raspberries and mocha | heejake ✔

55

The post-ceremony photo session was bustling with energy, laughter, and an unrelenting number of camera flashes. Heeseung guided Jake toward the family section of the venue, where his older brother and his now-wife were already posing for pictures.

"There he is," Heeseung's older brother, called out with a teasing grin, his arm slung casually over his wife's shoulder. "The second-best in our family."

Heeseung rolled his eyes as they approached, his hand lightly brushing against Jake's arm for reassurance. "Fuck you, Heedo hyung. Second-best? Let's not forget who carried this entire wedding on their back."

Heedo raised an eyebrow, feigning deep thought. "Oh, you mean my wife? Yeah, I agree. She's a saint for putting up with you while planning this."

"Oh, shut up," Heeseung groaned, but the smile tugging at his lips betrayed how much he enjoyed their playful banter.

Jake stood awkwardly to the side, watching the exchange with a mix of amusement and anxiety. Heeseung's brother had a commanding presence, taller and broader than Heeseung, with a sharp gaze that felt oddly intimidating.

"Is that the boyfriend?" Heedo asked suddenly, his eyes darting toward Jake.

Jake flinched at the sudden attention, his back going rigid as Heeseung's brother scrutinized him. Heeseung, on the other hand, simply smirked.

"Yep, this is Jake," Heeseung said, casually placing a hand on Jake's back and gently nudging him forward. "Jake, meet my brother, Heedo hyung, and his wife, Sooha."

Jake offered a stiff bow. "It's nice to meet you both," he said, his voice quieter than usual.

Sooha's face lit up immediately, her warm smile erasing any tension Jake felt. "Oh, Jake! It's so wonderful to finally meet you. Heeseung's mentioned you a few times."

"A few?" Heeseung interjected, feigning shock. "That's it? I talk about him all the time."

"Yeah, we know," Heedo said dryly, though the teasing grin on his face softened the jab. "He's all you've been talking about these days. You didn't even complain about work as much as usual, so I guess that's a good sign."

Heeseung gave his brother a light shove, shaking his head. "Whatever. Jake, go sit next to noona while I deal with this clown."

Jake hesitated for a moment but obeyed, settling into the seat beside Sooha. She immediately turned her attention to him, her demeanor as warm as sunlight.

"So, Jake," she began, her tone light and friendly, "how long have you and Heeseung been together?"

Jake froze for a split second, thrown off by her directness, but quickly recovered. "Uh, it's...complicated. But we've known each other for a while now."

"Well, you've made quite the impression," she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Heeseung doesn't trust just anyone, so if he's bringing you here, that means a lot."

Jake relaxed slightly under her kind gaze, his initial discomfort melting away. She was nothing like the cold and distant figure he'd built up in his mind. If anything, she was warm, approachable, and so genuinely kind that Jake couldn't believe he'd ever resented her.

"I have to say," Sooha continued, leaning in conspiratorially, "thank you for putting up with Heeseung. He can be...a lot sometimes. That's coming from his brother's wife, by the way."

Jake couldn't help but chuckle at that, glancing toward Heeseung, who was now arguing good-naturedly with his brother. "Yeah, he's definitely something else."

Sooha laughed, the sound light and melodic. "But he means well. And he works so hard, sometimes too hard. You're good for him. I can already tell."

Jake's cheeks flushed slightly, and he looked down, fiddling with the hem of his suit jacket. "Thank you, noona. That...means a lot."

Before Sooha could respond, Heeseung and Heedo returned, still bickering.

"You're so dramatic," Heeseung said, plopping into the seat next to Jake with an exaggerated sigh.

"Says the guy who spent weeks agonizing over flower arrangements," Heedo shot back.

"Hyung, they had to be perfect! You'd kill me if they weren't!" Heeseung defended, crossing his arms.

Jake laughed softly, feeling a newfound ease in their presence. Heeseung leaned against him slightly, his shoulder brushing Jake's, and the warmth of it was enough to make Jake feel grounded amidst the lively chaos of the wedding.

As the photographer called for more group photos, Jake stood and followed Heeseung's lead, now feeling like he truly belonged. The resentment and doubts he'd carried melted away, replaced with a quiet sense of gratitude.

This was Heeseung's family—and maybe, just maybe, it could be his family too.