Exhaustion vs Fear

. . .

Finally, Jungwon arrived at Jake's place. It was midnight, so there was no traffic, and they arrived home safely. Jungwon parked somewhere and got out of the car. He grabbed Jake and went inside the building. Although Jake was taller than him, it was not difficult to carry him in his arms.

He arrived at the elevator and pressed the button to open it. He waited a long time because the lift was moving slowly. Finally, he got in and intended to press the button for the 10th floor, but by mistake, he pressed the button for the 7th.

"Ahhhh!" he let out an annoyed sound but tried again as the doors closed. Finally, he reached the 10th button and pressed it. Now the lift was going up. When it stopped first at the 7th floor, the doors opened. No one was there.

"Thank God," he sighed, relieved that no one had seen a famous singer with a boy in his arms going to their apartment. 8th, 9th, and finally, the 10th floor. The doors opened, and he stepped out. Thanks to Jake, he knew the code to the flat, so he opened it after five attempts, as carrying Jake made it difficult. Eventually, he opened the door, and they both went in. He closed the door with one leg and took Jake to his room. He put Jake on the bed quickly and started to dress him in pajamas. Once Jake was ready for sleep, Jungwon sighed and went to the kitchen to find something to eat.

Jake lived alone; his parents were still in Australia, from where he had come to Korea to attend one of the best universities there. It was common for Jungwon to spend the night at Jake's house, as they had no problem with it. Jake always stayed at Jungwon's house whenever it was convenient. But mostly, they stayed at Jake's house because Jungwon had a strict dad, and as a well-known singer in Korea, they always had guests.

Jungwon quietly made his way into the kitchen, the soft glow from the refrigerator casting a faint light in the otherwise dark room. He rubbed his eyes, feeling the weight of exhaustion from the day's grueling schedule as a singer. His footsteps were barely audible on the cold tile floor as he opened the fridge, searching for something to quell the gnawing hunger in his stomach.

He grabbed a leftover sandwich, the simple comfort food offering a small respite from the constant pressure he felt. He unwrapped it and took a bite, savoring the taste as he walked towards the living room. The clock on the wall ticked softly, marking the passage of midnight as he approached the huge glass windows that looked out over the dark, quiet town.

The moon cast a silvery light over the deserted streets, creating long shadows that danced in the night. Jungwon sighed, feeling a pang of longing for the peace and normalcy that seemed so far out of reach. He set the sandwich down on the coffee table and pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it with a flick of his lighter.

The first drag was like a momentary escape, the smoke curling around him in the dim light. He closed his eyes, the weariness settling deeper into his bones. The relentless schedule, the endless rehearsals, and performances-it was all catching up to him. Every muscle ached with fatigue, every thought weighed down by the expectations placed upon him.

But what weighed on him even more were the arranged dates his father organized, each one a reminder of how little control he had over his own life. The forced smiles, the empty conversations-they left him feeling more isolated and drained than any performance ever could. He exhaled slowly, the smoke drifting away, much like his fleeting moments of solitude.As he stood there, looking out over the dark town, Jungwon felt a deep, bone-deep tiredness. Not just from the physical demands of his career, but from the emotional toll of living a life that felt more like a carefully managed performance than his own. He took one last drag, letting the smoke fill his lungs before stubbing out the cigarette and closing his eyes, wishing for just a moment of true rest.

As soon as he finished he took out his phone and looked at it.

34 missed calls

Jungwon widened his eyes.

"From...who?" he opened the code to see who had called him. "Ah.." an unknown number. "Maybe a sasang again' he mumbled. "From where even they get my number ?" he clenched his jaw. He was about to put his phone back into his pocket when someone called him again. The same number

Jungwon stared at the phone some seconds but decided to answer at least. He slowly pressed the green button and slowly he pressed the phone againts his ear. Someone was breathing heavily, the breath was familar.

"No!"

The realization hit his head as he understood who that was. He hang off the phone not letting the speaker to start the convorsation. He was surely dead. He put his phone at airplane mode and went to sleep on the sofa. It was going to be a long night since he wasn't sleepy...

A cold breeze swept through the room, stirring Jake from his restless sleep. He groaned, a dull ache pounding in his head from the previous night's excess at the bar. Blinking his eyes open, he shivered and pulled the blanket tighter around himself. The window was ajar, letting in the crisp morning air. It was the middle of autumn, and the sky was overcast, hinting at the rain that was soon to come.

Jake slowly sat up, every movement sending a sharp reminder of his headache. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up unsteadily, the chill biting at his skin. With a grimace, he made his way to the window, closing it to shut out the cold. He dressed slowly, each action deliberate and measured to avoid aggravating his throbbing head.

As he left the bedroom, a delicious aroma wafted towards him, making his mouth water despite his discomfort. He followed the smell to the kitchen, where he found Jungwon busy at the stove, cooking breakfast. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air, offering a welcome comfort.

"Morning," Jungwon said, glancing over his shoulder with a smile. "Rough night?"

Jake nodded, managing a weak smile in return. "You could say that," he replied, easing himself into a chair and letting the warmth of the kitchen and the promise of a good meal soothe his weary body.

Jungwon poured a cup of steaming coffee and set it in front of Jake. "Here, this should help," he said. He then brought over the plates of food, placing them on the table with a flourish. "Eat up. You'll feel better after some food."

Jake looked at the spread in front of him-fluffy pancakes, perfectly cooked eggs, and crispy bacon-and felt a wave of gratitude. "Thanks, Jungwon. You didn't have to do all this."

Jungwon shrugged, taking a seat across from him. "It's no problem. You looked like you needed a good breakfast." He picked up his fork and started eating, nodding encouragingly for Jake to do the same.

Jake took a tentative bite, the flavors rich and comforting. Despite the lingering headache, he felt a bit of the previous night's fatigue melt away with each bite. The kitchen was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the cold, dreary morning outside, and for a moment, everything felt right.

As they were both eating Jake looked at Jungwon for some seconds. The younger felt the gaze but did not look at the older "Is there something wrong?'

"You were the one who took me home?" Jake said in low tone.

Jungwon let simple "Mh" as agreement and continued to eat. Jake felt bad as he disturbed younger. "I am sorry"

"It is okay, I guess. I am just worried about you at that is all hyung, you are the only person in my life that actually feels me" he sighed and lowered his town "After my mom's death.."

Jake smiled sadly as he had only Jungwon right now as well. Although Jungwon was popular and wealthy he still had horrible mental issues and took theraphy. Jake knew everything about him. His dad, Jay, shedule, bad company...Everything.

"Haven't seen him yet?" Jungwon decided to change the topic. But of the sudden question Jake frowned.

"Whom?"

"Sunghoon"

"Ah...him..no I did not" Jake sighed. "Once again he missed the church ceremony, it is already 4th time, I kind of miss him already"

"How can you even miss someone with whom you even have never talked yet ?"

"You won't understand" Jake laughed as he finished his breakfast. Jungwon smiled as well.

"And I was warning you that you should approach him at least once...But nooooo, I am Jakeee, I am scared to talk to the guy I am crushing over three years" Jungwon made fun of Jake but eventually stopped as he saw how bad the older felt.

"Cmon do not worry, if it is a destiny he will appear again ! Do you want me to come with you next Sunday ?" Jungwon cheered up the older. However the older seemed little disapointed

"What if does not come again?"

"I have a plan!" Jungwon smiled and Jake looked at him

"What?"

"Don't worry, just wait till the next Sunday, I am sure he will appear there again" he smirked.

That worried Jake little but he did not say anything. Well Jungwon was rich, he could for sure do something.

After a few moments of comfortable silence, Jake looked up from his plate.

"Hey, did Jay call you?" he asked casually, his eyes searching Jungwon's face for any reaction.

Jungwon's fork paused midway to his mouth, and a flicker of something unreadable crossed his face. He set the fork down carefully, avoiding Jake's gaze.

"No, he didn't," he replied, his voice tight.

Jake noticed the shift in Jungwon's demeanor, the sudden tension in the air palpable.

"Are you sure?"

Jungwon's jaw tightened, and he took a slow breath before speaking. "Yeah, I'm sure. Let's just not talk about Jay right now, okay?" He forced a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "How's your headache? Feeling any better?"

Jake frowned, sensing the reluctance in Jungwon's response but deciding not to press further. "It's getting there," he said, taking another sip of coffee. "Thanks for breakfast, really."

Jungwon nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly as the conversation shifted away from Jay.

Jake and Jungwon stood at the entrance, looking out at the rain that had started to fall heavily. The downpour was relentless, creating a wall of water between them and the bus stop."Do you have an umbrella?" Jungwon asked, pulling his hoodie over his head to shield himself from the rain. His hoodie covered most of his face, ensuring he wouldn't be recognized by anyone passing by.

Jake patted his pockets and then his bag, a look of realization dawning on his face. "I forgot it at home," he admitted, wincing as the bus approached. "We'll just have to make a run for it."As the bus came to a stop, its doors opening with a hiss, they exchanged a glance. "Ready?" Jake asked.

Jungwon nodded, tightening the strings of his hoodie. "Let's go!"

They both sprinted into the rain, the cold drops pelting them immediately. Within seconds, they were drenched, their clothes clinging to their skin as they dashed towards the bus. Jake could feel the water seeping into his shoes, each step splashing through puddles.

By the time they reached the bus, they were soaked. The driver gave them a sympathetic look as they climbed aboard, dripping water onto the floor. They found seats near the back, shaking off as much water as they could.

Jungwon pulled his hood down, revealing a damp but relieved face.

"Well, at least no one recognized me," he said with a small smile, pushing his wet hair back from his forehead.

Jake chuckled, wiping water from his face. "Next time, I'll remember the umbrella," he promised, glancing out the window at the rain still pouring down. Despite the cold and the wet, there was something oddly invigorating about their mad dash through the storm, a shared moment that broke through the usual routine.