Ineffable 𓇢𓆸 || Jakehoon

🍃 Chapter 42🍃

Jake's POV

The room is small, the air thick with the smell of food, dust, and exhaustion. The only light comes from the faint glow of a single candle in the corner, flickering as if it's fighting against the darkness that's creeping in. It's a challenge just to get the food ready-no stove, no proper kitchen-just pots on a makeshift burner and a lot of improvising. Still, we manage.

Jungwon and I work together in silence, the rhythm of our hands moving through the motions. Chopping, stirring, setting the food on a tray. For a brief moment, it feels normal. But then, I feel it again-the weight.

The war, the fear. It's always there, lurking in the back of my mind, but tonight it feels especially heavy.

Jungwon's hands tremble slightly as he slices through the vegetables. I notice it, but I don't say anything right away. He's been quieter than usual, the usual calm mask he wears cracked, and I know he's thinking about the same thing I am.

I try to keep my voice steady as I speak. "I know we're all doing our best. The food, the shelter. But... I keep thinking about the families we've helped. The children. What happens to them if things don't change?"

Jungwon doesn't answer right away. Instead, he focuses on the vegetables in front of him, his brow furrowed in thought. He lets out a shaky breath, then looks up at me, his eyes wide, filled with something I can't place.

"I keep thinking about the kids," he says quietly, his voice breaking. "What kind of future do they have? How are we supposed to protect them when we're just as lost as they are?"

I pause for a moment, watching him carefully. He's trying to hold it together, but I can see the way his shoulders are slumped, the way his hands won't stop shaking. I know he's worried about the same thing I am-the uncertainty of it all. The fear that the war might never end, that we're all just waiting for the next bomb to fall.

"I get it," I say, my voice softer now. "We can't fix everything, Jungwon. But what we can do is keep showing up. Keep fighting for them, even if we don't know what's next."

Jungwon wipes his eyes quickly, trying to hide the tears before they fall. But they're already there, glistening in the dim light. My chest tightens at the sight of it. He's always been the one to stay strong, the one who keeps everything together when it feels like the world is falling apart. But tonight... tonight it's too much.

I step closer to him, my hand resting on his shoulder. "Hey... we're not in this alone. We're all in this together. And you're doing more than enough. Don't let the fear make you forget that."

Jungwon's eyes meet mine, his lip trembling as he tries to keep it together. "I'm just... so scared, Jake hyung. I don't know how much longer we can keep this up. I'm scared we won't make it. And I'm scared for them, too. The families. The kids. What happens if the war never ends?"

I feel my heart break for him. For all of us, really. But I know we can't let that fear take over. Not when we've come this far. Not when we've found something worth fighting for.

"I get it," I say again, my voice firm. "But fear doesn't change anything. It's okay to be scared, but we can't let it stop us. We have to keep going. For them. For us."

I pull him into a hug then, my arms wrapping around him tightly. He stiffens at first, probably surprised by the sudden contact, but then his body relaxes against mine. For a while, neither of us says anything. We just stand there, holding each other, the weight of everything pressing in on us. But in this moment, it feels like it's just us-like we're still here, still fighting, still surviving.

"I know you're doing everything you can, Jungwon," I whisper into his ear. "You're not alone. We're all in this together, okay?"

Jungwon doesn't respond right away, but I feel the slow, steady rise and fall of his chest against mine, and I know he's trying to hold it together. Slowly, I pull back, giving him a little space.

That's when Jay walks into the room, his eyes flicking between the two of us. He's always been perceptive, always quick to notice when something's off.

"What's going on?" he asks, his voice low, his gaze focused on Jungwon, the concern clear in his eyes.

Jungwon doesn't answer at first, but I see his jaw clench. The tears are still there, not fully gone, but I can see the way he's trying to hold it together for Jay.

"I'm fine," Jungwon says, wiping his eyes quickly. He's trying, but I can tell it's not working.

Jay doesn't buy it. He steps closer, his hand gently resting on Jungwon's arm. "You're not fine," he says softly. "What's going on? You know you can talk to me, right?"

Jungwon gives him a small, weak smile, but it's clear it's not the smile he wants to give. It's the one he's forcing. "It's just... a lot, Jay hyung. I'm just tired."

Jay's gaze softens, and without a word, he steps closer, wrapping his arms around Jungwon in a quiet embrace. He pulls him in close, his face soft with concern.

"I get it," Jay whispers. "I know. But you don't have to carry this alone, okay? We're in this together. Always."

Jungwon nods, but it's slow, like he's not quite sure how to let go. Jay stays there with him, just holding him for a while, and I can see the tension start to leave his body, little by little.

"Come on," Jay says after a few moments. "Let's get you out of here for a bit. You need to rest."

Jungwon doesn't argue. He lets Jay guide him away, his hand on his shoulder as they leave the small room together. I watch them go, my heart aching a little. But I know this is what Jungwon needs right now-someone to lean on.

As the door closes softly behind them, I take a deep breath, turning back to the food. We can't fix everything, but we're still here. And as long as we're still here, we keep fighting.

For them. For each other. For hope.