EXHIBIT A: HEARTBREAK | JAKE SIM (01)
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synopsis: a high-profile case pulls you back to Korea, forcing you to confront the past youâve spent two years avoidingâincluding the man who once shut you out. With old wounds reopening and a career-defining opportunity on the line, you must decide whether to keep hiding in the background or finally take center stage.
pairings: jake x reader; jay x reader (??) ; a couple of strangers
genre: friends to lovers ; exes to possible lovers; angsttttt; fluff ; slow burn (sorry); swearing; lots of falling outs
warnings/notes: Hi there! Thanks for giving this story a chance! This is sort of an introduction before the chaos hits. Thereâs not much to warn about this chapter except mentions of friendship dynamics and favoritism đ.
DISCLAIMER: I obviously have no idea how everything works in a legal setting so please donât say Iâm writing it completely wrong (I know). This just pure fiction đ
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The shrill ring of your phone cut through the haze of sleep. Groggily, you fumbled around your nightstand before finally grabbing it and bringing it to your ear.
âRise and shine, sleepyhead,â Jayâs amused voice greeted you.
You groaned, rolling onto your side as you squinted at the clock. Your heart dropped.
âJayâ you hissed, already throwing off your blanket. âWhy are you calling me?!â
âBecause I knew youâd sleep through your alarm,â he replied smoothly. âMock trialâs in less than an hour, Y/N. Youâre welcome.â
Your brain barely had time to process the words before pure panic set in.
âOh my godâJay, why didnât you call me earlier?!â
Jayâs laugh was lighthearted but entirely unhelpful. âBecause this is funnier.â
Still tangled in your sheets, you scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over your own feet as you bolted toward the bathroom. Toothbrush in one hand, blazer in the other, you moved as quickly as humanly possible, mentally cursing yourself for staying up so late preparing for today.
At leastâat leastâyou had laid out your clothes last night. One less thing to worry about.
Not even five minutes later, you were already sprinting out of your apartment, only to skid to a stop at the sight of Jayâs car idling by the curb. He leaned against the driverâs side, arms crossed over his chest, grinning as if this was the most entertaining thing he had ever seen.
âDid you drive here?â you asked, still slightly breathless.
âFigured youâd need a ride,â he said, opening the passenger door. âHurry up. Weâre gonna be late.â
Muttering a string of curses under your breath, you slid into the seat, tossing your bag at your feet as you fasten your seatbelt.
Jay barely gave you a second before glancing over, amusement still dancing in his eyes. âMight want to fix yourself before Jungwon sees you.â
You shot him a glare through the mirror as you attempted to tame your hair. âI hate you.â
Jay laughed as he pulled onto the main road. âNo, you donât.â
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The car ride was quiet at first, both of you too focused on the day ahead. You flipped through the case file, double-checking every detail, making sure there werenât any loose ends.
Then, something caught your eye.
âWaitâJay, this doesnât line up,â you said, tapping a page.
Jay glanced over, his brows furrowing. âWhat doesnât?â
You pointed. âThe witness testimony. The defense claimed their client was at work during the time of the incident, but the timestamp on their own document says otherwise. This completely undercuts their alibi.â
Then he grinned. âNice catch, Y/N. You just made my job ten times easier.â
You shrugged, but inside, you felt the tiniest bit of pride.
Jay continued driving, but you noticed the way his fingers tapped against the wheelâa nervous tic you had never really seen from him before.
âYou okay?â you asked, glancing at him.
Jay exhaled sharply, gripping the wheel a little tighter. âYeah. Justââ He hesitated, which was also unusual. âI donât know. I guess I feel weirdly⊠off today.â
That made you pause. Jay was always confident. Always sure of himself. Seeing him like this wasâŠnew.
âJay, youâre gonna do great,â you said, nudging him slightly. âYou always do.â
He gave you a small smile. âYeah. Thanks.â
But something in his voice told you that, for once, he needed reassurance.
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The air in the conference room was thick with anticipation. Even though this was just a mock trial, the weight of it felt real. The associates who had gathered to observe were seated in rows behind you, whispering among themselves as Jungwon settled into his seat at the head of the room.
Jungwon adjusted his suit jacket and cleared his throat, his expression cool and unreadable. âCourt is now in session,â he announced, his voice carrying easily over the low murmur of the room. âThis is a mock trial, but I expect the same level of professionalism and diligence as if we were in a real courtroom. Counsel, are you ready to proceed?â
Jay rose to his feet, buttoning his jacket in one smooth motion. He was composed, radiating confidence like he had done this a thousand times before which, technically, he had.
âReady, Your Honor,â he said, sending Jungwon a playful smirk.
Jungwon merely raised a brow. âWeâll see about that.â Then, he turned his attention to the opposing counsel, Takahiro, who straightened his tie before nodding stiffly.
Jay glanced at you, and you gave him a subtle nod in return. You had already gone over the case files with him, making sure he was fully prepared. But still, you couldnât help but feel the smallest flicker of nerves as you held the documents in your hands.
This wasnât your moment to speak, but it was your job to make sure everything went perfectly.
Jungwon gestured for Jay to begin.
âLadies and gentlemen of the juryââ Jay started, his voice smooth and commanding as he began his opening statement. He moved fluidly, walking a few steps before turning back toward the table, his eyes flicking toward the associates in the room who were playing the role of the jury.
The case was centered around a high-profile contract dispute, something that, in reality, could make or break a firmâs reputation. Jay laid out the facts with precision, his argument strong and calculated.
But Takahiro was just as sharp.
The moment Jay finished his introduction, Takahiro pushed to his feet with an easy smirk.
âObjection, Your Honor,â he drawled, casting a look toward Jungwon. âCounsel is making sweeping statements without citing any direct evidence.â
Jay barely blinked. âYour Honor, Iâm merely setting the stage. The evidence will speak for itself when the time comes.â
Jungwon leaned forward slightly. âSustained. Stick to the facts, Mr. Park.â
You watched Jayâs jaw tighten briefly before he gave Jungwon a curt nod. âOf course, Your Honor.â
Takahiro shot you a glance as he sat back down, his smirk never fading. You resisted the urge to roll your eyes. He was enjoying this way too much.
The mock trial continued, the back-and-forth between Jay and Takahiro growing more intense. Jay was handling it well, countering every argument with his usual wit and confidence. But as you flipped through the case files once more, your eyes caught on something from earlier.
A mistake in the opposing counselâs documents.
Your breath hitched. It was small, but significant, something that could unravel their entire argument.
Heart pounding, you leaned closer to Jay and slid the document from earlier towards him, discreetly tapping the section in question.
Jayâs eyes flicked to the page, scanning it quickly. Then, a slow, almost imperceptible grin spread across his lips.
He turned back toward the front of the room. âYour Honor, if I may redirect your attention to Exhibit C,â Jay said smoothly, lifting the document. âThere appears to be an inconsistency in the opposing counselâs timeline.â
Takahiroâs smirk faltered.
You could practically hear the breath he sucked in through his teeth as Jay continued.
âIf we follow their claim, their client would have needed to be in two places at once.â Jay paused, letting the weight of the statement settle in the room. âNow, unless they have evidence proving their client is capable of bending time and space, Iâd say this argument falls apart.â
A few chuckles echoed from the observing associates. Even Jungwon let out a small, amused exhale before composing himself.
Takahiro scrambled to counter, but the damage was already done. You could see it in his clenched jaw, the slight twitch of his fingers as he shuffled through his own notes.
Jay turned to you, tapping the document once in silent appreciation. You gave him the smallest nod back, a flicker of satisfaction swelling in your chest.
Jungwon straightened, glancing between both sides before speaking. âGiven the circumstances, I believe we have our decision.â His gaze landed on Takahiro. âThe defense has failed to provide a strong enough argument. The plaintiffs win this round.â
A rush of relief washed over you as the room filled with murmurs. Jay let out a breath and rolled his shoulders back, looking pleased.
He was already watching you.
And you knewâthis wasnât over.
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After the mock trial wrapped up, you expected Jungwon to call it a day, maybe give a quick rundown of what went well and what needed improvement before dismissing everyone. But instead, he remained standing at the front of the conference room, scanning the room with that composed, calculating expression that made you nervous for what was to come.
Jay shot you a knowing glance, sensing something was coming. You leaned slightly toward him, speaking under your breath. âHeâs got that face on.â
Jay smirked but kept his voice low. âYeah, this is definitely about to turn into something bigger.â
Jungwonâs voice finally cut through the murmur of the room. âGood job today, everyone. Some of you handled the pressure well. Some of youââ his eyes briefly flickered to the opposing counsel, who was still fuming from the trialâs outcomeâ ânot so much. But thatâs why we practice.â
Takahiro let out a small, disgruntled scoff, his frustration clearly simmering, but you chose to ignore him, focusing on Jungwon.
âNow, letâs talk about whatâs next,â Jungwon continued, his tone becoming more serious. âWeâve got a real caseâa high-stakes oneâand it requires a very specific, carefully selected team. Over the past few weeks, Iâve been deciding whoâs best suited for this, and after todayâs mock trial, Iâm confident in my choice.â
The room went silent. The tension was palpable. You felt your breath catch in your throat, already anticipating the news.
Jungwonâs gaze swept over the room before landing directly on you and Jay. âIâll be leading a small team for this, and the two people who will be taking the lead under my supervision are Jay and Y/N.â
A long beat of silence followed. Then, the murmurs started.
Takahiro scoffed again, this time louder. âOf course,â he muttered, his voice thick with bitterness.
You ignored him, keeping your focus on Jungwon, who was still as calm as ever.
Jay, sitting next to you, exhaled slowly and leaned back in his chair. âWell, guess weâre going to Korea.â
You felt a knot form in your stomachânot from nerves about the case, but from what Korea meant. From what Jake meant. Your chest tightened, but you held it in.
Jungwon wasnât finished. His tone remained steady, but there was an underlying sharpness. âBefore anyone asksâno, this wasnât favoritism. The decision was based on skill, performance, and how you handled yourselves today. Itâs clear to me who is the most capable, and I donât make these choices lightly.â
Takahiroâs face twisted, but he didnât dare speak up. He simply clenched his jaw and stared at the table.
âHowever,â Jungwon added, his voice taking on a more serious tone, âthis isnât set in stone. Things can change. Roles can shift depending on how well everyone performs from here on out. If anyone doesnât meet expectations, if there are any issues, I wonât hesitate to pull you from the team or reassign your role in the case. This is a high-pressure situation, and I need the best from everyone involved.â
The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of Jungwonâs words settling over everyone. No one dared speak, but there was an undercurrent of discomfort.
Jay raised an eyebrow, clearly processing what Jungwon had said, but stayed silent.
You, on the other hand, felt a slight unease twist in your stomach. The uncertainty was there, if something went wrong, the roles could change at any moment. It wasnât just about winning the case anymore. It was about proving yourself every step of the way.
Jungwon continued, his voice unwavering. âThis will be a huge caseâinternational, high-profile. Weâll be handling corporate giants, and the stakes couldnât be higher. But, and this is important,â he emphasized, âthis will be under Hastingsâ orders. So, even though you two,â he gestured to you and Jay, âwill be in the spotlight, donât expect this to be a clear-cut win. Hastings will undermine everything he can, and weâll have to fight harder than weâve ever had to. Understand?â
Jay exhaled, his lips pressing together in frustration at the mention of Hastings, but he didnât say anything.
Seojin, who had been quietly observing, couldnât hold back her thoughts. âOf course,â she said in a mocking tone, her voice carrying across the room. âJay and Y/N, always the favorites.â
Her words felt like an unwanted sting, and it wasnât the first time she had said something like that. She leaned back in her chair, a smug look on her face, clearly enjoying the tension.
You shot her a glance but didnât respond. Jay looked at you, a flicker of discomfort in his expression, but he kept his voice low. âTheyâre always going to think that. Donât let it get to you.â
âSeems like you two always get the high-profile cases,â Minseok added, his voice dripping with sarcasm. âWhatâs new?â
Seojin chuckled softly, the sound almost too sweet to be sincere. Then, her voice dropped to a whisper, just loud enough for you and Jay to hear. âGuess itâs nice being the bossâs pets, huh?â
The quiet jab didnât escape you, and the weight of it hung heavy in the air. Jayâs jaw tightened, but he kept his tone neutral when he spoke next, his voice soft but clear enough for Seojin to hear. âPeople are always going to talk, Seojin. Itâs how you handle it that matters.â
You couldnât help but feel a slight pang of frustration. âWeâve worked just as hard as anyone else here,â you murmured under your breath, âand none of this was handed to us.â
âIâm sure you think that,â Seojin replied, her voice almost too sweet, âbut the higher you climb, the harder it is to stay on top.â
Her words were like a cold jab, and you could feel the eyes of the room lingering on you. It wasnât the first time theyâd questioned your worth, but this time it felt different.
Jungwon didnât acknowledge the whispers. His eyes scanned the room one more time, a small shift in his posture signaling the end of the conversation. âNow, as I said, everyone here will play a part. You all have a role to play, even if youâre not on the ground with us. Everyone will be involved in strategy, intel, resources. The case is bigger than just the people in Korea. But, make no mistake this is a performance-based team. I expect nothing less than excellence from everyone.â
He paused, letting that hang in the air for a moment. âAnd remember, things can change. No oneâs role is guaranteed. If you want to stay on this team, if you want to be a part of this case, you have to prove yourself every day.â
The room was quiet, everyone now fully aware of the stakes. You felt the weight of Jungwonâs words, a quiet determination settling inside you. There was no turning back now.
Jay leaned closer to you, his voice barely above a whisper, âWeâve got this. Just donât let them get in your head.â
You nodded, but a part of you couldnât shake the tension. âWeâll see. Letâs just get through it.â
Seojinâs faint chuckle echoed in the background, but you ignored it. This was bigger than anything she could say. You had a case to win.
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The moment you stepped into your apartment, you kicked off your shoes and collapsed onto the couch with a dramatic sigh. Jay followed close behind, loosening his tie and rolling up his sleeves, while Jungwon entered last, his expression as calm and composed as ever. But underneath that cool exterior, you could sense somethingâa subtle tension that had been lingering ever since the meeting wrapped up.
You and Jay exchanged a glance, both of you picking up on it. You werenât blind. The whispers from the room had followed you all the way here. Takahiroâs barely concealed grumbles, Seojinâs sharp comments, and the undercurrent of discontent from everyone who hadnât been selected for the Korea caseâit was all still fresh in the air.
Jay let out a small snort, the tension finally breaking, and you couldnât help it. You burst into laughter.
The sound of your laughter echoed through the apartment, and Jay joined in, both of you completely unable to stop. For a moment, the weight of the day, of the whispers, the resentment, and everything else, seemed to vanish.
âDid you see his face?â you wheezed, clutching your stomach as you leaned into Jay, who was just as gone as you were. âHe looked likeâlike someone just told him his entire career was a lie!â
Jay, barely able to catch his breath between laughs, gasped out, âI thoughtâ I thought he was gonna combust right then and there!â
Jungwon, who had been standing silently in the kitchen unpacking takeout, shook his head as he set down the bags. His voice was dry, but there was a hint of amusement in it. âYou two are children,â he muttered.
That only made you and Jay laugh harder, the sound filling the space between you.
Jay wiped his eyes, still grinning from ear to ear. âNo, but seriously, youââ he pointed at you, his voice cracking with laughterâ âI swear Iâve never seen someone ruin another personâs entire day with just a few words. The way you slid that document to me like some secret weapon? Flawless.â
You rolled your eyes, but the small sense of pride flickered in your chest. âIt was nothing,â you said, waving him off. âJust doing my job.â
Jungwon scoffed, finally giving in and taking a seat across from you. âIf thatâs what âjust doing your jobâ looks like, then I need more people like you at this firm.â He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his gaze steady. âBut seriously, Takahiro wonât forget this.â
Jay clicked his tongue, his grin widening. âGood. Maybe next time heâll check his own damn evidence before trying to play dirty.â
You let out a content sigh, the adrenaline from earlier still lingering but now settling into something lighter. Being here, laughing like this, felt like the right antidote to the stress of the day.
Jungwon eyed the two of you, arms crossed. âBy the way, you do realize we canât exactly be seen eating out together, right?â His tone was casual, but there was that underlying reminder: public appearances mattered. âYou know, considering⊠well, everything.â
You nodded, a wry smile tugging at your lips. âYeah, yeah. Hence why my lovely home is your dining hall for the night.â
Jay smirked, leaning back in his chair, his fingers tapping the table. âWouldnât want the firm to think Jungwon has favorites.â
Jungwon shot him a pointed look, and for a split second, you could swear there was a flicker of something soft in his eyes. âYou are my favorites. Thatâs the problem.â
The room fell into a comfortable silence after that, and the weight of his words settled in, unspoken but clear. No one at the firm knew how long you three had known each other. No one knew about the group you used to be a part ofâbefore you moved to Japan, before you became a paralegal at one of the most prestigious firms in the city. A group that, at one point, included Jake.
Your smile faltered for just a second, the memory creeping in before you could stop it. You quickly shook it off, determined not to let it ruin the moment.
Jay noticed the shift immediately, his expression softening. He didnât ask, didnât pry he just reached over and stole one of your fries.
You blinked at him. âExcuse you?â
Jay popped the fry into his mouth without a care. âIâm comforting you. Youâre welcome.â
Jungwon sighed, shaking his head as he opened his own food. âUnbelievable.â
But you didnât let the weight of your thoughts drag you down. Not now. Not here. Right now, it was just you, Jay, and Jungwon in this moment, and that was enough.
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The sound of clinking dishes echoed through the apartment as Jay scrubbed away at the stack of plates. You leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching him with a mixture of amusement and mild confusion.
âYou didnât have to do that, Jay,â you said with a chuckle. âI was going to clean them later.â
Jay shot you an exaggerated look. âLater? Youâre just trying to pull that trick on me again. And here I am, stuck doing your dishes again.â
You smirked. âMaybe Iâll just leave them for you from now on. Iâm sure you donât mind. Youâre always here anyway.â
Jay paused, hands stilling on the dishes as he looked at you, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. âYou know, Iâm starting to think I should just make a permanent spot here. Might as well bring my stuff, since Iâm basically living here at this point.â
You rolled your eyes, grinning. âYeah, because itâs totally not weird to have your friend live here just because he eats all your food.â
Jay grinned back, completely unphased. âHey, I cook too. Itâs practically an arrangement. I bring the cooking skills, you bring the taste testing. A fair deal, if you ask me.â
Before you could respond, Jungwon entered the kitchen, raising an eyebrow at the two of you. âWhatâs this Iâm hearing about Jay moving in?â he asked, crossing his arms with a smirk.
You looked at Jay, who shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. âI mean, Iâm already here half the time. Might as well make it official.â
You shot Jungwon a teasing look. âMaybe you should think about moving in too. You know, join the official team here.â
Jungwon chuckled, shaking his head. âIâll pass, thanks. I have enough of my own responsibilities, you know? But you two really make it sound like an actual living arrangement.â
Jay waved his hand dramatically. âHey, donât knock it till you try it. Itâs a pretty sweet deal. Plus, itâs always nice having company after a long day. You should join us more often.â
You snorted, laughing at how easily Jay slipped into his usual charm. âYeah, youâre so busy with all your important cases, Jungwon. Iâm sure you wouldnât want to be here, hanging out and eating takeout.â
Jungwon raised an eyebrow, the corners of his lips twitching into a smile. âIâm just saying, you guys seem to have your routine. But if I did move in, Iâd probably have to take over the cooking. Jay would just end up burning everything.â
Jay threw him a playful glare. âNot true! My stir-fry is legendary, thank you very much.â
You snickered. âThe same stir-fry that almost set off the smoke alarm?â
âIâm proud of that,â Jay said with a grin, clearly unbothered. âItâs called adding flavor to the process.â
Jungwon leaned against the counter with a chuckle. âYou two are ridiculous.â
You looked between them, feeling the familiar ease of this banter. âWell, if Jay ever does end up moving in, Iâm going to need a second fridge just for all the food heâs stealing.â
Jay shrugged with a dramatic sigh. âFine, Iâll just bring my own fridge then. But itâll be half mine, right?â
You both laughed, the playful mood lightening the air. Even Jungwonâs smile lingered a little longer than usual.
But then Jungwon, with a more thoughtful look, glanced between the two of you. âBut seriously⊠I canât remember the last time we all hung out like this, without worrying about something else. Seems like you two have this whole⊠routine now. Guess I miss that. Just⊠a bigger group, not as much on our plates.â
Jay didnât miss a beat. âWell, youâre always invited, Jungwon. You know that. We just donât want to drag you away from all your important work.â
Jungwon sighed softly, leaning back slightly. âI know. But I donât know⊠thereâs something nice about just being able to kick back, no responsibilities. Even if itâs just for a little while.â
You raised an eyebrow at him, teasing. âYou? Wanting to kick back? Since when?â
Jungwonâs smile was wistful as he shrugged. âI used to⊠a long time ago. Before everything got so complicated.â
Jay turned his attention back to drying the dishes, a little softer now. âI get it. We all do. But hey, youâre always welcome to join us anytime. We could use your sarcasm at the dinner table.â
You grinned, flicking Jay lightly on the shoulder. âAnd by using your sarcasm, he means he needs someone to compete with him in that department.â
Jungwon laughed lightly, his usual composure slipping just a bit. âRight, Iâd be a perfect fit then.â
There was a moment of comfortable silence between the three of you as Jay finished drying the last plate. You leaned against the counter, watching them both. Thisâthese small, fleeting moments of easeâwas the kind of thing you all needed more of. Even if it was just the two of them sneaking into your kitchen and arguing over who made the best stir-fry. It was enough.
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After a while, the conversation slowly died down, the kitchen quiet except for the faint sounds of utensils clinking and the soft hum of the refrigerator. You leaned against the counter, feeling that familiar sense of distance between you and the others, the kind you hadnât noticed until now. It wasnât just the space between you and Jay or Jungwonâit was the way things had changed. You hadnât really spent time like this in a while, without distractions, without the weight of everything else hanging over you.
You hesitated, trying to push the feeling of loneliness away, but it was hard to ignore. âHey⊠you guys wanna sleep over tonight?â
Jay raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile creeping onto his face. âA sleepover? What, youâre tired of your own company?â
You chuckled, but there was a subtle nervousness behind the smile. âNo, itâs just⊠I donât know. Iâve been feeling kinda distant lately. Like, weâve all been so busy and itâs been a while since we just hung out. So, I thought⊠why not?â
Jungwonâs gaze softened as he looked at you, and to your surprise, he didnât even hesitate. âYeah. Iâd like that. I miss this. I miss you guys.â His voice was a little quieter than usual, the weight of his words hitting you in a way you werenât expecting.
You blinked, surprised by the sudden openness from him. âReally? Youâre up for it?â
Jungwon gave you a small but genuine smile. âYeah. Itâs been too long. I think we could all use some time to just⊠be.â
Jay nodded in agreement. âIâll admit, Iâve missed these kinds of nights. Just hanging out, no work or anything else to worry about.â
You smiled, relieved by their response. It felt good to know that even if things had been complicated lately, they were still willing to share this space with you.
âWell, Iâm glad you guys are up for it,â you said with a grin. âBut fair warningâif youâre staying over, I do have extra pajamas you can wear.â You paused before continuing, a mischievous glint in your eyes. âTheyâre⊠well, theyâre Jakeâs. I never threw his stuff out.â
There was a brief moment of silence as both Jay and Jungwon exchanged a confused look. âJakeâs stuff?â Jay repeated, eyebrow raised. âLike, Jake Jake?â
You nodded, trying to keep your voice light despite the unexpected tension that filled the air for just a second. âYeah, I mean, I couldnât really bring myself to throw out his stuff after he left. Donât judge, okay? I was feeling sentimental.â
Jungwon chuckled softly, though there was a flicker of something more serious in his eyes. âI mean, we all have our things we hold onto, right? Itâs no big deal.â
Jay, surprisingly, didnât press further either, just letting out a quiet laugh. âYeah, I guess I canât judge. Iâm still wearing the same hoodie Iâve had since⊠forever.â
You felt a weight lift off your shoulders at their nonjudgmental responses. They didnât push you for more, just moved on like it was nothing. The space between the three of you felt comfortable again.
âWell, anyway,â you said, trying to change the subject, âIâll go grab the pajamas. You two figure out whoâs sleeping where. Iâm not fighting over the couch this time.â
Jungwon smiled, his usual calm demeanor back. âDeal. But if I end up on the floor, Iâm blaming you.â
You chuckled, feeling the warmth of the moment settle in.
Maybe things werenât how they used to be, but for now, with Jay and Jungwon there, it was like you had found your way back to something that resembled normal.
Or that was until your phone buzzed, pulling you out of your daydreaming. Glancing down at the notification, you saw the familiar name flash across the screen: Heeseung.
A sharp pang of discomfort hit you. The subject line read: Wedding Invitation â Heeseung & Hana. You felt your stomach churn, and for a moment, you thought about ignoring it. But curiosity and maybe a little bit of the old, unresolved pain made you click.
The message was brief, almost to the point of being impersonal.
Please feel free to bring a plus one. No hard feelings about the guest list, but Iâve had to limit the invitations.
You stared at the words, the meaning behind them settling into your bones like cold stone. You werenât expecting to be invited, but somehow, it still stung. The lack of warmth, the formality, the clear divide between what once was and what now felt so distantâit all came rushing back.
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