Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ah, yes. Finally, another day of work is over and done with. 

Uncharacteristic of his earlier immobile facade in the car with his face smooshed into Riki's shoulder in sleepiness, Jake rushed out the moment the vehicle went stock-still outside the dorms, eager to be ahead of everyone else. 

To any stranger, the life of an idol in the music industry must appear to be an immensely harrowing one. But for Jake, while indeed it was hard, he'd grown to learn that he could only cope with it in the simple joys that came with each passing day. Just like today.

Upon reaching home—which he had been looking forward to since their 56th rehearsal of Still Monster—he made sure to make a beeline to the bathroom while everyone else wanted to laze around in the living room for a while. There was no time to waste; he washed his face, brushed his teeth, and just finished all his business really in no more than the length of four songs. 

Just like that, he was all set to lay in bed and consume specific media content like it was his childhood bedtime story.

What kind of media, might you ask? Nothing too serious, just none other than his own group's most recent Twitter searches for the day. At least, that's what he had planned today because he just spent his whole day off yesterday watching TikTok fan edits and Jungwon's late-night bedtime lives.

This routine he had established since way back to their debut also got him to choose the bed closer to the socket, so he could easily scroll on his plugged-in phone while lying down, worn-out charger cable be damned. Fortunately, Jay didn't mind (and that's why Jake believes he is his best-ever roommate thus far).

It's no secret to a lot of people that Jake entered this idol life in the likes of a fan. In fact, almost every one of their fans would know this every time he reiterates his origin story about entering the entertainment scene: that he didn't need anything more than BTS to convince him to fly back to his home country and train to be just like them, even despite his broken Korean and zero knowledge on singing and dancing.

Oh, he remembers venturing into the K-pop fandom life like it was a breath of fresh air. But it wasn't without its difficulties, and frankly, said breath of fresh air first came in like a splash of South Korean cold water through his predominantly Australian childhood worldview. He had yet to go figure the numerous stages they performed in, the amount of hard work involved in producing a new concept album, even up to the comeback streaming goals and official birthday hashtags.

Needless to say, he's already known enough. He believes that that very knowledge would help him as well in being an idol himself. Not only that, but also, it's nice to have a good laugh with their fans when they aren't very shy with him and not much Internet attention is drawn, thus explaining the multiple accounts he's made for himself too. Plus, it helps with votings, too.

Having gone through all that, Jake believes he has gone through everything he needs to know about being a fan of a K-pop idol like himself.

At least, that's what he thought prior to his current situation: freshly showered, wrapped like a sushi roll in his fluffy blanket with a pillow between his arms—and a furrow on his brows.

"Sunghoon AUs thread," he read out loud, albeit in a whisper so as to not wake the sleeping Jay a few meters away from him. In the course of his scrolling, he barely even registered that Jay had come and gone into the room and had finally been sleeping the whole time.

Weird. Sunghoon has never mentioned ever competing in Australia in his figure skating stint before. If so, Jake would've probably known, or at least could've read about it on his best friend's Wikipedia page with the number of times he's been there.

Naturally, as someone committed to keeping abreast with his members' interesting lives, Jake opened the thread out of curiosity as to how Sunghoon would've even had a thread about being in Australia, or whatever it is about an Astronomical Unit.

Oh.

It was not about Australia, after all.

Oh.

For the first time since he was in his teens, Jake felt the need to hide underneath his blanket as he kept on with the thread, almost as if he was back in his bed reading a poorly written Wattpad chapter at 4 am, right before he was about to get up for school.

For some reason, he forgot these things existed. When your life revolved around hectic schedules and constant catching up with trends and your friends' and family's lives, maybe it was bound to happen. He had his own fancams to watch to help monitor his performances, he had their variety show clips to see and make sure if he had acted a bit too wacky for his idol image; he barely had time now to even remember that such a thing as fanfiction was also prevalent in the entertainment media. And it was made by their fans for free. 

That didn't make it any less crazy, though. All that he remembers seeing in his fandom experience was a Wattpad BTS HYYH lore fanfiction link under a tastefully edited YouTube trailer, and that was it. It was enough for him to have been able to read their own group's original vampire-themed story published on the platform, but apparently, technology paved the way indeed for a surge of opportunities, even for writing fanfiction.

There was that one tweet in the thread where Sunghoon tweeted about disliking his annoying part-time job co-worker. Then another wherein Sunghoon was an action movie actor. All of these are fake and digitally generated, obviously, because since when did they even have verified personal Twitter accounts, right? 

And what in the world does AO3 even mean?

Oh.

With bated breath, Jake reads the first thing that caught his eye: 

‘A high school alternate universe fanfiction wherein Sunghoon makes Jake fall in love with him in less than seven days.’

Click.

Fortunately, Jake did not have any schedules set for until the afternoon tomorrow.

Chapter Text

“You look like shit,” was the first thing to greet Jake in the kitchen that morning, coming from his very own roommate who looked at him with a stare of equal parts concern and disgust.

Sure enough, his light surfing and scrolling through his socials last night turned into something that demanded much greater energy—that is, both his physical and emotional energy combined.

Oh, sorry! Did anyone expect Jake to just greet Jay with the same amount of snark this morning after learning he was also in love with Sunghoon? 

Without bothering with a reply, Jake sat on their dining table nearby, tuning out all sorts of yapping from his same-aged friend in favor of staring into space, strands of his hair still strewn about and his under-eyes glaring dark under the morning sunlight.

Just what did he get himself into.

Other than the mess that he was right now, what Jake would call an even bigger mess was the very thing he insisted on reading last night—if not the way he reacted upon seeing all of it.

Unfortunately, he wasn't familiar with the site, leading him to realize he'd just read an entire book until 4 am after seeing the clearly written number at the very top of that page: 65,739.

Makes complete sense why last night felt just like a fever dream that led him to question which was real and which wasn't.

When Jay put a steaming plate of rice with curry right in front of him, whispering ‘Careful, it's hot’, Jake made no move to look at him but still reached out to receive it and mumbled a ‘thanks’.

“Okay, I give up, I don't understand what's going on with you. Just tell me, why do you look so distraught?”

That was enough to get Jake to finally return the gaze—with a glare, rather. A sad one, at that.

“I can't believe you never even thought of telling me,” Jake continued to mumble then proceeded to mix his food around, not really in the mood to eat it yet with the terrible, swirling sensation in his stomach.

“Told you what?”

“That you were in love with Sunghoon!” If he was angry earlier, this time, Jake turned to him with his puppy eyes that appeared even sadder.

“I— Oh my god, what the hell are you talking about?!”

“But it makes perfect sense!” Jake gestured with his palms as he went on with the explanation he worked out in his head. “You're always shutting his jokes down but you actually care about him. And he's been friends with you longer than me! You're just pretending you don't like him because—”

“Jake, no—”

“You think he doesn't like you back because he likes Heeseung-hyung! But he actually likes… likes you… And—”

As he continued his babbling, Jay looked so close to crying in secondhand embarrassment, especially when Sunghoon just entered the kitchen with his previous sleepiness gone the moment he heard Jake spewing his nonsense.

“Sim Jaeyun, shut the fuck up,” Jay warned, his eyes widening and his arms crossed in front of him. Clearly, he regretted even asking Jake that question in the first place. But Jake didn't get the hint and decided right now was the perfect time to do such a confrontation, right when they were alone in the kitchen together.

“But I just don't understand! You didn't have to—”

“Have to what?”

Just then, Jake felt the weight of an arm being wrapped around his shoulder. He turned to the person who greeted him, only to be met with the one he'd been losing his mind about since he woke up this morning.

“Are you okay, Jaeyun-ah?” 

Rather than the flirty expression Jake has had embedded in his mind since last night, Sunghoon looked at him with concern as he flattened Jake's unruly hair with his other hand.

Somehow, the almost comical smirk that Jake had imagined in his head turned into a fond smile towards him, one which he doesn't even remember ever seeing on his best friend. Heck, even the sunlight filtering through the glass windows of the kitchen made the tips of his jet black hair look like a halo.

Since when did he think of Sunghoon this way?

“Y-Yeah. Of course! Why wouldn't I be!” 

In order to hide his panic, Jake scooped up a mouthful of the steaming hot rice to make it seem like he'd been busy the whole time. But alas, his distractedness made him forget Jay's earlier warning, thus causing him to burn his tongue and jump up in pain. In his pain, Jake failed to notice how Sunghoon sprung up as well to retrieve a glass of water for him; just grabbing it to nurse his burned tongue without thinking much about it, then drinking too fast enough to choke on it.

“You are a hot mess,” Jay muttered as he handed Sunghoon his own plate of breakfast. When Sunghoon replied with a ‘thanks’, Jake still couldn't help but feel bad at the simple response, despite him having the exact same response just minutes ago.

But he couldn't deny, having Sunghoon's hand patting circles on his back felt heavenly. It's neither like it was his first time choking, nor like it was the first time Sunghoon helped him through it. 

When Jungwon entered the kitchen with Sunoo behind him, Jake failed to notice the way Jay's eyes lit up, although the older sure didn't forget to make him aware of his delight.

“Oh, thank God, you're here! Now I don't have to deal with these idiots alone…”

.

So now that Jake had finally washed up and spent quite a while alone with his thoughts, he realizes much of the things he read in the fanfiction weren't true, after all. Of course, they weren't! 

First and foremost, Sunghoon and Jay weren't in high school anymore. They didn't even go there together, so there's no reason for Jay to fall in love with him on the first day of high school.

Secondly, he's seen Jay sharing glances with Sunoo for a while now. Not to mention the way they naturally gravitated towards each other at their lowest points way back in the show.

But now that Jake thought about it, what is it to him? He didn't even care much whenever he saw Euijoo and Nicholas spending time together on the balcony for a few hours longer. 

Why did he seem to care more now that Sunghoon was involved? Why did he suddenly become too concerned about whether he had a better friendship with his BigHit co-trainees?

Ah, but nevermind that! Practice is coming up in a few hours; Jake needs to be in his optimum shape, and that includes both his physical, mental, and emotional capacities. He needs to be at his best today!

And what better way to do that than to scroll through their fans’ social discussions for a while? Just to get a bit more energized and inspired, is all.

Sitting on the couch while Sunghoon spent his long-overdue video game session with Riki, waiting for the others to finish washing up, Jake scrolled through Twitter without having anything else to do.

And oh boy, did he actually find something to do.

His screen read:

‘5 times Sunghoon shows his love for Jake, and the 1 time Jake finally notices.’

Interesting.

Just like that, Jake ran back towards the bedroom and into his already-made bed, leaving his two confused companions in his wake.

Chapter Text

It's practice day again. Just like any other day since he'd signed himself to his fate as an idol.

In times like these, Jake prided himself in his strength and motivation to do this every single time, thanks to the endless love from their fans. Even if it takes them a hundred times to spin on the practice room floor enough to leave it sparkling clean—ah, good old days.

But sometimes, grueling dance practice was not all that bad. They had the help of their experienced dance coaches at their expense, not to mention their very own maknae who already quite literally lived his life dancing.

No actually, almost every single person inside this room has had prior experience in dancing at least once in their life. Maybe Jake was the only one who never even thought of doing so; he had a lot going on as a child after all. Maybe he should've busted out a move or two while he waited for hours catching a sea bass back then in Brisbane.

But he wasn't an icon of growth for nothing! And it's even better that he had his members to help him. Sunoo had performed in school programs—at least, that's what Jake had seen in their predebut videos scattered around social media. Sunghoon, too, had been in figure skating—

Oh.

"Did I do that right?" He heard Sunghoon ask. They had been practicing a new choreography for one of their new songs, and Jake swears he had his full attention until just now.

"Yeah," Jake heard their teacher's affirmative hum. "But make it more sensual."

O-Oh.

And Sunghoon did it again and really, just made it even more sensual.

Jake could be lying, but Sunghoon just might be one of the most attractive people he has ever seen. And oh, just how bad Jake is at lying.

That face was never meant to be inside a small, quaint classroom filled with only who knows how many students. That face deserves to sell millions of dollars in domes and stadiums.

Unfortunately, Jake never would've been able to keep that face to himself because it was meant to be seen by everyone, just like the solar eclipse, for example. For all he knew, Sunghoon could've been an actor in a different universe, and Jake wouldn't have doubted it a single bit. He already looked the part.

And he's also already looking at Jake.

"Did I do good?"

Screw it. Screw him . Jake should have known never to tell Sunghoon to come to him for assurance. Not when he did something he definitely was more knowledgeable than Jake to speak about. Not even when he's asking if he looks good in his new haircut, dammit of fucking course he does—

"Jake?"

Yet he was, after all, being just a good friend. Oh, Jake was so done for.

"Oh, yes! So good, no, the best!" Jake held up a fist for a fist bump, which Sunghoon accepted with his own, but not without shooting his goddamn angelic smile of appreciation.

"Thank you, Jaeyun-ah."

They hadn't even gotten past the part of learning the choreography, but Jake's knees suddenly felt like they were onto their 95th time practicing.

.

The thing is, Jake has never thought of things like these when he started out training to be an idol.

He knew about fan service, sure. He's seen idols like him finding it hard to make up an excuse on the spot to avoid doing aegyo in fancalls.

But Jake couldn't remember there being a manual about having a crush on your idol best friend who, apparently, was hot. How could he have brushed over the fact that his best friend, whom he had gone to countless concerts and shopping dates with, was actually so insanely hot?

Like literally, he was, with his sweat dripping down his white shirt sticking to his arms like a second skin. Dark hair barely kept together by the flimsy wire headband Jake got for him in Myeong-dong. Thick, perfect brows furrowed the moment he felt the slightest heat in the room. Exactly the type he’d sing Jolene about, the Beyoncé version (not like he’d admit that to anyone. Plus, everyone else came second to Kim Taehyung, is all, Sunghoon included).

Maybe Jake was just reading too much into it.

Just looking at Sunghoon now makes it hard to think he could ever experience getting a confession from such a person.

And yet, here he was, handing Jake a cold water bottle after practice and a towel like it was his second nature (it was).

Oh God . Maybe Sunghoon does like him! He did this exact thing in chapter three!

Jake had never experienced being confessed to in school before. At least, not from any of his very best friends. What was he supposed to do now that Sunghoon likes him? Maybe he should just quit being an idol now, maybe Sunghoon deserved to stay in the group more—

“Thanks, bro.” From beside Jake, Jay muttered and reached out for the water bottle that was held towards either of them. After the older took a single swig from it, he handed the bottle over to Jake—just like he always had, be it in the practice room or after a performance stage. But Jake wasn’t having any of it, literally.

“What? It didn’t touch my lips, dummy.” Jay tried again, then gave up ultimately with a roll of his eyes when Jake kept on with the angry pout he had going on. 

“Fine, goodness. What’s gotten into you these days?”

Even Jake doesn’t know. All he knew was that Sunghoon’s hair fell so beautifully over his forehead as he distributed the rest of the towels to the group.

Maybe that’s a good thing. At least, that’s what he’d like to believe.

.

Until his co-Engenes (yes, Jake considers himself one as well) had pointed out all these things about Sunghoon, Jake probably wouldn’t have noticed them anyway. Or maybe he had, but he just wasn’t so keen on getting Sunghoon’s attention like other girls his age.

Or was he?

Sitting at the company car again on their way to a restaurant dinner, Jake got himself invested in a conversation thread with his Engene Twitter mutuals about how Sunghoon was ‘head over heels’ for Jake. 

Have you seen the way he looks at him? It’s like Jake holds the world

Maybe Jake is his world. ㅋㅋㅋ

I can count at least 20 times Sunghoon looks at him like this

Save all of these and make a thread for JakeHoon day~!!

There was such a day?

‘What’s a JakeHoon day?’ Jake typed into the group chat as he made his way into the restaurant once they had arrived at the place. He didn’t bother much with looking at the menu once they had sat down since they ate here often. Also, Sunghoon knew what he wanted anyway.

‘It’s Jake and Sunghoon’s day, every 23rd of the month’ . Oh shit. Today was the 22nd. How was he supposed to prepare? Should he act like he knows? Does Sunghoon himself even know? 

Having been caught up in the group chat spewing newfound information about his and Sunghoon’s friendship, Jake completely didn't notice that he'd just ordered the same dish again instead of trying something new. He put his phone down (finally!) and watched in slight disappointment how a plate of short rib was placed in front of him. 

It’s not like it was Sunghoon’s fault for knowing exactly what he often ordered. Then again, he'd also just proven the same thing Jake's mutuals had just told him a few moments ago…

He is so attentive to Jake, it’s almost impossible .

“Can I have a bite of that?” Jake asked his seatmate, looking first at the dish beside him before knowing whose it was. 

“Yeah, you can have it,” Sunghoon replied simply. He pushed his plate closer towards Jake and cleared his own table mat, just so he could eat the dish that Jake put aside.

And of course, it was Sunghoon again, of all people. For some reason, since this whole Sunghoon thing blew up (only in Jake’s mind, at least), his best friend has always been beside him at any given moment. Or maybe it was that Jake was only just noticing these little things about them, but how could he have been blind to all of it until now?

Stuck in a daze about everything that’s been going on, Jake almost didn’t hear when their manager called for his and Sunghoon’s attention.

“Sunghoon and Jake, you two will be having a couple shoot for Tiffany & Co. together.”

They’ll have a what?!