Only You, Jaeyun | JAKEHOON

Chapter 16

— “Smile like you mean it.”

It was school photo day.

Jake, of course, only realized this the moment he stepped into the courtyard and saw three different students getting lint rolled by their classmates.

He froze.

Jay, beside him, took one look around and groaned. “Oh no.”

“What?” Jake blinked.

Heeseung strolled in like he owned the courtyard. “It’s picture day, baby.”

Jake’s heart dropped. “What?! No one told me—!”

Jay narrowed his eyes. “You didn’t check the group announcements?”

Jake whispered, horrified, “I muted it after the sticker spam…”

Jay let out a sigh of betrayal. “Rookie mistake.”

“I—I’m not ready! I didn’t do my hair! My tie’s wrong—why is no one helping me?!”

Heeseung patted his shoulder solemnly. “Because this is comedy gold.”

“I hate you.”

“I live for your rage.”

Jake groaned and ran to the vending machine, frantically trying to fix his collar in the reflection. “Oh god, I look like I got into a fight with a dryer.”

Jay nodded. “You kinda did. Remember yesterday’s seaweed chips and that stray cat?”

“I can’t take a school photo like this!”

Heeseung opened his mouth to say something snarky—until another voice cut through the noise.

“Hold still.”

Jake turned—and nearly stumbled back when Sunghoon stepped up behind him, already reaching out.

“Your tie is sideways,” Sunghoon said, voice calm as his fingers moved quickly but gently, adjusting the knot with quiet precision. “And your collar’s a mess. And your hair—” he paused, frowning as he reached up to smooth it. “Come here.”

Jake froze, eyes wide, heart absolutely traitorous in his chest.

Sunghoon pushed back a few loose strands, smoothing them with a care Jake hadn’t realized anyone had for him. His hand lingered near Jake’s jaw, brushing softly—

Then he stepped back.

“There,” he said, gaze flicking up to meet Jake’s. “That’s better.”

Jake’s brain had exited the building. “Th-thanks…”

Jay was blinking. Heeseung was whispering, “What the hell just happened?”

“I feel like I should be filming this,” Jay whispered back.

“I hate that it was kinda romantic,” Heeseung whispered louder.

“Shut up,” Jake hissed, cheeks flushed.

Sunghoon didn’t say anything. But when Jake dared to glance his way, he caught the faintest hint of pink in his ears.

Later, they were lined up for the official class photo. Students squished together like cereal boxes, everyone adjusting blazers and trying not to blink.

Jay kept elbowing people by accident. Heeseung was already planning a dumb pose. Jake stood still, clutching the sleeves of his blazer.

Sunghoon stood next to him, like it was natural. Like it always was.

“Smile,” the photographer called.

Jay smiled with teeth. Heeseung winked. Sunghoon stood calm.
And Jake?
Jake smiled soft. Real.

But before they could leave, Jay shouted, “WAIT—GROUP PHOTO. My camera. My rules.”

Jake blinked. “What?”

Jay pulled out a ridiculously expensive DSLR from his backpack. “No one leaves. I brought this for a reason.”

“I should’ve known,” Heeseung said. “This guy brought a whole press kit.”

“I want a photo,” Jay said firmly, “of us. The four of us. Together.”

Jake flushed. “You… You mean like a memory?”

Jay rolled his eyes. “No, like a shrine. I’m printing this. Framing it. Putting it above our nonexistent future apartment fireplace.”

Heeseung laughed. “I want in.”

Jake smiled. “Okay. One photo.”

“Nope,” Jay said, dragging them toward the benches. “We’re doing three. Candid. Silly. And devastatingly handsome.”

They posed.

The first photo had Jake laughing, Jay pulling a peace sign, Heeseung fake-choking Sunghoon, and Sunghoon looking entirely done.

The second had Heeseung caught mid-sneeze, which Jay swore made it “cinematic.”

And the third?

The third was soft.

Sunghoon’s hand rested on Jake’s shoulder. Jake leaned slightly into him. Heeseung smiled without teasing. Jay didn’t say a word.

Just four boys under morning light, blazers wrinkled, ties crooked—but grinning like their lives were golden.

Click.

Jay looked at the screen.

Paused.

Then whispered, “That’s it.”

Jake peeked. His smile widened.

He saved it that night on his phone. Labeled it:
“Us.”

And every time he looked at it, he remembered—

That day. That quiet voice.

Those careful fingers in his hair.

And the way Sunghoon had looked at him like he was already something worth remembering.

end of chapter