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Coming to South Korea changed Jake’s life in many forms.
Leaving his family and friends behind, he set his eyes forward in pursuit of his dream of being a performer. He always knew he’d have many challenges to face: a language barrier to overcome, homesickness to battle against, the dull ache of missing the safety net he had back at home.
But he can’t back off now. He passed the auditions, the first step towards his dream. Now he has to make the most of it, take every opportunity he has to achieve it.
With that mindset, Jake braves each new day with his head held high, no matter what.
Or at least, that’s what he tries to convince himself of.
Jake knew it wouldn’t be easy, but reality is way harsher than what he imagined it to be. He now understands that he has many limitations compared to everyone else training alongside him. His korean speaking abilities are subpar; his dance skills, average; and his singing, inconsistent. Not only that: he’s also training with close to fifty other boys, all starry eyed as he is, some that are leagues above his level.
His feelings of inadequacy spike each time he receives negative feedback, his doubts overpowering his desire to succeed during the colder, lonelier nights. Not even the moonshine is able to reach Jake as he sinks into the dark depths of his mind. Nothing is.
Nothing is, with the exception of the sun rays, so warm and gentle. Gentle as Sunoo’s hand on his shoulder after a particularly hard training session.
“You did well today, hyung!” Sunoo encourages, his blinding smile dispelling the dark clouds obscuring Jake’s vision.
Jake wants to believe Sunoo. He wants to believe in himself. But…
“I’m not so sure about that,” he mumbles, still ashamed of his results in today’s evaluation. He won’t last long if he doesn’t get better in the following weeks.
Sunoo tsks and the sound prompts Jake to look up and meet his fellow trainee’s eyes. Hazel pools of infinite depth stare back at him, unwavering.
“Did you forget, Jake-hyung? I’m never wrong,” Sunoo says, a hint of pride in his voice. “You’re my first hyung, the first friend I found in the chase for my dream. Our dream,” he adds, softer this time. “We are going to debut together, hyung. I’ll make sure of it.”
Jake has no words. His eyes are unsure while he looks at Sunoo, steadfast in his beliefs. Sunoo, who’s a year younger than him, but so confident and easy-going even when faced with the adversities of trainee life. Sunoo, who only smiles wider at him, easing him out of hiding. Who extends a hand for Jake to hold when the muddy waters of self-doubt threaten to swallow him whole.
It’s when Jake realizes he’s not alone. Sunoo has been there since the start of this winding road, never failing to balance Jake when he trips on a stray rock in the path he chose to walk. He looks at the certainty in Sunoo’s eyes and makes it his own.
Jake made it to I-Land, a survival reality show where he’ll compete with other trainees for the chance of achieving his long awaited dream.
He steps into the stage with Sunoo by his side, as it has always been since the beginning. Jake’s feeling nervous, trying not to fidget with his hands while he takes his position for their first ever performance, a cover of TXT’s Crown. His eyes meet Sunoo’s, who throws him a small smile of reassurance before whispering we are going to debut together, hyung .
Jake believes in Sunoo. That’s all the confidence he needs to make the stage his own, side by side with the boy who’s always ready to catch him when he falls.
They do well in their performance and Jake is ecstatic, as is Sunoo. They hug each other in happiness, pleased that their efforts paid off.
It doesn’t last long, though.
Sunoo doesn’t make it into I-Land, being sent to the Ground instead. Jake is rendered speechless, Sunoo was perfect in their performance, he doesn’t understand how this happened.
What he does understand is that they’ll be separated. Jake’s beacon of light is being taken away from him.
“Don’t worry, hyung,” Sunoo says, smiling through his own concealed frustration. “I’ll come back.”
“Promise?” Jake begs, trying to not let his building desperation take over.
Sunoo approaches him, pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek. “We are going to debut together, hyung. I’m never wrong,” he assures, before taking his belongings and going the opposite way of where Jake is.
Jake puts a hand to his cheek, as if by doing so, he’d be able to keep the lingering sensation of the kiss for longer. He holds on to Sunoo’s unshakeable belief and makes a promise to himself: he will work as hard as Sunoo always did, to ensure their shared dream will turn into reality.
He looks at the boy’s retreating figure, lending him a piece of his heart. He will have no choice but return to Jake.
And return he did.
After a long journey, Jake and Sunoo make it to the final lineup, chosen as members of the upcoming group Enhypen. Their dream is now a reality.
As he collects his sun into his arms, Jake returns the kiss Sunoo gave him three months back.
“We did it, Sunny,” he whispers, emotional, into Sunoo’s ear.
Sunoo tightens the hug for a moment, before holding Jake by the shoulders and looking at him oh so lovingly. Even crying, Sunoo is the most beautiful boy Jake has ever seen. Sunoo smiles at him and Jake will commit the image to memory forever.
“I told you so, Jake-hyung,” Sunoo sniffles. “I’m never wrong.”