Dear "J" | Sim Jake

Chapter 34

"I—" Jiwon barely got a word out before the door swung open.

Jay strolled in as if he owned the place, a sigh already escaping his lips, while Eugene stood behind him, face-palming as if regretting all her life choices.

Jiwon flinched slightly at their sudden presence, her pulse still unsteady from the weight of Jake’s words. But Jake? He didn’t even blink. He didn’t acknowledge them, didn’t break his gaze, didn’t shift even an inch away from her. His stare was deep, unwavering—almost suffocating.

Without looking away from Jiwon, his voice rang out, firm yet calm.

“Get out.”

Jay stopped mid-step. “Huh?”

“Go out,” Jake repeated, his tone unyielding. “Don’t enter. Not until I’m done with her.”

Eugene shot Jay a knowing look, nudging him back towards the door. "Told you not to walk in."

Jay clicked his tongue, glancing between them before sighing. "Fine, fine. Just—don’t make her cry or something." He turned on his heel, dragging Eugene out with him.

The door shut with a quiet click.

And then there were two.

The silence between them thickened, pressing down on Jiwon’s chest as she stood there, caught in the intensity of Jake’s gaze.

Jiwon’s fingers curled into the hem of her sweater, gripping the fabric as if it could anchor her. Her throat felt dry, her mind a tangled mess of thoughts and emotions she hadn’t prepared for.

"I... how do I say..." she started, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jake didn’t rush her. He didn’t push or demand. He just stood there, waiting—his expression unreadable, but his eyes, they burned with something fierce. Something raw.

Jiwon exhaled shakily, lowering her gaze to the floor. “It’s not that I don’t—” She stopped, frustrated with herself. Why was it so hard to speak when her heart already knew the answer?

Jake’s breath caught at her words, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath as well. The room around them faded, leaving only the two of them standing there, their silence heavy but filled with something deeper, something unspoken.

Jiwon looked up at him again, her face flushed, her heart racing, but this time, it wasn’t the nerves of uncertainty—it was the warmth of finally letting go, of saying what had been trapped inside for so long.

"I like you... too," she repeated softly, her voice more steady now, but still fragile with the weight of her admission.

Jake’s eyes softened, the intensity in them shifting, a small but genuine smile tugging at his lips as he stepped closer. “You... you really do?” His voice was quiet, almost disbelieving, as if he was afraid this moment might slip away if he didn’t hold onto it tightly.