solace | heejake.

033.

ethan's smile instantly widened as he connected to the other line, "hi babe! you home?"

he could feel jake rolling his eyes even though he couldn't actually see him, "you literally drove me here, what's the catch, gabriel? spill it."

he chuckled and sat, cross-legged, his other arm resting on the top of the couch, "i told my parents about us, and they're really happy for us. they said you should visit whenever you can."

jake just hummed in response, alarming ethan.

"d-did i say something wrong?" he cautiously asked, his smile fading away. "i could... i could tell them you're busy, no pressure, babe."

"no, no, no. it's fine. i just thought it's unfair... i'm unfair."

confusion was visible on ethan's face, "care to share what you're thinking? you can always tell me anything and everything, you know that."

"i feel bad and guilty. i'm not saying i'm regretting my decision but this isn't how it's supposed to be. you're mine, and they should know that, especially my parents. i'm just afraid of what--"

"jake, calm down, hmm? it's alright, i assure you everything's alright. we're just starting, and i'm fine with it. take your time, i'll always be ready whenever you are. you don't have to rush, not with me, babe."

he heard him heave a deep breath, "thank you so much, ace. thank you for being so understanding."

"it's just that i've been really open to my parents about you, and i think that's where they knew that i am in love with you."

the pres couldn't help but laugh, for goodness sake, it sounded like a lullaby, "will it be fine tomorrow evening?"

"sure, babe. whatever you'd like, i'll pick you up at 7."

"alright, it's settled then," jake paused for a second, "wait, what should i wear?" he asked a tone higher than normal.

ethan chuckled, "anything, you're pretty in whatever you wear. even nude." 

"maniac! seriously though, does it have to be formal?" there he knew that jake was really troubled with the thought.

"chill, babe. it's a family dinner, unless you wanna talk about marriage we could do formal--"

"ethan!" jake cut him off, which he responded with a laugh.

"alright, just be you, they already like you anyway."

jake heaved a deep sigh, that really made him calm down a bit, "noted that, i have to go now. it's getting late, we still have classes tomorrow."

"yeah, have a good night babe. dream of me, i love you so much." ethan imitated his partner's accent.

the pres just rolled his eyes, still, he was smiling like a fool, "i love you more, i'll hang up now."

and the call ended.

the next morning, jake woke up around 5:30. a little bit later than the usual, it's already 6:45 when he finished getting ready. so imagine his disappointment when he heard her mother talking in the dining room as he descended the stairs.

he had no choice but to face and greet them, his father didn't even bother acknowledge his presence, while his mother stopped mid-sentence and looked at him from head to toe.

"you're gonna be late," she commented.

"i just want to inform you that i'll be having dinner with taehyun, he said he needed me to help him with something."

it was a lie.

no matter how much he wanted to tell them that he'll be having dinner with his boyfriend's parents, he just can't. he needed the confidence to do that. the courage, to defy his father.

jake met his father's gaze for a second, his eyes were hollow, darker than he could ever recall, "weren't you with them just recently?"

"i think it is about the final project we have for our other subject."

he didn't know how he survived maintaining eye contact for more than half a second with his father. he cleared his throat, "i should go, i'm gonna be late."

"take care, darling." his mother said which he replied with a faint smile.

jake was not feeling himself the whole day, he just feels like he's chasing something so close but he can't grab it just yet.

four in the afternoon and they were finally dismissed. taehyun and kai glanced at each other watching the pres organize his things. they were the only ones left inside the room.

"hey, jakey?" kai cautiously called.

the pres hummed in response but didn't bother looking at his friend.

"are you okay? you look tensed the whole day?" it was taehyun.

jake froze for a second, he then faced taehyun, "what? no, i am not tensed. i'm just preoccupied with something."

kai raised a brow, "and what could that be?"

"c'mon, aj. you can tell us." taehyun urged the pres, he knows he can squeeze something out of him.

taehyun couldn't help but smirk as the pres sighed, zipping his bag close, "i'm meeting ethan's parents tonight."

"oh my god! are you for real?!" it was kai, exaggerating as always.

"and you're just telling us this now?" taehyun asked.

"it's not my fault, okay? we just talked about this over the phone last night. and i need your help, i said i'm spending the night with you guys to help you with some project."

they wasted no time and drove home. taehyun kept himself busy finding suitable and appropriate clothes for jake while kai kept jake busy telling him the do's and don'ts.

it was an easy task for taehyun, and the clothes jake brought made it even easier for him. he gave the clothes to jake so he could start getting ready.

they barely have an hour left before ethan comes.

"uhm, i just ordered a bouquet of flowers for his mom and a wine for his dad. would that be okay?" jake rose his voice slightly so they wpuld be able to hear him.

"for what?"

"of course, i can't go there empty-handed." jake answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

"aj, is it the captain wooing you, or is it the other way around?" taehyun asked.

the pres rolled his eyes, "i'm just being nice, you know. it's my first time i don't even know what to do."

"well, you said you already met them."

jake stepped out of the bathroom, "yeah, but that's different--"

kai cut him off, "how is that different? it's still ethan's parents and ethan himself. jakey, you don't have to worry about anything. well, if you do. it's your parents."

the pres took a moment to let that sink in. and he agreed with kai, it's really his parents he needs to worry about.

ethan's parents are really nice, they are so welcoming and they love ethan so much that they already understand him. they accept him with all their hearts.

"he's right, aj. but don't think about it just yet. just enjoy the night with ethan and his family. we'll cover for you."

"thanks, guys. i appreciate it really."

kai couldn't help but pull the three of them into a hug, before everything can get emotional they heard jake's phone rang. ethan's cue that he's already waiting outside.

"well, there's your boyfriend." taehyun spoke as he let go.

"i gotta go, thank you. you know that i love you both, right?" jake asked with a chuckle.

"yeah, we love you too. go, now. just smile when you're nervous, jake. no one can resist it."

kai and taehyun went with him downstairs and watched how nice ethan treated their friend. they were relieved that jake is with a good guy.

"take care you guys."

ethan nodded, "will do."