Ineffable 𓇢𓆸 || Jakehoon

🍃 Chapter 43🍃

The camp is quiet now, the only sounds the soft breathing of my friends as they sleep. The room is dim, lit only by a single candle flickering faintly in the corner, casting long shadows on the cracked walls. Everyone else is asleep, but I can't seem to shut my mind off.

I sit with my knees drawn up to my chest, my head bowed low as I close my eyes. The weight of everything-the war, the fear, the uncertainty-it's like it's pressing down on my chest, suffocating me. I try to push it away, but it's there, always there.

So, I do the only thing I can think of: I pray.

"Please," I whisper, my voice barely audible over the soft crackle of the candle. "If you have to take my life, God, take mine, but please, don't take theirs. Don't let them suffer because of this war. Let them live. Let them have the chance I never had-to grow, to laugh, to be happy. Please... please don't let them be caught in this nightmare. Keep them safe."

I pause, my chest tight with emotion. My hands, clenched in my lap, tremble. But I can't stop. My heart keeps praying, even when my mind isn't sure of the words anymore.

"Please... protect them. Don't let them lose their innocence. Please, God, let them live. Let them find peace."

I let the words hang in the air, my heart heavy. I know it's not much, but it's all I have right now. My thoughts are scattered, my fear all-consuming, but this small prayer is the only thing that feels like it could make a difference.

I pray, and I keep praying. I can't stop. Not while I still have a little bit of hope left in me.

Suddenly, I hear footsteps, soft but deliberate, approaching from the hallway. My heart skips a beat. I quickly stop, turning my head toward the noise. I quickly blink the tears away, trying to steady my breath, and look around to see who it is. I don't want anyone to see me like this.

And then I see him.

Sunghoon.

His figure is silhouetted against the light outside the door, his expression unreadable. I don't say anything, but I feel the tension in the room rise. He steps closer, his footsteps quiet on the wooden floor. He looks at me with those sharp eyes of his, those eyes that always seem to know when something's wrong.

"Why did you stop?" Sunghoon asks, his voice soft but persistent.

I don't answer immediately. I can't. My throat is tight, my heart still racing, and I can't bring myself to meet his gaze. So, I just look away, my hands clenched in my lap. The words are stuck in my throat, but I can feel Sunghoon's eyes on me, sensing the unease, the unspoken fear in me.

Sunghoon doesn't push. He just stands there for a moment, his presence like a quiet weight in the room.

Then, without warning, he steps forward, pulling me into a hug. It's sudden, but it's exactly what I need. His arms wrap around me tightly, and I instinctively sink into the comfort of it, my own arms going around him in return. I rest my head against his shoulder, feeling the steadiness of his heartbeat.

For a while, we just hold each other. The world outside, the war, the fear-it doesn't matter. It's just him and me in this moment, and that's enough to give me a small sense of peace.

"You're not alone, Jake," Sunghoon murmurs against my ear, his voice soft but firm. "We're all in this together. We'll make it through. We just have to keep going."

I close my eyes, letting his words wash over me. It's hard to believe in the middle of everything that's happening, but with Sunghoon here, holding me, it's easier to find that sliver of hope.

The tightness in my chest starts to ease, and my body finally begins to relax. The exhaustion from the day catches up with me, and I feel myself drifting off. My eyelids grow heavy, and I can feel the warmth of Sunghoon's embrace pulling me deeper into a dreamless sleep.

But just as I start to slip away, I hear it.

Footsteps. Slow, deliberate, and close.

I freeze.

I slowly lift my head from Sunghoon's shoulder, my eyes wide, heart pounding. I hold my breath, listening. I can hear the faint sound of boots on the ground, the unmistakable crunch of footsteps against gravel. They're outside.

Then, a flicker of light from the outside-the unmistakable beam of a flashlight.

I panic. The fear surges back into my chest, making my breath shallow and quick. I don't know who it is, but the possibility of soldiers outside, the fear of being found... it sends a wave of terror through me.

Before I can stop myself, I grip Sunghoon tighter, pulling him closer, my hands trembling against his back. My voice is barely a whisper, panic creeping into my words.

"Sunghoon... something's wrong. I think... I think someone's out there."

Sunghoon doesn't hesitate. He pulls me closer, his arms tightening around me, trying to steady me, to calm me down. His heart beats strong against my chest, and I can feel his breath steady even if mine isn't.

"We'll be okay," he whispers, his voice calm and reassuring. "We'll figure this out. But we're okay, Jake. Stay with me. Stay calm."

I can feel myself shaking as I hold him, my fear threatening to overtake me. But Sunghoon's presence is like an anchor, steadying me even as the fear claws at my insides.

The footsteps outside grow closer, and I tighten my grip on him, holding on for dear life.