Faking Broke, Falling Hard || HeeJake

Part 8

Heeseung's POV

The café sat on the corner of the street—warm lights, glass windows fogged slightly from the morning crowd, cozy music drifting out every time the door opened. I paused outside, took a breath, and made sure I didn't look like someone who owned seven cars and was planning to buy a Bugatti.

Just a normal guy.

Just... Heeseung.

I pushed the door open.

The bell chimed, and immediately—

"HEE!"

Sunoo nearly knocked over his own iced latte because he waved too hard. Jungwon shushed him, Ni-Ki was already smirking at me from behind his cup, and—

Jake.

He was sitting closest to the door, looking up with that warm smile that always hit a little too hard.

"Hey," he said softly.

I tried not to overthink it. Failed. Sat down anyway.

Ni-Ki raised an eyebrow at me like he knew exactly why my ears were red.

(He did. The menace.)

Sunoo pushed a menu in my hands. "Pick something! Our treat!"

I blinked. "Your treat?"

Sunoo nodded proudly. "Yes. We decided it last night."

Jungwon leaned in. "Well, Sunoo decided. We all just went along with it."

Ni-Ki shrugged. "He threatened to kick us out of the group chat if we didn't agree."

Jake laughed, and God, that sound—

I pretended to read the menu to hide the way my face warmed.

"So," Jake asked gently, sipping his latte, "how's your morning been?"

"Oh." I cleared my throat. "Good. Uh—normal."

Ni-Ki kicked my foot lightly under the table.

I glared at him.

Sunoo suddenly gasped. "Wait—HEE!"

"What?" I flinched.

"Your hoodie is cute!" He reached over and stretched the sleeve between his fingers. "Comfy, right?"

I nodded, relieved. At least he didn't notice the brand tag I had sliced off.

Jake leaned closer, eyes soft.

"I like it too."

...

I nearly melted into the seat.

Jungwon, ever observant, smirked into his drink.

Ni-Ki texted me under the table.

Ni-Ki 🩰:

bros blushing harder than the strawberry smoothie sunoo ordered 💀

I shot him a look that promised violence.

Sunoo clapped his hands suddenly. "Okay! Today's plan! We're going to the arcade after this."

Jake looked at me. "You coming?"

I swallowed, nodded. "Yeah. I'd like that."

All of them cheered.

Jake smiled wider.

And for the first time in a long time...

I felt normal.

Not a trillionaire.