บท 1575: Drowned

Noah was taken aback by the revelation. Jake had been hiding it well for years. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to risk ruining our friendship," Jake explained. "And it didn't feel like the right time to burden you with my feelings."

"Your feelings?" Noah scoffed. "What about mine?"

"Noah, back then, we were focused on our studies and your career aspirations," Jake continued. "I didn't want to add any unnecessary complications to your life. And if I had confessed, I would have expected more from you, which wouldn't have been fair. I told you, there's something wrong with me when it comes to you. All I did was try to protect you and wait for you to have the life you wanted before burdening you with my feelings."

Noah couldn't help but chuckle bitterly. "So many noble thoughts about my well-being, huh?"