Ineffable 𓇢𓆸 || Jakehoon

🍂 Chapter 60🍂

Jake's POV

It's been two days. Two days since I woke up, and yet it still feels like I'm floating between two worlds-one where the pain is unbearable, and one where everything feels... distant, blurry, like it's not really happening. I should be grateful that I'm alive, that Sunghoon is here, that my friends are looking out for me. I should be thankful that I've made it this far. But... it's hard. So hard.

I can hear the others talking outside the tent, their voices a soft murmur as they try to keep the peace, trying to keep the world from falling apart. I know they're worried about me-about all of us-but what do they expect me to do? How can I feel alive when my body is still broken? Every breath feels like a battle, every movement a weight I can't lift.

Sunghoon has barely left my side since I woke up, and even when I'm awake, he's always there-his face never far, his eyes never leaving me. He's trying so hard to stay strong for both of us. But I can see it in his eyes. The fear. The exhaustion. The way his shoulders sag a little more with each passing hour, like he's carrying the weight of my life on his own. I wish I could tell him that I'm not going anywhere, but how can I when I feel so fragile? How can I promise him that I'm okay when every inch of my body screams otherwise?

I glance up at him now, sitting by my side, holding my hand like it's the only thing keeping him from falling apart. His fingers are gently tracing the back of my hand, a slow, calming motion, but I can tell from the way his lips are pressed tight together that he's not okay. I'm not okay.

I try to speak, but the words get stuck in my throat. It's like my body has forgotten how to function properly. I try to lift my arm, but it feels like it weighs a thousand pounds, and I can't-no matter how much I want to. It's pathetic.

I feel Sunghoon's gaze shift toward me, his eyes searching mine, as if waiting for something-anything-to show him that I'm still here, still with him.

"Jake?" he whispers, his voice a little rough, like he hasn't slept in days. He leans forward, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead with the gentleness I've always known him for. "Are you okay? Can you hear me?"

I blink slowly, struggling to form the words. I don't know if I'm okay. I don't know if I'll ever be okay again. But I need him to know I'm trying. For him. For us.

"I'm... here," I manage to rasp, my voice barely a whisper. It hurts to speak, but the look on his face is worth the pain.

Sunghoon exhales sharply, as if he's been holding his breath, and I see his shoulders relax just a fraction. He smiles-a small, sad smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes-but it's enough to make my heart swell.

"You're here," he repeats, as if he needs to hear it again.

I nod weakly, my body trembling from the effort, and he presses my hand against his cheek, a soft gesture that makes my heart ache even more.

"Don't... don't leave me again," he murmurs, and the words hit me harder than any of the pain in my body. His voice cracks slightly, and I can see the struggle in his eyes to stay strong, to keep it together for both of us. But I know he's breaking inside.

"I'm... not going anywhere," I say with more strength this time. It's a promise, one I hope I can keep. But the fear in his eyes won't leave me, even as he nods, trying to mask his worry with a forced smile.

I don't want to break him. I don't want to make him suffer any more than he already has. He's been through so much-this war, losing so many people, seeing his friends injured. And yet, here he is, taking care of me, as if he hasn't already given all of himself.

The door of the tent opens, and I hear the familiar voices of our friends. They've been coming in and out, checking on us, making sure we're okay, even though none of us really are.

"Yo, Jake hyung, how're you feeling?" It's Niki, his voice always light and playful, but today there's a seriousness behind it that I can't ignore.

"Still... in one piece," I manage to say, forcing a weak chuckle.

Jungwon enters next, his bandaged stomach still visible beneath his shirt, but his movements are stronger now, less stiff. He's been getting better. I can see it in the way he stands, the way he smiles, even though his eyes are shadowed with the same exhaustion that's eating at all of us.

"You're looking better Jake hyung," Jungwon says, giving me a small nod. "Not out of the woods yet, but you're hanging in there. We all are."

Jay follows him in, his usual confidence tempered by the weight of what we've all been through. He stops beside Sunghoon, a knowing look passing between them before he turns to me.

"Still you need to rest well Jake, and you too jungwon..... Or else you both are going to give me and sunghoon a heart attack .

I manage a weak laugh at that, though it hurts. "Yp, it will turn better soon," I said, even if I know that doesn't seem like a promise I can keep right now.

Sunoo and Heeseung come in, too, their faces lined with worry but trying to stay positive for the sake of the group. Sunoo claps a hand on my shoulder, a silent gesture of support, while Heeseung's eyes linger on me for a moment longer than the others, a hint of something unspoken passing between us.

Eunhee's the last to come in, her sharp eyes taking in the scene, and for a moment, there's a heaviness in the air. But she walks straight over to my side, offering me a small, determined smile.

"Rest. We're all here. We've got you, Jake," she says quietly, her voice steady but with that underlying tenderness that only she can show.

As the group gathers around, their presence fills the small space of the tent, and for the first time in days, I feel a faint flicker of hope. I'm not alone in this. Even when I feel like I can't go on, I know they're here. Sunghoon's here.

We're all fighting together. And maybe, just maybe, that's enough to keep me going.