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Jake should have known better. Falling for Sunghoon was never part of the plan. But love doesn’t ask for permission—it just happens.
At first, Jake thought he could handle it. He’d swallow his feelings, support Sunghoon’s hopeless crush on Sunoo, and eventually, it would pass.
It didn’t.
It started small.
One afternoon, Jake sat in the bleachers after practice, lacing up his sneakers while Sunghoon scrolled through his phone nearby. “Sunoo sent me a selfie,” Sunghoon said, tilting his phone to show Jake. “Look at him—he’s so cute.”
Jake barely glanced at the screen. “Yeah, he’s cute,” Jake replied flatly. Sunghoon didn’t notice the way Jake’s jaw tightened.
“You think I should send one back? Maybe with my hair styled?” Sunghoon asked, ruffling his hair.
Jake’s gaze flickered to Sunghoon’s reflection in his phone screen. His hair already looked good—he always looked good.
“Sure,” Jake mumbled, trying not to sound bitter.
Sunghoon propped his phone up, adjusting his angle for the best shot. Jake stared at the ground, ignoring the pang in his chest.
“Jake, should I smile or do a serious face?”
“Sunghoon, he’s not falling in love with your selfie,” Jake muttered, standing up abruptly. “Just send whatever.”
Sunghoon blinked at him, confused. “Whoa, chill. What’s with you?”
Jake forced a smile. “Nothing. I just remembered I have to be somewhere.”
But there was nowhere to be—just far enough away that he wouldn’t have to watch Sunghoon trying to impress someone else.
“Did you see Sunoo’s new hair color? It looks so good on him.”
“Sunoo was laughing at my joke today. I swear he’s warming up to me.”
“I wonder if Sunoo would like this—what do you think, Jake?”
It was constant. Sunghoon’s obsession with Sunoo slowly took over their conversations, their hangouts, everything.
And Jake listened to it all, because that’s what best friends did.
Even if it hurt.
Jake told himself he was fine.
That being close to Sunghoon, even as just a friend, was enough.
————
The night of Jungwon’s birthday party was worse. Jake hadn’t planned on going, but Sunghoon insisted.
“Sunoo’s going to be there,” Sunghoon said excitedly, adjusting his shirt in the mirror of Jake’s room. “It’s the perfect chance to spend some time with him.”
Jake sat on his bed, watching Sunghoon fuss over his appearance.“You look fine,” Jake said, barely masking his irritation.
Sunghoon turned around with a grin. “Fine? I need to look amazing.”
Jake wanted to tell him he already did, but the words stayed locked inside his chest.
When they arrived at the party, Sunghoon immediately spotted Sunoo across the room.“Jake, I’ll catch you later,” Sunghoon said, flashing a quick smile before disappearing into the crowd.
Jake stood there, holding his drink, watching as Sunghoon laughed at something Sunoo said.
He didn’t leave the party, but he might as well have.
After that, the texts became unbearable.
Sunghoon: What should I get Sunoo for his birthday?
Jake: How would I know?
Sunghoon: Sunoo said he likes guys who are good dancers. Do you think I should practice more?
Jake: You’re already good at everything.
Sunghoon: Haha, not true. But thanks.
Jake tossed his phone aside, running a hand through his hair. He wanted to stop replying—to let Sunghoon figure things out on his own.
But he never could.
The day Sunghoon and Sunoo officially started dating, Jake tried to pretend it didn’t matter.But watching them walk through the school hall, holding hands, was enough to break something inside him.
Sunghoon spotted Jake by his locker and waved. “Jake! Guess what?”
Jake already knew. “Let me guess—Sunoo said yes.”
Sunghoon beamed. “Yeah. Isn’t it great?”
Jake forced a tight smile. “Yeah… great.”
But it wasn’t.
It wasn’t until weeks later that things started to shift. Jake had begun hanging out with someone new—Taehyun, a friend from another class. Sunghoon noticed immediately.
“Who’s that guy you’ve been hanging out with lately?” Sunghoon asked casually, leaning against Jake’s locker one afternoon.
Jake raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
Sunghoon shrugged. “No reason. I just… didn’t think you’d have time for new friends.”
Jake smirked. “Jealous?”
Sunghoon laughed, but there was something off about it. “Why would I be jealous?”
Jake didn’t answer.
But Sunghoon’s eyes followed him and Taehyun for the rest of the day.
One weekend, Jake twisted his ankle during practice.Taehyun helped him to the nurse’s office, slinging Jake’s arm over his shoulder. As they limped down the hall, Sunghoon appeared, eyes narrowing at the sight.
“What happened?” Sunghoon demanded, stepping in front of them.
“Twisted my ankle,” Jake said.
“I was just helping him to the nurse,” Taehyun added.
Sunghoon’s jaw tightened. “I can take him from here.” Jake raised an eyebrow. “It’s fine. Taehyun’s already helping me.”
But Sunghoon ignored him, practically prying Jake’s arm off Taehyun’s shoulder.“Seriously, I’ve got it,” Sunghoon said firmly, guiding Jake away.
Taehyun chuckled. “Alright, man. He’s all yours.”
Sunghoon didn’t respond, but the way his grip tightened around Jake’s waist said everything.
Sunghoon started texting more often after that.
Sunghoon: What are you doing right now?
Jake: Studying with Taehyun.
Sunghoon: Why do you hang out with him so much?
Jake: Why does it matter?
Sunghoon: It doesn’t.
But Sunghoon showed up outside Jake’s house later that night anyway.
“I just… wanted to see you,” Sunghoon admitted.J ake leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. “You’re acting weird lately.”
Sunghoon hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “Maybe I don’t like watching you hang out with other people.”
Jake’s heart skipped a beat.
“You’re the one who started dating someone else,” Jake reminded him softly.
Sunghoon’s gaze dropped. “I know.”
Sunghoon didn’t leave until Jake invited him inside.
Sunghoon sat on the edge of Jake’s bed, fiddling with the hem of his jacket. Jake leaned against his desk, arms crossed as he watched Sunghoon avoid his gaze.
“So… you wanna tell me what this is about?” Jake asked, breaking the silence. Sunghoon sighed, finally looking up. “I don’t know. I just felt like I had to be here.”
Jake’s chest tightened at the vulnerability in Sunghoon’s voice. It wasn’t often Sunghoon let his guard down.
“Sunghoon,” Jake said carefully, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Sunghoon’s eyes softened for a second before he leaned back against the bedframe, arms stretched behind him. “I know. I just… it’s weird seeing you with Taehyun all the time.”J ake raised an eyebrow. “He’s my friend. Kinda like how Sunoo is yours, right?”
Sunghoon tensed at the comparison. “It’s not the same.”
Jake’s lips twitched. “Oh.Right..”
There was a flicker of frustration in Sunghoon’s eyes. He ran his fingers through his hair, tugging at the strands slightly.
“I don’t know, Jake,” Sunghoon muttered. “It’s just… annoying.”Jake’s heart ached at how unaware Sunghoon seemed of his own feelings.
“Is that really all it is? Annoying?” Jake pressed.
Sunghoon opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Instead, he let out a deep breath and dropped his gaze to the floor.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Sunghoon tried to ignore the way his stomach twisted whenever he saw Jake and Taehyun together. It was irrational—he knew that. But it didn’t stop him from feeling it.
At lunch, Sunghoon sat with Sunoo, but his eyes kept drifting to where Jake and Taehyun sat, laughing over something on Jake’s phone.
Sunoo followed his gaze and smiled knowingly. “You’ve been watching Jake a lot lately.”
Sunghoon blinked, quickly turning his attention back to his tray. “I haven’t.”
Sunoo chuckled. “Sure. Whatever you say.”
Sunghoon stabbed at his food with his fork, annoyed by how obvious he was being. “Taehyun’s been hanging around him a lot,” Sunghoon mumbled, more to himself than to Sunoo.
“And? They’re friends.”
“Yeah, but—”
Sunoo cut him off with a playful smirk. “You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous.”
Sunghoon scoffed. “Jealous? Of Taehyun?”
Sunoo leaned his chin on his hand, eyes twinkling. “You sure act like it.”
Sunghoon didn’t answer, but his silence spoke louder than anything he could have said.
It wasn’t until the school dance that things reached a boiling point.
Jake arrived with Taehyun, both dressed sharply, chatting and laughing as they entered the gym. Sunghoon watched from across the room, barely paying attention to Sunoo beside him. The sight of Taehyun leaning in to say something in Jake’s ear, making him laugh, made Sunghoon’s grip on his drink tighten.
“You’re glaring,” Sunoo pointed out, suppressing a laugh.
Sunghoon tore his eyes away. “I’m not.”
Sunoo arched an eyebrow and smiled. “I thought you were supposed to be here with me, but you haven’t looked at me all night.” he said jokingly
Sunghoon sighed. “Sorry.”
Sunoo smiled softly. “It’s okay. But maybe you should stop lying to yourself.”
Sunghoon glanced at Jake again, watching as Taehyun pulled him to the dance floor. Jake was smiling—completely at ease.
Something inside Sunghoon snapped.
Without thinking, he set his drink down and crossed the gym, weaving through the crowd until he was standing in front of Jake and Taehyun.
“Jake,” Sunghoon said, his voice tense. Jake looked up, startled by the interruption. “Hey. What’s up?”
“Can we talk?” Sunghoon’s eyes flicked briefly to Taehyun, and for the first time, the jealousy was unmistakable.
Jake hesitated, glancing at Taehyun. Taehyun smirked knowingly. “I’ll give you guys a minute.”
Jake let Sunghoon pull him off to the side, away from the music and crowd. Sunghoon shoved his hands into his pockets, struggling to find the right words.
“What’s going on with you?” Jake asked, tilting his head.
Sunghoon shifted on his feet. “I don’t like seeing you with him.”
Jake’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Sunghoon—”
“I know I don’t have the right to feel this way,” Sunghoon interrupted, his voice strained. “But I can’t help it.”
Jake crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. “You’re the one dating Sunoo. You can’t expect me to just—”
“I broke up with him,” Sunghoon blurted out.
Jake froze. “What?”
“Last week. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know how to bring it up.”
Jake stared at him, processing the information. “Why?”
Sunghoon exhaled slowly. “Because I realized I was trying too hard to feel something I didn’t. And maybe… I was ignoring what I really felt for someone else.”
Jake’s heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to stay calm. “And who’s that?”
Sunghoon stepped closer, his gaze softening.
“You, Jake.”
Jake’s breath hitched. “You’re late,” he whispered.
Sunghoon smiled faintly. “I know. But let me at least court you please.”
Jake held his gaze for a long moment before finally sighing.“Fine. But you owe me a lot”
Sunghoon grinned. “I’ve got all the time in the world”