jay was devastated.

when jake drove him back to the penthouse, his heart was too heavy and his eyes were puffed and red from crying.

when he glanced at jake, his best friend looked calm now and is even humming while driving. as if he's not hurting. as if i didn't break his heart again.

"jake," he called out his name softly.

"hmm?" jake's eyebrow shot up while glancing at jay.

"i'm really sorry. i shouldn't have done this to you."

jake sighed before reaching out to pat jay's shoulder. "it's not like you did that on purpose. i know how much you care for me, and for heeseung too. it must've been a difficult decision for you to make."

jay slowly nodded, like a kid that finally found someone who understood him. he sniffed, brushing his hand to wipe the tears on the corner of his eyes.

he heard jake chuckled. "you're crying again? since when did you become such a crybaby?" he opens the compartment in front to grab some tissues.

"shut up, i'm just-" he takes the tissues from jake's hand. "i'm just relieved that we've finally talked this out. i was about to go crazy because i really didn't know what to do."

of course. if i didn't let you go first, i'm sure you'd just let yourself suffer. "it wasn't an easy one for me, too. i just thought that after weighing every possible outcome- i still don't want to lose you as my best friend."

jay looked at him with tears still brimming on his eyes. "you didn't lose me. i'm still here, always."

i almost did, though.

jake smiled before staring at the road in front of him. his heavy heart might've been making him suffocate, but at least he's got jay back by his side now.

his heart may have been broken to pieces, but it's better this way. it's a little sacrifice that i have to live to- in exchange for jay's happiness.

-----------

[ jungwonie ]

jake:
hey won
u busy?

jungwonie:
hi hyung!! 😁
nope i just got out from work
whyyy

jake:
u wanna join me for a drink?

jungwonie:
oh okay
is that like, a chill drink? or a 'i wanna get wasted' drink?

jake:
well...
which one would u prefer?

jungwonie:
i'm not picky hyung
i drink when there's any alcohol available so idc ☺️

jake:
lmao okay then
you can invite hiyyih too
and riki

jungwonie:
u sure?
hiyyih's being a party animal these days
but sure i'll text them
we'll meet at the district club?

jake:
suree
aight see you wonnn

---------

jw ✌🏻 @yinyang tweeted.

🍻 time!

1793 likes | 225 retweets

replies:

@chenleave OOOHHHH A PARTY?! can i join? 🧐
↪@yinyang oops sorry hyung, i'm with my friends tonight 😅 maybe next time tho hehe
↪@chenleave sounds cool! where are you partying tonight?
↪@yinyang uhhh a club? hahaha

------------

club district is crowded tonight, even when it's still thursday. the building is blasting edm music while purple lights flicker to the beat, making the people dance to the rhythm.

jungwon groaned when he bumped into another stranger. again. seriously, where are these people's spatial awareness?

he looks at jake who is squeezing his way further inside the bar, with his hand tightly holding onto jungwon's wrist as if the younger would disappear from his sight if he lets him go.

jungwon adjusted his hat to cover his eyes. he just managed to get away from someone he loathes, and now it feels like walking back to the territory of his predator.

i hope for the best that he's not here right now. he didn't want to drink tonight, but he feels like he needs to be there for jake- especially today. jungwon feels like something happened to the older.

jake hyung looked too... sad.

"should we get a private table instead? i don't think i'd want to be around this crowd today," jake almost shouts, but his voice is still getting swallowed by the loud music.

jungwon shakes his head, and then went closer to him. "hyung! i can't hear you!"

he chuckled a bit. just as i thought. jake just pulled jungwon out of the crowd, then headed towards the private tables- which looked like conference rooms with karaoke machines and sound-proof walls.

jake opened room 119, and sighed in relief when they finally couldn't hear the music inside the room.

"when did you make a reservation for this?" jungwon giddily plops into the couch and grabs the song book. "aye i'm gonna show you my singing skills, hyung."

jake laughed before sitting beside him. "sure, i'd be honored to hear your voice."

after a couple of minutes, they decided to order some drinks. jungwon got himself a tequila sunrise, and jake got scotch on the rocks.

"i finally gave him up."

jungwon stops drinking halfway, putting back the glass on the table. no wonder he looks devastated.

"it was so hard, won. but fuck- he was happy." jake head was hanging low, his hand on his face. "it's too painful... is this how it's supposed to be? i'm not cut out for this love shit."

the younger pats his back before hugging him. "it's going to get better, hyung. trust me. soon you won't feel the pain anymore."

he heard jake sniffle. he's crying. jungwon rubs his back and ruffles his hair to console him.

his hyung is tougher now- compared to how he was before. when jay left years ago, jake would always cry when he remembers his best friend. in every little thing. jungwon used to think that crying was jake's hobby, until he suddenly stopped.

one day, jake was no longer crying his eyes out.

and when jay suddenly came back, he went back to his old habit of crying again.

maybe it's because when you love a person, you can't easily erase their memory. just when you think you've moved on- they come back, and you realize that all your efforts in trying to forget them is futile.

love is scary.

jungwon gets snapped back to his thoughts when the door opened, revealing his friend.

"the party is here, folks!" hiyyih yells while taking off her jacket. "let's get wast- oh, sorry. am i interrupting a private moment here?"

she blinked, looking back and forth on the two people hugging in front of her.

"oh no, we were just talking about some things." jake quickly wiped his tears before hiyyih could notice. "what do you want to drink? it's on me."

"really?! damn, thanks oppa." she playfully winked at jake.

"hiyyih please zip that jacket up, i don't want to see your ribcage. it's gross." jungwon managed to say before letting jake go. he rolled his eyes at her before taking the microphone.

hiyyih looked so offended. "bitch, i have abs! you uncultured swine-"

"abs where? oh, you mean on your face?"

"i will rip you to shreds and feed you to my turtle, yang jungwon."

----------

"seriously jay, you look like a roach."

jay glared at sunghoon's remark as the guy walked past by him on the living room. after he cried with jake, his eyes were puffed like it was swollen.

maybe i cried too hard. he sighed. it just feels so... sad. to think that jake felt sorry for years and now he's also the one who took initiative to end what jay had started...

jay feels awful.

should i... contact heeseung? but i'm ashamed of myself. he groaned, dumping his face on the throw pillow.

"please don't wipe your snot and tears on my couch, thanks."

"can't you just disappear somewhere else? i need an alone moment to think, dumbass." jay muttered in annoyance.

sunghoon gave him a sly smile. he was busy buttoning up the sleeve of his top. "i am in fact going to disappear somewhere else now. wanna join me?"

he shakes his head fast. looks like he's going to do something stupid. he's got that demonic look on his face again.

"are you off to kill someone?" jay asked, his eyes settling on the box of toys on the corner of the room. he forgot to give those to meiji last week. i should visit that kid next time or he'll get mad at me.

"probably. if he runs away from me again, i'm gonna have to tie him up and put him inside a body bag."

jay frowned. is he talking about...?

"and you wonder why he prefers to run away from you? with that attitude of yours?"

sunghoon laughed, his canines showing. "you really think that's the reason? and don't try to give me advice, you've got your own shit to deal with."

he gave him another glare before clearing his throat. "speaking of, do you know how he's doing...?" jay's voice trails off. he doesn't have the courage to finish his question.

"who?" sunghoon tilted his head as if he doesn't have a clue on what jay just asked. this fucker is making fun of me.

"you're enjoying this aren't you?"

his friend grinned, grabbing his car keys on the island counter. "you guys are my favorite entertainment after all. anyways, i'm heading out now."

jay sighed and waved his hand as a sign of goodbye. he knows where sunghoon's loyalty lies, and it's with heeseung. he probably doesn't want to give information about the guy.

sunghoon started walking towards the door. "he's staying in his other apartment for a week now. and his contact number is still the same, if you're wondering." he glanced at jay with a knowing look before leaving.

jay's eyes widened. did he just help me?

he quickly took his phone out and searched for heeseung's number.

but what if he doesn't reply? should i just go to his apartment?

he cursed when he realized something else. he doesn't have any clue where his other apartment is located.

way to go, jongseong.

---------

last 3(?) chapters to go 🫀

and since the second book is coming to an end, is there any question you wish to ask me about the series/anything in particular? ☺️ feel free to comment here and i'll try my best to answer. have a great day/night everyone!