✓ SOUR SWEETHEARTS | JAKE

16 - Enchanted To Meet You

"Please make this hike interesting," It was afternoon when Seojin stared at Y/N while she laced up her sneakers and adjusted her backpack. "I'm counting on you." Sunghoon was going to stay with Areum, and Jake and Heran, not wanting to seem rude, decided they would go with them. It wasn't a very good idea and Y/N knew it, but she also didn't want Seojin to start questioning the fact that she hated Jake for no apparent reason.

The two of them stepped out of the guest house to find Jake waiting for them along with Heran who didn't seem sick anymore. Y/N really hated her for what she did, but she decided it wasn't the right time to hold a grudge, especially with Seojin present. She forced a polite smile and greeted them both.

"Hi, Y/N," Heran rose from the bench she'd been sitting on, a fake smile plastered on her face. 

"Hello, Heran," Y/N replied, returning the fake smile with one of her own. "I heard you were sick." She honestly didn't want to talk to her or pretend to be friendly since the day Heran asked her to leave Jake alone. It was childish and it made Y/N realize that she was indeed insecure and immature. But for now, she needed to play nice.

"Yeah, just a little cold," Heran replied, holding Jake's hand in hers. "But Jake was really sweet and took care of me."

"Such sweet people," She smiled, looking between the two of them. "You take care of him and he takes care of you. It's cute. Come on, Seojin, let's get this hike started." Y/N linked her arm with Seojin's and pulled him away from the two who just seemed too cozy for her liking. 

Jeju was known for its breathtaking landscapes, and Y/N wanted to make this hike unforgettable for Seojin, regardless of the company they had. She led him along a winding trail that led deeper into the lush, green forest. "See? I told you you'll have a good time." The air was filled with the sweet scent of pine and the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze while she took pictures of her surroundings. 

"Of course," Seojin grinned and slung his arm around her shoulders before taking the phone from her hand. "We should take photos for Mom." He turned the camera and the two of them stared at the phone's screen before smiling for the pictures. Y/N could see Jake staring at her and her breath caught for a moment, but she quickly refocused on Seojin and the phone in his hand. 

"Jake, can you open the water bottle for me?" Heran's voice made Y/N turn her attention back to Jake and Heran, who had stopped a short distance away from them. She noticed Jake nodding, his gaze still lingering on her for a moment before he started fumbling with the water bottle.

"Yeah, sure," He opened the water bottle for her and handed it back, watching while she drank the water. "Slowly. You'll dehydrate if you chug it all down at once."

Y/N rolled her eyes and scoffed in disbelief. Did he perhaps that the two of them kissed not even twenty-four hours ago? Because she definitely didn't and even if it was a mistake and they both knew it, it still lingered in the back of her mind.

"I can't believe I almost missed this," Seojin was in a whole other world as he took pictures of literally every plant, tree, and scenic view along the side trail. Y/N couldn't help but smile as she watched him.

"When Mom and Dad went hiking, you were stuck in the room playing video games," Y/N teased, nudging him playfully. "You're making up for it now."

"Okay? But you were stuck with that guy you met on the beach. I still remember the way you came back home with the seashells that he picked for you and kept talking about him for the whole trip." Seojin laughed and she playfully punched his arm. "Was it seven years ago? Ten? You were head over heels for him."

"Yeah, whatever, it was a long time. I doubt he even remembers me. I mean, he should, right? We were kids but we still liked each other a lot." Y/N replied, her mind briefly revisiting that distant summer romance. She couldn't help but wonder what had become of the childhood love she had met on the beach all those years ago. 

Life had taken them in different directions but she never once forgot the warmth of those summer days. It was etched in her heart, in her mind, in the books she spent her quiet nights writing. It was all a part of her, a story she cherished, and a reminder of the innocence of youth. 

When she looked over her shoulder, Jake was holding Heran's bag and the two of them were whispering to each other, their heads close together. She hated the fact that Heran had lied to Jake but he trusted her enough to not let it bother him. Was Heran really that good at playing the innocent victim?

"You've been quiet for a while," Seojin said, breaking her reverie as he handed back her phone, filled with pictures of everything he found interesting. Including the rocks and the trees they passed. 

"Yeah, sorry about that," She replied with a warm smile, tucking her phone back into her backpack. "Are you tired?"

"Me?" He grinned, shaking his head. "Not at all. I can even carry you and make it to the top if you'd like. No, I'm kidding, please don't make me carry you all the way up there." Y/N laughed again, feeling a kind of happiness she hadn't felt in a long time. The happiness of having a brother, a family member who would hike up a mountain with her just to make her happy.

"Mom was right about you, you're fun." She muttered and started walking away but Seojin's eyes went wide open as he refused to drop the topic. "Don't let it get to your head, she just knows how to flatter her favorite son."

"Yeah, yeah," He rolled his eyes and held her hand while they walked through the forest that started to open up, revealing breathtaking views of the coastline and sparkling blue sea below. "I think we should go back, the sun is going to set soon."

"Right. But I want to go somewhere before going back to the guesthouse. You guys just go back, I'll meet you there later." Y/N said but she could tell Seojin was a bit hesitant. "I'll be back soon, don't worry."

"Alright, but be careful, and don't take too long," he replied, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze before reluctantly letting it go. He turned to head back with the two and she watched as Jake looked back over his shoulder, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he followed Seojin and Heran down the path. Her heart skipped a beat and she sighed heavily, annoyed by the fact that he could just look at her and she'd feel her heart race.

The kiss still lingered in her mind while she made her way deeper into the forest, following a path less traveled. The sound of her footsteps on the fallen leaves was the only noise that broke the stillness of the forest.

Y/N had a special place in mind, a hidden spot she had discovered during her previous trips to Jeju. It was a hidden waterfall nestled within the heart of the island, a place the boy from her childhood had shown her during that unforgettable summer. It was a memory that had stayed with her all these years, and she needed to revisit it now, more than ever.

"There it is," She smiled, staring up at the lush canopy of leaves that seemed to part like a curtain, revealing the hidden waterfall before her. The sight took her breath away, just as it had the first time she had seen it as a child. She could still remember the excitement in his eyes, the way he held her hand and led her to this enchanting place.

Sitting on the mossy rock, Y/N let her fingers trail in the clear pool of water below the waterfall. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to imagine him sitting next to her, just like all those years ago. She could almost hear his voice, his laughter, and the way he used to call her name with that familiar warmth.

"Y/N?" Her heart skipped a beat as she heard her name being called. The voice was not a product of her imagination; it was real, and it sounded achingly familiar. Slowly, she turned her head to see who had spoken, only to find Jake standing there, a few steps away from her. "What are you doing here?"

Her throat went dry and she just stared at him, unable to find the right words.