raspberries and mocha | heejake ✔

53

The night before the wedding, Heeseung and Jake stood side by side at the venue, watching as the last of the decorations were put into place. The large hall, usually quiet and serene, was now full of bustling staff, moving chairs, and hanging fairy lights. The air was thick with anticipation, but despite all the noise and movement, Heeseung and Jake were in their own little bubble.

Heeseung, as always, appeared calm, but Jake could see the tension in his shoulders, the small sighs he tried to hide as he checked in with the staff one last time. The wedding was everything to Heeseung's family, and he knew it. They had poured so much effort into making it perfect, and now, the final touches were coming together.

But Jake noticed Heeseung's exhaustion too—he'd barely slept the past few days. Jake had seen how Heeseung had been running on fumes, handling everything from the catering to the seating arrangements and dealing with last-minute family issues. Jake couldn't help but feel a little proud, watching Heeseung manage it all so effortlessly. But he also knew Heeseung deserved a break.

Heeseung glanced at Jake, noticing his concerned gaze. "I'm fine," Heeseung said with a soft smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Jake didn't buy it, of course. "Are you sure you're okay? You've been running yourself ragged."

Heeseung just shrugged, trying to brush it off. "It's part of the job."

Jake raised an eyebrow, knowing full well that Heeseung was much more than just an event coordinator for this wedding. It was his family, his life.

"I'll be fine," Heeseung continued. "I just want everything to go smoothly tomorrow. It's important to my brother and... well, to me." He paused, glancing around the venue. "I just want everything to be perfect, you know?"

Jake nodded, his hand instinctively reaching for Heeseung's. The warmth of his fingers intertwined with Heeseung's was grounding, and for a brief moment, it was as if the chaos around them didn't matter. It was just them, standing there in the middle of this whirlwind, supporting each other without words.

"I know you do," Jake said softly, squeezing his hand. "And it will be perfect. You've done everything you could. I'm proud of you."

Heeseung's lips curled up in a tired but genuine smile. "Thanks."

The wedding staff continued to rush around them, but the two of them remained frozen for a moment, the weight of everything hanging in the air. It was hard for Jake to deny how much Heeseung had sacrificed for this. The whole family was depending on him, and he was pushing through with determination that was both admirable and heartbreaking.

After a few more seconds, Heeseung pulled back, but only slightly, still standing close to Jake. "I'm just... I don't want anything to go wrong. It's too important."

Jake smiled softly, a reassuring smile. "Hey, even if something goes wrong, we'll fix it. You don't have to do everything on your own, okay? You've got me, and you've got all of us. So just take a breath."

Heeseung looked at him for a long moment, the weight of the day finally hitting him. His tired eyes softened, and for a split second, Jake saw the exhaustion seep through the cracks of Heeseung's calm exterior.

"Yeah," Heeseung whispered, his voice shaky, though he still smiled. "I'll be okay. Thanks, Jake."

As the night went on, Heeseung became even more distant, running off to check last-minute details, but Jake couldn't help but follow his movements with his eyes. He could see how badly Heeseung needed to let go for just a moment, but he also knew that Heeseung had no time to pause. Not now. Not before the big day.

At least Jake had made his presence known—and that, in itself, was enough.

For now.