eclipsed | sim jaeyun

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The next few days passed in a haze. Jake's words lingered like a shadow, replaying in my mind during class, meals, and even in my dreams. Yunjin and Giselle were relentless with their questions, but I didn't have the energy to answer them. 

"Are you okay?" Yunjin asked during lunch on Wednesday, her brow furrowed as she studied my face. "You've barely said two words since Monday." 

"Yeah," I said, forcing a smile. "Just tired." 

"Tired of Jake, maybe," Giselle muttered, earning a sharp look from Yunjin. 

"I'm serious, Haeri," Yunjin said. "You don't have to deal with this alone. If you need space, say the word, and we'll kidnap you for a girls' day." 

I laughed lightly. "Thanks, but I'll be okay. I just need time to figure things out." 

---

That evening, I found myself scrolling through old photos on my phone. There were plenty of group shots from past family dinners, game nights, and weekend outings. Jake was in almost all of them, smiling effortlessly, his arm often slung around Jungwon or one of the guys. 

There was one picture that made my chest tighten—a candid shot of Jake and me from last summer. Jungwon had taken it while we were sitting by the pool, laughing at something I couldn't even remember now. 

I stared at the photo for a long time before setting my phone down. 

---

The next day, Jungwon was unusually quiet during breakfast. Normally, he'd be scrolling through his phone or teasing me about something, but today, he seemed distracted. 

"Everything okay?" I asked, pouring milk into my cereal. 

He shrugged. "Yeah." 

It wasn't like him to give vague answers, but I decided not to push. 

"You're not staying late at the library again, are you?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood. 

"Maybe," he said with a small smirk. "Don't wait up." 

I rolled my eyes, but part of me couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. 

---

Friday came with a sense of relief, the promise of the weekend giving me something to look forward to. After school, Yunjin and Giselle convinced me to grab bubble tea with them at our favorite café downtown. 

"So," Yunjin said as we settled into our seats, "any updates on the Jake situation?" 

I sighed. "No. We haven't talked since Sunday." 

Giselle raised an eyebrow. "And you're okay with that?" 

"Of course not," I admitted, stirring my drink with the straw. "But what am I supposed to do? He's made it pretty clear he's not ready to deal with... whatever this is." 

"Then make him ready," Yunjin said, her tone firm. 

I blinked at her. "What are you talking about?" 

"I mean, stop waiting for him to figure things out on his own. If he's scared or confused, show him that he doesn't have to be. Sometimes people need a little push." 

"Or a shove," Giselle added with a grin. 

I frowned, unsure. "I don't know if that's a good idea." 

"Think about it," Yunjin said. "You don't have to do anything drastic. Just... remind him that you're worth the risk." 

---

That night, I sat on my bed, Yunjin's words echoing in my mind.

I hesitated for a moment before pulling out my phone. 

jake🧍

haeriii
are you free tomorrow? 

It didn't take long for a response to come through. 

jake🧍
why? 

I rolled my eyes. Typical Jake. 

haeriii
just answer the question🙄

A minute passed before he replied. 

jake🧍
yeah
what's up? 

haeriii
meet me at the park near my house at 2 PM

jake🧍
okay

---

The next day, I arrived at the park early, hoping the fresh air would help calm my nerves. It was a chilly afternoon, the kind where the wind carried a bite, but the sky was clear and bright. 

Jake showed up exactly on time, dressed in a simple black hoodie and sweats. He looked good, as always, and the sight of him made my heart do that annoying flutter thing I hated so much. 

"Hey," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked up to me. 

"Hey." I gestured toward the trail. "Walk with me?" 

He nodded, falling into step beside me as we made our way through the park. For a while, neither of us said anything, the only sounds coming from the crunch of leaves underfoot and the distant laughter of kids playing nearby. 

Finally, I broke the silence. "I've been thinking about what you said." 

Jake glanced at me, his expression guarded. "Which part?" 

"All of it," I said honestly. "And I get why you're scared. But pushing me away isn't going to make this any easier." 

He stopped walking, turning to face me. "Haeri—" 

"No, listen," I said, cutting him off. "I know this is messy. And I know you're worried about Jungwon, and about everything else. But I'm tired of this." 

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might argue. But then he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not that simple." 

"Maybe not," I said, taking a step closer. "But nothing worth having ever is." 

Jake stared at me, his eyes searching mine like he was trying to figure out if this was real. 

And then, just like that, the walls he'd been holding up so carefully seemed to crack. 

"I don't want to hurt you," he said quietly, his voice raw. 

"Then don't," I whispered. 

For a moment, it felt like time had stopped, the rest of the world fading away until it was just the two of us. 

And then Jake reached out, his hand brushing against mine. It was a small gesture, barely noticeable, but it sent a jolt of electricity through me. 

Maybe Yunjin was right. Sometimes, people just needed a little push...

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