The evening began like any other when Jake’s father introduced him to the daughter of an old family friend, Mimi. Jake didn’t know her, but he quickly sensed her outgoing nature and playful flirting. At first, he shrugged it off as nothing, but as the evening wore on, Mimi grew bolder, asking for his number and dropping hints that made him feel uncomfortable.
Later that night, Jake messaged Raya about it.
"Guess who got hit on today?" he typed with a smirk.
"Oh, really?" she replied, immediately intrigued. "Who would dare? Spill!"
Jake described Mimi’s exaggerated attempts to catch his attention, chuckling at the absurdity of it all. Raya laughed too, teasing him.
"Oh my gosh, Jake, you’re like a chick magnet now," she typed, adding a laughing emoji. "Maybe she sees something I don’t!"
He laughed, knowing she didn’t mean it. But a thought sparked in his mind. What if he could actually make her jealous? Maybe he was reading too much into things, but this playful thought had been sitting with him for a while now. He decided to put it to the test.
Jake sent a casual invitation to Raya, saying he wanted to study together for their upcoming exams. But there was a twist: he also invited Mimi, mentioning to Raya that they’d be “hanging out.” Raya showed up at his place with her books in hand, ready for a study session. But when she saw Mimi sitting comfortably beside Jake, leaning in close as she talked animatedly, Raya felt something stir inside her—a pang of irritation she wasn’t quite ready to admit was jealousy.
As they “studied,” Jake played along with Mimi’s flirtations, occasionally looking at Raya to gauge her reaction. She masked her emotions well, but he could see a slight tension in her gaze whenever Mimi touched his arm or laughed a little too hard at his jokes.
"So, Jake," Mimi said, giving him a lingering smile, "maybe we should hang out another day, You’re so much fun."
Jake smiled politely but felt uneasy inside, pushing himself through for the sake of his plan. He sneaked a glance at Raya, and there it was—the slight narrowing of her eyes, the small, tight smile she gave. She wasn’t thrilled, and he knew it.
Once Mimi finally left, Raya stayed behind, still holding her calm composure but with an intensity Jake hadn’t seen before. Without a word, she stood up, grabbed his arm, and led him to his room. She closed the door behind them and locked it, leaving Jake both startled and intrigued.
"What was that all about?" she demanded, crossing her arms and looking directly into his eyes.
Her expression was a mix of annoyance, confusion, and something else—a hint of vulnerability that Jake couldn’t ignore. For a second, his playful scheme seemed a little less fun, as he saw the real effect it had on her.
"What do you mean?" he asked, feigning innocence, though the smirk tugging at his lips betrayed him.
Raya took a step closer, the frustration in her eyes piercing. "Don’t play dumb, Jake. That girl was practically glued to you. Since when are you into someone like her?"
For a moment, Jake stayed silent, feeling the weight of her reaction hit him. But he could tell—she was jealous, and this time, it was undeniable.
Jake smirked as he leaned closer, teasing her with a glint in his eye. "Why so worked up, Raya? If it’s just friendship, why’d you get jealous?"
Raya crossed her arms, cheeks flushing slightly. "It’s natural, Jake. Friends don’t want their friends with people like...well, her." She tried to sound casual, but the edge in her voice gave her away.
Jake leaned in, his hands bracing against the wall on either side of her. Her breath hitched as he moved closer, his face just inches from hers. "Are you sure that’s all it is? Just friendship?" His hand slipped to her waist, pulling her gently towards him. "Because, Raya...I think you know it’s more than that."
She swallowed, nerves mingling with the fluttering feeling in her chest. "Jake...we’re about to face our boards. I don’t want anything to ruin that."
He nodded, his expression softening. "It won’t, I promise. I just want to be there for you. Give me a chance, Raya. Let me be the one who supports you, through everything."
She hesitated, the weight of their friendship mixed with the newness of these feelings making her nervous. But as she looked up into his hopeful eyes, she knew she wanted to give it a chance. Slowly, she nodded, and a warm smile spread across Jake’s face. He leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, then pulled her into a tight hug, as if he’d been waiting to hold her close all this time.
Later That Night
Jake walked her home, both of them talking softly along the way, not wanting to break the warmth of the moment. He said goodnight, and she watched as he walked away, feeling a new happiness settle over her.
When she went to her room, she noticed a BTS poster on her wall. She smiled, gently tracing Jungkook’s face on the poster, here. "So, Jungkook," she whispered with a grin, "maybe you aren’t the only one making my heart race." She laughed softly at herself and felt lighter, as if this was the start of something beautiful.
With that, Raya lay down, her thoughts of Jake mixed with the dream she held for her own life. And for the first time, everything felt just right.
YOU ARE READING
Chasing Tomorrow
Fanfiction"Raya, why dream so big? Do you think anyone will really notice you?" Raya glanced at her BTS poster, a quiet determination in her eyes. "It's not about being noticed. It's about proving to myself that I'm capable. They may be stars, but they're als...
