"lee, can you photocopy these files? i need them in ten minutes." heeseung tore his eyes away from the computer and took the papers from his supervisor.

"noted, sir."

"just drop them by my office, thanks." heeseung nodded and his boss quickly left. is this even included in my job description? he sighed.

the throbbing pain coming from his head is just getting worse. he took some painkillers earlier but it's not working. he also feels a bit light-headed.

he missed being in university. he missed sleeping. he missed... nevermind.

he shakes his head fast, trying to deny his own thoughts.

i should get to work so i could go home faster. i feel like i'm going to have a fever.

--------

[ park (the shitty one) ]

park (the shitty one):
dude
u busy?
nvm i don't care lmao
let's drink later

heeseung:
i'm trying to work properly here
so no

park (the shitty one):
eww u a grown ass adult now
how's being a corporate slave so far

heeseung:
it sucks but the money's making it bearable 👍

park (the shitty one):
cool
just tell me if ur planning to resign
i can pull some strings if u want to

heeseung:
thanks but i'm good

park (the shitty one):
anyways
let's drink later 😁😁

heeseung:
i told you i can't

park (the shitty one):
y not papi
don't you miss me? 🥺

heeseung:
no
fuck you

park (the shitty one):
LMAO
or better yet
don't you miss your friends?
i'm sure you do 😉

heeseung:
what are you implying

park (the shitty one):
oh it's nothing
unless you're thinking about smth 👀

heeseung:
stop with your bullsht
we both know how your mind works

park (the shitty one):
HAHAHAHAHA
you're really grumpy today
i think you need a drink or two 😚

heeseung:
nice try
but i still can't drink tonight
i'm not feeling well so i'm just gonna rest up

park (the shitty one):
oh no poor you ☹️
are you getting lovesick?
i know someone who can heal that 🤭

heeseung:
"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."
- 1 Peter 3:9

park (the shitty one):
facts fr fr slay my disciple 😇🙏

----------

"mark! don't just run around the field!"

"work on your defense!"

"sim, pass the ball now!"

jake groaned as the heat continues to penetrate his skin. they've played two practice games, and his team lost the first one. seriously, fuck coach for yelling every damn time.

he passed the ball to serim, and his team finally scored. they played for fifteen minutes more until coach decided to blow his whistle.

"okay, that's enough for this morning."

jake just watched as jay marched forward, leading the cool off exercise. he was talking to coach while stretching, and he just stared- his eyes glued to jay the whole time.

his best friend is just... too good-looking.

oh i'm fucked. i'm literally fucked up.

he pulls his hair out of frustration. out of all damn people... you just had to develop feelings for your best friend? i'm so stupid.

"dude, please don't pull your goddamn hair like you're getting exorcised." jeongin warns him with a weird look. "you're creeping me out."

jake rolled his eyes. "you're creeping me out more with that zero skills of yours. next time you play, use your brain too."

the other team mates laughed at his sarcastic remark. after resting for a bit, jake decided to shower and change his clothes. when he got out of the locker room, he saw jay sitting on the bleachers.

should i just avoid him? it feels awkward now.

he lets out a deep sigh and walks toward him. jay doesn't have to know about anything.

"hey, why are you still here?"

jay looks at him, confused. "because i was waiting for you? what else would i be doing here?" he chuckled.

his gaze softened. "ah... i thought you left already. don't you have a class?"

"i do have one. let's go before i get late." jay stood up and grabbed his backpack, while jake followed behind him.

he was still contemplating as they walked towards the buildings. maybe i'm just confusing things. like ... what if i don't like him romantically?

his head hurts. jungwon was right, liking a friend is too risky. i can't risk our friendship over anything else.

"jake?" he gets out of his own thoughts when jay taps his back. "you're spacing out. you okay?"

he smiled at him. "yep, just a bit tired."

jake got so preoccupied that he didn't even realize that they were already standing outside of the computer lab. jay observed him without saying a word.

"you should head inside. i'll see you later," jay waves his hand and then fixes jake's messy hair.

jake almost stops breathing. he subtly pulls away, stepping back so he could give space between them. jay didn't notice and just walked away, leaving him still standing outside.

seriously, jake? even his small actions make you flutter now?

it's frustrating. he doesn't like this. he doesn't want any of this to happen.

-------

something is definitely wrong. jay recalls how jake seemed off earlier. he's not even talking a lot, when he's always loud and noisy with him.

he taps his ballpen to his desk. shit, did he find out that i like him...? is that why he's suddenly awkward around me?

maybe he should've just told him beforehand. he should confess before jake could even discover his feelings. but... it doesn't feel right. when do i even tell him? should i invite him to dinner? ask him on a date?

fuck, i don't know. jay hits his head lightly on his desk. he remembered how he was dreaming about confessing to jake before, and imagining what would happen after- and yet now that there's an actual chance, jay wants to bail out.

he hates to admit it himself, but he's scared. after all those years of one-sided pining towards his best friend, he's still scared of telling jake the truth.

what even is the truth?

sunghoon's words echoed inside his mind. he shakes his head, no. i'm not confused.

it's jake. i like jake. it's always been him... there's no one else.

--------

[ sunghoon is a nepo baby ]

sunghoon:
hey guys
oh wow
y'all love me too much huh

sunoo:
nepo baby 😭😭😭
is that true 🤔

sunghoon:
i refuse to be called a nepo baby
although calling me baby makes it bearable 😉

jay:
what da fuck
ewww

sunghoon:
coming from you??? 🫵🫵🫵
i thought you like being called baby 🤨

jay:
gtfo and burn yourself

sunghoon:
🤪🤪
anyways
heeseung u there?
@heeseung
is u dead

sunoo:
why what's going on?

sunghoon:
hee's basically sick and i tried to call him but he doesn't answer

jay:
isn't he working right now?

sunoo:
yeah i just saw him this morning
no wonder he was looking a bit pale

sunghoon:
i called his work and they said he alr went home

sunoo:
well that's good
maybe he's resting rn
don't bother him

sunghoon:
but what if he's burning up from fever? 😨
and no one's gonna take care of him

jay:
do u even know heeseung
he can take care of himself
he's a grown adult

sunghoon:
can't believe u just said that
u cold heartless human 😟💔

jay:
?????
be honest with me hoon
r u on drugs

sunoo:
pls jay 😭😭😭😭

sunghoon:
i'm perfectly fine dude
it's heeseung we should worry about
he's all alone and he's sick ☹️

sunoo:
i can drop by his unit later
i still have our block meeting so i'll be done by 5:30

sunghoon:
i would love to check on him but i can't
too busy in the org 😔
if only there's someone available rn....

sunoo:
oh that's too bad
wbu jay?

jay:
well
fine i could go check on him after my class ends

sunoo:
thanks jaaaay 🫶
just bring him some meds for his fever and also food
i think we still have some ingredients left for porridge in the fridge

jay:
okay bub noted 🫡

sunghoon:
take care of him jay
pls don't let hee die 😘

jay:
don't worry, you're the only person i'd love to see dead 😘

sunghoon:
aww so sweet 🥰🥰
this is why jake's so obsessed with u 🤭😱

jay:
jfc why do i even talk to you

sunoo:
guys???? r u both on drugs 😅

---------

"that ends our lecture for today. please don't forget to review your notes, long quiz will be on monday!"

jay actually managed to listen to the whole lesson without falling asleep. he was determined to pass the next quiz since he failed the first one. he packs his things and zips his backpack, preparing to go home.

medicine... food... what else does a sick person need? jay tried to list down everything that he needs to bring to heeseung's apartment.

though he doesn't like the idea of him having to take care of heeseung, he also doesn't want to let his friend die of sickness. guilt will eat me up alive if that happens.

i'll just drop by quickly, check up on him and then leave. it won't take ten minutes.

"jay! what's the rush?" he stops walking when he bumps into yuna, a member of the journalism club.

"what? nothing, i'm just going home." he chuckled.

yuna raised an eyebrow at him, her lips curved into a smile. "really? i thought you were late for something. you were walking pretty fast."

...i was?

"i guess that's just how i walk normally?" he laughed and adjusted the straps of his bag.

"what, you just casually walk around like you're on a marathon?" she laughed along with him. "anyways, i'll go ahead. see you!" yuna waved goodbye to jay.

jay remained standing on his feet. he blinked slowly and stared at the ground below him. was i walking that fast? i can't remember.

--------

hi everyone! ^^

since we're already halfway through this book (wow idek how that happened lmao) i just wanna thank y'all for all the support and love you've always given to my books 🥹🫶

thank you for always waiting for the updates, i really appreciate the effort (also to those who don't forget to comment every time, ily) 🤍

anyways, i hope everyone will still be staying tuned until book three 😉 have a good day/night y'all (⁠⊃⁠ ⁠•⁠ ⁠ʖ̫⁠ ⁠•⁠ ⁠)⁠⊃