Amore||Jake Shim

nineteen

"so when do we want to start practicing for the teacher's feature?" ava asked jake as they walked behind the girls on the way back to the studio.

"whenever," jake shrugged.

"did you forget the part where you have training to do as well? i want to make sure you get your rest too," ava said, but immediately covered her mouth.

"sorry. i didn't mean to nag you about getting your rest again," she mumbled.

"it's okay," jake laughed, "how about we start next week? i have the whole week free."

"you don't train next week?"

jake shook his head, "some construction is being done in almost every part of the building, so we won't be allowed in their for the whole week."

"ahh."

"talking about the teacher's feature?" mrs. park asked, joining the conversation.

"yep."

"i'll take care of teaching the girls the choreography, so you two could just focus on your parts and the week before finals, we'll come together and practice. sounds good?" mrs. park asked.

"sounds great," ava and jake replied in unison.

"awesome," mrs. park smiled, walking into the dance studio first.

ava walked inside the studio to get her bag and was about to exit once again.

"leaving already?" jake asked.

ava turned around and nodded, "i'm meeting up with a friend."
—
"so you're telling me that jake flew himself to new york just to see you?" jisoo, one of ava's childhood friends, asked.

ava and jisoo met up at a café to catch up with each other since ava was back in town. the two went to elementary school together, but were separated in middle school, then reunited in high school.

"wow. how could your life become so interesting in just a few days when i've waited almost all my life for just one interesting thing to happen to me?" jisoo asked in disbelief, making ava laugh.

"let's add jake and i becoming friends again to that list as well," ava said.

jisoo began choking at ava's words, "friends? you two are becoming friends again?"

"exactly right," ava answered.

"so you two agreed to becoming friends again even after knowing that both of you still have feelings for one another?"

"well i wouldn't say i still have feelings for jake," ava corrected.

jisoo gasped, "you so have feelings for him."

"i just- it doesn't make sense," ava sighed, "jake barely crossed my mind in nyc, but ever since i came back home and saw him, he's literally all i ever think about and i'm not sure if what i feel is a feeling of love you know?"

"right person, wrong timing?" jisoo asked.

"oh my. i've heard that so many times since i've came home and i'm starting to think it's true," ava laughed.

"i mean .. it could be," jisoo began.

"think about it. you two fell in love in high school and had the strongest bond ever. everyone knew it. then you moved across the world to pursue something without seeing jake for several months."

"and for you two to still feel something for each other even after all these years, that's quite crazy if i say so myself. now that's what you call love. you and jake were beyond in love, but maybe it wasn't the right time."

"maybe the universe had other plans. maybe you and jake needed to learn how to love your own selves. you know for a fact that you and jake have grown up to become stronger individuals."

"at this point, i don't even know what i'm saying," jisoo sighed, making ava laugh.

"it's crazy how everyone i've gotten advice from ever since i've came back sounds so smart. couldn't be me," ava said.

"yes, yes it could be you. look at you," jisoo smiled, "you took your own advice and moved to nyc to pursue your dream and you did it. you took your own advice and grew so much."

"maybe becoming friends with jake again is all you can do right now. jake has changed and so have you, so take this opportunity to get to know each other again. i'm sure there's so much you two would find out."

"oh where were you when i needed a pep talk in new york," ava whined.

"grounded. that's where i was. grounded in the house," jisoo replied bluntly, making ava laugh again.

"hold on a sec. dad is calling," ava said.

"hello?" she answered.

"hi hun. what are you doing right now?" mr. lee asked.

"i'm at the café with jisoo. why?"

"when ever you're done, do you mind stopping by the shim's house to pick something up for me?"

"uh .. yes sure. of course."

"thank you sweetheart. i've got to go now, but tell jisoo i said hi."

"got it," ava replied, hanging up.

"what did he need?" jisoo asked.

"i need to stop by jake's house later," ava replied.

"sounds like fun," jisoo replied, wriggling her eyebrows.

"oh stop. jake probably won't even be there. he's probably at his company."

"i didn't even say anything about jake. so he's on your mind huh?" jisoo teased, making ava begin to blush.

"well why don't you go now? i've got to go run errands for my parents," jisoo said.

the two ended up bidding each other goodbye and jisoo made sure to remind ava to catch up with her through texting or calling.
—
ava drove herself to the shim's house, which was only a few minutes away from the café and as she parked the car, another car pulled up next to her.

she got out the car and saw jake and three other boys exit the car.

"look who's back," jake smiled.

"your mom's got something for my dad and i was sent to go pick it up. who are t-"

ava stopped her words and let out a gasp.

"your training friends!," she cheered as she saw k get out the car first.

"why do you seem more excited to see them then you are to see me?" jake whined.

"because they're nicer and more fun to be around," ava replied, sticking her tongue out, making jake do the same.

"ava!" k exclaimed, waving to her as he walked closer.

"ah the little sister i've never had before," k smiled as ava excitedly waved back.

"and it'd better stay that way," jake added, making ava laugh at his jealousy.

"hi daniel," ava said, waving to him as he got out the car, waving back.

"ava, this is taki, another one of the boys," jake introduced as the unfamiliar boy stood next to jake.

ava covered her mouth and whispered, "he is so cute."

standing next to ava, k heard her and let out a laugh, "right?"

"k, daniel, and taki are staying at my house for the next week," jake explained.

"ohh because of the thing?" ava asked.

jake let out a chuckle, "yea because of the thing."