Hanahaki [ A HyunHo Fanfiction ]

Chapter Six - Countdown

Ring ring

Hyunjin picked up his phone. It was Changbin calling him again. He is at his usual place, the veranda finishing his painting. The ground is filled with full grown roses, his veins started to look like stems and there wasn't any petals falling out when he coughs either.

It's been 2 days since Minho left with the divorce papers and Hyunjin felt cold and lonely. Knowing that Minho won't come back again he felt so alone. "Hello?" His voice being forced because of the thorns in his throat. "Hyunjin-ah.. are you okay? I kept one of your petals and it turned into a rose. Does that mean you're going to be okay?" Hyunjin placed his palm on his chest. He can't even hear his heart beating anymore. "Yes. I'm going to be okay."

Changbin was silent for 2 minutes. Hyunjin could hear his breathing get heavier every second until it became muffles. "Ya! I told you I'm going to be okay!"

"I've known you for 21 years, Hyunjin. Do you really think you can hide it from me?" Changbin was crying. Hyunjin knew this. As Changbin said, they know eachother so well. "It hurts." Hyunjin admitted.

The thorns, his thoughts, the memories.. everything hurts him physically.

"Hyunjin. Let's take it out of you. I know you don't want to forget him but it's your life we're talking about here. I can't lose you, Hyunjin-ah." Hyunjin placed his paintbrush down and stared at the finished painting. Smiling. "I'm always with you, you know that."

"Atleast let me see you. Let me see how you're doing, let me take care of you." Changbin covered his face with his palm, breathing heavily. Hyunjin on the other hand picked up the rose he just took out from his mouth an hour ago. "No. I can take care of myself. Stop worrying you worrywart."

Hyunjin's rose looked so vibrant. It was so healthy and pretty. "You said you have my rose right? It looks pretty right? It looks so free and healthy. That's me. That's how I am. The rose represents me." Hyunjin tried so so hard to sound cheery like everything's okay.

The appearance of a rose who managed to fool everyone's eyes.

"Hyunjin-ah. I can love you more than Minho did. I always have love you more than he did. If love means keeping you with me, us then use me. Use my love." Hyunjin knew Changbin's feelings. The sacrifices he made for Hyunjin ever since they were young. The way he supported Hyunjin and Minho with all his heart even if it means his own feelings has to be crushed. "You've done so much for me, Binnie. Please let me go and find your own happiness."

"Stupid! You're my happiness. By not removing that thing inside of you, you're hurting me. You're usually so smart but why can't you understand that I don't want anyone but you even if It's just a friend. Just... please Hyunjin. Don't leave me."

"I want this, Changbin. Please let me have this."

One day has passed and there's only one pudding left. All Hyunjin has been eating was the pudding Minho bought before he left. "Yummy.." Hyunjin whispered, licking his lips as he sat on the couch out in the veranda, looking at the blue ocean. It was a sunny and breezy day. Hyunjin felt like flying in the sky when he closes his eyes.

If Minho is still with Hyunjin, it would've been their 8th day together. Hyunjin would've love to accompany him fishing. Maybe they'll eat the fish they caught since Minho is good at grilling fishes.

Hyunjin then remembered their 1st anniversary together. It was a fail. Minho was so humiliated and Hyunjin was laughing his ass off infront of so many people.

They finally saved up for their trip to Paris. It was Hyunjin's dream to visit an art museum there and Minho thought it would be the greatest anniversary gift so he took a cash advance and traveled with his husband.

"Yeobo, take a picture of me here." Minho handed his phone to Hyunjin and stood right infront of their gate going to Paris. "Stop it! You're so embarrassing gosh.." Hyunjin said after taking the photo and hid his face on Minho's chest. "You're embarrassed yet you still took a perfect photo. Or is it because I'm just too handsome?"

"You shut up. If we get left behind I will skin you alive, hyung." Hyunjin threatened and punched his husband on the chest gently. "You're so cute when you threaten. I have another reason to love you more." Minho teased, poking his husband's side. "Hyung~" Hyunjin whined, stomping his foot. "Fine, fine. I'll behave only if you give me a kiss."

Hyunjin immediately pulled Minho's collar and gave his husband a sweet kiss on the lips causing for the one who asked it to blush with his ears. "Am I getting pampered because I'm taking you to your dream place?" Hyunjin laughed and nodded. "If you treat me this well all the time, I might give you more than a kiss."

"Really!?"

Hyunjin opened his eyes and sighed. That's right. He achieved every single one of his dreams with Minho. His husband now he's off chasing his own dream but without Hyunjin.

The artist fished out his phone from his apron's pocket and opened his gallery. 34,780 photos and videos stored within the last 11 years. Hyunjin swore he wouldn't delete a single photo until the day he dies. "Why did I take so many pictures?" He asked himself, trying hard to go back to the first photo with Minho. During the orientation. Minho spoke up in the stage that time trying to recruit freshmen for the university's pride. Dance club.

Hyunjin wanted to join but he was a shy boy. He never really befriended anyone other than Changbin. He first saw Minho dance in the hallway on his way to math class. His body line, his expressions, his charisma and aura took the breath of Hyunjin. He wanted to be just like Minho. He wanted to be someone he could be proud of.

"Hey." Hyunjin pointed at himself. "Me?" Minho smiled and nodded. "Yes you. Are you new here?" Hyunjin stepped back when Minho started to get closer until Hyunjin's back hits the lockers. "Y-yes.. goodbye!" Hyunjin ran off like a scared puppy and went the wrong way. "H-hey! Your class is.. this way.." Minho was speechless and intrigued. "How did you know his class?" Chan asked, a good friend of Minho. "He's holding his book like he's still in highschool. I saw it was math."

"Hey, what's wrong?" Changbin asked Hyunjin who is panting hard. He ran off until he reached at the end of the hall. "Binnie! I think I'm in love~"