ZeeNuNew: Is it to Late?

How long?

The first time he searched the term: Hanahaki Disease, was 3 months ago.

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Nat frantically started to pack his thing
He knew the photoshoot wasn't done yet, but this feeling he got in his gut, was not letting go. So, he had to make sure, he desperately prayed that he was wrong. As Nat walked around, Max looked on with a worried face. "Nong what's wrong? Aren't you still missing one shoot?" Max asked and looked at Yim and Tutor. They both nodded and James stood to stop Nat. "Dude, we got one shoot left, then we can go..." Net said as James tried to stop Nat. "No!! We need to go now!" Nat shouted and started hyperventilating. As Max reach out to stop him, a staff member opened the door to the changing room. "Aow? We are postponing the last shoot as there are some technically issues, you are free to go home, we will reschedule the last shoot with Aof." She said and closed the door again. As both James and Net, and Yim and Tutor looked back at Max and Nat, Nat immediately took his packed bag and stormed out of the room. Max followed, he knew were the other were going and as he past the rest of the young generation, he said. "Come on, I think your presence is welcomed."

The drive to Nunew's apartment wasn't long and as they reached the building; Nat just about ran towards the doorbell.

Nunew had finally gotten the cough-fit under control and placed himself on the couch when his doorbell rang. He sighed but didn't really have the strength to get up and answer the door, when the visitor deemed the answer time to long, Nunew heard a key in the door. The only ones who had keys to his apartment was Nat, Zee and his parents so he really hoped it wasn't Zee as he just had gotten his lungs to behave. When the door finally opened, Nunew braced himself and praying to whatever God that was up there, that it wasn't Zee Pruk Panich. Without realizing, Nunew let out a breath when he heard Nat's voice ring through the apartment and then other voices followed. It wasn't only Nat that had decided he needed to visit. Nunew's apartment suddenly contained the whole second generation from Domundi and Max. The first hug was from Nat as he almost tackled Nunew back on the couch, the next was Yim, which surprised Nunew. Nunew knew that he had distanced himself from the others and he didn't expect them to still care, but Yim's hug warmed his heart and was a bit longer than usual. Tutor stood behind Yim and smiled fondly at him before giving him a one-arm hug. James and Net practically assaulted Nunew so he was forced to fall back on the couch. James, being the emotional of the two, had tears in his eyes. The tears made Nunew realize that the others probably knew now. He looked at them all, tears swelling in his own eyes and smiled. "Come on guys, it was inevitable, and you knew that." Nunew said as the sniffles started coming from both James and Nat. "Jelly!!! How long?" Nat asked and Nunew looked away. He knew it was a question about time and with how he was feeling lately, he also knew that it wasn't long. When Nunew didn't answer, Net asked another question. "Why didn't you tell us? We are family." Nunew smiled sadly. "It was probably pride, and shame. How could I? You guys have so much to do, and would you really believe me if I told you that I had a fictional disease?" The others looked at Nunew, he was right. They wouldn't believe him, nobody would unless they saw the consequences. There was silence after that, and the others just seemed to process what Nunew told them. Tutor found the topic difficult to understand and as his eyes shifted around the room. It was clean and at the same time it felt as if there was a heavy feeling in the room. The flowers placed in different places were beautiful and it seemed too farfetched that it was those flowers that was slowly killing their friend from the inside. 

"Have you considered the surgical option?" Max broke the silence and asked. Nunew gave a small laugh. Yeah, he had considered it, but he didn't want to feel empty he was very much an emotional guy, and he didn't want to lose that. "Yeah, I guess... It's hard, and at some point, I don't want to lose what makes me, well, me." Nunew answered and smiled at Max. "I guess it must be hard for you. After all he is your best friend." Nunew slowly got back up from the couch and made his way to Max, who were sitting on a chair he had pulled from the kitchen. To Max's surprise, Nunew hugged him and patted him on the back. It was as if all the worry Max had, about the whole situation, was leaving his mind and body and a single tear made its way down his cheek. Just as Nunew let Max go, Nunew started coughing. He quickly, though in reality it was slow, made his way towards the bathroom and bend over the toilet. This time wasn't as painful as the other times, but it left Nunew weak and with no strength left in his body. When James thought he had been in the bathroom too long, he found him on the floor gasping after air. James carried him bride-style back to the couch. Were Nunew slumped against Nat's shoulder for some rest. While Nunew napped, the rest of the guys looked with worry in their eyes. "How long had this been going on?" Net asked as it seemed Nunew was deep in dreamland. 

"I honestly don't know." Nat said sadly. "I found him coughing on day after an event, but I recon it had been going on for longer than we know. Facts says it normally only last around three months before the victim dies." It had been around three months since he had searched the disease and he had maybe known for a couple of days before. They stayed with Nunew that evening even though he was insisting he was fine. Max had an appointment, but he canceled and stayed with the rest to make sure they were okay. Nat, Yim and Net made food as James and Tutor kept Nunew company. They talked and laughed and when it was time to dinner, they discovered how changed Nunew was. He barely ate anything and when he was done, he excused himself to the bathroom where Max could hear him throw all the food up again. None of them made a comment on what they already knew and Nunew didn't say anything about it. After dinner, the others cleaned and did the dishes while Nunew found a movie they could watch. Just before the movie started, Nunew said "Thank you." without looking at anyone. Nat, who sat closest to him, gave him a hug and Nunew welcomed it. He buried his head in Nat's neck and silently sobbed. Without letting go, Nunew whispered an answer to Nat's earlier question. 

"a week"