#sylfics

He was a year older than him. He had helped Jake a lot during his freshman year, either by lending books and notes worth of thousand dollars or simply giving advices related to lecturer and class choices. He helped him in a lot of things, shaped him to be a better version of himself. He was always there for him, and so was Jake for him. He thought about confessing to this guy, letting him know just how much loved he is and how grateful Jake felt about meeting him. But it’s all gone in shambles.

There was this once frat party that invited all of the cool kids at university. They were kissing on the sofa, his hand on her slender waist. They were practically eating each other at that moment. The next thing he knew was that he ended up sobbing in a friend’s bar, with Sunoo by his side. Sunoo was very gentle and comforting, he took a mental note to repay him of his kindness later.

Jake sighs. It was, what? Three years ago. He’s in senior year now, close to wrapping things up with a thesis. That, if he managed to finish one before six in the morning.

               [-ForBelovedL] : I know it’s hard to tell your best friend that you love him.

               [-ForBelovedL] : But if circumstances fit, as in him not currently seeing anyone, etc.

               [-ForBelovedL] : Then I think you should do it.

               [-ForBelovedL] : Speaking from experience. Before it’s too late.

He ruffles his own hair. Focusing on his thesis is the most important thing to do right now. Why is he talking to an online friend of his? Why didn’t he just let him know that he’s currently really busy? Jake thought. But then again, he needed a little distraction off the paper. He already got it, so it’s time to continue working on things.

A stupid little crush, he thought. He had not seen that senior for years. He didn’t hate him, though. He did absolutely nothing wrong. He hated himself, actually, over the fact that he fell in love with a straight boy who most likely saw him nothing more than a little brother.

               [RamenLover01] : Thank you.

               [RamenLover01] : I will do that.

               [RamenLover01] : Wish me luck!

               [-ForBelovedL] : Of course. Good luck!

He closed the chatting application window after logging out. “Now back to business,” he says as he stretches his hands, them fingers back to typing furiously on the file he’s been staring at for almost twenty three hours by now. He’s so close to the finish line, he ought to run to it.

“CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!”

Jake smiles from ear to ear. He couldn’t hide his happiness the moment he was hugged by his beloved friend, Sunoo. They were in front of his thesis defense room, him just finished his session. Now, he’s a graduated man.. with severe insomnia problems. But it’s all worth it in the end. He got to enjoy his university life to the fullest, with his friends and colleagues. It’s all worth it.

“Ou—ouch, you’re going to crush me, Kim Sunoo!”

“I’m so happy for you! You’ve got a job offer already, anyway, right? You’re so cool!” said Sunoo the moment he stopped squeezing him way too eagerly. This guy.

Jake grinned at him. “Yeah. Everything’s finally paid off, I get to live the life I’ve always wanted now.”

“Right! I support you 100% for that, just so you know. But still, if you ever need someone to listen to—since whenever we gather it’s 90% of me talking so you’re just there, listening. Seriously though, why am I always the one who talks a lot?—don’t hesitate to hit me up, okay?” he says as he squeals once more, hugging Jake.

“Alright, alright. But I need to clean my locker first now, okay? I’ll be back to you soon. You can go congratulate Sunghoon as well, he’s also doing his defense today,” Jake says as he pulls back from the bone-crushing hug, trying not to offend the little guy. “Okay! Just let me know. We should all have a party tonight. You, me, Sunghoon.”

“You bet I will be there,” he says as he clicks his tongue and finger guns Sunoo coolly. “Don’t start without me!” he starts sprinting to his locker. Today is thesis defense day, everyone might be cleaning up their own lockers. He’s not exactly a fan of crowded places, so he had to hurry.

Arriving at his locker, Jake quickly opens it. There’s actually not much things left. Just a few books, pictures of him and his friends on the side of the door, a picture of him and Heeseung...

He stops midway upon noticing a small, polaroid frame of him and Heeseung hanging on the top of the door. He picks that up, tracing the lines of his face with his finger. He looks at the back of the picture, it reads: “Your favorite senior and best friend, Heeseung.”

Jake chuckles at himself. They were just a pair of best friends, nothing more than that. Never more than that. He has accepted it and came to terms with it for years now. Being able to meet him alone is a blessing he’s constantly grateful of. He doesn’t wish for more, he can’t, how can he, anyway? They were good just as they are. Jake was the one who cut them off because he was completely broken-hearted.

Sighing, he packs up all the stuffs he has in the locker. He left some of the stickers and photos behind, simply because they were going to be thrown off anyway if he carried them. That includes the picture of him and Heeseung.

He was about to walk to the hallway far from the locker when a voice speaks up, “what about that picture?”

Jake’s eyes widens. He couldn’t not recognize this voice. The voice he always longs for, the voice that’s like music to his ears, the one he always needs..

He turns around, and there, standing with a black turtle-neck and his favorite leather jacket is him. In the flesh. Lee Heeseung.

“Hey, this one’s not a sticker. You can actually attach it somewhere else again,” Heeseung commented as he picks that up, raising it while looking straight into Jake’s shocked eyes. “Why didn’t you take this with you?”

“I—“ Jake is still at loss for words. He hasn’t seen Heeseung for centuries since the little “incident” at the frat party happened. But now he’s here, he doesn’t know what to say or how to act. Suddenly, the sound of clock ticking and the sound of footsteps are loud in his ears.

“I mean, uh,” Jake tries to regain his composure by pretending to cough. “I kind of forgot! Sorry about that, I’ll be taking it now, if you don’t mind. This will look amazing in my personal year book, I think,” he says as he takes a few steps back, his hand reaching for the picture, grabbing it as fast as possible.

Heeseung chuckles to himself. “You’re cute, you have always been. You know that right?” said he.

“Ha-ha, very funny,” Jake replies as he walks backwards. “Do you need anything? I’m going back to my house.”

“Nothing, nothing,” Heeseung replies. “Just want to congratulate you on finally graduating! I’m very much impressed by you, you know. You managed to finish the terms and thesis with a flourish.”

“I know,” Jake heeds. “Sorry, but I really have to go back now, see you later?”

“Sure, sure,” Heeseung raises his one hand to wave, “see you later.”

Jake swears that he’s sweating like crazy at the moment. Suddenly the shirt and the ties feel like they are choking him. He thought he had moved on, but seeing him like this after years? He is like a walking memory lane Jake desperately refuses to touch. Jake couldn’t help but wonder what this guy is actually up to, showing in front of him after all this year of Jake cutting their communication off. How did he know that he’s having his defense today, anyway? Who told him about that? Or where did he find out? Questions just won’t stop coming to his head.

His feet move as fast as they could, as if begging to teleport themselves to his house instantly.

It’s around 8PM. Jake has just woken up from his deep slumber, the sleep he had been longing for, he finally got it today. Getting off the bed, he walks to the kitchen to reheat some leftover foods. He yawns, looking at how messy his room is. He quickly eats his meal, clean the dishes, then gets back to his room to clear everything. Off of the table, the bed, all the papers on the floor as well. He wipes them all clean.

He taps on his laptop. “At last, I won’t be needing you for work in a few weeks now,” he says while raising his fist triumphantly. Later he opens it and quickly gets on the chatting app. He checks a few messages, mostly from his online friends congratulating him for finally completing his thesis. He scrolls over, before a phone call comes in. It’s Sunoo.

“Hey, I was just about to—“

“HAVE YOU SEEN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA BOARD POST?”

“What are you say—“

“CHECK IT. NOW. CHECK. IT. NOW.”

He shakes his head. He never really opens the official social media board of his university, because he thinks everything written there is just gossip and all that craps. But Sunoo is suspiciously eager about this, so he wonders what’s going on...

The moment he opens the said website, he is greeted by a huge portrait of his back facing the carousel at a park nearby under the moonlight. It is blurry and dark, but he recognizes himself anywhere. Who took this photo? Why was it posted there?”

“Have you opened it? JAKE. Have you opened it?”

“I have, but... What is this?”

“Click on the picture right away!”

The moment Jake clicks on the picture, a bar pops up.

Jake Sim of Class 2022