Amore||Jake Shim

fifteen

"remind me why we're watching the little mermaid again?" jake asked ava.

after the game of hide and seek, brooklyn begged jake and ava to watch the little mermaid with her and of course the two gave in.

"because," ava chuckled, "brooklyn gave us the puppy eyes and we couldn't say no to the puppy eyes."

"right," jake sighed, "but this movie is so- mermaid-y."

"what?" ava laughed.

"stop being a baby and watch the movie," she added, throwing pieces of popcorn at his chest.

"you're tired aren't you?" ava asked, her smiley face turning into a serious one as she saw jake yawn.

"maybe a little," jake replied, adjusting himself on the couch to where his head comfortably rested on ava's lap as his arms were folded on his chest.

ava froze at jake's actions and stared down at his face where he displayed a slight grin and closed his eyes for a while.

her hands were raised in the air above jake's body, not knowing what to do with them.

jake opened his eyes and sighed, taking ava's hand and comfortably resting it on his chest.

"what?" jake asked, looking into ava's eyes.

ava hesitated at first and replied, "uh n-nothing. nothing. go to sleep."

jake smiled at ava's response and went back to closing his eyes, while ava continued to stare at his face, identifying his ethereal facial features.

a few minutes later, after ava adjusted herself to the position, she found herself bringing her hands to gently brush jake's charmingly long, dark eyelashes.

ava's moment of using her fingers to softly outline jake's sharp features was ruined by her ringing phone.

"hello?" ava answered in a whisper.

"why are we whispering?" mr. lee asked, also in a whisper.

"o-oh because jake is uh sleeping," ava answered.

"finally," mr. lee sighed, "it's time he got his rest."

ava smiled as she saw jake's eyes open wide, listening into the father-daughter's conversation.

"well i called to tell you i am as busy as ever tonight, meaning i won't be leaving the company until late at night," mr. lee told ava, making her let out a soft sigh.

"so .." ava began.

"so you'll have to spend the night where you are," mr. lee explained, "i already checked in with mrs. shim and she said she would be more than happy to let you stay the night."

"but-"

"i have to go now hun. sleep tight. love you."

"love-" ava paused at the sound of the call hanging up and sighed, "love you too dad."

ava set her phone down and put her attention back on jake who gave her a comforting smile.

"it's been like this almost every single day since i've came back home. it's nothing new," ava shrugged off.

"i'm sorry," jake whispered.

ava put on a forceful grin and shook her head, "don't be. now ... go back to sleep or you'll really be sorry."

"you wouldn't do anything to me," jake gasped.

ava slumped her shoulders down and sighed, "you're right. but i want you to get some sleep. please?"

"okay," jake replied softly.

"kids! do you mind coming to help with the groceries?" mrs. shim yelled as she unlocked the door.

"looks like sleep will have to wait," jake chuckled, getting up from the couch.