jake was raised in a loving family.

he wasn't the type of kid that experienced misfortunes while growing up. his parents— both very caring, always supported whatever he wanted.

in some ways, people would assume that jake is spoiled. but he never was.

he grew up learning to give what other people need. he was taught to be generous, and to always lend a hand to those in need.

then there was jay.

if jake is kind, jay is more. jay is selfless.

he discovered how jay is too kind for his own good, to the point where he would be willing to sacrifice himself instead of making the others suffer.

jake didn't want that. because why would he be that selfless? he doesn't like it.

he doesn't like the idea of jay being selfless to other people. he doesn't like it when jay needs to sacrifice himself for other people. for another person.

fuck, maybe i am spoiled— like what they say about me back when i was younger.

a spoiled person, with rotten behavior.

jay will be better off without him.

he stared at his best friend sitting in front of him.

but i can't do it.

"i think i'll just go with the waffles. what about you?" jay puts the menu down before tapping jake's arm lightly. "you okay?"

jake shakes off the loud thoughts. "just felt a bit sleepy. i'll get some coffee too."

"you're the one who wanted to do grocery shopping at 7 in the morning, and now you're sleepy? dude, wake up." jay jokingly says while jake just chuckled.

"sorry, that was the best date idea that i could come up with. was it lame?"

jay bit his lower lip, trying not to laugh. "not really, it was a bit unique though. 7 out of 10 for the effort."

they decided to eat breakfast at the nearest café after finishing their shopping spree at the grocery store. although jay felt a bit awkward at first, the tension was gone halfway through their car ride.

he actually left sunghoon's penthouse at around 6:30 am because he was trying to avoid seeing a familiar face around the building again.

not that i'm still walking eggshells around him, but i just don't want him to feel uncomfortable. although he said he already moved on, so i guess we're good now? shit i don't know.

jake observed as jay looked like he was deep in his own thoughts. i should drive him home, maybe he got tired already.

"should we head back now? i'll drive you to the penthouse." jake was about to take jay's bag when jay flinched, as if he was startled by the other's action.

"it's fine, i can carry this." jay cleared his throat and smiled at him.

to be honest, i'm not used to this side of jake.

jake stops for a bit before nodding. "oh, okay. let's go?"

it's going to be fine. i'll just get used to this.

---------

[ sunghoon 🌵 ]

sunghoon 🌵:
having fun with your date? 😉

jay:
did you hire a private investigator to spy on me

sunghoon 🌵:
???
boi what is you on
also why would i???

jay:
because
i heard about the things that you did
you're crazy 🤕

sunghoon 🌵:
haha very funny
i'm guessing you and your bff had fun?

jay:
stop that
and what if we did have fun?

sunghoon 🌵:
then good for you? duh
at least one of my friends ain't suffering lmao

jay:
what do you mean

sunghoon 🌵:
oh oh
when you nod your head yes
but you wanna say no
what do you mean ooHHH

jay:
this is why justin bieber is a flop now

sunghoon 🌵:
eXCUSE YOU 👺👺
anyways
wru now

jay:
i'm going back
why

sunghoon 🌵:
already? what kind of date is that 😟
where is your bff's rizz 😞🙏🏻

jay:
i can't believe a fucking ass like you have a job
i hate nepotism

sunghoon 🌵:
again
for the nth time
i did not get my job out of nepotism
my bloodline can rot in hell
thank you 😊🥰💗

jay:
😕 okay???
is this conversation even going somewhere bc you're not making any sense

sunghoon 🌵:
it's bc you're distracting me dawg
anyways
listen
you should tell jake to drop you off the front gate of the building
near the lobby

jay:
uhh
why?

sunghoon 🌵:
because it's near my penthouse? plus the  elevator too
pls use your brain sometimes
that's how it usually works

jay:
thanks i didn't know that 😲

sunghoon 🌵:
ofc you didn't
if you were using your brain then you won't be in that situation now ☺️

jay:
you're a scumbag

sunghoon 🌵:
LMFAOOO i'm just kidding
you know how i love jokes, pls don't take me seriously 😘

jay:
no one does let's be fr here

sunghoon 🌵:
whatever
just tell jake to drop you off the front gate oki?
just outside the main lobby

jay:
why
what the hell are you trying to do again

sunghoon 🌵:
nothing 🤷🏻‍♂️

----------

hoon 📰 @parkwrites tweeted.

this is how edward cullen would look like if he was korean (dude pls get some sun once in a while, you look like a corpse @cyberlee)

10289 likes | 638 retweets

replies:

@sunscript what kind of crack did you sniff to tweet this early in the morning
↪@parkwrites why? you want some too? 😇
↪@sunscript i'm genuinely concerned 😨
@chenleave the ironic thing is that you look more of a cullen that heeseung actually is 🧍🏻‍♂️
↪@parkwrites ain't no way.... i'm sparkling? 😵✨
@yeonjuned the corporate life must've sucked all your braincells
↪@soobeans lol true

-----------

nothing, he said.

why did jay even believe sunghoon's words? that man cannot be trusted. ever.

he stared outside of the car window as he spotted two familiar figures walking back to the building. he's guessing that they were out jogging somewhere because of their outfits.

now what?

"is something wrong?" jake asked while unbuckling his seatbelt.

jay shook his head. "all's fine. uh, just stay here. don't bother going out of your car—"

"no way, i'll walk with you until the lobby. is that okay with you?"

no. not okay.

he wanted to decline the offer, but jake looked hopeful.

so jay let him do what he wanted. when he got out of the car, he could still see the two figures just standing near the entrance of the building. can't they just go inside already? i'm gonna rip sunghoon's hair off once i see him.

"are you sure you're okay? you look a bit bothered." jake asked again, this time they're already walking towards the penthouse.

he laughed. "do i? i'm sorry, i feel a bit... constipated."

"what?" jake bursts out laughing, "is that why you look like you want to run back to the penthouse?"

"yeah, totally." jay chuckled nervously. he glanced at the person who just walked inside the building. he's gone.

then, he glanced back as he felt that jake had stopped walking beside him. he stared at his best friend just standing behind him, confused.

"aren't you coming with me? you said you'll walk with me until the lobby."

jake smiled then shook his head. "i— i should go ahead. i'll walk with you next time, i promise."

jay looked at his eyes before nodding. "okay, thank you for today. i had a great time. see you next time." he walks up to him and gives him a tight hug.

"me too, jay. i enjoyed our time today."

-------

jake took a deep breath before going back inside his car.

he didn't know it'll hurt this much to see it with his own two eyes.

jay must've thought that i didn't see heeseung. he's not really good at lying.

he didn't want to pay attention to heeseung and he was planning to ignore the guy just like how jay tried to play it off, but he couldn't.

not when he's seeing how jay stares at him with longing.

jay stares at him with so much emotion in his eyes. he looked like he wanted to run towards him, but he couldn't.

he looked... hurt.

jake felt worse than being punched in the gut. he couldn't move at that moment, because he realized how he's been the one tying jay to him.

he lets out an empty laugh. he blinks, then realizing that his tears are freely rolling down his face.

jay is with him not because he wants to. but because he feels obligated.

his obligation as my best friend.

i'm forcing him to do this. he gave me a chance, not because he has feelings for me.

but because i'm his best friend.

jay's been treating him like his responsibility. he's been sacrificing himself for jake, all this time. he doesn't care if it breaks him in the process— as long as his best friend is happy, he'll be fine.

he's done it once, and he's going to do it all over again.

but figuring all of these now, jake feels numb. then, slowly— he breaks. he sobs like a child, like a spoiled, rotten kid that he still is.

-----------

we're getting near the end, yay!

ps. thank you for patiently waiting for the updates 🙏🏻 i luv y'all 🫵🏻💘