♫ : polaroid love - enhypen

The ring of your doorbell startled you even though you knew exactly who it was. Barefoot and in pajamas, you shuffled over to the door, pulling it open to reveal Jake, who stood there with his signature smile and a black duffel bag slung over a shoulder.

He was way too awake for this early in the morning, with his puffer jacket zipped up and the hood of his hoodie pulled over his head.

"You're early," you mumbled, stepping aside to let him in.

"And you're late," he teased, eyes flickering to the small, half-packed suitcase sitting behind you on the floor. "Still getting ready?"

"I'm almost done," you huffed, brushing past him as he dropped his bag by the couch and made himself comfortable. "Just give me five minutes."

"Take your time," Jake said, his tone unhurried as he sprawled out on your couch like he owned it. "I don't mind waiting."

You disappeared into your room to grab the last of your things: your charger, makeup bag, and a scarf in case the weather turned colder later. From the living room, Jake's voice floated through the air.

"Are you really wearing that sweater today? Isn't it a little plain for New Year's Eve?"

You rolled your eyes as you stepped back into the room, now dressed in a cozy cream sweater and jeans. "I'm not trying to impress anyone," you shot back, although the heat rising to your cheeks said otherwise.

Jake sat up straight, his eyes twinkling with something unreadable. "You always say that, but you look good anyway," he said casually, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

You ignored him, pretending to busy yourself with zipping up your suitcase. "Ready to go?"

"I've been ready," Jake said, standing up and grabbing both his bag and your suitcase before you could protest.

When you reached the car, Jake paused by the driver's side, holding out his hand expectantly.

"What?" you asked, blinking at him.

"The keys," he said, as if it were obvious.

"You don't even have a car," you pointed out, confused.

Jake smirked, dangling his newly-traded South Korean driver's license between his fingers. "But I can drive. C'mon, Dumpling, don't make me sit in the passenger seat."

You groaned, tossing him the keys. "Fine, but if you so much as scratch my car-"

"I'll buy you a new one," he finished, already sliding into the driver's seat.

About twenty minutes into the drive, Jake turned the wheel toward a familiar street, and you frowned. "Wait, why are we stopping here?"

"For coffee," he said simply, pulling up in front of your café.

You groaned. "Seriously? This is my workplace. You're forcing me to see it on my day off?"

"You're not going inside," he replied, already unbuckling his seatbelt. "Stay here. I'll grab everything."

"Jake!"

"Nope," he cut you off, closing the door behind him and leaving you glaring at his figure through the windshield.

Inside, Jake greeted the barista on shift, who just so happened to be your close friend, the only person who knew about your feelings for him. Her eyes lit up the moment she recognized him.

"Well, well, well," she said, leaning against the counter. "If it isn't the Jake."

He chuckled, brushing a hand through his hair. "I guess I have a reputation now."

"Oh, you do," she replied, smirking. "What can I get for you?"

"Her favorite coffee," he said, glancing briefly at the menu taped to the counter and pointing at the name without missing a beat. "And mine. Maybe some baked goods for the road, too."

Your friend raised an eyebrow, impressed. "You know her favorite?"

"Of course I do." He smiled, pulling out his wallet. "She doesn't need to know I asked you for confirmation, though."

She laughed, preparing his order and handing him the two steaming cups a few minutes later, as well as a neatly wrapped bag of pastries. "Good luck, Jake."

He tilted his head, confused. "With what?"

"Everything," she said mysteriously, waving him off.

-

It was almost lunchtime by the time you pulled into a rest area. The two of you grabbed a quick meal of ramyeon and hot drinks to keep yourselves warm. Jake insisted on paying, as usual, and you didn't bother arguing.

Back in the car, the conversation flowed naturally as you talked about everything and nothing. Jake's stories about Australia made you laugh, and you shared a few embarrassing moments that happened at your café.

And then, out of nowhere.

"I'm staying for New Year's, as you wished," Jake said,

Your heart skipped a beat, and you turned to look at him, searching for any hint of sarcasm in his expression. But he was focused on the road, calm and... well, unreadable.

You hesitated before asking, "And you're staying as...?"

A small smile tugged on Jake's lips, his fingers drumming lightly on the steering wheel. "Who do you want me to stay as?"

Your breath caught in your throat. Was this a test? A game? You couldn't tell.

"As a friend?" he continued. "Really?"

The way he said it made your chest tighten. You bit your lip, debating on whether to keep this light or finally lay everything out in the open.

"Can we be something more, though?" you asked softly, your voice barely more than a whisper.

Jake let out a chuckle, his shoulders relaxing as if he was holding his breath too. "I'm staying," he said. "I'm staying in South Korea, Dumpling."

Your heart felt like it might explode. He'd made his decision, not just about New Year's, but about staying close to you. And it wasn't just your heart racing; your entire body seemed to buzz with excitement and disbelief.

"I thought..." You trailed off, struggling to find the right words.

Jake pulled into a parking spot at the far end of the lot, turning off the engine before shifting to face you.

"You thought I'd leave?" he asked, his voice teasing.. "Why would I leave when you asked me to stay?"

You opened your mouth to respond, but the words were stuck in your throat.

Jake leaned closer, his eyes never leaving yours. "Can I stay as... a boyfriend?"

Your heart stopped. Then it started again, pounding so loudly you were sure he could hear it.

"A boyfriend?" you repeated dumbly, still trying to process what was happening.

Jake's lips curved into a smirk. "Your boyfriend," he clarified.

"Yeah," you finally managed to say, your voice barely audible.

Jake let out a soft laugh as his eyes locked on yours. "Can I kiss you?" he asked.

Your breath caught in your throat and you felt a nervous flutter in your chest. There was no smirk this time, no playful edge. Just Jake, waiting, his expression open and sincere.

You nodded, almost unnoticeably, but it was enough for him.

He leaned in slowly, his eyes dropping to your lips before closing entirely, giving you the chance to stop him if you wanted to. But you didn't.

When his lips met yours, the kiss was soft, with Jake taking his time to let it sink in. One of his hands cupped your face, his thumb brushing against your cheek, while the other moved to the back of your head, threading through your hair.

His fingers curled slightly, supporting you as he tilted your head to kiss you harder. Your hands found their way to his chest, gripping the fabric of his hoodie.

He tasted of coffee and the sweetness of the pastries he bought earlier, a combination that felt so distinctly Jake it made your head spin.

When he finally pulled back, it was slow, as if he couldn't bring himself to let it end. His forehead rested against yours, his breathing slightly uneven.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper.

His hand stayed in your hair, his thumb grazing the nape of your neck. You blinked up at him, your thoughts scrambled, but one thing was clear.

You wanted him to stay. In every way possible.