[ jakey ⚽ ]

jay:
hey jake
sorry for the late reply, my phone's dead last night
anyways, i'm free later in the afternoon
what do you want to talk about?

jakey ⚽:
hiii
i just have smth to say lol
it won't take long 😁

jay:
idc if it's going to take long tho
i don't mind
it's not like we don't hangout everyday

jakey ⚽:
lmao right
i just thought u have other plans later

jay:
nope i'm free
how about we meet up at the mall?

jakey ⚽:
sure let's do that hehehe

jay:
i'll see u later then
i have to see our dean now so brb

jakey ⚽:
oki bye! 😊

---------

"dean's been looking for you since last week, i told him you're busy." jay nodded at yuna's explanation, while his mind is still flying off somewhere.

he couldn't get a wink of sleep after that dinner with heeseung. the atmosphere changed when heeseung said that, and jay didn't even know how he managed to get through the evening.

but it seems like heeseung isn't even fazed, and he just acted like he didn't say anything weird. so jay tried to play it cool too- as if heeseung just dropped a joke out of nowhere.

and jake... jake wants to talk to him. about what exactly? he doesn't have any fucking clue. will they talk about heeseung again?

it's all a mess. my mind's going crazy at this point.

"....and maybe we'll start producing for the autumn collection? then we can display the clothes-" yuna snaps her fingers in front of jay's face. "is jay even here with me right now? please wake the fuck up."

jay stops his thoughts, "yeah, i'm listening."

"and what did i say?"

"that we have to make the autumn collection soon." jay grinned and yuna rolled her eyes at him. "see? i'm listening."

they stopped in front of the dean's office. yuna was about to open the door when someone opened it from the inside- revealing a familiar girl that jay had seen from somewhere.

is she from our department? i can't remember.

"oh, jimin! i didn't know you'd be here today. how did your art exhibit go?" yuna cheerily greets the girl in front of them.

the girl gave yuna a small smile. "it was good. thanks, yuna." she gave jay a cold stare before walking away.

the hell was that? and isn't she that girl from the restaurant before?

jay recognized her as the girl who had a fight with his blind date before. she's an arts student?

"you know her?" he asked yuna out of curiosity.

she nods her head. "she's jimin. she's taking up fine arts and her paintings are really great. how come you don't know her?"

he shrugged. "i haven't seen her in any org parties."

"well, crowds and parties are not really jimin's thing. plus, she's laying low because of a certain issue..." yuna's voice trailed off, stopping before she could talk some more. "anyways, you should go inside. bye!"

jay shook his head as he watched her run away. when he opened the door, their dean is already sitting on his swivel chair inside the office.

"good morning, dean kang."

"park! finally, you arrived. come, sit." mr. kang motioned him to sit on the chair in front of his table.

this better be quick. i don't even have the mood to see his bald scalp in the early morning. "do you need to talk to me about something, sir?"

"yes, yes. i have great news for you. since you've shown outstanding performance in your studies, you've been chosen by the professors to be the intern under a well-known fashion brand in Milan. isn't that wonderful?"

the dean really looked giddy while clapping his hands in the air.

i've been what?

"what does that exactly mean?"

"it means you're given the opportunity to work and learn from the best. what do you say? you're up for it, right?"

jay blinked, processing what the dean just said. freaking hell.

---------

[ sunghoon is a nepo baby ]

sunghoon:
ayo @jay congrats dude
i just heard the good news
🫡🫡🫡

jay:
????
thanks
but how tf did u know that fast

sunghoon:
yuna told me 🤗

sunoo:
you got the internship in milan?!
WOW CONGRATS ROOMIE 🥳🫶
you deserve it 🎉

jay:
aw thank you bubba ☺️

sunghoon:
when are you leaving?
we need to give you a farewell party

jay:
lmfao what for
it's not like i'll be gone for good
i think the internship will only last for about 3 months

sunghoon:
no it won't???
it actually depends
but they'd probably make you stay for as long as they like you
you could work there yano 🤷🏻

sunoo:
hoon's righttt
but it'll be fun!!! i'm sure you're excited alr 😁😁
you love italy 🥹

heeseung:
hey
@jay congratulations ^^
i'm happy for you 😊

jay:
thanks, hee :)
yeah i do love italy haha
but i told dean that i'll think about it first
before i'll decide if i should go 😅

sunoo:
eh? why????
you should accept it jay
it's a really great opportunity

sunghoon:
i second the motion
don't be like yeonjun lol

jay:
wdym
why would i be like yeonjun

sunghoon:
because he was offered an internship in milan too
but he declined bc he doesn't want to leave soobin behind

sunoo:
sunghoon istg u and ur gossip mouth

jay:
oh
i didn't know about that

sunghoon:
ofc u didn't
not a lot of people knew about it

sunoo:
and now u just spilled the beans 🤦

heeseung:
whatever you decide to do, i think you'll be fine just do what you want jay
don't overthink too much about it.

jay:
thank you
i needed that

sunghoon:
preach 😩🙌
our st. heeseung patron of inspirational speeches 🙏

----------

yeonjun didn't leave because of soobin. jay took a sip of his coffee. am i gonna be like him too?

of course, going to milan and doing an internship there is a big step for jay. it's a huge chance for him to develop his skills more, plus it'll be a great addition to his résumé.

but he'll have to go... and leave someone behind.

"jay!" he stood up when he heard jake's voice calling his name. they planned to meet up at the skyline rooftop of the mall that they always go to.

he throws his coffee cup in the trash bin before walking towards jake. he lets himself stare at the guy in front of him- the same guy that he had fallen into.

and the ironic part is, he's not the same guy that jay's afraid to leave behind.

so many questions still linger inside jay's head. he doesn't want to accept anything, unless he proves it to himself.

maybe i've really gone crazy.

"jay, i have something to tell you."

jay stops momentarily then nods his head. "sure, go ahead. i'm ready to listen."

jake grabs his hand and squeezes it tight. he watches as his best friend takes a deep breath, as if he's preparing hinself to say something huge.

what is it?

"i know this may sound like bullshit, or you won't believe me at all... and i know we're best friends, and i shouldn't-" jake closed his eyes for a brief second before opening it again, his gaze remained on jay.

"-i shouldn't... i'm not supposed to feel this way towards you, but..."

jay felt frozen on the spot when he finally realized what jake has been trying to say to him.

he's not supposed to feel that way...? is he...?

"jake, i think-"

"i like you!"

jake lets go of the words that's been keeping him up all night. he did it. he crossed the line.

i took the risk.

he stared at jay who looks taken aback. did i spoke too soon?

on the other hand, jay's mind was going haywire at that moment. his best friend likes him. jake likes me.

i waited so long for that exact moment to come... and now, he finally has feelings for me.

i should be jumping with joy. i should be celebrating right now.

i should be, but why... why am i reacting this way?

it can't be- his feelings for jake should be clear as the day. jay shakes his head as he can't help but let out an exasperated laugh.

no, i refused to believe it. i don't want to.

----------

jimin will appear more in the next chapters to come, so i hope u enjoy her character! ^^