[ yunie ^^ ]

yunie ^^:
sunghoon, can we meet today?
i just want to talk to you.

+++++++

sunghoon stared at the message, processing what he just read.

jake wants to talk. what for? why? he pulled his hair, getting frustrated. wait, is he finally telling me the reason?

"hey, what's wrong?" he turned his phone down when jay called his attention.

he shakes his head. "it's nothing."

he went back to finishing their project, but his mind can't stop thinking on what jake wanted to talk about. i'm actually starting to get nervous. should i make an excuse, tell him that i'm busy?

"sunghoon, you're gonna burn your hand at that rate. stop spacing out and finish that circuit board already," heeseung glanced at him seriously.

he cleared his throat. "right, sorry."

heeseung gave him another glance before continuing with his work.

"this is why i don't want heeseung in every project, he's such a perfectionist— ouch!" ni-ki hits nicholas' head lightly with a t-square to shut him up.

taki observed sunghoon. he doesn't know what's happening, but he doesn't see him with jake these days. i know there was something going on though. did they fight?

meanwhile, sunghoon ponders if he'll meet jake later or he'll just avoid the guy. but i don't think i can say no to him.

++++++++

[ park #1 ]

park #1:
my class ends at 5, can you wait?

jake:
of course
let's just meet on the rooftop of the library.
see you ^^

park #1:
okay.

++++++++

jake sighed. he sounds so cold, i'm not used to it.

he threw his phone on the bed and started packing his things again. he'll go back to his home today, when he finishes talking to sunghoon.

can i even tell him? i already hurt him enough.

he felt his phone vibrating. it's probably geonu. he already told his friends that he filed the transper papers to the dean, so he's not gonna be attending classes now.

he opened it, checking the message.

+++++++++

[ dumb lee ]

dumb lee:
are you ready?

jake:
yeah
i have to

dumb lee:
okay, goodluck
i hope you two can talk it out
call me if smth happens

jake:
noted ^^
don't worry, i'll be fine

++++++++

[ my dwarf ]

my dwarf:
hey
yo heeseung
babe are you there
reply to me won't you, this is urgent 🤾🏻‍♂️

heeseung:
sorry dwarf
i'm on class rn
do you need smth?

my dwarf:
listen to me
sunghoon and jake will talk later
and idk if it'll end well
so be there for your friend ok?

heeseung:
oh
so that's why he looks so preoccupied today
sure, i'll watch over him
i hope jake will be okay too

my dwarf:
babe
i wanna cry

heeseung:
what? why?

my dwarf:
nothing
i'm just sad about jake

heeseung:
wanna eat ice cream later?

my dwarf:
okay 😭

heeseung:
you're such a child

my dwarf:
if i'm a child, then are you a pedophile 😬

heeseung:
wtf geonu

my dwarf:
I'M JOKING

heeseung:
plus how am i a pedophile when i'm not attracted to you?

my dwarf:
oh really
ok then
bye
thanks for the memories
you suck

heeseung:
lmao i'm sorry
i'm kidding
geonu?
heyyy
dwarf
reply please
babe
i love you

my dwarf:
good
that's what i thought 🥰😌
love you too hehe
i'll see you laterrr

++++++++

jake let out a deep sigh as he reached the rooftop of the library. a gentle breeze welcomed him when he opened the door, walking inside.

there's no other people on the rooftop, aside from the guy who stood near the railings, facing the view of the university.

jake clenched his palm, getting nervous as he saw sunghoon waiting for him.

"sunghoon..."

his voice sounds like a whisper, but sunghoon quickly turned around— as if he heard it loud and clear.

the guy smiled at him. "how are you?" he stepped forward, closing the gap between them.

"i'm fine. you?"

sunghoon shook his head. "i'm not okay. i missed you."

fuck. jake lets out a nervous laugh. "me too."

the two went silent, their eyes just staring at each other. it feels like their eyes are telling each other what they want to say.

jake was the first one to cut their gaze. sunghoon cleared his throat.

"so, what do you want to tell me?"

okay, here it is.

"i like you."

sunghoon felt like his heart stopped. it's been the second time that he heard him say this, but it still gives him the same effect. every damn time.

he didn't speak. he watched and waited as jake struggle to find his words.

"i like you, and i would want to be with you." jake paused, as if the next word is too painful for him to say.

"but i can't. i'm going to australia in two days, with my grandfather."

sunghoon inhaled sharply. he's leaving. that explains the transfer papers i saw last time. he chuckled bitterly.

"why didn't you tell me sooner?"

jake lowered his head, avoiding his eyes. "i don't want you to know. because if i tell you, it would be more difficult for me to leave."

because if i tell him, i might change my mind. and if i did, i would watch as my brother suffer instead.

"is that what you want? to go with your grandfather? to leave your friends, your studies— and even me?" sunghoon stepped closer, putting his hand on jake's shoulders.

jake shook his head. "no, but it's for the best—"

sunghoon laughed. "for the best? i know you don't want to go. jake, can't you choose yourself just this once? can't you choose me?"

jake's silence was enough for sunghoon to understand. it's final, i can't change his mind.

he nods, running his hand through his hair— feeling frustrated.

"how about we make this work instead?" sunghoon calms himself. it's happening all at once, it feels so unreal.

"if it's just the distance, i can travel miles for you. i don't care how far you'll go, i'll always come to you." fuck the distance.

"i can wait for you, jake. no matter how long you'll be gone— i'll be here." sunghoon hands found its way to jake's holding it tight.

i'm not going anywhere. i'm not letting you slip away from me.

jake felt his knees getting weak. he sat on the floor, crying, holding sunghoon's hands.

i don't want that. i don't want you to do all that for me, i don't deserve it.

"no, hoon. don't do that okay? listen to me," jake raised his head, meeting sunghoon's glistening eyes.

"i want you to just continue with your life. don't wait for me to come back, because i can't promise you that."

what if he gets tired waiting? what if he gets tired of the distance? what if he suddenly gives up in the middle of our relationship?

i can't bear the thought of that. anything can happen, and i can't bear to see him suffer because of me.

"let me go, okay?" sunghoon gripped his hand as a sign of disagreement.

for the last time. he closed his eyes as he pulled sunghoon for a kiss. his tears escaped, rolling down his cheek.

let's meet again, hopefully.

+++++++++

2 chapters left! ^^

are you all ready to close this series? :)