Flowers in the Lung | Lee Juyeon

𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓰𝓾𝓮

᠃ ⚘᠂ ⚘ ˚ ⚘ ᠂ ⚘ ᠃

'Hanahaki Disease: It's a rare disease that is brought upon unrequited love. Could last for months or year. Within that time span the victim is to be known coughing up flower petals. Overtime it becomes more and more painful, eventually the victim will be coughing up full flowers mixed with blood. If rejected by the special someone their lungs will be overcome by roots and they will start suffocating and choke on flower petals and full flowers till their death. There is two ways to get rid of this disease. One is by receiving the requited love back from that special someone. The second option is surgery, the disease will be removed fully but the victim will no longer have those feelings for that special someone nor will ever receive them again.' 

Hanahaki disease, that's a disease not to be messed with. The cases seem to be low but it can happened to anyone. Even me. That feeling of rejection is worse then dying though. I know it second hand. Who can love someone to that extent of pain? I could never.

"Chailaiii. Earth. To. Chailai." I overhear my friend saying. Obviously in a desperate attempt to get my attention. 

"Yes Kevin? I'm here, on Earth." I reply with a sarcastic tone. Kevin has been my friend since grade 2. We met on the playground while arguing over which hot wheels were whose. We still argue about it even now.

"What are youu reading?" He said dragging out some of the words. I just show him the book front. "A medical book? Aww I never knew you wanted to be a doctor" He said all snarky, knowing what I actually want to be when I'm older.

"No, I'm reading about this rare disease. Hanahaki Disease, I think that's how you pronounce it. Have you heard about it?" I answer, showing the page more towards him as he sits next to me. He shook his head. "Apparently it's about unrequited love. Only a few people get it though" I mention.

"For the amount of guys you have loved before, surprised you haven't caught it yet" He laughed nudging me a little. I just rolled my eyes towards him.

"Strong love, that is what's requited for one to take on the disease. I never felt passionately for anyone I loved before" I tried explaining it more. He closed the book on me. "Hey I was still reading" I complained then I caught him staring at something, or someone. I look in his direction and see a person.

"Isn't that Juyeon?" He questions while still staring at the person. I look at him with a puzzled look.

"Juyeon? Who is that" I question "Never seen him before." Then he turns around and catches us starting at him. Kevin looks away but I still keep staring. My heart fluttered a little bit. We made eye contact. I just smiled at him. But my efforts were shot down when he just turned and walked away.

"Juyeon, he was always a grade above us." Kevin finishes. I tried remembering a Juyeon but his name just wouldn't cross my mind. "You used to have a huge crush on him girl" he adds. If I had this huge crush on him why can't I remember anything about him.

"Must be someone else, the crush, my crush. I do not remember him at all" I mention. I check the time and realized it was late. "Kevin, I got to go. I'll text you when I get home" I say as I'm packing my stuff and rushing to leave.

On my way out I bump into Juyeon by accident. "Shit, I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there and I am in a bit of a rush." I'm saying as I'm trying to gather myself.

"Chailai?" He questions. I just look up at him confused.

"How do you know my name?" I ask.

"Oh, my friends. You were a grade below right?"

"Yeah, all through high school" I'm just staring at my feet. Then I check the time again. "This chat has been fun, but I really got to go." I say walking past him.

I make my way to the front door and I hear yelling. 'Here we go again' I whisper under my breath.

"Where could she be. This is why we give her a curfew and she still doesn't follow it" a male voice shouts.

"I don't know what you want me to do. She is OUR daughter. The curfew was YOUR decision. SHE IS 19" a female voice shouted back.

"Sorry, I got lost track of time" I said to them breaking the fight. My father just looks at me with disappointment and my mother looks at me with sympathy.

"Just go to your room. I want your phone too" My father demanded

"But, I'm literally nine-" 

"I still pay for your phone bill, it's my property" My father shouted cutting my words off. I just hand him my phone and go to me room. Great can't text Kevin back. He will understand though.

This isn't my first rodeo. Kevin will get the memo if I didn't text back. I just go on my laptop and start looking for more jobs to work. College and job hunting are my main focus. I just want out of this house. 

While I'm on my computer I look up who 'Lee Juyeon' is. I found a facebook page and scroll through it. I noticed a weird photo. It was of him and me, I think grade 10. 

I do not remember taking the photo. But Juyeon is cute. Wait, the book said during surgery someone forgets everything about that special someone. I would never get surgery to forgot my love for someone though. Would I have? Did I. I don't have a scar of the sorts.

I felt a sharp pain in my chest. Then I felt like I couldn't breath. Like I'm suffocating. I rush to my bathroom and cough up flower petals. I remember now. I remember everything. I have once experienced this pain. I shouldn't be feeling it for the same person though. Was my love for him really that strong? I loved Lee Juyeon before.