✓ SOUR SWEETHEARTS | JAKE

35 - Like I Can

"Y/N..." When Areum heard about what happened, both she and Sunghoon rushed to see Y/N. They found her in her dimly lit room, her eyes red from crying. Areum's heart ached at the sight of her friend in so much pain. She immediately went to Y/N and wrapped her in a tight hug, letting her bury her face in the warmth of her shoulder. "Shh, it's okay, Y/N. We're here for you, and we won't leave your side. You can lean on us, cry as much as you need to."

Sunghoon stood nearby, watching the two girls with a heavy heart knowing that Jake, the friend he thought he knew better than anyone, was the cause of Y/N's pain. The realization that someone he considered a close friend could betray Y/N in such a way weighed on him. He couldn't find the right words to say, but he didn't need to. The fact that he came running for her spoke volumes.

"I just can't..." Y/N clung to Areum, her sobs uncontrollable. "I just can't believe it, Areum. How could he... how could he do this to me? And my brother knew, Areum. He knew, and he didn't tell me. It feels like my whole world has fallen apart." If she could, Y/N would have held onto Areum and Sunghoon forever. She wanted nothing but to escape from the harsh reality that had shattered her world.

"I know. I know, Y/N. I never thought he would hide something like this. I never thought the world could be so cruel." She held her friend close, knowing that sometimes there were no words that could fully mend a broken heart. It was a moment for pure, unfiltered support and understanding. Sunghoon moved closer and placed a hand on Y/N's shoulder, offering a comforting squeeze to let her know that he was there for her as well.

For a while, they just stayed there, the three of them, in that dimly lit room, embracing the weight of Y/N's pain together. Areum and Sunghoon knew that this was only the beginning of a long and painful chapter of her life and yet, they already carried the burden of heartache and betrayal.

But when it was afternoon and Areum watched Y/N sleep, someone knocked on her door and her heart dropped. The thought of Jake being outside her friend's apartment sent a shiver down Areum's spine. She had seen her friend endure so much pain already, and she couldn't bear the idea of Y/N being hurt any further. She carefully slipped out of the room, trying not to wake Y/N, and opened the door only to be met with a concerned Seojin, standing there, his hair disheveled and his eyes heavy with worry. It was the first time Areum had seen him so shaken. "What are you doing here?"

She knew it was wrong of her to question him like this, especially when he seemed genuinely worried about his sister, but she couldn't help but be angry at him. He could have told her the truth when he knew about it instead of acting as if hiding it from her would protect her. However, as Areum looked into Seojin's eyes, she saw a genuine regret and concern that couldn't be denied.

"Y/N must have told you," He muttered, his voice laden with guilt. He could barely make eye contact with Areum as he continued, "I need to talk to her." She knew he was genuinely concerned for his sister, and she decided to let him in.

"Let her sleep for now. She's exhausted. I'm going to leave the two of you to talk." She looked at him, not entirely sure if that was the good thing to do. Y/N's wounds were fresh and raw, and the last thing she wanted was for her friend to be hurt further, but perhaps it was time for Y/N to hear what Seojin had to say. She stepped aside to let him enter the apartment and closed the door behind him.

Seojin quietly made his way to her room, his footsteps almost inaudible on the soft carpet. He pulled up a chair beside Y/N's bed and watched his sister's sleeping form for a moment, his heart aching at the sight of her so vulnerable and hurt. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft, almost a whisper, as if he didn't want to disturb her sleep. "I'm sorry, Y/N... I'm really sorry." 

She couldn't hear him and maybe he liked it that way, being able to say the words without the immediate burden of her response. The room remained silent, save for Y/N's soft, even breathing as she slept.

Hours passed, and Y/N finally stirred from her slumber. Her eyes were puffy and her heartache still felt like an open wound. She dragged herself out to the living room where she thought Areum was going to be waiting, but the sight of her brother nervously tapping his fingers on his knees made her freeze. She couldn't tell if it was just a continuation of the dream she had just woken from, but there he was, her brother, who had known a truth she was still struggling to accept. "You should leave."  

"Please, Y/N, let us talk." She felt anger, betrayal, and confusion all at once, but when he stood there, begging her to give him a few minutes just so he could explain himself, she hesitated. He looked different, and by that, she didn't mean tired after a long trip from his hometown to Seoul. By that, she meant more vulnerable and unsure than she had ever seen him before. She had a feeling that this conversation was going to be a painful one, but it was one that had to happen.

She nodded, reluctantly granting him the opportunity to explain as she took the seat across from him. "Okay, you can talk. You can tell me why you kept this from me, Seojin."

Seojin took a deep breath, his gaze locked onto his sister's eyes. He could see the storm of emotions within her, and he knew that no explanation would undo her pain. But he had to try, for the sake of her healing. "I do realize that I should have told you the truth a long time ago, Y/N, but I thought that if you never found out, you could be happy. I didn't want to see you hurt like this."

Y/N threw her hands in the air out of the frustration that was boiling inside her. "You thought I could be happy living a lie? You thought it was better to keep this from me? Seojin, you don't get to decide what I should know or not. You don't get to protect me by keeping secrets. I deserved to know the truth, no matter how painful it is. I thought you were on my side!" By the end of her outburst, Y/N was in tears and Seojin sat there in silence, his head hung low. "Do you realize what you've done? You let me fall in love with someone who... who is the son of..." She couldn't even finish the sentence; the pain was too fresh, the betrayal too deep.

"That's why I told you not to see him again-"

"But you know I'm stubborn! You know that unless I understood why, I wouldn't just let it go!" She choked out, making him swallow a lump in her throat. "It's been a whole month. Five seconds were enough to make me like him and a few days later, I was already falling in love! What do you think a whole fucking month would do to me?"

Seojin had no answers to give, and he knew he didn't deserve any. "I never meant for any of this to happen, Y/N. I just wanted to protect you, and I... I failed miserably. I know my silence allowed you to fall in love with him and if I could just turn back time and change everything, I would-"

"But you can't." She shook her head, burying her face in the palms of her hands. "None of us can and that's what's killing me. He... he said he loved me, Seojin. How do I... how do I just turn that off? How do I erase that? Was it all just a sick joke to him? How can you lie to someone and not even flinch? Not even feel guilty?"

Seojin let out a deep sigh, his heart aching for his sister. All he could do was approach her and wrap his arms around her, letting her cry in the hold of someone who genuinely cared for her. "I'm so sorry, Y/N," he whispered, holding her close. "I'm sorry for what my silence caused." And she clung to her brother, her tears soaking his shoulder. The pain was agonizing, but her brother was there and somehow, things weren't as horrifyingly bleak as they had felt just moments ago.