Chapter Text
The end-of-semester carnival buzzed with excitement. Colorful lights flickered, laughter filled the air, and the scent of popcorn and cotton candy wafted through the crowded fairgrounds. Jake stood at a target game booth, focusing intently on the row of bottles he was aiming to knock down. Beside him, his friend Niki fidgeted with the baseballs in his hands.
"Come on, Jake. Show me what you've got," Niki teased, a playful grin spreading across his face.
Jake smirked in response, setting off his competitive spirit. He wound up and threw the baseball, watching as it soared through the air and collided with the bottles, sending them crashing down. The booth attendant cheered and handed Jake a large stuffed bear as a prize.
"Nice one!" Niki exclaimed, clapping Jake on the back.
"Thanks, man," Jake replied, still beaming from his victory. "I'm on fire tonight."
Niki handed Jake his remaining baseballs. "Hold these for a sec. I need to hit the bathroom."
Jake nodded, taking the baseballs and the stuffed bear. As Niki disappeared into the crowd, Jake turned his attention back to the game, tossing a baseball absentmindedly.
"Mind if I join?" a voice asked from behind him.
Jake turned to see Heeseung, a classmate he had always admired from afar. Heeseung was effortlessly cool, with an easygoing demeanor that drew people to him.
"Sure," Jake said, trying to sound casual. "I could use some competition."
Heeseung chuckled and picked up a baseball. "Alright, let's see who can knock down more bottles."
The two began to play, taking turns and exchanging banter. Jake found himself relaxing in Heeseung's company, enjoying the friendly rivalry that developed between them. They both managed to win a few more prizes, and before long, they were laughing and joking like old friends.
As they played, Jake noticed Jay standing nearby, a mischievous glint in his eye. Jay walked over, raising an eyebrow at the sight of Jake and Heeseung together.
"Well, well, well," Jay said with a smirk. "Look who decided to make a new friend."
Jake rolled his eyes. "Don't start, Jay."
Jay nudged Jake playfully. "You hanging out with Heeseung now?” Jay says implying something more. “You’re still going to lose bro."
Jake felt his cheeks heat up, but he shrugged off Jay's teasing. "Shut up, man. We're just having fun."
Heeseung, sensing the playful tension, grinned and threw an arm around Jake's shoulders. "Don't worry, Jay. Jake's pretty good at this. We were just killing time."
Jay snickered, but he didn't push further. "Alright, alright. Just messing with you."
Niki returned just then, looking more relaxed. "You guys ready to head out? I think we've done all we can here."
"Yeah, let's go," Jake said, giving Heeseung a nod. "Thanks for the games, Heeseung."
"No problem. It was fun," Heeseung replied with a smile. "I'll stick around for a bit longer."
The three friends made their way to the carnival exit, chatting about the night's events. As they reached the exit, Jake patted his pockets and realized that his phone was missing.
"Guys, I think I left my phone at the target game booth," Jake said, his voice with urgency.
Niki threw a baseball at him that he stole from the booth. "Seriously man! Hurry up,” says, rolling his eyes.
Jake hurried back to the booth, scanning the area for his phone. As he approached, he noticed two familiar figures standing near the booth: Sena and Heeseung. Laughter filling their conversation. Sena was being particularly touchy with Heeseung, her hand resting on his arm as she spoke.
Jake felt a pang of something he couldn't quite identify—discomfort? Annoyance? Jealousy? He shook his head, pushing the feelings aside. He approached them cautiously, not wanting to interrupt but needing to retrieve his phone.
"Hey, Heeseung, Sena," Jake said, trying to keep his voice steady.
Heeseung turned, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Hey, Jake. Lost something?"
"Yeah, my phone," Jake replied, his eyes flicking briefly to Sena.
Sena stepped back, giving Jake space to look around. "We didn't see it, but maybe it's under the booth."
Jake crouched down, searching the ground. Relief washed over him as he spotted his phone tucked away in a corner. He picked it up and stood, forcing a smile.
"Found it. Thanks."
Heeseung clapped Jake on the back. "Glad you got it. See you later, man."
Jake nodded, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in his chest as he watched Sena and Heeseung. "Yeah, see ya."
As Jake walked back to the carnival exit, he couldn't shake the image of Sena and Heeseung together. He didn't understand why it bothered him so much, but for now, he pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the friendships he was starting to build and the memories he was creating.
When he rejoined Jay and Niki, they were munching on cotton candy, seemingly engrossed in a debate over which carnival ride had been the best. Jay looked up as Jake approached them.
"Found it?" he asked, a glint of curiosity in his eyes.
"Yeah, found it," Jake replied, holding up his phone.
"Good, now you can take some pictures," Niki said with a grin. "Can't let this night go undocumented." (pretty big word for someone who doesn't show up to school)
Jake smiled, pulling out his phone to snap a few shots of the carnival lights and his friends. As they wandered through the fairgrounds one last time, he couldn't help but feel a little distracted. Sena's laughter echoed in his mind, and the image of her with Heeseung lingered longer than he liked.
"So, what do you guys think about grabbing some late-night snacks?" Jay suggested, breaking Jake's train of thought.
"Sounds good to me," Niki said, stretching his arms. "I could go for some fries."
Jake nodded in agreement. "Yeah, let's do it."
They made their way to a nearby food truck, where the smell of fried food drew them in. As they ordered and found a spot to sit, the conversation shifted to their summer plans and the excitement of the upcoming break. Jake tried to stay engaged, but his mind kept drifting back to the carnival and the unexpected interaction with Heeseung.
"Hey, earth to Jake," Jay said, waving a hand in front of Jake's face. "Are you still with us?"
Jake blinked, snapping back to the present. "Yeah, sorry. Just thinking about something."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "Thinking about someone, more like."
Niki chuckled. "Yeah, you've been pretty quiet since we left the carnival."
"It's nothing," Jake insisted, though he knew his friends could see right through him.
"Uh-huh," Jay said, clearly unconvinced. "Well, whoever it is, don't let it get you down. We're here to have a good time."
Jake nodded, appreciating their concern. "Yeah, you're right. Let's just enjoy the night."
…
Eventually, they decided to call it a night and started heading back to their respective homes. Jake walked with Niki, the two of them chatting about their favorite moments from the carnival.
"You seemed to hit it off with Heeseung," Niki said casually.
Jake shrugged. "Yeah, he's a cool guy. We had fun at the target game."
"Think you'll hang out with him more?" Niki asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Maybe," Jake said, keeping his tone neutral. "We'll see."
As they reached Jake's house, Niki gave him a friendly pat on the back. "Alright, man. Catch you later."
"Yeah, see you, Niki," Jake replied, watching his friend walk away.
Once inside, Jake collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. The events of the night replayed in his mind, and he couldn't help but wonder about the strange feelings he had experienced. He knew he needed to sort them out eventually, but for now, he let the exhaustion of the day take over, closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.