♫ : confessions (feat. heeseung & jake of enhypen x paul russell) - flo rida, enhypen, paul russell

It was hot. Like, why-did-I-wear-denim-shorts kind of hot.

You walked along the boardwalk next to Jake, sweat sticking to the back of your knees, hair starting to frizz at the edges, and you were starting to regret every life choice that led to this exact moment.

Heeseung had dragged the two of you out for a walk around town, only to immediately abandon you guys because he "spotted the best ice cream place from, like, five blocks away."

So now it was just you and Jake.

Walking.

In the sun.

With sweat sticking to places you really wish it wouldn't.

And Jake? He was somehow thriving. He wore a tank top, board shorts, and his usual stupid grin, pointing at every single thing like he was giving you a private tour of your own childhood.

"Yo, remember that bench? That's where Heeseung almost cried 'cause he dropped his hotdog in seventh grade."

You blinked. "Why would I remember that?"

Jake laughed like you just told the funniest joke. "C'mon. You were there! You kept laughing and then offered him a bite of yours and he said, and I quote, 'No, I don't want your pity meat.'"

You rolled your eyes. Hard.

He kept going. "And that corner store, that's where we used to buy those sour gummy ropes. You always picked the green ones, which are, by the way, objectively the worst flavor."

You glanced away, half-listening, your eyes scanning the crowd lazily. There were a decent amount of people around. Kids chasing bubbles, a guy with a boombox, two girls posing for Instagram photos in front of a mural.

Jake kept talking, still going off about something dumb he and your brother did in ninth grade involving a skateboard, two pool noodles, and a trash can. You tuned most of it out.

Until your gaze landed on them.

Oh.

Shit.

You froze.

Jake walked a step ahead before noticing you stopped. He looked back. "You good?"

You hadn't expected to see him. Your ex. And definitely not with her.

Kyle and Eva.

Hand in hand. Wearing matching sunglasses. Laughing at something. Looking like they just stepped out of a cheesy summer ad. Kyle looked better than he should. Tan, tall, still dressed like he's trying too hard. Eva was blonder and practically glowing.

It stung.

It had been a year. A whole year since he cheated on you with your best friend. Well, ex-best friend now. You've told yourself a million times that you're over it. That they're both losers. That you're better off.

But you felt your stomach twist. Not because you still like him, but because somehow, after such a long time, they're still together, still flaunting it.

You didn't know what you expected. Maybe that they wouldn't last. Maybe that he'd cheat on her too. Or that it'd fall apart the way high school things usually do. But no, they looked like they made it.

You hadn't dated anyone since him.

Not seriously. Not for real.

Jake followed your gaze. He saw them. And unlike you, he didn't freeze. His eyes narrowed just slightly.

Then he looked at you. Really looked.

You could tell the exact second he figured it out.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice low, casual, but obviously not joking anymore.

You forced a shrug. "Totally. Great. Loving life."

You were lying.

Because they looked good. Not together, God no, but they looked happy. Like they were living some Pinterest-worthy soft life.

And you were in flip-flops, a cropped tank, skin a little too sweaty. Alone. Single. Still very, very aware of the summer three years ago that left you ripped in half.

Jake glanced back at them once, then back at you. And he smiled.

"So," he said, stepping closer, dropping his voice to an almost-too-smooth murmur. "Wanna piss them off?"

You blinked. "What?"

"They keep looking over here," he said, now clearly enjoying himself. "Let's give them something to look at."

Before you could even respond, his arm slid around your waist.

Your brain short-circuited for a second.

Jake was touching you. Jake was standing close enough that you could feel the heat off his skin. Jake smelled like sunscreen and a little like coconut.

"Don't look now," he murmured, his voice low and near your ear. "Actually, no. Look. Let them see."

You blinked up at him. "What are you-"

"Play along," he said. "C'mon, you're smarter than that."

He was already pulling you closer.

You should've said something. But when you glanced over, they noticed. Kyle's eyes flicked over. Eva stopped walking for half a second, smile faltering. Kyle said something low.

So your hand ended up on his chest. God, why is he always so warm? And his fingers slipped beneath the hem of your tank top, barely there, just enough to make you gasp.

Jake tightened his hold on your waist.

You could feel the grin on his face.

"Smile," he said. "You look like you want to murder someone."

"I do."

One hand slid to your jaw. He leaned down like it was the most natural thing in the world. His mouth brushed against your cheekbone, just shy of a kiss.

It wasn't even on the lips. But you felt it everywhere.

"We look good together," he muttered, pulling back with a wink. "Better than they ever did."

Your face was on fire. Not sure if it was the heat or him or both.

"Wow," he said. "We're kinda good at this."

You glanced up at him. "Don't get used to it."

He winked. "Too late."

Heeseung returned with three cones and a wide smile, clearly having no clue about whatever that just happened across the boardwalk.

Jake took his cone and threw an arm around your shoulder again.

You elbowed him lightly but didn't move away.

And later, when you were all sitting on a bench eating sticky, quickly melting ice cream, you leaned over and whispered: "Wanna keep pretending?"

Jake looked at you, surprise flickering through his expression before it shifted into something smug.

"Thought you'd never ask."