— “Don’t look at me like that.”
The local festival was louder than expected.
Paper lanterns swayed above the streets, stalls stretched across the plaza, and the air smelled like sugar, soy sauce, and too much popcorn. Kids ran around with glowing sticks, couples strolled with matching headbands, and Jake—Jake stood in the middle of it all, wide-eyed, one hand curled loosely around the strap of his bag.
It was his first real festival.
He looked so happy, Sunghoon thought.
Too happy. Like a kid seeing fireworks for the first time.
“Is that grilled corn?” Jay shouted from ahead. “Move—before it sells out!”
“I want dango,” Heeseung muttered, trailing after him.
Jake giggled, half-jogging after them before realizing Sunghoon wasn’t moving.
He turned around. “Aren’t you coming?”
Sunghoon nodded slowly, eyes still on him. “Yeah.”
They walked.
Not side by side at first.
But somewhere between the fishcake stall and the spinning wheel game, Jake moved closer. Just slightly. Their hands brushed. Once. Then again.
Sunghoon didn’t move away.
Jake’s fingers bumped his once more.
This time, Sunghoon tilted his wrist. And their pinkies hooked.
Jake glanced up at him—eyes wide, heartbeat all over his face.
But he didn’t pull back.
Neither did Sunghoon.
Jay was yelling about rigged games by the time they caught up.
“There’s no way that guy just randomly wins the jumbo cat—he’s clearly a plant! Look at his smug face!”
Heeseung sighed. “You’re losing your mind.”
“I will not leave this festival empty-handed!” Jay declared, marching toward another booth.
Jake looked around. “Do they have that ring toss one?”
“Over there,” Sunghoon said, pointing.
“Let’s try it!”
Jake paid the stall owner, took the five plastic rings, and missed the first two immediately.
“It’s hard!” he laughed.
Sunghoon leaned in, tone flat. “Your form is terrible.”
Jake gasped. “Help me, then!”
Sunghoon stepped behind him—just slightly. “Here.”
He reached for Jake’s hand. Adjusted the angle. Steadied his fingers. The brush of their knuckles made Jake flush from neck to ears.
He tossed.
It landed.
A tiny bell rang.
Jake squeaked.
“You did it,” Sunghoon said.
Jake looked at him. Beaming. “We did it.”
The vendor handed him the prize—a small, grumpy plush puppy keychain with floppy ears.
Jake blinked. “He looks… upset.”
Sunghoon examined it. “Looks like you when you’re hungry.”
Jake laughed. “No way—this looks like you. All serious and quiet but secretly cute.”
Sunghoon didn’t answer.
Jake held it out to him.
“What?”
Jake smiled. “It reminded me of you.”
Sunghoon stared at it. At him.
Then, wordlessly, he took it.
Jake’s hand lingered in the space between them.
So did his gaze.
Sunghoon looked away first, tucking the plush carefully into his coat pocket.
Jake still looked like he might combust.
“…Why are you smiling like that?” he whispered.
Sunghoon glanced sideways. “Don’t look at me like that.”
Jake tilted his head. “Like what?”
Sunghoon’s voice was quiet. But not unreadable. Not to Jake.
“Like I’d do anything for you.”
Jake’s throat bobbed. His smile softened. “You kind of already do.”
Sunghoon didn’t answer.
But the hand that wasn’t in his pocket—quietly slid back down to Jake’s side.
Their fingers brushed.
And this time, they didn’t stop.
When Jay and Heeseung came back, breathless from arguing over yakitori prices, they found Jake sipping strawberry soda and Sunghoon holding a paper bag with a plush ear sticking out.
Neither said a word.
Jake giggled. “Did you win anything?”
Jay huffed. “Only trauma.”
end of chapter
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Only You, Jaeyun | JAKEHOON
Fanfiction"Even the cold melts a little when you smile." Cold hands. Warm hearts. One slow-blooming love.
