busy 😪 @simjake tweeted.

yo 🪨🍃

683 likes | 26 retweets

replies:

@yeonjuned yo bro where u at
↪@simjake at the edge of the cliff, trying to rethink my life decisions
@marklee u skipped morning practice for this? 😧
↪@simjake cry about it 👍
@cornjay where's this? and you went alone?
↪@simjake no worries bff i just went for a quick hike by myself 😁

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jay stared at his screen for a second, reading jake's reply to his comment. he can't help but wonder what's going on inside his best friend's mind these days.

the last time he saw jake was the day that he said he got stomach problems. now it's been two days since he's seen him. did i do something wrong? because i can't remember a thing.

but it definitely seemed like jake was avoiding him. or is he just paranoid?

"wow, you look ugly when you frown like that."

jay quickly raised his middle finger as a response to sunghoon's unnecessary comment. he forgot that he's eating lunch with this asshole.

sunghoon smiled back at him before showing his middle finger too. "talk to your therapist, jay. maybe i can help." his voice is laced with sarcasm.

"fuck off. you're the one who needs therapy."

"true that," his friend smirks before eyeing him. "you're having problems with your ugly best friend, aren't you?"

ugly best friend? "stop calling jake ugly. he's definitely more handsome compared to you."

"look at you lying through your nose. plus i know you're just biased because you like him. now answer my question."

jay rolled his eyes. "me and jake are fine."

"that's it? no progress? anything?" sunghoon looked bored. "i didn't know you'd be this slow in making your move."

he sighed and stared at his plate of half-eaten pork cutlets. i knew i should've just eaten my lunch alone. i miss my peace.

"i'm not planning on making any moves, so shut up and just finish your lunch."

sunghoon raised an eyebrow. "why? you said you like jake, and i'm sure he's over heeseung now. so what's stopping you? take your chance."

he's not totally wrong. i could take my chance and confess to jake... i don't know. it's been too long since i've thought about my feelings for jake, and i don't know what to do now.

i feel like i have forgotten that i like him.

jay paused, feeling a bit nauseous. no, i didn't forget. somehow, it just feels like something changed. what is it?

"i just... i feel like it's not the time to tell him yet." jay managed to say, drinking on his iced tea.

sunghoon's eyes lingered on him, as if the guy is trying to check something. then his smile widened, almost like he's grinning from ear to ear.

"oh, you—" sunghoon couldn't even finish his sentence because he just bursts out laughing. "gods, this is so funny. i can't even believe it, just wow."

"i don't get you. why the hell are you laughing?" jay asked, still confused.

sunghoon shakes his head. "nah, don't mind me. i know it could be a bit confusing to you, but you have to figure it out by yourself."

he really doesn't get it. what's sunghoon trying to say? "seriously, what is it?"

"fix whatever you're feeling, jay. it'll be hard if you end up confessing to the wrong person." sunghoon chuckled before standing up and tapping his shoulder. "i have to go now. good luck, lover boy."

i was wrong to think that heeseung was out of the picture after he rejected jake. sunghoon thought, whistling while walking away. well, that was more than interesting.

jay was left alone at the table, still thinking. i shouldn't have listened to that prick.

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"hyung!"

jake quickly smiled when he saw jungwon waving at him inside the botanical garden. he just got out of his last class this afternoon, and he honestly wanted to see jay because he got guilty for trying to avoid him these past few days.

i needed some time to think... so i had to stop seeing my best friend so i could clear my head a bit.

did it work? of course not. it's really difficult to avoid the one person that's been with me for years. it's like every day i don't see him, i get a bit sad. and frustrated. and i feel like crying.

avoiding jay is going to make me crazy.

so jake decided to end it. he was about to call jay earlier but jungwon texted him, saying that he needed help in transferring some seedlings into pots at the botanical garden. and as a good senior and hyung, how could he even decline?

"hi, wonie." he ruffled jungwon's hair. "you were doing this alone?" he asked, referring to the three seedlings that are now inside the new pots.

the younger nods, pouting. "we're supposed to do ten seedlings each. the deadline is today, before 5 pm."

jake checks on his wristwatch. it's already 4:35 pm. no wonder this kid looks like he's going to cry.

"well, don't worry. we'll finish this right before the deadline." he tried to console jungwon and they started the work.

"won, what's your course again?" jake asked while putting the soil inside the pot.

"liberal arts, hyung."

in what world does liberal arts involve growing trees? what is this, forestry? jake almost scoffed.

"then, is this some kind of a project for a minor subject?"

jungwon shakes his head. "this is some kind of an activity for our scholarship. they need the scholars to do some kind of charity bullshit every month, so yeah."

"you're a scholar? wow," jake looks at jungwon in amazement. "you must be so smart."

"hell no, i wish. i just got lucky, i guess." jungwon smiled shyly at jake while still fixing the seedling. the boy stopped when his phone rang. he sighed and then took off his glove to answer the call.

"i told you i'm busy, i can't do your errands now." jungwon whispered, but jake could still hear his voice clearly.

"yes, i'm trying to plant seedlings like i'm goddamn snow white.... someone's helping me now, so no thanks."

"you what?! okay fine, suit yourself. i don't care anymore! good freaking bye!" jungwon ends the call, looking pissed off.

jake cleared his throat. "you okay?"

the younger instantly smiles at him. "yes hyung, i'm good."

he didn't ask further and they just continued planting in peace. who knows that gardening can be calming? i should buy some plants and put it on my apartment next time.

"uhm... won?"

"yes hyung?"

jake takes a deep breath before speaking. "can i ask you a question?"

he was planning on asking for advice from someone, but he couldn't find the right person to talk to. well, i feel like jungwon would give good advice.

jungwon nods. "sure, as long as it doesn't involve math." he laughed.

"so, uh... would you consider the possibility of falling in love with your best friend?"

jake saw how jungwon seemed to stop moving for a bit, and then slowly gazed at him. yeah i know, it's an obvious question. but i just need someone to answer it.

"want me to be honest, hyung?" jake nods at jungwon's question.

"okay, well... i wouldn't dare. it's like, how do i put this?" the younger paused for a bit. "there's this imaginary boundary— like a line you can't cross. no one said any rule about not liking a friend, but it's too risky. falling in love with a best friend is riskier."

"because once you try to cross that line or even erase it— it can't be undone. you have to choose between the friendship that you treasure, or the feelings that you can't hide forever."

ouch. truth definitely hurts.

jake tried to smile, "that's a really great answer. thanks for that, won."

"anytime, jake hyung." jungwon arranged the pots into the garden. jake was about to take another seedling when he spoke again.

"but hyung, the moment that you start to question yourself whether you're falling— that just means you're already in trouble. because no normal person would ever be confused about what they feel towards their friend."

jungwon stared at him with a meaningful look, and he looked back before nodding. i know, won. i know.

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