Faking Broke, Falling Hard || HeeJake

Part 9

Jake's POV: plot twist 

People always assume confidence comes naturally to me.

Maybe it's the way I dress — clean, put together, never wearing anything that screams "I'm struggling."

Maybe it's the way I smile — bright enough to distract anyone from looking too closely.

Or maybe it's because I've gotten really good at pretending.

Truth is... I'm broke.

Not "low on cash."

Not "saving up for something."

Broke.

My parents work five jobs between them — morning shifts, evening shifts, graveyard shifts.

Sometimes they don't come home until after I'm asleep.

Sometimes I wake up and they're already gone.

And I hate it.

I hate how hard they work.

I hate how tired they always look.

I hate feeling useless.

So I help however I can — tutoring, small gigs, anything.

But the one thing I won't do?

Let people look at me with pity.

So I dress well — secondhand designer pieces I hunt for weeks, clothes I iron until they're perfect, sneakers I clean every night even if they're falling apart inside.

If I look like I have it together... maybe I can pretend I do.

Today, though... the act felt heavier than usual.

My alarm rang at 5 AM, and I slid out of bed in the tiny apartment I share with my parents. The walls are thin, the floor creaks, and the window doesn't close all the way — but it's home.

Mom was already gone for her morning shift.

Dad's shoes were gone too.

Five jobs.

Five.

And I couldn't add a sixth no matter how much I wanted to.

I showered quickly, combed my hair, grabbed the "nice" hoodie — the one I only wear on days I want to feel like I belong — and stepped outside.

I walked, hands deep in my pockets, rehearsing the same lie I'd been telling for years:

Yeah, my parents are busy.

Yeah, we're doing fine.

Yeah, I'm okay.

I wasn't.

But I wasn't ready for anyone to see behind the curtain.

Not yet.

Especially not this new guy... Heeseung.

There was something different about him.

Something quiet.

Something... guarded.

..........

School felt longer than usual today. Maybe it was because I barely slept, or maybe it was the way my mind kept drifting to the group chat — the dumb memes, the chaotic energy, the way everyone talked like we'd known each other forever.

By the last bell, I was exhausted... but weirdly excited.

I never really had people to "hang out" with before. Not like this.