everything i didn't say | jeong yunho

twelve.

"happy 27th birthday, hana. i hope you're doing great up there," he smiles as he carefully placed the bouquet of flowers next to the tombstone.

it's been five years since hanabi passed. even though he knew that it was bound to happen, he didn't expect it to be so soon. it was very difficult for him, especially knowing that he couldn't be there with her in her last moments.

it was a hard to swallow pill. he thought he was ready to face the day where she'll be gone, but he wasn't. nothing could prepare him for that. she meant everything to him.

he still kept her letter with him to this day. it was one of his most precious possession. since it's been quite a few years, the letter wasn't in the best condition, but it still held so much meaning to him.

honestly for an entire year after hana passed, it was driving yunho insane. he had lost energy, inspiration, and willpower to do relatively anything. he even started eating and drinking less. even when he tries to do normal tasks, he will just start to have quick flashbacks of what he had with hana. he even started drinking excessively.

it took him a really long time for him to eventually start to look for healthier coping mechanisms, just like she wanted him to. he had started to slowly get back to basketball with the help of mingi, and he started to have regular meals again. he then started using basketball and cycling as a way to distract himself. it was healthier than drinking anyways. his head was clearer after he stopped drinking because he wasn't so intoxicated anymore.

and now, yunho is a professional basketball player. he managed to pursue his dreams, and he was successful now. he couldn't be happier.

he was also happy because he got to fulfil hana's request. she had requested him to publish her novel. she also mentioned that if she didn't manage to finish it, she trusted him enough to write the ending for her anyway.

the novel was almost entirely about hana's life. she changed the roles in her life and made them into interesting characters, but the plot was similar to her own life.

hana had to go before being able to finish her novel, but yunho wanted to fulfil her request. he wanted her novel published, just like she wanted. and she wanted her story to be put out there, to helpfully help others as well.

and so yunho had to seek help from incredible authors around campus and eventually he managed to craft a beautiful ending, one that he thinks hana would be very proud of.

after some time, the novel was finally published rightfully under hana's name. yunho did mention it to the public that hana has passed and yunho published the story on her behalf.

the novel eventually gained a lot of attention, and the sales were pretty good. but all of the profits and sales made from the novel was to be donated to charitable organisations for cancer patients.

it was part of hana's request as well.

yunho smiles proudly as he lays the novel on the ground infront of the bouquet of flowers.

"you did it, hana. your book is sucessful. everyone loved it, and it even helped a lot of people out there. and the profits were completely donated, like you asked."

yunho couldn't be happier. it took him a very long time to get back on his feet again, and now he has learnt so much. he grew so much in the last 5 years.

"i did it too. i managed to chase my dreams and now i'm successful," he breathes. he was getting emotional again.

"i've made your wishes come true. but there's only one thing i can't do," he paused, looking up as he let out a sniffle. "i can't fall in love with someone else. i know you said i deserve to experience what it's like to get married and all, but i just can't.

maybe in another life, we'll be able to get married and grow old together, just like we said we would." he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. he opened them again, breathing out slowly and calmly.

they were both finally at peace.