Ineffable 𓇢𓆸 || Jakehoon

🍂 Chapter 76🍂

Jake's POV

I couldn't move. I could barely breathe. Every inch of my body felt like it was on fire, the pain coursing through me like a cruel tide, relentless and unforgiving. My chest tightened with each labored breath, and I could feel the blood soaking through my clothes, warm and thick, pooling beneath me. It was all I could focus on-the overwhelming warmth of my own blood, and the suffocating weight of it all.

No... My mind screamed for me to stay awake, to hold on, but the pain was too much.

And then I heard it.

"JAKE!"

His voice. Sunghoon's voice.

The sound of it was the only thing that managed to break through the fog in my mind. The chaos, the pain, the confusion-it all stopped for a split second, just for him. His voice. The one thing I had held onto, the one thing that made me feel real in this broken world.

I tried to lift my head, but it felt like my neck was made of stone. My vision was blurry, my body unresponsive, but somehow, I forced my eyes to open.

There he was.

Sunghoon was rushing toward me, his face pale, his expression filled with so much fear and panic, it broke me.

"Jake..." he whispered, his voice trembling as he cradled me in his arms.

I felt the warmth of him then-the warmth that had always been my home, the one thing that made me feel safe. Even now, in this hellish moment, Sunghoon's touch was the one thing that could anchor me.

I could feel his hands on me, pulling me closer, but they were covered in my blood. His shirt, his skin, everything-coated with me. I wanted to say something, anything, but the words stuck in my throat, trapped by the pain.

"Jake..." Sunghoon whispered again, his voice full of desperation. His eyes-those beautiful eyes that had always been my safe place-were filled with tears, the kind of tears that broke me inside.

I wanted to comfort him. I wanted to tell him everything would be okay, that this wasn't the end. But the truth was, I wasn't sure anymore. The world was slipping away, and all I could do was hold on to him as tightly as I could manage.

With what little strength I had left, I raised my hand, shakily reaching for his arm. I could barely breathe, the weight of my chest too much, but I had to say it. I had to.

"It hurts," I whispered, my voice barely a rasp, "It hurts so much, Sunghoon."

His face contorted with agony, but he shook his head. "Don't talk, Jake. It'll take your strength. Please, don't-"

But I had to. I had to say it.

"I'm sorry," I breathed, tears welling up in my eyes, the pain of everything too much to bear. "I'm so sorry, Sunghoon. I... I wanted to be with you. I wanted... to see our future."

His hands trembled as he held me tighter. "No. No, Jake, don't say that. It's gonna be okay. You're going to be okay. Just hold on. Please, just hold on a little longer."

I could feel his heart racing against mine, but I knew. I could feel it in the way his body shook. He was terrified. And so was I.

But I knew what was coming.

I raised my hand again, and with the last of my strength, I cupped his face, feeling his warmth against my trembling palms. His face was wet with tears, his eyes wide and searching, but I had to say it.

"Thank you, Sunghoon," I whispered, my voice shaking, "Thank you for everything. For loving me... for giving me something real."

Sunghoon's chest heaved as he kissed my forehead, holding me tighter, but I could feel myself slipping. Please, God, I thought, just a little more time...

"I'm s-sorry, Su-hoon," I said again, my voice breaking. "Maybe... I won't make it b-back to the garden. The one we al-always went to. I wanted to go there with y-you one more t-time... see it w-with you."

His grip tightened even more, like he was afraid I might fade away at any moment. "No. No, Jake. Please, don't say that. Please don't-"

But I couldn't hold back the truth anymore. I had to say it. "I l-love you, Sunghoon... I always w-will."

I could feel the tears falling down my cheeks, but I couldn't stop them. It wasn't fair. We didn't have enough time.

And then, I slowly reached for the necklace I had given him. I could barely move, but somehow, I unclasped it from around my neck. My hands were trembling as I lifted it into his, my voice so weak, barely a breath now. "R-remember this... when you think of me. Talk to it when you miss me, Sunghoon... It'll always be with you."

He clutched it in his palm, his eyes wide, and I knew. He knew.

I reached for his wrist, the one he had given me, and with my last ounce of strength, I took off the bracelet. It was the one thing that had always connected us. And I placed it gently on his arm.

"Keep t-this... as a m-memory, Su-hoon," I whispered, my voice just a breath.

Sunghoon held me so tightly then, like he was trying to hold the pieces of me that were slipping away. "No, Jake, no... please. Please don't go. I love you... I need you... please..."

"I'm so h-happy... I m-met you..." I whispered, my eyes closing slowly, the world growing dim. "Ev-even if it was... a s-short t-time... But remember... I love you. F-forever."

And then, I let go.

I let the darkness take me, and with it, I breathed my last breath, knowing that wherever I went, Sunghoon would always be in my heart.

Forever.