Tangled hearts

The bus ride was eerily quiet.

After everything that had happened on the trip, nobody knew what to say—or how to act.

Jake stared out the window, the passing scenery nothing but a blur. His mind, however, was anything but blank.

He remembered everything from last night.

The way he had held Sunghoon’s face, the words that had slipped from his lips:

"I like you, Sunghoon."

Jake squeezed his eyes shut. He had been drunk. He hadn’t meant to say it.

Had he?

He didn’t know anymore.

Sunghoon was sitting beside him, listening to music, acting completely normal.

Jake hated it.

Did Sunghoon really not care?

Or was he just pretending?

Jake sighed, resting his head against the window. Why was this so complicated?

—

The Others…

Ni-ki hadn’t spoken a word since getting on the bus.

Sunoo, on the other hand, looked way too smug.

Heeseung, sitting alone, watched their interactions with mild amusement.

Jay, still relaxed, glanced at Jungwon beside him and smirked. “Hey.”

Jungwon ignored him.

Jay’s smirk widened. “You’re avoiding me.”

“I’m not.”

Jay leaned in. “You totally are.”

Jungwon turned away, his ears turning red.

Jay chuckled. “I’m not gonna bite, you know.”

Jungwon muttered under his breath, “That’s exactly what I’m worried about.”

Jay laughed.

—

Jake knew he should say something.

Anything.

But he didn’t.

Instead, it was Sunghoon who broke the silence.

“Are you going to keep avoiding me forever?”

Jake tensed.

Sunghoon sighed, pulling out his earphones. “You’ve been weird ever since last night.”

Jake stiffened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Sunghoon turned to him, his gaze intense. “You really don’t remember?”

Jake’s heartbeat sped up.

Of course, he remembered.

He just didn’t want to talk about it.

Sunghoon studied him for a moment, then sighed. “Fine. Pretend all you want.” He leaned back, crossing his arms. “But you can’t avoid me forever, Jake.”

Jake looked away, his chest feeling strangely tight.

—

Ni-ki stared at the back of Jake’s head, trying not to think about his own situation.

But it was hard when Sunoo was sitting right beside him.

He kissed me.

And now he’s acting like it never happened.

Ni-ki couldn’t stand it anymore.

He turned to Sunoo. “So that kiss—”

Sunoo looked at him innocently. “What about it?”

Ni-ki clenched his jaw. “You’re seriously going to act like it was nothing?”

Sunoo tilted his head. “Did you want it to mean something?”

Ni-ki’s breath hitched.

Sunoo smirked. “If you did… you could just say so.”

Ni-ki glared. “You’re impossible.”

Sunoo just laughed, leaning back in his seat.

Ni-ki huffed and crossed his arms.

But deep down, his heart was racing.

—

Jungwon was trying very hard not to look at Jay.

But it was difficult when Jay was so close.

Jay had been watching him the entire ride, waiting for him to say something.

But Jungwon refused.

Unfortunately, Jay was persistent.

Jay leaned in, voice low. “So? Do you like me or not?”

Jungwon’s breath hitched. “Jay—”

Jay grinned. “I’m not gonna stop asking, you know.”

Jungwon groaned. “Can you not?”

Jay chuckled. “I’ll take that as a maybe.”

Jungwon sighed in defeat.

The ride felt never-ending.

Jake didn’t know what was worse—the awkward tension or the thoughts racing in his head.

He just wanted to get home.

But deep down, he knew…

Things weren’t going to be the same anymore.

—