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As the hours dragged on, Jungwon's exhaustion became evident. His eyelids grew heavier with each passing minute, and he stifled a yawn while trying to stay attentive to Jay. Jay, however, noticed the droop in his shoulders and the way Jungwon's head kept tilting as if he might fall asleep at any moment.

"You should go home, Wonnie," Jay said gently, standing up from the couch and stretching.

Jungwon blinked, trying to shake off the drowsiness. "I'm fine. I can stay if you need—"

Jay cut him off with a small smile. "You've already done more than enough. Thank you for staying this long. But seriously, you're going to pass out if you don't get some rest."

Jungwon hesitated, but the tiredness in his body won out. "...Okay, fine. But only if you promise you'll be okay."

"I'll be fine," Jay assured him. He grabbed his phone and tapped a few buttons. "I'm booking you an Uber. It'll be here in a few minutes."

"You don't have to—"

"I'm doing it," Jay interrupted, giving him a pointed look.

Jungwon let out a small laugh, too tired to argue further. He grabbed his bag and stood by the door, glancing at Jay one last time. "If you need anything... call me, okay?"

Jay nodded. "I will. Now go get some sleep."

The Uber arrived shortly after, and Jay watched from the window as Jungwon got into the car and disappeared down the street. Once the taillights faded from view, he let out a long, heavy sigh.

The apartment was quiet now, the silence almost deafening. Jay sat back down on the couch, staring at his phone. His thumb hovered over Jake's contact for a moment before he pressed call.

The phone rang a couple of times before Jake picked up. "Jay? What's up? It's late."

Jay exhaled, rubbing his temples. "I need to talk, Jake. About... everything."

Jake's tone immediately shifted, concern replacing the casualness. "Everything? You mean... your dad? Jungwon? Or both?"

"Both," Jay admitted, his voice shaky.

"Alright," Jake said firmly. "I'm here. Tell me everything."

And for the first time, Jay laid it all out. From his father's expectations and controlling nature to the pressure he felt every time he saw Jungwon, and the truth he hadn't been able to admit to anyone else: that he was falling for Jungwon, hard and fast, and it scared him more than anything his father could say or do.

Jay took a deep breath after finishing his explanation, waiting for Jake to respond. On the other end of the line, Jake was silent for a moment before he let out a soft chuckle.

"I knew it," Jake said, his voice laced with both amusement and a touch of smugness. "You're falling for Jungwon. It was obvious."

Jay groaned, rubbing his face. "Don't start, Jake. It's complicated. I don't even know if I should be feeling this way, not with everything going on."

Jake sighed. "Jay, I know your dad's been breathing down your neck your entire life, and I know this thing with Jungwon is probably throwing you off, but... maybe it's not as complicated as you think. You like him, don't you?"

"Yeah," Jay admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I do. But it's not just about me. My dad—he'll never accept it. He's already made it clear."

Jake's tone shifted, more serious now. "Jay... I wasn't sure if I should tell you this, but you need to know. I talked to Auntie earlier today, and she told me your dad's condition has changed."

Jay stiffened. "What do you mean?"

"They've done more tests," Jake explained carefully. "And the doctors think he might have more time than they originally thought. He's been given a green flag—maybe two more years."

Jay felt his stomach drop. The idea of his father having more time should've been a relief, but instead, it filled him with dread. Two more years meant two more years of control, of looming threats, of trying to dictate every aspect of Jay's life.

"Two more years," Jay repeated hollowly.

"I know it's not what you wanted to hear," Jake said gently. "But you can't let this stop you from living your life. You've already spent so much time letting him call the shots. Are you really going to let him ruin this thing with Jungwon before it even starts?"

Jay ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. "I don't know, Jake. It's not that simple. What if I screw this up? What if I drag Jungwon into a mess he doesn't deserve?"

Jake's voice softened. "Jay, Jungwon isn't a fragile flower. From what you've told me, he's more than capable of holding his own. But he can't wait around forever while you figure out what you want. You have to decide—are you going to fight for this, or are you going to let fear win?"

Jay leaned back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. Jake's words cut deep because they were true. He'd spent his whole life running from his father's expectations, trying to carve out his own path. But now, with Jungwon, it wasn't just about rebellion—it was about something real, something worth fighting for.

"I'll think about it," Jay said finally, his voice thick.

Jake let out a small sigh of relief. "That's all I'm asking. Just don't let this chance slip away, Jay. You deserve to be happy, no matter what your dad says."

Jay swallowed hard, gripping his phone tightly. "Thanks, Jake. I mean it."

"Anytime," Jake replied. "And hey, if you need more tough love, you know where to find me."

Jay laughed softly despite the weight on his chest. "Yeah, I know."

After hanging up, Jay sat in the quiet of his apartment, his thoughts a whirlwind. He knew what he had to do. Now, he just had to find the courage to do it.

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