Work Text:
1.
The first time Jake had laid his eyes on the older man, he felt a shock go through him. Like an epiphany, something that has been wanting to strike but has never done so in any of his past relationships.
This man is a total stranger to Jake, standing across the room as he laughs at a joke someone in the group he's with said and his shoulders shaking with the force.
They haven't even locked eyes and yet Jake feels like he's seeing the most beautiful thing that he has lived to see in his life. Surely there can't be anything more alluring than the wide shine of the man's teeth or the warmth he seems to be emanating, a golden halo around him.
Jake has been in the school for two years now and is only now getting to witness the beauty that is this man. This man who is slowly turning, smiling wide and suddenly meeting eyes with Jake who freezes in his spot and upon being shocked, waves at him.
The man looks at Jake with a confused look at first then he tilts his head cutely and waves back at Jake, his lips stretched in a thin smile.
Jake thinks that's the best thing that has ever happened to him since he's been accepted into the school but then things get even better for him because this man - his dream man - is looking closer and closer because he's moved until he was in Jake's orbit.
"Hello," he says and Jake whispers back a 'hey'. "You're new here?"
"Y-yeah this is my first time… in this class," he mutters, trying to appear confident but he can't even hold eye contact for more than a few seconds, looking down at the man's unbuttoned shirt that exposes a little of his sternum. Too much skin for Jake to process.
"Oh! I'm Heeseung, the class representative," he introduces himself, hand stretched out in greeting.
"Jake," Jake says at first then he remembers he should've told him his Korean name. "Or Sim Jaeyun, any one really."
"Cute," Heeseung says, more to himself than anything but Jake catches it. "Nice to meet you Jake, I'll be seeing you?"
Jake nods.
Oh, he thinks. You'll be seeing me.
The next few days pass like a breeze for Jake, he meets new people, he's settled in nicely in his dorm apartment and well maybe things aren't exactly smooth.
At least not as smooth as he'd wished. Of course this only applies to his nonexistent relationship with their class representative, Heeseung or in other words, his God sent angel in human form.
Jake doesn't know what it is about Heeseung that even keeps him attracted and fixed in one spot.
Maybe it's the air of authority that Heeseung carries himself with, the way he doesn't take nonsense from the students, especially the ones that are bigger and more built than him. He'll stand his ground when he says he'll not be accepting submissions for an assignment and unless you meet the professor directly, he's not doing it.
It makes Jake wonder just how he'd be in a relationship; if he'd be the assertive and dominant one, telling Jake off if he did something wrong or even in bed.
It makes chills run down Jake's back at the mere thought of it, having to close his thighs so he doesn't pop one out in the class.
Today is pretty much the same, he's sat in a corner of class, away from eyes and any unwanted attention, making sure he has a good view of Heeseung as he goes up to the board to announce that the lecturer wouldn't be coming in due to unforeseen circumstances.
A lot of the students groan and start to pack, some of them celebrating at the lack of class and others nonchalant.
Jake more or less belongs to the latter, doesn't matter if there's a class or not, he's just there to feast his eyes on Heeseung's beauty.
Said man is currently talking to the infamous couple in the first row at the bottom of the class, Jay and Jungwon. Jungwon came over immediately the class had emptied out, almost like he'd been waiting for that moment.
Jake knows Jay, they're chill friends, they talk once a while. Jungwon is also cute, Jake doesn't talk to him much because the younger seems to get shy around people he doesn't know.
But Heeseung seems so endeared by whatever Jungwon is cutely blabbering, his lips in a pout as both he and Jay look at Jungwon with unwavering attention.
At the end of their conversation, Jake makes his presence known, walking down the stairs and seats and heading to their little group of three.
Eyes turn to him the moment he does. Jay reaches out to shake him and Heeseung smiles, his eyes looking down. Jungwon clings to Jay's arm, looking elsewhere.
"Hey," Jake says to Jungwon, trying to be friendly.
"Hi," Jungwon mutters, still refusing to look at Jake.
"Please don't mind him, he's never like this," Jay explains and Jungwon slaps his chest. "You see?"
"Ahh right," Jake nods and turns his attention to Heeseung. "Um.."
The couple seemed to have taken note and they hurriedly made excuses to leave the class.
With just the two of them, Jake is now a stuttering mess, struggling with his words as he tries to invite Heeseung for lunch.
"Hi, again" he says and Heeseung giggles.
"Hey again," Heeseung teases, resting against the table. "What's up?"
"Er.. um.. are you.. free after.. this?" Jake says, scratching the back of his head nervously.
"Me? Oh.. I um have a presentation to work on but why'd you ask?" Heeseung replies, looking down at his watch.
"Oh."
Oh.
"Is something the matter?" Heeseung asks, moving closer to Jake. The ever comforting man.
"Oh no it's nothing serious," Jake explains, rushing to make an excuse to leave the room. "I think I have another class so um.. I'll be.. yeah."
Jake thinks he hears Heeseung calling after him but he doesn't dare go back, too ashamed to actually say a thing even if he did.
Stupid.
—
2.
The next time they meet, it's after a whole fiasco. It's barely been a few weeks since he'd met Sunghoon, a very handsome and tall man that had transferred to their school and the whole school had decided to spread this rumor of them dating.
The truth was he'd known Sunghoon since their high school days but the guy had changed schools then so they weren't in contact. And when he saw Jake, he'd attached himself to him, going wherever together.
Eventually though, he'd found new friends but the rumors hadn't stopped, and Jake wasn't really happy with the way it was going round.
Especially when Heeseung had jokingly nudged him in a practical class, smirking at him and saying,
"Where's your boyfriend?" Referring to the fact that Sunghoon wasn't in class.
It pained Jake that even Heeseung believed they were together and he needed to make sure the older man got the facts right.
He planned out the way he'd approach the man and explain to him. The perfect time had been after their last class of the week, the entire class filing out as Heeseung discussed something with the professor, nodding at what the man was saying.
Jake waited by the side outside the door, his feet shuffling and his fingers fidgeting. He's also sweating, words flying through his head and he tries to remember what he'd planned on saying but of course they all vanish the moment Heeseung's face comes into view.
He turns to Jake after the professor had left the class, looking around them.
"Are you waiting for someone?" Heeseung asked, locking the class behind him with a smirk on his face. "Date?"
"We're not dating!" Jake exclaims and his voice shocks himself as well.
Heeseung is frozen in place, his hands falling from the door handle to his side. He watches as Jake deflates from the outlash and then he calmly smiles.
"You and Sunghoon you mean?" Heeseung asks.
"Yes," Jake nods.
"Did you break up? Was it because of the rumors?" Heeseung sounds worried yet again and goddammit can't he see the way Jake is literally trying not to shake in his spot as he talks to him?
"No no no," he shakes his head. "We were never dating to begin with. I just.. I just wanted to clear that up so you don't.. think we are."
"Oh," Heeseung blinks and then shrugs as the words settle it. "Okay then. The students must have had too much fun with your friendship."
"Yeah," Jake sighs in relief, thanking God for making Heeseung such a sweet human.
"Well then, we should get going, it's already late," Heeseung says, starting to walk towards the gate.
Jake opens his mouth to ask if Heeseung would like to grab some ramen on their way out but Heeseung beats him to it.
"Oh! There's a study group tonight at the Decil dorm, you should come if you're free. I talked to the professor to give us more time to prepare for the test."
Jake blinks as he stops in his walk. Is this.. a date? But Heeseung had said a group study, it's not just going to be the two of them. But still, he gets to see Heeseung.
"Yeah, I'll be there."
"Sweet."
-
3.
Despite the talks of town, the whispers and whatnot, Jake doesn't end his friendship with Sunghoon, firstly because, why? Why would he even? And secondly, Sunghoon is a really good person that doesn't deserve to just get dumped because of what people are saying.
Also Jake just doesn't have it in him to stop being friends with someone who is everywhere he is; their apartments are right next to each other too. It'd be so weird.
And it's not like it even matters, he's got his eyes on Heeseung already. Heeseung is talking to a classmate about something at this party Sunghoon has invited him to.
He and Sunghoon had gotten separated at the door, and they'd said to meet at the apartment later. So really, he's basically on his own.
The only downside of not having someone to cheer you on by your side as you fight the intrusive thoughts that tell you to ask your crush out is the way your hands would clam together and the way you'd keep glancing their way and/or the way you'd reflexively try to drown an empty cup.
Of course the best part is rethinking all of your life choices and wondering why you hadn't been born with so much overflowing confidence.
It doesn't help too that Jake's running out of time, what with the way Heeseung is heading towards his favorite couple by the table.
Jake has gotten a tad bit closer to Jungwon the last time they'd hung out, the younger boy isn't that shy and just like Jay had warned him, he's a hassle to deal with, never hesitating to say what's on his mind.
Of course that doesn't mean he's spoken to either of the lovers more than necessary, all he's interested in is the hyung that seems to be their fairy godmother.
Jake continues to watch their interaction until Jay is talking to Jungwon, asking about something and when Jungwon hops off the table, it seems like they're leaving and what's this? Are they inviting Heeseung too?
Oh no.
Jake flings out all the thoughts in his head, his reflexes working overtime as his feet carry him across the room and to tap Heeseung on his shoulder.
"Hey Heeseung," he says, glad that his voice hadn't cracked like he thought.
Heeseung turns to face him with a smile which Jake reciprocates.
"Hi Jake, how're you?" Jake doesn't even register when the couple leave them, his undying attention on Heeseung.
"I'm good, I'm good," Jake nods and then he remembers why he's here in the first place. "Um.. do you wanna get some fresh air?"
"Actually yeah," Heeseung nods and pushes himself off the table, walking behind Jake like a gentleman.
When they get out, Heeseung makes a show of inhaling deeply and then exhaling even louder. It makes Jake keel over in laughter, his eyes stinging.
Heeseung had seemed to forget his whole class representative image the moment he'd had a few drinks and Jake kind of liked him like this; free and less composed. Like an actual college student.
When Heeseung turns to Jake with a smile, Jake wishes to freeze that moment in time just to see the exact moment Heeseung's eyes sparkle and the way his lips stretched out in a smile, his pearly white teeth on display.
"Beautiful," he says without knowing and Heeseung giggles at him.
"Thank you," he responds, his breath hitting Jake's cheek because of the close proximity. "The sky looks really pretty today."
"It's probably not the only thing that's pretty today," Jake says again, his cheeks going red, wondering where his sudden whoosh of confidence is from. He sees the way Heeseung also blushes, looking away. "I'm sorry, was that too much?"
"No," Heeseung shakes his head, shyly looking away. "It's pretty cute actually."
"You think so?" And Jake doesn't wait for a response even though Heeseung nods; doesn't hesitate to ask the next thing that comes to his mind. "Heeseung do you want to eat ramen together?"
"What?" Heeseung's smile is off his face in an instant.
Jake doesn't seem to notice though, asking once again in his best Korean accent. He'd always thought of getting ramen with the older, after learning about the fact that Heeseung absolutely loves ramen from Jay.
"Jake, are you really asking me that?" Heeseung replies, his eyes stern and his arms crossed over his chest.
This time, Jake is more cautious about the way he nods, watching the way Heeseung shakes his head, chuckling.
"Is that something… wrong?" Jake asks cautiously. "I.. I just wanted to eat ramen with you."
"Jake, it's not that I don't want to eat ramen with you, it's.. oh my God I can't believe I have to explain this.. but um, the way you phrased it, it's not right," Heeseung explains.
"What? I.. I'm sorry, I er really didn't know. My Korean isn't that good. Did I offend you? I swear that wasn't my intention.. I really really just want to eat ramen with you." Jake explains, his hands fidgeting, scared of the way Heeseung looks. He was right, Heeseung would definitely be a dominant person in a relationship.
"I understand that you didn't know," Heeseung sighs. "But please dont ask anyone to eat ramen like that. It's like a cheap way of asking for "Netflix and chill" with someone."
Jake almost dies right there and then. His hands are instantly flying up to his mouth to hide his shock.
"I'm so sorry, I swear I didn't know," Jake explains once again, almost falling to his knees to apologize.
"It's fine oh my God," Heeseung is smiling once again, his hands waving away as if to brush off the matter. "But still we can't really get ramen at this hour yeah? Some other time, ask me again then?"
"I will," Jake says, smiling widely.
-
4.
It's some days after the party and while the current class they're in is over, they actually hesitate to move to the west wing where their next class will hold.
Jay and Sunghoon had left already though, and of course some of the other coursemates.
Jake is still on his seat, calming his heart down as he gets up to go talk to Heeseung who he'd seen walk out the door a few minutes ago.
He doesn't step out first, having seen Jungwon and the class representative talking about something and when he finally does step out, he meets eyes with Jungwon who is hugging Heeseung.
Jake immediately averts his eyes somewhere else, looking at the wall behind him. It seems like Jungwon hadn't left him hanging though, because when he turned back to Heeseung, the taller man is already looking at him, smiling.
"Hey Jake," he waves and Jake melts inside. Just how can one man make him feel like he's reliving the whole high school crush thing again. Isn't he past these kinda moment?
"Hi hyung," he also waves, taking a little second to contemplate his words this time. "Um.. can I buy you lunch after our class?"
"Lunch?" Heeseung asks just to be sure. Jake nods. "I don't see why not, but didn't we agree on ramen?"
"We could do that another time really," Jake flushes at the thought of another time alone with Heeseung.
They conclude the final plans and head to the class. But they don't end up going on the sorry excuse of a date, because Heeseung gets a call from his dorm apartment, someone shouting on the other line and a lot of noise happening all around.
"What's wrong?" Jake had asked him right before he'd fled, his bag slung over his shoulder.
"A friend of mine came over yesterday, and he tried to cook, it's a disaster and I need to go help," Heeseung explains.
Jake tries not to focus on the fact that Heeseung has a "friend" over in his house. Tries not to be that jealous crush but he can't help it, he wants to know that friend and hopefully make sure he's never been a thing with Heeseung.
But of course all he does is nod and wave Heeseung goodbye.
Next time then.
-
5.
Jake forgets. He forgets that he doesn't have Heeseung's number and the amount of questions he'd get from either Jay or Sunghoon just wasn't worth asking them for it. So he's sat on a bench around the area Heeseung's apartment is and he waits.
He waits for so long, his legs tired of jumping in his nervous state, and his hands red from rubbing them over his jacket.
Jake should put in this amount of patience into his school work, it'd be great help really.
Granted he could walk in and ask for a Heeseung out of 50+ students but he doesn't have it in him, especially considering the fact that Heeseung had mentioned having a friend around. Wouldn't want to walk in on something.
It's been 45mins since he'd sat there, about 50 people had passed by him and yet the one man he wants to see hadn't even peeked his head out of the dorms.
Jake is a little patient though, he waits some more, until it's been almost an hour since he'd sat there. Then, lo and behold, there's the melodious laughter of the man of his dreams and his eyes lift up from his phone, watching the way Heeseung comes out in a casual fit, his sweatpants and hoodie making him look soft and cuddly.
Lover boy™ is up on his feet then, walking towards Heeseung but he halts in his tracks when he sees the person that Heeseung is laughing with, a slightly tall man, his smile also pretty but Jake would rather sit naked on a hot grill than admit it, and he has brown curly hair.
Heeseung notices Jake only when his walking partner stares at him in front of them. Then the older man speaks and Jake's attention shifts from staring down the man next to Heeseung and to smiling.
"Hi Jake, what brings you here?" Heeseung asks, cutting straight to the point. When he notices that Jake and the man next to him are staring down each other, he laughs heartily. "Oh! I forgot to introduce you too, Beomgyu, this is Jake, and Jake, this is Beomgyu, a friend of mine from high school."
Jake remembers that this is the friend that almost burned down Heeseung apartment but since he's here for one thing only, he doesn't mention that. Infact he reaches out to shake Beomgyu's hand.
"Nice to meet you," Jake manages, not waiting for a response and turning back to Heeseung. "Hi hyung, I um.. I just realized I never got to buy you lunch and that I didn't have your number so I couldn't call to ask if your kitchen problem had been solved."
"Oh that's right, I'll give you my number right now," Jake hands Heeseung his phone and the older begins typing. "I'm sorry for the missed free lunch, Beomgyu here was trying to burn down the building from frying chips. Catastrophic. Here,"
He hands back Jake's phone to him, having saved his number as "Heehee<3" and Jake wonders if this is Heeseung's way of flirting too. If so then this visit isn't even bad, in fact, Jake can feel the pain in the butt from sitting too long vanishing.
"Now you can call me when you want," Heeseung winks. "We could grab that lunch some other time, I'm showing Beomgyu around today. You'll text me?"
"Yes," Jake says, nodding vigorously. He watches at the two of them walk away and he also heads back to his own dorm, a skip in his step.
—
+1.
Jake thinks talking to Heeseung is the best thing ever, but texting with Heeseung somehow seems to be even better. Over the course of the next few weeks, he texted and had a phone call with Heeseung on random times.
Heeseung would sometimes call him at 2am to ask if he's awake and if he is, they talk about what's on Heeseung's mind and sometimes it's Jake doing that.
And he's thankful that Heeseung doesn't act indifferent towards him in school too. If Jake doesn't reach out to talk to him, he'll walk the steps it takes to reach Jake's seat and say hi to him, staying longer than he should just to make conversation.
The couple also welcome him into their bubble, Jake learning about Jungwon's cheekiness and his avid attentiveness for what's happening aorund him. Those big doe eyes aren't for nothing.
Eventually though, Jake recalls in his mind that they still haven't had a chance to go on that ramen date, or any of the dates they'd planned. It seems as if the universe isn't working for their side, always rushing to mess things up right when they finish planning the date.
And Jake wants to bring it up to Heeseung but as usual, it's like the older man just has a way of reading into Jake's mind, knowing what he's thinking and exactly what to do about it.
It's 2:39am and Jake is wide awake, reading some manga on an illegal website. He tried to sleep for so long but was too caffeinated to do so.
And it's right at that moment that his phone rings, the photo of Heeseung's profile flashing on the screen.
Jake picks it up in record time, always rushing to hear Heeseung's voice. And when he picks up, Heeseung sounds out of breath.
"Hyung? Are you okay?" Jake asks, worried.
"Yeah yeah I'm good, um.. can you open your door? I'm at your place," Heeseung hesves and that's when Jake registers the sound behind his door.
He doesn't have time to wonder how and when Heeseung got his number, already up and opening the door to let him inside.
"Did you run here?" Jake asks, bringing over a glass of water.
"More or less yeah," he thanks Jake and down the glass in one go. "I uh.. I came with ramen! We can finally have that ramen date, no?"
And Jake thinks his heart might explode if Heeseung looked at him any longer with those sparkle in his eyes.
"You remembered?" Jake says, making way for Heeseung to move to the microwave and kettle.
"Why wouldn't I?" Heeseung asks, his brows furrowing. "Jake, don't think I don't see your efforts trying to take me out. I see it, even when I don't want to, because you're blatant and loud with your feelings that it's hard to ignore. Besides,"
Heeseung chuckles, his ears going red and his lips curling into a smile,
"It's not like I don't feel the same way."
Maybe, just maybe , Jake thinks, the universe really isn't against me.
Bonus Panel
"These should be done by now," Heeseung mutters as he gets up from where his and Jake's fingers had been looping shyly.
"How do you know?" Jake asks, more dejected that Heeseung had left his side even if he was just a few meters away.
Heeseung is up to grab the ramen cups from the microwave, careful to not hurt himself when he feels a hand wrapping around his waist.
"Are you that much of a ramen master?" Jake asks, his lips stretched in a smirk.
Heeseung puts the cups on the top of the microwave and turns in Jake's hold, his hands cupping Jake's face.
He leans down to capture his lips in his, relishing in the way Jake gasps before his body relaxes into Heeseung's space and his hands clutching his waist.
When Heeseung pulls back, he gives Jake a shrug and one of his killer smiles; literally because Jake feels like he might die, weak in the knees and all.
"I don't know, why don't you find out," Heeseung sounds so chill, like he hadn't granted every single one of Jake's wishes in one go.
He hands Jake his own cup noodle and they start slurping.
.
.
Bonus Panel II
"I have actually ramen we could cook you know?" Jake offers but Heeseung seems so proud of his cup noodle making skills that he immediately flings the thought out the window. "You know what? These are even better."