you stir my heart like you’re riding a wave

by idyllix

Summary:

If Sunghoon had to choose what event in his life made the biggest impact on him, he’d instantly know what to answer with.

Because only after he met Jake did it feel like he was really living.

OR

The moment Sunghoon saw Jake, he knew he was fucked. He just didn’t know how fucked.

Notes:

was supposed to be doing a project but lost focus and this idea spawned in my head. enjoy :)

wa-r-r - colde

Chapter 1

Sunghoon stares at the sentence on the cruise itinerary for a long moment.

DAY 1: EMBARKATION + WELCOME ACTIVITIES

He feels his soul quietly leave his body.

The boarding process was long, crowded, and loud—three things Sunghoon already disliked individually, now combined into one overstimulating cocktail. His parents moved with the sort of cheerful efficiency that made it clear they were enjoying this. His younger sister Seoyeon bounced beside their mother, peppering her with questions about pools and ice cream. His aunt and uncle were already talking about dinner reservations.

It was summer break, which was meant to be the best part of the whole year—there was no school. For two whole glorious months, there was no homework, no stress for exams, no teachers badgering him to “take more opportunities to initiate in the classroom”. Whatever the fuck that meant. 

And yet, year after year, his summer breaks were downright miserable. 

Last year, his figure skating school had opened up a summer program, which his mother immediately signed him up for as soon as the email entered her inbox. Sunghoon did love figure skating—but he did not love it enough to endure waking up at the ass crack of dawn, only to return home once the sun had set, completely exhausted and limbs aching. The year before that, Sunghoon’s parents said he was old enough to earn his own money, so he was forced to babysit other kids in his neighbourhood. Sunghoon doesn’t even want to remember the years before that.

This year, Sunghoon’s parents decided to go on a one-week cruise…

...with his aunt and uncle’s family as well. They had a son the same age as him named Jay, of whom was the absolute bane of his existence. And he was, unfortunately, everywhere.

“Wow,” Jay said, craning his neck as they stepped onto the ship. “This thing’s huge.”

Sunghoon adjusts the strap of his backpack. “What did you expect, it’s a cruise ship.”

“No, I know, but like. It's huge-huge.”

“It’s designed to be,” Sunghoon replies flatly.

Jay grins at him anyway, entirely unbothered. “You’re so negative.”

Both their parents exchange fond looks, the kind adults get when they think their children are being cute instead of deeply annoying.

After an eternity of check-ins, wristbands, and instructions that Sunghoon only half listened to, his family finally reached their cabin. It was…fine. Kinda small. Way too much beige. The kind of room that made it very clear you were not meant to spend much time there.

Dinner plans were discussed. Activity schedules were waved in his general direction. Someone mentioned a welcome show. Sunghoon nodded at appropriate intervals, contributed nothing, and mentally counted down until he could escape without being noticed.|

His chance happens approximately twenty minutes later.

He slips out onto the open deck just as the sun began sinking low enough to stain the water orange. The dock stretches out behind the ship, busy with last-minute loading and people saying dramatic goodbyes like they weren’t going to have cell service in twelve hours anyway.

Sunghoon leans against the railing, exhales, and lets the noise dull into background static. This was tolerable, at least.


Something collides with his shoulder.

“—oh my god, I’m so sorry—”

Sunghoon stumbles half a step, instinctively reaching out to steady himself. The boy who’d crashed into him does the same, hands flailing uselessly before grabbing the railing instead.

“I swear I wasn’t trying to tackle you,” the boy says quickly, eyes wide. He has a thick Australian accent. “I just—okay, note to self, don’t run on docks.”

Sunghoon blinks.

The boy laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. He's slightly shorter than Sunghoon, probably the same age as him, and has fluffy dark hair that curls slightly at the ends. He has smile that comes easily, like it had never been rationed in his life.

“It’s my first cruise,” the boy continues. “I got excited. I saw the ocean and my brain just shut off.”

“That explains…running,” Sunghoon says hesitantly.

The boy’s smile widens. “Right? You get it.”

Sunghoon absolutely does not get it, but he doesn't say that.

“What's your name?” the boy says, tilting his head in a way that reminds Sunghoon of a puppy. He doesn't say that, either.

Sunghoon hesitates for half a second before taking it. “Sunghoon.”

“That sounds Korean. Are you Korean? I'm Korean, too—well, I live in Australia but I'm ethnically Korean. My name's Jaeyun, but everybody calls me Jake. It's to meet you, Sunghoon-who-I-almost-committed-a-felony-against.”

Sunghoon wonders if he should answer Jake's question but decides against it. He seems sure enough anyways. “You didn’t,” Sunghoon replies.

“Attempted dock homicide, then.”

A snicker slips out of Sunghoon before he can stop it. He freezes, immediately annoyed with himself.

Jake notices, eyes lighting up like he’d just won something. “Hey, I got a laugh.”

“Don’t read into it,” Sunghoon says, withdrawing his hand and stepping back toward the railing. “It was an accident.”

“Sure,” Jake says, entirely unconvinced. “I’ll take what I can get.”

They stand there for a moment, the ship humming beneath their feet. Jake leans beside him, elbows on the railing, staring out at the water.

“So,” Jake says casually, “are you excited?”

Sunghoon considers lying. “No.”

Jake laughs again, softer this time. “That’s fair. Cruises are a lot. I mean I've never been on one before this, but they sure seem like a lot.”

Sunghoon glances at him, surprised. Most people pushed back when he answered honestly. Jake just accepted it, like that answer made sense.

“That your family?” Jake asks, nodding toward the bustle behind them.

“Unfortunately.”

Jake hums. “Mine’s somewhere inside arguing about luggage. Or who's next in line to use the bathroom.”

That earns Jake a point.

Not long after, an announcement crackles over the speakers, instructing passengers to head inside. Jake pushes himself off the railing.

“Guess that’s my cue,” he says. “Hey—maybe I’ll see you around?”

Sunghoon nods. “Maybe.”

Jake smiles like that was good enough and jogs off, once again resisting the urge to run.

Sunghoon stays at the railing a little longer than necessary.

---

Sunghoon discovers two things very quickly.

One: cruise beds were deceptively comfortable in a way that made getting up ten times worse.

Two: his family believed dinners were a mandatory bonding experience.

He sits at the edge of the bed, hair still damp from a rushed shower, staring at the floor as his mother knocks briskly on the door for the third time.

“Sunghoon,” she calls, “we’re leaving in five minutes.”

Seoyeon's muffled voice drifts in from the hallway. “If he’s not here in five minutes, we should leave him.”

“That’s not funny,” his mother says.

“It is a little,” she counters.

Sunghoon stands, shoves his phone into his pocket, and exits the cabin without another word.

The buffet restaurant was…a lot.

The moment they step inside, Sunghoon is hit with noise, movement, and the distinct smell of eggs that had been sitting under heat lamps for too long. People crowd around stations, trays clatter, children run in patterns that suggests no adult supervision whatsoever.

Sunghoon grabs a tray and defaults into efficiency mode. He takes what he knew he’d eat, avoids eye contact, and moves with the singular goal of finding a seat where he wouldn’t have to talk much.

His family is already halfway into a conversation by the time he sits down.

“So today we should explore the ship,” his father says. “There’s a gym, a game room—”

“And the pool!” Seoyeon adds.

“And the ice rink,” his mother says pointedly, glancing at Sunghoon.

He nods once, which seems to satisfy her.

Halfway through his eggs, he feels it.

An odd sensation. Like someone was looking at him.

He hates that feeling.

He lifts his head slowly, scanning the room with mild annoyance—

And freezes.

Jake stands near the juice station, holding a glass in one hand and looking directly at him.

Their eyes meet.

Jake’s face lights up instantly.

“Oh!” Jake says, far too loudly. “Sunghoon!”

He watches as Jake awkwardly weaves through tables toward him, plate now suspiciously piled high with food that looked like it was all going to fall over at any second.

Jake stops at the edge of the table. “No way, you’re here too.”

His family goes quiet. Sunghoon can feel the collective curiosity radiating off them.

“Uh,” Jake says, glancing around. “Is it okay if I sit? I don’t know anyone and the other tables are…intimidating.”

Sunghoon’s mother smiles immediately. “Of course, dear.”

Sunghoon absolutely did not invite this.

Jake slides into the empty seat beside him, setting his tray down carefully. “Thanks. I’m Jake. I almost knocked your son into the ocean yesterday", he says, far too brightly.

Seoyeon gasps. “That’s so cool.”

“It was not,” Sunghoon mutters.

Jake leans slightly toward him. “I maintain it was character-building.”

Sunghoon shoots him a look. Jake just smiles.

Introductions happened. Names were exchanged. Jake was polite in the way that adults loved immediately. Sunghoon’s parents asked him questions; Jake answered easily, laughing, making eye contact.

Sunghoon focused very hard on not staring.

Once the initial novelty wore off, the conversation drift back to family plans. Jake eats quickly, occasionally glancing at Sunghoon like he was checking something.

“So,” Jake said, lowering his voice slightly, “how’s your day so far?”

Sunghoon shrugs. “Fine.”

“Just fine?”

“Mhm.”

Jake narrows his eyes, clearly unconvinced. “You don’t look like a ‘fine’ person.”

Sunghoon side-eyes him. “What does that mean?"

"You look like you’re being held hostage.” Sunghoon immediately looks down.

Jake notices. He doesn't comment on it. Instead, he changes the subject.

“I’m thinking of trying surfing tomorrow,” Jake says. “Apparently they have lessons at one of the stops.”

“You surf?” Sunghoon asks.

Jake’s grins widened. “Not yet. But I will.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Sure it does,” Jake says. “You don’t have to be good at something to try it.”

Sunghoon stares at him like he’d just spoken in a foreign language.

Jake stares back. “What?”

“Nothing,” Sunghoon says quickly. “I just—never mind.”

Jake studies him for a moment, eyes curious but not intrusive. “Do you skate?”

Sunghoon stiffens. “Wha—how did you—”

“You look like it,” Jake says simply. 

“That doesn’t explain anything.”

Jake pouts. He looks...oddly adorable. “Okay, fine. I overheard your mom.”

Sunghoon sighs.

They ate in companionable quiet for a bit after that. Not awkward—just calm. Jake didn’t push him to talk. He filled the space when it needed filling and let it rest when it didn’t.

Sunghoon wasn’t used to that.

When Jake eventually stands to leave, his tray empty, he hesitates.

“Hey,” he says. “I’m glad I ran into you.”

Sunghoon nods. “You ran into me yesterday too.”

Jake laughs. “True. Guess I’m consistent.”

He waves once, bright and easy, before disappearing back into the crowd.

Something felt…off. Not bad. Just unfamiliar. He couldn’t quite name it.

That bothered him.

Notes:

whats yall thoughts on the enha comeback??