Chapter 19

"I've always liked you..." my mom says, not breaking eye contact with Jake. Her fingers tremble slightly, betraying the nerves she's trying so hard to mask.

My heart pounds so hard it feels like it's echoing in my ears. Why did I not see this coming? She's never even spoken to Jake — at least not that I know of. Even Chris didn't know who she was, so how does this even make sense?

"So I was wondering..." My mom pushes through the hesitation in her voice, her words shaky but determined.

I swallow hard, the tension tightening my throat. I can almost feel the sheen of sweat forming on my forehead.

Chris sighs, leaning against the wall as if the weight of the moment is too much. His fingers curl against the surface for balance. "Looks like we're about to witness another rejection."

My head snaps toward him. "Another rejection?"

Chris's gaze flicks down to me, his expression unreadable. But before he can say anything, my mom's voice rings out from around the corner — loud and clear, leaving no room for confusion.

"Please go out with me!"

My eyes widen. I can't believe it. She really did it. I never thought my mom was the type to ask a guy out so confidently. In my mind, she hasn't been with anyone but my father — in the future or the past.

The air between my mom and Jake feels fragile, like one wrong move could shatter it. Jake's expression shifts — subtle but noticeable. His breathing slows, his eyes softening in a way I've never seen before. Sympathy? Definitely not his usual numb gaze. Maybe... maybe he actually feels something for her.

"Romy..." Jake's voice is steady as he takes a measured breath.

I lean forward instinctively, holding my breath like it'll somehow make me hear better. He knows her name. That has to mean something... right?

My mom's face lights up at the sound of her name. "Yeah...?"

Chris suddenly pushes away from the wall, spinning around and pressing his hand over his eyes. "Ugh. I can't watch this."

His reaction throws me. I thought something might actually happen between them. Am I the only one who sees it?

"I'm sorry."

Jake's voice cuts through the air, low and steady. I whip my head back toward them.

Jake's face is clouded with a quiet sadness. Turns out I can't read him as well as I thought. I imagined he'd be happy about the confession — maybe even give her a chance. But now that I'm actually thinking about it... that would've made no sense.

Jake gently places the letter back in my mom's hands, curling her fingers over it with a softness that almost feels cruel. "I'm sorry, but I can't go out with you."

My mom gasps, stumbling back a step. Her eyes widen, glossy with disbelief. I can see the tremor in her hands, the way her chest rises and falls unevenly.

"Yeah. Jake rejects everyone." Chris says flatly. "And I mean everyone."

I turn toward him, tilting my head. A part of me already suspected that, but... why?

"Everyone?" I echo, still trying to make sense of it.

Chris nods without hesitation, his gaze avoiding the scene around the corner. "Even the hot babes."

I narrow my eyes. Of course that's how Chris would phrase it.

"It's actually kind of annoying." he adds with a dramatic sigh.

"Is there a reason?"

Chris shrugs, resting his back against the wall. "Beats me."

He lifts his head slightly, his expression thoughtful. "He's never rejected anyone in this nice way before..." he murmurs, almost like he's talking to himself.

So Jake's never dated anyone? Not even once? There has to be a reason. Maybe it's just the way he is. He once told me people only like him for his looks — how that's all anyone sees. That would wear anyone down eventually. Wanting to be loved but knowing it's not possible when all they care about is how good you look. That kind of emptiness would make anyone shut down.

If that's why he's always rejected everyone... I get it. I don't blame him. Not if all they care about is his perfect face.

"Can I..." My mother's voice trembles, low and fragile, as if she's trying to hold back tears. "Can I ask why?"

I press myself against the corner wall again, sliding back into full eavesdropping mode.

My mom clearly isn't giving up. Not until she gets an answer.

Jake sighs, his gaze softening. He's not brushing her off. He isn't ignoring her & walking away. He's actually standing there, looking at her with those pitiful eyes.

"I..." Jake starts, and I instinctively lean closer, like my ear might magically grow bigger just to catch every word. Why did he reject my mom? I need to know. Could this be the same reason he rejects everyone else?

Is it really because everyone only likes him for his looks?

I watch them from afar, studying every movement. They don't break eye contact. Jake takes a steadying breath, his shoulders straightening as if he's finally made peace with what he's about to say. His mouth opens — no hesitation this time.

"I like someone else."

Chris jolts upright from where he was slouched, arms crossed, head down in a daze. His head snaps toward the corner, his eyes practically bulging out of his skull.

At the exact same time, we both half-shout, "What?!"

In perfect sync, we slap our hands over our mouths and flatten ourselves against the wall, praying they didn't hear us.

"That..." Chris breathes out, wide-eyed. "That was unexpected."

I nod, my pulse still hammering in my ears. "He's never liked anyone before...?"

Chris shakes his head, his expression clouded with confusion. "Not that I know of." His chest rises and falls as he tries to steady his breathing. Our backs are practically glued to the wall at this point.

"But how could I not know he likes someone?" Chris sounds almost betrayed. And honestly... I get it. Being Jake's best friend, he should've known if Jake liked someone. But this? This is news to both of us.

I glance sideways at Chris, keeping my voice low. "You think he just said that to reject her easily?"

Chris shakes his head immediately. "Jake may lack emotions and have a cold heart most of the time, but he'd never lie like that to reject someone. He's usually honest about his feelings."

I let his words settle. Jake... considerate of someone's feelings? That's not the Jake I thought I knew. From Chris's point of view, Jake has always rejected people with brutal honesty — no games, no excuses. 

"Is that so..." My mother's voice drifts toward us from behind the corner, calm but weighted with something deeper.

Good. They didn't hear us back here.

"Yeah. Sorry..." Jake responds almost instantly, his tone flat but not unkind.

I still can't wrap my head around it. He actually likes someone? Jake — the guy who rejects everyone without a second thought — has a crush? It's almost funny... but my chest tightens at the thought.

My hand drifts to my chest as if I can physically press down the ache. Why am I feeling like this? Human emotions are so weird. It's probably just my mind playing tricks on me. I shouldn't care that Jake likes someone. I shouldn't feel this way about it. Him and I are impossible anyway.

"Who do you think he likes?" Chris's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

I glance over at him, realizing my heartbeat has settled — at least for now. "Beats me." I say with a shrug. "Wouldn't you know more than me?"

Chris shifts his gaze toward the hallway, his expression darkening. "I don't know what that guy's thinking anymore."

I nod slowly. I guess Jake is his own person, but Chris most likely feels decieved. He used to be able to read Jake like an open book — but not anymore.

"There's a lot we don't know about him, I guess..." I breathe out, the ache in my chest sharpening. A strange heaviness presses down on me, leaving me unsettled — almost suffocated.

.

.

.

The school day is finally over, but I don't feel like heading home just yet. The thought of possibly running into Jake makes my chest tighten again — that feeling still hasn't gone away. For some reason, it lingers.

I would've hung out with Chris, but of course, that bastard decided to actually study for once and bolted as soon as the bell rang.

Here's the edited and enhanced version of your text, with smoother dialogue and added depth to the characters' interaction:

"Wanna go to the arcade?" I asked, catching up to him in the hallway.

"Oh, can't!" He replied quickly, almost too quickly. "I've got to study for a test!"

"Bullshit." I shot back without missing a beat. "That has to be a lie. You never study! You've never cared about school!"

He flashed me a mischievous grin, slowing his pace just enough to match mine. His eyes softened as he looked at me. "Sorry, princess, but even this guy has started to care about school."

He gave my head a playful pat before rushing off, leaving me standing there.

It felt strange — why the sudden change? Why was he acting like school even mattered to him now? Like why the swift change of heart?

I step out onto the roof, letting the cold breeze wash over me. It's become my place of comfort, where I can just... breathe.

I glance around, and my heart skips a beat when I spot Jake by the railing.

I hadn't expected him to be here. He's lying on the ground, his back against the wall, a notebook spread out in front of him — pages fluttering in the wind. The case of his guitar stands next to him, propped up perfectly. Like the scene of a rockstar.

He looks like he's asleep, just sprawled out like that. One leg stretched out, the other curled up toward his knee, arms crossed, and his head tilted down. He must've been really tired to fall asleep just like that.

I walk over slowly, a soft smile tugging at my lips. He looks so peaceful, so... adorable. My heart starts racing without warning.

Suddenly, my phone buzzes in the pocket of the pants under my skirt, pulling me out of my soft thoughts. I pull it out and tap a few buttons, finding a message from Chris. "If you're avoiding Jake, don't go on the roof."

I narrow my eyes at the message, a mix of frustration and amusement flooding through me. "A bit too late for that." I type back, my fingers almost crushing the phone in my grip. But as I glance over at Jake, still peacefully asleep, I sigh, my tension easing. I slip my phone back into my pocket.

The wind picks up again, tugging at Jake's hair. As I watch him, I realize he doesn't have a single bad angle. I can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy — though it's fleeting. I giggle softly, unable to resist the charm he exudes.

I bend down, pulling my knees to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. I just sit there for a moment, quietly admiring how calm and serene Jake looks, lost in his sleep.

I can hear the wind flipping through the pages of his notebook. I glance over, and the pages stop at one. Curiosity piques in me as I lean in, unable to resist.

"Her name in bruises." I read the title aloud, tilting my head in confusion. But then my gaze drifts to the words at the bottom, and my eyes widen in realization. It's a new song he's writing. He's writing a new song... and I just got a first glimpse at it. The page is filled with what looks like raw, unfinished lyrics.

I know I shouldn't, but I can't help myself. I want to read just a little more. He'll never know, right? I'm just curious.

"She's like a beautiful storm that teaches me how not to break." The first lyric jumps off the page, and I feel a twist in my chest.

I glance over at Jake, then back at the page. I wonder... is this song about the girl he likes? A sour feeling pools in my stomach at the thought. Why do I care so much? I shouldn't. My only purpose here is to help save Jake's life. I shouldn't be letting these random emotions take root in my mind.

Just as I'm lost in thought, I hear a rustle from Jake. It's a small movement, like he's about to wake up. I look over quickly, but it seems he's only shifting slightly. He's still sound asleep, unmoving in his peaceful position.

I lean closer, smiling softly without thinking. I can't help it — I want to care for him. Even after he yelled at me in front of everyone at the bleachers, I didn't hate him. We bicker all the time, but I still don't hate him. There's just something about him... something different, special even, that makes me want to be closer.

He scrunches his nose in his sleep, and I let out a soft, almost involuntary giggle. "So cute..." I whisper under my breath.

Just then, Jake slowly blinks his eyes open. It takes him a moment to adjust to the light and the world around him, but when he turns his head toward me, my heart skips.

Our faces are so close now. My breath catches in my throat as our eyes lock, and I feel my pulse quicken. The air is still, the wind gently blowing through us, but we're frozen in time, the scene almost too perfect, like something out of a webtoon. Neither of us breaks eye contact.

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