GOLDEN STRINGS | Heejake

Chapter 20: Double date

Jake was sprawled out on his bed, phone resting lightly on his chest, when he got a text.

It buzzed once. Then again.

He groaned softly, pressing his fingers to his eyes before lifting the phone lazily.

Jungwon

> hey!! you free tomorrow?
we were thinking of doing a double date ;)

Jake blinked.

Double date?

He rubbed at his temple and typed back slowly.

> what do you mean double date?

It didn’t take long for Jungwon to answer. He could practically hear his voice through the text, all giddy and excited like this was a variety show prank.

> me and Heeseung, and you and sunghoon duh

Jake’s stomach dropped slightly.

He stared at the message, the air in his lungs suddenly tightening.

Double date? With Heeseung there? Is Jungwon insane?

Jake’s thumbs hovered above the screen, unsure how to respond. His gut screamed no, his mind screamed run, but somehow…

Somehow his fingers betrayed him.

Without thinking, without reason, without breath—

> sure

Sent.

The word stared back at him like a curse.

Jake immediately regretted it.

But before he could unsend it, another bubble popped up.

> yayyy finally!!!
ask sunghoon!!! he’s def gonna say yes lol

Jake sighed, shoving his face into the pillow, muffling a groan. What had he just signed himself up for?

Still, he picked up the phone again.

Swallowed dryly.

Searched up Sunghoon’s name.

It took him two full minutes to even open the chat.

> hey. um. jungwon invited me to this thing tomorrow. like… a little hangout. it’s kind of a double date thing?

He hesitated. Then added:

> you wanna come with me?

Jake stared at the text after hitting send. It sounds stupid when I write it out. He imagined Sunghoon would need time to think.

But instead—

The reply came almost instantly.

> i’d love to!! :D

Short. But hyped.

No hesitation. No pause. No overthinking.

Jake blinked at the message. For a second, it warmed him. Sunghoon was oddly consistent — calm, excited in a sweet way. His presence didn’t feel suffocating like Heeseung’s. No manipulations. No threats hidden behind smiles.

But then, a whisper in Jake’s mind spoke:
Heeseung will be there.

Jake exhaled shakily, pushing that thought aside.

---

The next day, Jake stood in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection.

He kept things casual: a simple black t-shirt, oversized jeans, a dark green jacket slung over his narrow frame. His hair, still slightly damp from his shower, fell in messy curtains on either side of his face.