Only You, Jaeyun | JAKEHOON

Chapter 21

— “Take my hands, take my whole life too.”

The stars weren’t out yet.

But the sky was soft, bruised lilac and navy. Lanterns still flickered behind them as the festival quieted, laughter echoing in little pockets. Jay and Heeseung had veered off to buy “exactly seven more fishcakes,” swearing they’d catch up.

So it was just them now.

Jake and Sunghoon.

Walking slowly. Side by side.
Still hand in hand.

Jake didn’t say anything. He just swung their hands gently between them, like it was the most natural thing in the world. His face was a little flushed. Hair wind-blown. Smile barely there but there all the same.

And Sunghoon?

Sunghoon was not okay.

He didn’t know when it happened. Maybe it was during the movie night, with Jake asleep on his shoulder. Maybe it was that time Jake looked at him during math class like he’d hung the moon by handing him a second pen.

Or maybe it was now.

Right now.

Right here.

With Jake’s fingers tangled in his, like it had always been this way. Like it was normal. Like Sunghoon’s heart wasn’t currently free-falling inside his chest like it forgot how to beat steady.

He looked down at Jake.

Jake was walking slowly beside him, his hoodie sleeves pulled over his hands, the soft streetlight tinting his hair gold.

Sunghoon's own hoodie.

Jake hadn’t returned it for two weeks.

And now, looking at him wrapped up in something that smelled like home, something tugged sharply at Sunghoon’s throat.

And Jake, quiet and glowing beside him, finally spoke.

“I think this is the happiest I’ve been in a long time.”

Sunghoon looked at him, startled.

Jake wasn’t smiling big. He wasn’t teasing. He just looked… real. Soft. Honest.

“I mean it,” Jake said. “I don’t think I knew how to feel like this before. Like I belong somewhere. Like I’m not just passing through.”

Sunghoon’s lips parted. But nothing came out.

“And you know what’s crazy?” Jake continued. “It’s not just the school. Or the people. It’s not even the hoodie.” He tugged the sleeves up slightly. “It’s you.”

Sunghoon felt his heartbeat in his ears.

Jake turned to face him, hands still buried in those sleeves. “You make everything feel safe. Even when you don’t talk. Even when you’re glaring at Jay for breathing too loud.”

He laughed softly. Sunghoon didn’t.

Because Sunghoon couldn’t.

Something in him was breaking, softly, quietly.

And it wasn’t pain.

It was the terrifying ache of realizing that he loved this boy so much he didn’t know how to say it.

So instead, he took a step forward.

Jake blinked as Sunghoon’s hand gently reached up to his cheek.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Sunghoon whispered.

“Like what?” Jake asked, breath hitching.

“Like I’m everything,” he said, voice barely audible. “Because I’ll want to be.”

Jake’s lips parted. But he didn’t speak.

And from someone’s open window above them, soft music began to play.

A low, old melody. Crooning. Familiar.

“Wise men say, only fools rush in…”

Elvis.

Jake’s eyes lit up.

And Sunghoon’s hand dropped—only to grab Jake’s gently. Carefully.

“I’m not good at saying things,” Sunghoon murmured, pulling him closer. “But I think I started falling for you the moment you cried over a stupid ramen cup.”

Jake laughed, tears shining now. “That was your fault.”

Sunghoon’s eyes were glassy too. “Yeah. I know.”

He took another step, pressing their foreheads together.

“Take my hand…”

“Jaeyun,” Sunghoon whispered.

Jake looked up.

Sunghoon’s voice cracked. “Take my whole life too.”

The moment felt too big for them.

Too big for any high school courtyard. Too big for the night sky.

Jake didn’t answer with words.

He wrapped his arms around Sunghoon’s waist. Held him tight. Let Sunghoon fall into the hug like it was gravity, like it was a promise.

And when Sunghoon’s shoulders shook a little, when his eyes finally spilled over just once—tears.

Jake cupped his face. Whispered, “I’ve got you.”

Then kissed him.

Softly. Carefully. Like every second had been building to this.

The first kiss that tasted like everything.

Like forever.

Like a confession wrapped in starlight.

When they finally broke apart, Jake smiled — cheeks flushed, nose pink, eyes full of something bigger than anything either of them had known.

“I’ll keep the puppy,” Sunghoon said, voice rough. “But I’m keeping you too.”

Jake nodded, eyes wet. “I’m not going anywhere.”

They stood there for a long time, holding onto each other.

The last notes of the song faded into silence.

But the words stayed with them:

“For I can’t help… falling in love with you.”

end of chapter