Ineffable 𓇢𓆸 || Jakehoon

🍂 Chapter 71 🍂

The fire crackles quietly as the camp settles into a peaceful lull, the soft sounds of night closing in around us. The camera's still in my hands, the photograph of Jake and his shy smile pressed to my chest. It feels like something worth holding onto, a quiet moment amidst all the chaos.

Jake is sitting beside me now, still holding the bouquet of flowers, the same wild roses I gave him earlier. He's holding them like they mean more than just a simple gift. I can't help but smile as I watch him fiddle with the flowers, his fingers tracing over the petals, the delicate movements so unlike his usual restless energy.

After a while, he shifts slightly, his voice quiet but thoughtful. "You know, Sunghoon," he starts, his gaze focused on the bouquet, "you usually take pictures of flowers, don't you?"

I chuckle softly, not entirely surprised by the observation. He's right, of course. I've always been fascinated by the beauty of flowers-their fragility, their quiet strength. They're simple, yet they manage to bloom in the harshest of conditions. Kind of like us.

"Yeah, I guess I do," I reply, my voice low. "They're... beautiful. And they remind me that even in the hardest places, something can still grow."

Jake looks at me sideways, that playful glint back in his eyes. "So, you like one of those flowers" I say with a small laugh. "But one without any petals?" He replied.

I blink, surprised by the way his words cut through the stillness of the night. I glance at him, seeing the way his fingers gently curl around the bouquet, like he's unsure of what he's holding. There's something a little sad in his voice, though I'm sure he's trying to make light of it. Maybe he's been thinking about this for longer than I realized.

I take a moment, considering his words. "Jake," I start, turning toward him, my voice quieter now, a little more serious. "You're not a flower without petals. You have petals, beautiful ones. You just can't see them."

Jake looks at me, his expression unreadable for a moment. But then his eyes soften, just a little, and he tilts his head. "I don't know," he says, almost to himself, "I feel like I'm missing something. Like I'm not... enough. Not like everyone else."

I feel a pang in my chest at his words. He doesn't realize how wrong he is, how beautiful he is, how much he means to all of us. But instead of saying that outright, I lean in just a little, meeting his gaze.

"You are enough," I say, my voice steady. "You're more than enough, Jake. You're like... a rare flower. One that blooms quietly, not always in the spotlight, but when it does, it's breathtaking. You just have to see it."

Jake's lips twitch like he's trying to hide a smile, but I catch the way his shoulders relax just a little, like he's allowing himself to believe my words, just for a second. But then, he lets out a small, soft laugh, the kind that carries a touch of sadness with it.

"Then, I guess I'm still that flower without petals," he says softly, his voice a little more fragile now.

I take a deep breath, refusing to let him settle into that doubt. "Jake, listen to me," I say, my voice quiet but firm. "If you were a flower without petals, I'd still be the bee."

His head jerks up at my words, a look of confusion flashing across his face. "The bee?" he repeats, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," I reply with a small smile, leaning a little closer, my gaze never leaving his. "The bee. Because even if you're a flower without petals, I'd still come to you. A bee doesn't care about the petals. It looks for the flower, no matter how it looks. A flower is still a flower, whether it has petals or not. And for me, you'll always be that flower."

Jake's eyes widen slightly, and for a moment, I think I've said something that might have gone too far. But then he's quiet, his gaze softening as he stares at me, like he's searching for something deeper. There's a vulnerability in the way he holds my gaze, something raw that he doesn't often show.

I keep my voice gentle, not wanting to break this fragile moment. "You've got everything I need in you, Jake. And if I'm a bee, then I'll keep coming back, again and again, no matter what. Because it's not the petals that matter-it's the heart of the flower."

Jake doesn't say anything for a moment. His gaze is still on me, his lips slightly parted, like he's not sure how to respond. But then, slowly, his expression shifts, and I see that faint, hesitant smile he gives me-one that says he's starting to believe me, just a little.

"I guess... if I'm a flower," Jake begins, his voice quieter now, "I don't mind being the one without petals if you're the bee."

I feel my chest tighten at his words, at the way he's letting me in, allowing me to be part of this fragile world of his. "You're more than a flower, Jake. Don't ever forget that."

He nods slowly, and for the first time tonight, I see him relax, the tension leaving his shoulders. The weight of everything-the war, the running, the fear-seems a little lighter for him, just for a moment. I want to hold on to that moment, keep it in my heart.

The fire crackles in the background, the camp settled into the quiet hum of the night. And in that quiet, in that small space between us, I realize that no matter what happens, no matter how far we run, I'll always be here for Jake. Because he's not just a flower without petals. He's everything to me.

And if I'm the bee, I'll keep coming back-always.