Ineffable 𓇢𓆸 || Jakehoon

🍂 Chapter 69🍂

Jake's POV

The door creaks as Sunghoon pushes it open, the sound almost too loud in the quiet of the room. The others are already outside, ready to go, their bags slung over their shoulders, eyes scanning the horizon as if they expect trouble at any moment.

I stand at the doorway for a moment, looking back one last time at the building we've called home, or as close to a home as we've had for a while. The walls are scarred, faded, peeling in some places, but it's been ours. For however long it's been, it's been ours. And now, it's time to let it go.

"Jake?" Sunghoon's voice cuts through the silence, soft but firm. I look up to find him standing a few feet away, his hand outstretched, waiting for me.

I take a breath and step out into the cold morning air, the weight of the pack on my back already digging into my shoulders. Sunghoon's there to steady me, his presence like a quiet anchor, and it helps, just a little.

The others are already forming up in a line, as usual. Sunghoon at the front, taking the lead. Jungwon stands beside him, his usual energy tamped down by the tension in the air. Jay follows close behind, keeping his distance but always aware, always scanning. Sunoo's next, his face unusually serious today, the joy of the celebration long gone. Niki and Heeseung hyung bring up the rear, walking in sync, both of them lost in their own thoughts. Eunhee walks beside me, her eyes a little red from the night, but she doesn't say anything. We all know how it is-sometimes the words don't come.

"We'll head north," Sunghoon calls out, his voice carrying in the crisp air. It's the usual plan-get to the next safe place, keep moving, don't stay too long anywhere. The world's too dangerous for that.

It's strange, the way we've come to accept this constant flux. The need to keep moving. The need to keep running. Every place we've ever stayed has been temporary. And yet, it still hurts every time we leave.

"Jake, you good?" Sunghoon's voice is lower now, quieter. He's walking beside me, his pace slow so we stay together. I nod, even though I don't feel good. I don't think any of us do. But we're used to it. We have to be.

"Yeah," I manage, my voice sounding far too small for the weight of everything.

Sunghoon's hand brushes mine, a fleeting touch, but it's enough to make me feel like I'm not entirely alone. It's how he always is-always keeping me close, keeping me safe. But sometimes, it feels like I'm just another piece of the puzzle he's trying to solve.

The others start moving, stepping carefully over the cracked pavement and into the thin stretch of woods beyond the building. It's a path we've taken before, one we know too well, and yet, every time feels different. It's like we're all running from something, and we never quite know what we're running to.

I take a step forward, my feet heavy as I follow them. Sunghoon's there, as always, a steady force at my side. I look around at the group, their faces set with determination, the same faces I've seen so many times before. They're all used to this, used to surviving. But it's the little things-like the way Niki always looks back, or how Sunghoon makes sure we all stay together-that make it feel like we might just make it through this next stretch.

I glance over at Sunghoon again, and for a moment, I think about everything we've been through. The war, the fear, the losses. How we all ended up here, how we've ended up together. There are days when I wonder if we'll ever find somewhere we can stop, somewhere we can breathe without fear. But right now, it doesn't feel like there's any point in wishing for that.

We keep moving.

We don't look back.

And for now, that's enough.