Only You, Jaeyun | JAKEHOON

Chapter 14

— “Why do you keep staring at him?”

PE was cursed.

Jake had decided this fact early on.

There was something about group warmups, the smell of gym mats, and the constant looming threat of dodgeballs that made his entire body want to vanish.

Especially on relay days.

“Pair up!” the coach shouted.

Jay immediately threw an arm over Jake’s shoulder. “Us. Dream team.”

Heeseung shoved him aside. “You literally tripped over your own shoelace last time.”

“Which was strategic. I made them laugh, then I won.”

Jake blinked. “That’s not… how relays work.”

“Let him have it,” Sunghoon muttered, tightening his laces from where he sat against the wall.

Jake watched him, quiet. “Are you joining?”

Sunghoon looked up. “You don’t think I will?”

“I think you’ll win too fast.”

Jay snorted. “And make the rest of us look bad. As usual.”

Sunghoon stood, brushing dust off his pants. “Then keep up.”

Jake ended up near the back of the line. Jay was yelling strategy. Heeseung kept trying to tie his hoodie string into a bow on Jake’s back.

Sunghoon stood in his lane, arms crossed, eyes scanning the field.

Jake tried not to look at him.

Tried.

Failed.

His heart had a bad habit of reacting to very small things. The way Sunghoon pushed his hair back. The way he tugged on his sleeves when he was bored. The way he didn’t smile much—but when he did, it changed everything.

“You’re staring again,” Heeseung said casually beside him.

Jake jumped. “What? No—I wasn’t—”

Heeseung tilted his head, amused. “It’s okay. It’s kinda cute.”

Jake flushed. “Stop saying stuff like that!”

Heeseung smirked. But something in his chest pulled tight when he saw Jake glance back at Sunghoon again.

Even tighter when Sunghoon looked back.

The relay began.

Jay bolted forward first, yelling “I GOT THIS” like it was the Olympics. He promptly fumbled the baton and yelled “I DON’T GOT THIS” before scrambling to fix it.

Jake laughed too hard to breathe.

Then it was his turn.

He took a deep breath, grabbed the baton, and—

Ran.

Sort of.

Jake wasn’t fast. But he was determined. He could hear the others cheering. Maybe Heeseung yelling his name. Maybe Jay screaming “BABY AUSSIE GO!”

His legs burned. His chest heaved.

Then—

The ground tilted.

It was small. Just a misstep. But it sent his balance careening.

Jake gasped.

Felt his foot twist, body lurch forward, panic shooting up his spine—

And then—

Arms.

Firm. Steady. Catching him around the middle like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Jake blinked up.

Sunghoon.

“Careful,” he said, voice even, eyes unreadable.

Jake blinked again. “You—you caught me.”

“I saw it coming.”

Jake’s heart did a cartwheel. “Were you watching?”

Sunghoon didn’t answer.

Heeseung, across the track, let out a slow breath. Turned his head away.

Jay just shouted, “TEN OUT OF TEN. SAVE OF THE CENTURY.”

Later, during cooldown, Jake sat on the edge of the track, stretching his legs. His ankle wasn’t twisted badly, just sore.

Heeseung dropped beside him, handing him a bottle of water. “You okay?”

Jake nodded. “Thanks. Sunghoon’s fast.”

Heeseung smiled. It didn’t quite reach his eyes. “He always is.”

Jake sipped. “He didn’t have to catch me like that.”

Heeseung shrugged. “Sure he did.”

“Why?”

Heeseung looked at him, something quiet behind his smile.

“Because you’ve got everyone wrapped around your finger, Jake.”

Jake frowned. “I don’t—”

“You do,” Heeseung said, not unkind. “You just don’t notice it.”

He stood up, brushing his palms against his pants. “Come on. Let’s catch up before Jay eats everyone’s snacks.”

Jake followed slowly.

Didn’t notice the way Heeseung looked back at him.

Didn’t see the softness in his eyes.

Didn’t know how long it would stay there.

end of chapter