snowflake ☆ k.dy ☆ ayakashi series | ✔

doyoung [thirty-nine]

The Lady's Spring was entirely haunting at dawn. The iridia crystals were nearly out of their phosphorescence from the previous day's sunlight, the hazy, unsure light drenching the entire room in mystery. Doyoung was back in his white Erethulian robes, the few rays of light refracting off the material and giving him an ethereal glow. The only other people in there besides Doyoung and yourself were Chanshik and Chaewon, both of them rather solemn as the three Erethulians held a quiet and succinct conversation.

You were a few feet from the edge of the pool, hands stuffed in the pockets of the singular hoodie you were wearing, and bottom lip already quivering. Doyoung then approached you, face practically unreadable.

"I know I don't have a right to, but can I ask you to promise me something, Y/N?" His voice was quiet, hesitant.

"Sure," you croaked out, taking your hand out of your pockets to reach for his. He immediately took your hands in his, squeezing them gently.

"I know this will be difficult at first, but can you promise to try to be happy when you think of me? I don't want your memories of me to bring you sorrow."

You bit back your immediate flash of righteous anger. This wasn't fucking fair. Swallowing down your harsh words, you forced out a jerky nod, "I'll try."

Doyoung leaned forward, pressing a kiss to your forehead. You pulled back to instead connect your lips, knowing that this would be the last time you could ever share this kind of intimacy with him. Something you had fought so hard to even experience in the first place, was going to be unattainable once more. The kiss turned salty, and you couldn't tell whose tears they were. When Doyoung drew back, his cheeks were glistening. He pecked each of your cheeks in turn, then brought your hands up to his lips, a gut-wrenching finality to the action.

"Thank you, Y/N Y/L/N, for giving me the love of a lifetime," his voice cracked, but he didn't break eye contact with you. "I love you more than I ever thought I was capable of, and you've given me a love greater than I ever thought I would get."

Ever since you'd found out about the sacrifice, you'd thought over what you wanted the last thing you said to Doyoung to be. But now, none of that felt right.

"I love you, Doyoung. And I always will."

You surged forward, wrapping your arms around his waist, wanting to feel what it was like in his arms one last time. He immediately hugged you back, squeezing you so tightly you felt like you might burst. Or maybe that was the sobs you were desperately keeping at bay. Memories of your first date swirled in your mind, how difficult it was to even get to the point where he'd hug you. And now it was all going to be over.

"Doyoung..." Chaewon's voice was gentle for once. "It's time."

You let out a shuddering breath­­­­­­, wanting to hold onto him for just one more moment. He curled his fingers in the material of your shirt, and you breathed in his wintery scent one last time.

"Doyoung, before dawn has passed," Chanshik sounded like he was right next you. As Doyoung pulled away from you, you saw that Chanshik had a hand on your boyfriend's shoulder, physically separating the two of you.

Doyoung let Chanshik lead him towards the pool, but his eyes stayed on you. You stared right back, engraving his features into your memory. Sure, you had pictures, but you'd never have him again.

He looked away from you for just a moment to give Chaewon and Chanshik final nods goodbye. Then his gaze was once more on you. Slowly, he walked to the edge of the pool, where the grass ended and sloped gently into the cool water. And finally, his eyes left you for the last time.

Just like he'd described to you that morning, he walked further into the pool, the water rising higher and higher on his legs until it was past his thighs, creeping up his stomach, his chest, then he was completely submerged. Gone. The surface was eerily still, not even bubbles signifying he had breathed out.