Where the Flowers Bloom

Chapter 4

Shu decided to get it surgically removed.

He pondered on this thought for so long and now, he stuck to this decision.

Shu never wanted to lose this feeling, the feeling of his heart racing whenever Luca pulled shitty jokes or whenever he felt Luca putting a blanket over him when he was asleep. It was the feeling of love he never experienced before.

And he knows, by taking this surgery, he'll lose it all. 

But he'd rather lose that feeling than see Luca sad over him gone.

He never thought that Luca would ever love him back, so all he wants is to see Luca happy once he was cured.

Shu doesn't want to burden him anymore.

..

Months passed and the pain is now unbearable.

It's now or never, huh.

Shu got up in a lot of pain, coughing hard.

He gets a dark coat and got some socks.

Shu quietly heads down the stairs, knowing that Luca was asleep at the couch.

He wears his shoes and brings the keys with him.

Shu exits the door to head to the hospital.

The door shuts loud because of the strong wind, waking Luca up.

Did Shu just leave?

Luca's instinct was to check Shu's room,

he isn't there.

Luca runs down, grabs his white coat and rushes out the door.

Where is he going?

He sees Shu taking a right and he runs after him. 

Luca decides to keep it low, and he sees Shu,

entering the hospital?

Fuck, Luca knows it's too late. Is it just a checkup?! Is he just gonna get medications!?

The one thing that Luca hoped for was..

him not to get the surgery.

He rushes to the hospital, opening the door with force.

Luca sees Shu showing a note to one of the receptionists and Luca decides to talk to him. He needed to know, why was he there late into the night?

Luca rushes to Shu and grabs his shoulders, making him face him.

Shu's startled.

Why is he here?!

Luca fumed,

"Why are you here?! Shu, please. I know that you have that disease. Please, what are planning to do?!"

Oh. He accidentally said too much. 

Shu's stunned.

He.. knew?

"How do you know that?" Shu said, guilty.

"Doesn't matter! Answer me, please!" Luca was mad and.. sad.

Shu saw that. He saw.. Luca worried.

".. I'm getting the surgery."

Luca froze. He was too late, he hoped for a miracle to come for a month to just tell him what he could do to save him. Guess it wasn't enough.

"I won't stop you, but please. Who is it."

Shu stayed silent. He was able to keep it low from Luca, and now he feels urged to tell him?

Bullshit.

"Shu.." Luca was teary-eyed. He had so many questions but none answered.

Shu stayed silent.

Don't slip up now.

Luca could see Shu was in pain, he had trouble standing up and his breathing pattern was faster than before.

Shit.

"Shu Yamino, enter when you're ready." The nurse who peeked from one of the rooms called.

Shu complied with the nurse who called him. He held onto Luca's hands and set them aside.

Tears fall down from Shu's face and he starts to walk away from Luca.

Luca froze at where he was standing, he wasn't able to do anything.

His friend was about to enter into surgery and it was something he could've prevented.

Luca looks on the ground and he felt like shit.

Shu was about to enter the room but he looks back and told his childhood friend, the person he loved the most;

"I love you, Luca."

Shu enters the room.

Luca heard him.

What?

He couldn't comprehend anything Shu said at the moment. He looks at the room where Shu just entered and it hits him;

It was me, all along.