•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:• 

Jungwon pushed his chair back, feeling increasingly left out as Sunoo and Ni-ki continued chatting. The two of them had fallen into an easy rhythm, laughing and exchanging stories while Jungwon sat quietly sipping his drink.

"Sunoo," Jungwon finally interjected, "didn't we come here to talk?"

Sunoo blinked, seemingly snapping out of the conversation. "Oh, right! Sorry, Jungwon. I just got carried away. Ni-ki's really fun to talk to."

Ni-ki grinned. "Thanks, hyung. I get that a lot."

Jungwon rolled his eyes and stood. "I think I'm going to head out. You can stay if you want."

Sunoo looked at him, startled. "What? No, wait! I'll come with you." He turned to Ni-ki with a sheepish smile. "We'll talk more later, okay?"

"Sure thing, hyung. It was nice meeting you both," Ni-ki said, waving as they left.

As they walked out of Youthful, Jungwon shoved his hands into his pockets and turned to Sunoo, raising an eyebrow. "You really hit it off with him."

Sunoo shrugged, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks. "He's easy to talk to."

"Uh-huh," Jungwon said, his tone skeptical. "You were practically glued to him. Do you have a crush or something?"

"What? No!" Sunoo said, his voice a little too high-pitched to be convincing.

Jungwon smirked, sensing an opportunity to tease his friend. "You totally do. Admit it."

Sunoo huffed, his face now fully red. "I don't! He's just... interesting, okay? And did you hear? He works at Blue Hour."

"Wait, the boba shop?" Jungwon asked, surprised.

"Yeah! He mentioned it earlier," Sunoo said, his excitement returning. "That's the same place Jeongin works, right? Small world."

Jungwon nodded, mulling it over. "I didn't know he worked there. Maybe Jeongin does know him."

"Well, that just gives me another reason to visit Blue Hour more often," Sunoo said, grinning.

Jungwon groaned. "You're hopeless."

"Me? What about you and Jay?" Sunoo shot back, his grin turning mischievous.

"Don't start," Jungwon warned, picking up his pace.

But Sunoo just laughed, trailing behind him. "I'm just saying, we're both doomed!"

Jungwon couldn't help but smile, even as he shook his head. Maybe they were doomed—but at least they had each other to navigate the chaos.

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Jay leaned back in his leather desk chair, staring at the blinking cursor on his laptop screen. His calendar notification had just gone off: Holiday Break - Trip Home.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he contemplated the upcoming visit. The idea of returning to his family's grand but suffocating estate filled him with a mix of dread and resignation. His father, a man of strict traditions and even stricter views, always made these trips an ordeal.

Still, skipping out wasn't an option. Not when his father held the keys to their family's vast fortune and expected obedience in return. Jay had learned long ago how to play the dutiful son, even if every conversation with his father felt like a battle of wills.

Packing lightly, Jay tossed a few essentials into a sleek black duffel bag. He checked his phone, half-hoping for a distraction, maybe a text from Jake or even Jungwon. But his screen was empty, save for a few spam notifications.

"Guess I'm on my own," he muttered, slinging the bag over his shoulder and heading out.

The flight home was uneventful, but Jay's stomach twisted as their driver pulled into the long, winding driveway leading to his family's estate. The house loomed ahead, an imposing structure of marble and glass that screamed wealth and tradition.

As he stepped inside, his father's voice boomed from the grand hall. "Jay, you're late."

Jay plastered on a polite smile, his default defense mechanism. "Good to see you too, Father."

His father, tall and impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, regarded him with a critical eye. "You've been wasting time at that university, haven't you? Flitting around with those... modern types. You're supposed to be preparing to take over the business."

"Of course," Jay said evenly, ignoring the jab. "I've been excelling in my business courses, just as you wanted."

His father's eyes narrowed. "Good. But don't forget who you represent, Jay. Our name carries weight, and I won't have it tarnished."

Jay swallowed the retort bubbling in his throat, choosing instead to nod. "Understood."

Dinner that evening was as tense as Jay had expected. His father dominated the conversation, lecturing him on responsibility and legacy while his mother sat silently, occasionally casting Jay sympathetic glances.

Afterward, Jay escaped to his old room, shutting the door behind him with a sigh of relief. He flopped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling and wondering how he'd survive the next few days.

His phone buzzed on the nightstand. Picking it up, he saw a message from Jake: Hang in there, man. You've got this. Let me know if you need an escape plan.

Jay chuckled softly, feeling a small spark of warmth. For all the distance he felt in this house, at least he had people outside of it who cared.

And maybe, just maybe, he'd make it through this holiday without losing himself in the process.

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