, no matter what happens."

"Together," Jake echoed, hope shining in his eyes.

As we sat in that rundown barn, surrounded by friends and the beauty of the wildflowers, I knew that no matter the darkness outside, we had something precious worth fighting for.