Chapter Text
Jake never had any issues fitting in; He was always the person friends flocked to, everyone eager to hear what he had to say and to play with him. Yet here, in this bleak, grimey practice room, Jake feels oddly out of place. He sticks out like a sore thumb, an upturned collar, or a dishevelled strand of hair, impossible to miss. Because here, even though it’s his motherland, everything feels foreign to him.
Back at home he always had someone to talk to, but here, people merely acknowledge him - unable to communicate with him and not patient enough to find any understanding in his attempts at Korean; His first tongue now rendered foreign by the cruel test of time.
It’s a shame, because he has so much to say and no means to express himself. A language that was once so habitual to him is now a forceful practice of his mind to switch into. Every conversation is filled with doubt, and Jake finds himself thinking out every syllable with such care, praying he gets them right.
He used to be afraid of bugs and spiders, but now all he fears is being on the receiving end of a confused look, or even worse, judgement - ‘You call yourself Korean and you can’t even speak the language?’
With this comes a feeling of loneliness despite the fact that he rarely gets a second to himself, constantly surrounded by mentors and other trainees. It’s a different type of exclusion, unintentional but hurtful nonetheless. He misses the nuances and colloquialism inadvertently left out of every joke - forced laughs, hums, and nods becoming his new mode of communication. Jake thinks intentional exclusion might even be better than this, because, at the very least, it means that they are acknowledging him.
Ruminating makes it worse, but here in this isolated room, all Jake has are his thoughts.
He’s meant to be waiting for his partner. Meant to be. He wonders if said partner even got the memo because he’s been here for almost an hour now with no sign of him whatsoever. Counting the seconds in his head, the minutes roll by in a blur and it isn't till he catches himself counting ‘twenteen’ that he decides to stop.
Pulling out his phone, he begins to type a message to his dad.
i want to go home
He hastily deletes it and tries again.
do you think i’m doing the right thing here?
The cursor engulfs each letter as Jake backtracks once again, each pixel vanishing along with Jake's admission of doubt.
can you pick me up?
He’s about to hit send when the door finally squeaks open, a frantic apology spilling in.
“Sorry I’m late! I missed my bus.”
Jake instantly feels a shift in the room, the cool emptiness now filled with an overwhelmingly warm aura. The boy lingering in the doorway must be no older than sixteen. Soft pink cheeks cushion his hazel eyes as he smiles like protection for the precious crescents. There’s something so delicate yet sharp about his features, like he’s crafted from porcelain, his milky white skin gleaming like pearl under the glaring overhead light.
Jake recognises him from their monthly assessments - Kim Sunoo, the boy who always cries. This might be the first time he’s seen him smile and Jake must say it's a refreshing sight. Sunoo looks excited to see him. Someone is excited to see him.
“It’s Kim Sunoo,” Sunoo stretches out his hand to take Jake’s. “How old are you?”
Jake feels a tender warmth blossom in his chest, the softly spoken words easily deciphered by his brain. Sunoo isn’t in any rush to get the conversation over with, and he wants to hear what Jake has to say.
“Oh, I’m 17,” Jake speaks with feigned confidence, and a mischievous look flourishes on Sunoo’s face. “You’re my hyung then. I’m 16… Yay! I wanted to be the maknae.”
“And why’s that?” Jake finds his lips spreading in the semblance of a smile.
“Since you’re older, you can treat me to food! We should go for a meal together after this.” Jake just laughs softly, shaking his head in resignation. He doesn’t mind paying if it means he doesn’t have to eat alone anymore. Finally, after months of solitude, it seems like prolonged silences and the constant feeling of being overlooked are coming to a fateful end in the form of a friend.
Sunoo eases himself down next to Jake, their shoulders brushing against each other as they leaf through the booklet they were given. It’s filled with grim feedback from their mentors, not an ounce of praise in sight. Sunoo sucks in air between his teeth with a sharp hiss, a look of disappointment glazing his eyes. Jake is scared he might cry again, but Sunoo has no tears left; Anything written here, he has heard before.
“Harsh as ever.” Sunoo sighs. “Is yours the same?”
Jake nods, lips scrunched up as he tries to read on. There is something so unnatural about this, and Jake can’t help but feel it must be overstepping some boundary - it’s like a collection of blatant bullying.
“Never mind that.” Jake’s finger finally comes across something new — a page listing the details of their performance. “This is the part that matters.”
“ Crown by TXT sunbaenim!” Sunoo squeals, dropping the booklet in a crumpled heap of dishevelled sheets as he marks out the choreo. Jake is unfamiliar with the song, but he has no doubts that Sunoo will fill him in, the younger boy’s hands already cradling his head like a tiara of sorts.
Jake gets up wearily and follows Sunoo, who is already manipulating his arms into all kinds of positions, tutting at the stiffness in his limbs. Jake doesn’t mind Sunoo’s critique, though. It’s gentle and well-meaning, not a trace of malice to be found.
“I’m surprised they’re making you do a cute song.” Sunoo says aloofly, surveying Jake’s face in the panelled mirror. “You’re more handsome than cute. Very handsome actually.”
“You think?” Jake raises an incredulous brow, to which Sunoo smirks.
“You might be the most handsome guy I’ve ever met.”
Jake is horrified when he sees the beginning of a blush in his reflection, and even more so when Sunoo throws back his head to cackle at his flustered expression. “Hmmm maybe you are cute after all.”
Jake pushes Sunoo playfully, but withdraws his hands instantly, regret trailing from his fingertips. Are they even close enough for that? To his relief, Sunoo continues to giggle, face flushed pink like a sun-kissed peach.
Jake decides he likes Sunoo, and he has a strong feeling Sunoo just might like him too.
“Do you think we’re done?” Jake pants, hand pressed against the grubby wall for balance. The dance, although seemingly cute, felt more like a stress test. Sunoo throws him an unimpressed glance as he turns off the music. “We’re far from done, but I think that’s enough practice for today.”
Jake leans on Sunoo gratefully, arm winding round the back of his neck like a human scarf.
“You know, you’re the first person who has really talked to me.” His voice is warm in Sunoo’s ear and achingly sincere. Sunoo’s brows knit together as he tries to wrap his head around whatever Jake’s just said. If Jake - likeable Jake - is having trouble talking to people too, maybe he isn’t the problem after all.
“Really?” Sunoo’s eyes widen as Jake nods. “Well, the same goes for me! It’s a good thing they paired us up, they must have known we both needed someone to talk to.”
It’s wishful thinking, really, because when has BELIFT LAB ever really cared about their wellbeing, the brutal booklet betraying the falsities of this claim. Grabbing their bags, they ready themselves to leave. The door creaks as they open it, and an unwelcome guest stumbles in, eyes wide with shock.
The visitor is a trainee just like them, dark-haired with sharp features resembling a serpent’s. He almost looks intimidating. Almost. His face breaks into a toothy grin, hands raised in mock surrender. “Were you spying on us?” Sunoo’s eyes narrow as he prods the boy in the chest. “Are you trying to cheat?”
“No!” Riki’s brows furrow defensively, arms crossing his chest. “As if I’d need to cheat! I could dance circles around you!” Jake notices how there’s a bit of a lag in his speech, his hesitation betraying his unfamiliarity with the language - he must be one of the foreign trainees.
Sunoo guffaws, eyes widening in disbelief. “Prove it then.”
“I can’t… not here.” Riki smiles sheepishly, gesturing to the few onlookers lingering in the corridor. “I’m only teasing you, anyway.”
“Why were you spying on us then?”
“Just because I’m bored. My group still hasn't gotten the choreo down… well, apart from me. It’s more entertaining to watch you two! If anything, you guys should be flattered.”
Sunoo still looks on suspiciously, but cracks a smile at the idea of his dance garnering attention. “You know what, I like you! You should come with us for lunch, Jake’s treat! What do you say, hyung?”
Jake just hums in agreement, the thought of having two new friends far too appealing to turn down. As Riki smiles, warmth radiates from the corners of his dark eyes, and a gentle playfulness dances across his lips. Not a single subtle crease, the extent of his youth revealed in one small expression. He’s no more than a child.
Sunoo sees it too.
“Hey, you haven’t even introduced yourself!”
Riki shakes his head, lids fluttering as he tries to gather himself. “I’m Riki. I’m 14 and I moved here from Japan.”
“Look at that, Sunoo! You're not the maknae anymore.” Jake’s eyes gleam as he joins in on the teasing, his confidence doubling by the second.
“I don’t mind! That just means Riki has to call me hyung and respect me.” Sunoo lips curl up in a smirk. “Now come on, let’s go get some food!”
‧₊˚✩彡
Jake is enjoying the warmth of the company around him, even if it does mean piling into a small booth. After about half an hour of meandering around the streets of Seoul, they finally settle on a small restaurant just across from the company building.
The inside is aged and the leather booth in which they’ve sat, is puckering at the seams, the yellowish insides spilling out. A testament to the weight of the conversations that other wary teens have had in that exact same spot before them, just as lost in the world as they are now.
The restaurant is dimly lit and filled with an assortment of people. Exhausted mothers attempting to feed their wailing babies, old men sharing beers, and young couples trying to make the most out of their budgeted dates. Although the spot is far from glamorous, it’s buzzing with life, and after so many days of feeling like death on legs, this is exactly what Jake needs.
His bowl is almost empty, the oil in the broth glistening under the yellowish light, teasing him, and jeering at him for disobeying the rules. Rules that call for a single chicken breast, a sweet potato and a bowl of rice a day. The other two don’t seem that bothered, with Riki busy slurping from his bowl, broth dribbling down his pointed chin in shiny streaks.
“Here,” Sunoo passes him a napkin, shaking head at Jake in mock disapproval as if he hadn’t done the exact same thing a minute prior. “Kids, sheesh.”
Riki scowls at Sunoo, but takes the napkin nonetheless, wiping his face clean before dropping it into his empty bowl like he’s putting the remnants of his food to sleep. A sip of soda and he finally speaks - his earlier attempts were stalled by Jake, who couldn’t stand to see him talk while eating.
“What do you guys actually know about this competition? Because we’ve been told nothing, other than the fact that it’s a survival show which will end with the formation of a new group.”
Jake shakes his head softly, having nothing to offer and being just as lost as Riki in all of this. With that, they turn their heads expectantly towards Sunoo, who is already scrolling through his phone, the luminous screen giving his face a deranged look.
“Where is it...” He murmurs to himself before humming with satisfaction. “Found it!”
Sunoo turns his screen towards the boys, who instantly lean in to huddle around his phone, Riki’s sleeve draping precariously over Jake’s bowl. The photo is blurred, but they can make out five excited faces, arms looping over each other’s shoulders like a boisterous chain. Sunoo purses his lips, waiting for them to give him a sign to proceed.
“Who are they?” Jake finally asks, easing the phone from Sunoo’s hand to study the photo even more closely.
“That’s the group.”
Riki is confused by Sunoo’s vague description, brows furrowing as he tries to wrap his head around it.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I can guarantee these four will make it into the final lineup. It’s practically written in the stars.” Sunoo sighs, taking his phone back from Jake, a wary finger moving across the photo as he names them in turn.
“The small one with the smile, that’s Yang Jungwon. I’ve met him a couple of times at the gym. Cute kid, but an insane performer. I don’t know if he knows how cute he is because the kid dances like he thinks he’s hard or something. His face just morphs the minute the music plays. I feel like he’s friendly but he didn’t seem to want to talk the few times I met him. Shame . I feel like we would have made good friends.”
Sunoo is busy at work as he speaks, swiping through tabs to pull up another page. “Take a look.”
Riki takes the phone this time, much to Jake’s dismay, so he props his chin on the maknae’s shoulder, neck craning to see. It’s a Facebook page of some taekwondo school, photos of kids sporting white doboks and an array of coloured belts.
“Watch the video at the top of the page.”
The sound of parents murmuring and children bickering hums slowly from the phone, a showcase of sorts in frame. A tiny boy with a black belt is standing at the centre of the mat, his knees trembling, betraying his nerves. The minute he starts, though, some sort of internal courage takes over, his face frozen with concentration. In one swift motion, his body rotates and his legs swing round gracefully, cutting through the air in an elegant orbit.
“Bet I could do that too,” Riki scoffs, dropping Sunoo’s phone as he readies himself to try.
“Please don’t! Don’t break your leg before the show’s even started,” Jake holds him down with a steady hand on his shoulder. Luckily, his stern look is enough to keep Riki in place.
“So, that’s Jungwon,” Sunoo retrieves his phone from where Riki let it drop, returning to the photo. “And this here, is Park Jongseong, but he goes by Jay. I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting him, and to be honest even if I did, I wouldn’t know what to say. He’s pretty intimidating, but lucky for you hyung, he speaks English, or so I’ve heard.”
Jay looks far from intimidating in the photo, his lips spread in a boxy smile, but they’ll just have to take Sunoo’s word for it.
“He seems to be fairly competent though. I’ve heard the mentors say good things about him and you and I both know how rare that is.”
Riki bows his head, hair lolling over strand by strand as he nods. “I haven’t heard a word of praise since I got here. Most days, they say nothing at all to me.”
“That’s actually better. If they say nothing, it just means they have no critique to give.” Sunoo finds himself sighing as he says it; He hates the fact that they have to find satisfaction in the absence of disapproval, silence now rendered the unadulterated form of praise.
“And him?” Jake points to the boy at the centre of the photo, and Sunoo’s eyes immediately brighten, casting a much gentler light on the pictured boy.
“That’s Park Sunghoon,” Sunoo gnaws at his lip, skin tearing away, giving his lips a crimson hue. “He’s kind of famous - a figure skater .”
Riki and Jake wait patiently as Sunoo pulls up a video. Taking the phone steadily, Jake has to bite his tongue to hold back from making a remark about the fact that the video has already been liked, the luminous blue thumb practically calling for him to tease Sunoo.
It doesn’t take long for Jake to see why Sunghoon is so intriguing to Sunoo; He looks as though he’s been carved from ice, graceful lines like a crystal sculpture. The video is blurry, but not even the grain can tarnish his ethereal appearance - a type of beauty that transcends pixels . His pearlesque skin blends in with the ice, and it’s lustre, almost magical, under the bright lights. Contrastingly, his brows are dark and thick, yet they frame his face perfectly. The gentle point of his nose tips into a divot - a deep cupid’s bow which blossoms into a smile. This time, Sunoo watches too, his bangs almost covering the screen as he peers over.
As the music starts, Sunghoon begins to move - he’s slow at first, but his pace gradually increases. The rink is akin to a glorified music box, with Sunghoon as the little porcelain figurine, turning with the soft symphony. It’s almost paradoxical, a dichotomy of lace and blades. His frame is so poised, arms curved seamlessly, seemingly devoid of any harsheties or joints for that matter.
The only sharpness comes from the blades on his skates, biting the ice and leaving a weaving pattern behind him almost like the pattern of a spirograph; A toy from their childhood that transcended the cultural barriers between them. The video lapses for about a minute or two before Sunghoon finally comes to a halt. As the video ends, the screen turns black and three gawking faces appear in the reflection.
“So, what do you think?” Sunoo sits back smugly in the booth, the cushion wheezing behind him from the force.
“Why don’t you tell us, since you clearly have a pretty high opinion of him,” Riki teases, and Sunoo flushes red as he does. A hard pout settles on his face, but he can’t stay quiet for long, too eager to rave about Park Sunghoon.
“Well, I’ve only ran into him once and we didn’t really talk. He seems to be quite reserved, I think - maybe shy? He’s even prettier in real life, cameras don’t do him justice. He’s also crazy talented. Dancers like him usually struggle with hip-hop because they tend to be too stiff. Sunghoon does it perfectly, though.”
Jake finds Sunoo’s rambling rather cute, the younger’s cheeks flushing from exertion as he tries to compliment Sunghoon as much as he can. “Since I’ve already made it pretty obvious, I’ll just admit it. I really want to be friends with him. I just feel like he’d be the right person to turn to, especially since everyone is going to be so shady. It’s better to befriend someone indifferent, someone who isn’t looking to be involved in any sort of conspiracies.”
“So you think Sunghoon’s our guy?” Jake is slightly dubious, but Sunoo nods profusely, pupils bobbing up and down crazily.
“Are you sure you just want to be his friend?” Riki ventures, a brave finger prodding Sunoo in the centre of the chest. Much to Riki’s (and Jake’s) despair, Sunoo does not dignify the question with a response, instead icing him out with a scowl. Still, Jake can’t help but notice how fidgety Sunoo’s gotten. “He’s only teasing you, Sunoo! Don’t pay him any attention, just tell us about the last guy.”
“Oh, him,” Sunoo says aloofly, “That’s just Lee Heeseung.” Jake waits, but Sunoo offers no more information, merely locking his phone and setting it down on the mock marble table.
“What do you mean he doesn’t matter!” Riki can’t hold his tongue. “That’s THE Lee Heeseung. Even I know him! He’s like the best trainee there is.”
“Well the problem is, he thinks so too,” Sunoo adds, flicking back on his phone for Jake to see. “He thinks he’s above us all or something. We’ve been gym partners for almost two months now and he hasn’t said so much as ‘Hi’ to me.”
Jake can’t really see how this boy could ever be mean; Big doe eyes and a sweet smile, Jake lets his gaze linger for a second too long. He decides he should find out for himself before passing any judgement - he can’t help but feel that Sunoo is being slightly subjective here.
“What I’m trying to get at here is that we are going to be fighting for the last few spots. We know BELIFT, this is not going to be easy. Let’s just stay honest and authentic to ourselves - that’s the best we can do.” Sunoo finishes, stacking his bowl atop Riki’s and grabbing his bag to leave.
“Hyung, you’ve got the bill, right?”
Jake can’t help but smile as Sunoo nods. People say money doesn’t buy happiness, but money had just bought him a warm bowl of ramen with a side of friends, and that was close enough to happiness for Jake.
‧₊˚✩彡
It isn’t long after their meal that Sunoo and Jake find out about the talking ban. Turns out, they aren’t supposed to talk to anyone but their group mates, which might explain why everyone has been so stand-offish towards them. The mentors had made a huge hullabaloo over their meal, with Riki even threatening to remove them from the show. Still, their empty threats did not shake the boys whatsoever - they knew very well it was too late for BELIFT to find replacements. Still, they played the part, with watery eyes and a forlorn pout, hands clasped in remorse. Riki, now Ni-ki, did the same, lips trembling in some sorry attempt at stifling a laugh that luckily mimicked guilt.
“The show is starting in less than a week, don’t make me remove you altogether because trust me, I can. It would be no real loss,” the mentor manages one last dig before he dismisses them. If only he’d seen the way their tears melted into laughs the minute they’d left the room.
Turning to Ni-ki, Sunoo gives the maknae a quick hug. “Good luck! I’ll cheer you on!”
“Good luck to you too, you’ll need it.”
Jake knows he’s teasing, but he can’t help but feel like it’s true.
‧₊˚✩彡
“Ready?” Sunoo asks Jake with a smile, to which Jake nods. They don’t know what they’re expecting, but it definitely isn’t this. A car has dropped them off by the side of the road, the driver ushering them to follow a trail. Something about the dense forest looming ahead of them makes them feel eerily uneasy, the smell of pine tantalising them to venture further.
It’s hard to act natural when there are close to thirty lenses fixed on you, but Jake and Sunoo try nonetheless, both wearing a mix of excitement and anticipation on their faces, their backpacks laden with the bare essentials. A toothbrush and paste, a spare outfit, and toiletries.
“Surely they aren’t going to make us camp,” Sunoo mumbles to Jake, maintaining the grin on his face. “That would be taking a survival show quite literally.”
Jake hopes not, but then again, that’s what all the signs are pointing to. The trees are thick, and the sound of birds cawing echoes just how far from civilisation they truly are - completely stranded and isolated from the world.
As the gravel trail winds deeper into the heart of the forest, the boys grow immersed in it. The scent of moss mingles with the earthy smell of decomposing leaves, creating an unpleasant blend. Other than the occasional cameraman or a darting squirrel, they are completely alone. As they press on, the forest begins to close in around them, the density of the trees swallowing them.
“Now what’s that,” Jake spots an oddity from a gap between a couple of branches - A cube projection that looks as though it’s been carved from coal. A geometric pattern crafted from glass crawls up the side of it, giving the impression that BELIFT had borrowed it from an abstract gallery or something - A man-made monstrosity.
Following the trail, they end up at its base. When they get a little closer, they can see the imperfections that the forgiving lens of a camera would not catch; Cracks in the plaster and chips in the black paint. Before they can survey the bleak sculpture any further, a low hum sounds, a motor revving up. Suddenly, a panel at the front begins to rotate, forming a door of sorts, like a revolving door swallowing them whole.
Sunoo tries to stifle a shriek but finds himself squeaking with surprise at the perplexity of it all. Jake’s hand in his is the only thing that feels familiar now, everything else feeling as though it’s been plucked from a dystopian nightmare.
Lights along the floors lead the way, bright strips leading towards an ominous abyss of darkness. When they reach the end of the tunnel, they have no choice but to stop, a horrible drop lying in front of them.
“What do we do now? How do we proceed?” Jake nudges Sunoo, and as if on cue, the lights come on. It takes a few blinks for their eyes to adjust to the brightness, but when they do, their jaws drop in shock. They already know the budget is big, but even then, it’s still insane to them. The floors are luminous white and they form a platform in the middle of the room, small benches scattered around it. The walls are made from huge, shiny black tiles, and hanging from the walls are big, red displays, pixelated zeros that seem to mimic their agape mouths.
The floor begins to morph, a mechanism pushing a few small platforms out to form a make-shift path for them. For lack of better judgement, they follow along the path, gawking at their surroundings the entire time.
“Let’s sit in the middle here,” Sunoo says as he pulls Jake over. In a game built against them, they have to strategise, and taking centre stage is sure to mean more screen time for them. As they sit down, the digits on the screen change with two loud beeps, the screens now echoing two’s.
“Must be because we sat down,” Sunoo tries to explain, “What if I-” Sunoo rises to his feet, but the numbers stay the same.
“It’s a good thing we’re the first ones here,” Jake mumbles, “Must mean we're not as low on the pecking chain as we thought.” That is true, but they are still far from safe.
They are only granted a minute of time to themselves before the next group of trainees approach; A group of three with one familiar face.
“Ni-ki.” Sunoo almost shouts, but luckily he manages to catch his voice in his throat, playing it off as a cough. Ni-ki raises his eyebrows at the pair, a cheeky glint in his eyes while he tries to act like he’s never met them before.
“Nice to meet you.” Jake and Sunoo bow their heads at the small congregation of boys watching ruefully as they sit a good stretch away from them, too much distance between them to converse.
“I thought we could talk now.” Sunoo whispers to Jake, a pertinent question to which Jake can offer no answer other than, “It’s probably just a bit too awkward to talk.”
The next few groups arrive, and the display accounts for them one by one. Finally, in the third batch, Jake recognises another face, his bright smile hard to miss.
“There’s Jungwon.” Sunoo rubs his nose to cover his lips as he speaks, “Cute, right?”
Jungwon is cute, adorable in fact. Jake thinks back to the video and finds it even harder to believe that that’s the boy standing a few yards from him now. He knows better than to misjudge him though, the weight of his reputation too heavy to ignore.
After a few more unfamiliar faces, Jay and Sunghoon finally emerge from the tunnel. Judging from Sunoo’s gasp, Jake knows this is what he’s been waiting for. The pair are intimidating for sure, steady eyes surveying the competition without any trace of unease. Much to Jake’s delight, they saunter their way in, Sunghoon taking the seat right by his side. He can feel Sunoo’s stiff frame by his side as he turns in place. Gentle eyes and a placid expression, Jake can see what Sunoo meant about Sunghoon - He is definitely their guy.
Jay and Sunghoon give him a warm smile and give Sunoo a nod of recognition; That has been a pattern among all the trainees. They all seem to know Kim Sunoo.
He doesn't have a proper chance to introduce himself to them, all eyes drawn to the tunnel at the sight of the next trainee. Jake can feel his breath hitch as he recalls his face and name - It’s Lee Heeseung. As if on cue, all the trainees rise to their feet to greet him - well apart from one.
“Sunoo, get up!” Jake hisses, the younger boy sighing exasperatedly as he stands.
“The ace is here.” He hears Jay mumble to Sunghoon, admiration dripping from his voice. Ace is the right word, all right. Heeseung’s talents have clearly amassed a huge amount of respect. He already knew he wanted to befriend Sunghoon, but surely it wouldn't hurt to try to get close to Heeseung too, right? His loyalty to Sunoo offers one answer - Steer clear.
It doesn’t help that Heeseung sits by Jay, a mere few feet away from Jake. He can almost feel the life drain from Sunoo’s limbs as Heeseung calls for him.
“Sunoo-yah! It’s good to see you again.”
Sunoo looks around to see if there’s another Sunoo nearby but Heeseung’s eyes are trained on him, a fondness emanating from his gaze. “It’s nice to see you too, hyung.”
“Who’s this,” Heeseung gestures towards Jake. Jake just about finds his voice. “Oh, I’m Jake. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Jake,” Sunghoon echoes, his eyes now drawn towards the Australian, “I’m Sunghoon.”
Jake tries his best not to say, ‘I know,’ so he settles for a boxy grin instead.
Sunghoon is their guy for sure.