eclipsed | sim jaeyun

24.

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For a while, it felt like we were pulling off the impossible—keeping our relationship hidden while sneaking in stolen moments of happiness. But with Jungwon growing more suspicious every day, I knew it was only a matter of time before everything came crashing down. 

It happened sooner than I expected. 

---

One Saturday, Jungwon invited Jake over to hang out. I overheard their conversation in the living room while I was in the kitchen pretending to make tea. 

"You've been distant lately," Jungwon said, his voice sharp. 

Jake, ever the smooth talker, replied, "What are you talking about? I saw you two days ago." 

"That's not what I mean," Jungwon pressed. "You're hiding something. And don't lie to me—I can tell." 

My stomach dropped. I gripped the counter, trying to steady myself. 

"Dude, chill," Jake said, his tone light but his words too quick. "You're overthinking it." 

"Am I?" Jungwon asked, his voice thick with skepticism. 

I held my breath, praying Jake would deflect and move on, but my phone buzzed in my pocket. 

*Jake: helppp he's interrogating me* 

I bit my lip, trying to think of an excuse to walk in without looking guilty. But before I could act, Jungwon called out to me. 

"Haeri, can you come here?" 

Panicked, I grabbed the kettle and carried it into the living room, pretending to be completely oblivious. "What's up?" 

Jungwon gave me a pointed look. "Jake's acting weird. Do you know anything about it?" 

I froze, feeling Jake's eyes on me. My mind raced for a believable response. 

"Weird how?" I asked, feigning confusion. 

Jungwon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know. He's just...different. You'd tell me if you knew something, right?" 

My heart sank. I hated lying to him, but I wasn't ready for the fallout that would come with the truth. 

"Of course," I said softly, avoiding Jake's gaze. 

---

Later that night, Jake called me. 

"Close call," he said, his voice tinged with amusement. 

"You're not taking this seriously," I snapped. "Jungwon's not stupid, Jake. He's going to figure it out." 

"And when he does, we'll deal with it," Jake said calmly. 

"It's not that simple," I muttered, pacing my room. 

"Hey." His voice softened. "Don't stress, okay? I'll talk to him when the time's right." 

I sighed, sitting down on the edge of my bed. "What if the right time never comes?" 

"It will, trust me," Jake assured me.

---

Despite Jake's reassurances, the tension between us and Jungwon only grew. Every time we were in the same room, it felt like a ticking time bomb. 

One evening, I was sitting with Yunjin and Giselle at a café, venting about the situation. 

"He's going to find out eventually," Yunjin said, stirring her iced latte. 

"Yeah, but when he does, it's going to be ugly," Giselle added. 

I groaned, resting my head on the table. "I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm lying to both of them." 

"Technically, you are," Yunjin pointed out, earning a glare from me. 

Giselle nudged my shoulder. "You and Jake need to be on the same page. Have you talked about how to handle it?" 

"Not really," I admitted. "Every time I bring it up, he brushes it off." 

Yunjin sighed. "Typical Jake. He thinks he can charm his way out of anything." 

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't deny it.

---

*Two weeks later* 

Jake and I were at a small bookstore near my apartment, stealing another quiet moment together. He was flipping through a photography book while I browsed the poetry section, the air between us warm and familiar. 

"Haeri," Jake called, holding up a page. "This reminds me of you." 

I walked over, peering at the image of a serene beach at sunset. "Because it's peaceful?" 

He smirked. "Because it's beautiful." 

I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks heated at the compliment. 

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed with a text from Jungwon. 

*Jungwon: where are you??*

Panic coursed through me. "We need to go," I whispered, tugging on Jake's sleeve. 

"What? Why?" 

"Jungwon's looking for me," I said, already heading for the door. 

But it was too late. As we stepped outside, we came face-to-face with Jungwon. 

His eyes flicked between us, narrowing in confusion—and then realization. 

"What the hell is going on?" he demanded. 

Jake and I exchanged a panicked glance. There was no escaping this now.

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