The Ghost Of You

10

One day, Minhyuk was startled by a loud slam of the door. Worried, he quickly went to the living room, going through the walls in such swift movement he felt like he actually teleported.

He was dumbfounded to see Jooheon slumped by the entrance hallway, leaning on the door, crying.

"Jooheon, please, I'm sorry" Changkyun's voice came from the other side, accompanied by knocks pleading for Jooheon to open up. "Let's talk, please..no..just..just forget it, forget about what I said.. please.. Jooheon.."

Jooheon did not answer back, he just sobbed and shook his head unable to vocalize a proper reply.

"Honey, what's wrong? what happened?" Minhyuk  kneeled by Jooheon's side, instinctively reaching out to run his fingers through his hair like he used to do to console him. But as expected, his fingers went through. Minhyuk curled his fingers into fist in defeat, hating how helpless he feels, unable to provide comfort. On reflex he felt upset and angry at Changkyun for whatever reason he made to get Jooheon to cry like that. But he was more confused and worried for them both as the last time he saw them together, they were fine.

He stood up and pass through the door. He first see outside, it was night time, the streets calm and empty, the streetlights bright and the wind silent. He sees Changkyun, sitting on their front porch, right in front of the door. He's in the similar state Jooheon is in, a crying mess. He have his face by the door, almost as if he was listening to the other side on Jooheon. It was strange to him in such an emotional state. The man had always been calm and composed.

"Jooheon.." Changkyun cried for the older again. He weakly knock on the door "...I can't bear to stay away...please let's just forget about it" He pleads with him.

Minhyuk was unable to understand. Forget about what? what happened? What's going on?

"Jooheon..." Changkyun weakly calls again, the words coming up almost a whisper.

"Just go Changkyun, I don't want to see you ever again!" Jooheon's voice came from the inside, a bit muffled but was clear enough to be understood. He was obviously still crying.

Changkyun lifted his head from the door, eyes looking hysterically pained. "No, please, Jooheon. Don't be cruel. Please, we're friends, let's stay friends please..." He pleaded.

"Just fucking go!" Jooheon shouted on the other side. His voice much stronger and frustrated.

Changkyun choked on his tears, coughing and placing his forehead against the door. He cried there for quite awhile, before he finally stood up.

Minhyuk watch as he wipes his tears away, frustratingly doing it again as a few stray tears stubbornly flow out. When he had finally composed himself, as composed as he could, at least. He placed his palm against the front door. "I should've kept my mouth shut, I'm sorry" He said, before he reluctantly leave. When he reached the sidewalk, he turned back to take one last look and with that, he finally walked away.

Minhyuk didn't linger around to watch him do so and quickly went back to Jooheon. The man, still there on the floor, his knees up and his face hiding as he sob. It wasn't as violent as before but he was still crying hard and each tears he shed breaks Minhyuk. The pain on his chest throbbing as he watches helplessly.



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Minhyuk quietly sat on the edge of the bed, a sad look on his face as he look over Jooheon laying on the bed facing his way. His beloved was no longer crying but the conflict and pain in his eyes was very visible. Minhyuk's eyes landed on the big bee plushie he was hugging. The one he gifted him for the last time. He was holding to it so tightly as if he was scared it will be taken from him.

Minhyuk sigh, seeing as tears started to well up Jooheon's eyes once again. He kissed the soft bee, a warm drop falling as he closes his eyes. Again, he tighten his hold.
"I love you, Minhyuk" He whispers with a tremble in his voice. "Only you.."

It almost as if his tight hold on the plushie was directly being transferred to Minhyuk as the ghost felt his chest tightened in a suffocating manner. The feeling almost hinder his breathing, before he remembered he no longer breaths.

"I love you too" Minhyuk responded solemnly. " so so much" He said it many times to Jooheon when he was alive, but he wished he could say it again to him. He didn't even get to say it before he closed his eyes for the last time.

"Please comeback, Min" Jooheon pleaded to the stuffed bee, hoping that if he beg enough, Minhyuk will magically appear beside him.

Minhyuk shook his head repeatedly, his hands covered his ears as he did so, his eyes tightly closing. Jooheon is going to cry for him again, question why he left him so early, beg for him to comeback. Just like he did many times before for the past years. It breaks him to the core, he can't console him, he can't give him answers, he can't do what he requests.

"Comeback please.." Jooheon started to sob once more. The familiar pain in his voice that never seem to leave sounded so loud and clear. " I need you.. I still need you..please..Min.." Minhyuk  push his hands harder against his ears, his shoulders shaking as tears find their way out of his eyes. It's painful for him too, he didn't want to see it, didn't want to hear it. He just wants Jooheon to stop crying, to stop calling for him, to finally move on. Nights like this are always a torture to the both of them.

He could have just leave, but he didn't. He stayed there like that with Jooheon. His beloved cried for him until his own body gave up of exhaustion and fall into slumber. He cried with him until he felt numb and hollow inside. 

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:)