Ineffable 𓇢𓆸 || Jakehoon

🍃Chapter 39🍃

The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the cracked windows, casting warm streaks of light across the old, dusty room. I blinked, the soft light prickling my skin, and stretched my arms above my head. My back ached from the rough night's sleep on the cold concrete floor, but it was nothing new. Nothing ever really felt like it was going to be comfortable anymore. The world was different now. Quiet and shattered, like the building we'd found refuge in.

I reached for Jake instinctively, my fingers brushing against the empty spot beside me. My heart gave a sharp twist. It felt strange to wake up and not feel his warmth beside me.

I pushed myself up slowly, the sound of muffled voices and faint movements outside the room drawing my attention. The others must have been up already.

I slid through the narrow passageway of the building, careful not to bump into any of the scattered remnants of the old furniture, and found Jake a little further down the hall, near the makeshift clothesline we'd set up yesterday.

He was bent over, his hands busy working with wet clothes, his movements slow but purposeful. Jungwon was beside him, hanging some of the clothes to dry. The small space was cramped, but they always managed. There was a certain rhythm to their daily tasks now, an unspoken understanding of how to survive even when everything felt broken.

I couldn't help but smile as I leaned against the doorway, watching Jake. He hadn't noticed me yet.

"Hey," I called softly, my voice hoarse from the night's silence.

Jake looked up, a flash of concern crossing his face. His eyes softened when they landed on me. "How do you feel now?"

I took a deep breath, touching my chest where the pain still lingered, though it wasn't as sharp as it had been. "I'm fine," I replied, brushing it off. It was easier to lie than let him see the fear in my eyes. I wasn't sure how long I could keep pretending it wasn't going to catch up with me.

Jake's gaze didn't leave me, and I could tell he was still worried, but he nodded and turned back to the laundry. He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Can you dry those without me?" He looked back at Jungwon, who gave a small smile, his eyes glinting with a silent understanding.

"Of course. I can get Sunoo help if I need hyung" Jungwon said, his voice soft but steady, as always.

I watched Jake carefully, his brow furrowing as he reached for my bandage, pulling it gently from around my chest to inspect it. "It's a little drier now," he murmured, his voice quieter than usual. He was always so gentle with me, even in times like this.

Before I could say anything, the soft footsteps of Eunhee echoed through the hall, and she appeared with a small, careful smile on her face. She looked at me and then Jake, moving forward to help him with the bandage.

"I'll help you," she said softly, already pulling out the medical supplies we'd managed to scrounge together. Her presence always seemed to calm Jake, and it was the same with me. Even in the midst of all this chaos, she was a reminder that some things were still taken care of.

Jake met my eyes once more, his expression mixed with concern and determination. "We'll make it," he said, his voice firm but filled with a tenderness that only I could hear. I nodded, though a knot tightened in my chest at the thought of what we were running from. I didn't know how long we could keep going, but I knew one thing for sure: as long as Jake was by my side, I wasn't giving up.

Eunhee finished helping with the bandage, and as she stepped back, Jake's hands lingered on my chest for a moment longer, his fingers brushing against the scar that was forming beneath the cloth. It was the only thing I couldn't hide. The only reminder of the price we were paying.

The others would be up soon, ready to move on, ready to face whatever came next. But for now, we were still together. And for now, that was all that mattered.