Prince's Gamble | HAOBIN

21. Don't Leave

"Taerae!" Zhanghao cried out, rushing to him. He began to push hard against the rock but it didn't seem to budge. It's heavy weight would be crushing Taerae underneath, and Zhanghao needed to get it off him soon if he wanted Taerae to live.

"Zhanghao.." Taerae said, his voice hoarse, "Stop it.. it's too heavy." 

"Shut up." Zhanghao said, tears beginning to form. 

"Zhanghao." Taerae whispered, but when Zhanghao didn't look at him he repeated himself, "Zhanghao!" He said, fiercely.

Zhanghao was so close to moving the rock off him but he stopped, looking down at Taerae. Taerae sighed, "I can feel it—I'm going to leave soon but," He attempted a deep breath in, "You have to win, Zhanghao, remember? You have to win for me." 

Zhanghao felt the tears wetting his eyelashes now, dripping onto the ground. 

"I'll aways be with you, annoying you.. even if you can't see me." Taerae smiled. 

Zhanghao began to push at the rock again, "Stop it," He said, breathlessly, "Stop talking like that, Taerae. I've almost got the rock off you." 

Taerae paused before gazing at Zhanghao, "I love you, Zhanghao." 

And then the light in Taerae's eyes went out. 

His body grew stiff as Zhanghao gave one last push, hearing something in his jacket break, but he dismissed it as the rock rolled off of Taerae's body. 

"No.. Taerae.." Zhanghao cried, kneeling down to look at him. However, as much as Zhanghao wanted to deny, Taerae's body already felt cold and his eyes didn't flash with life anymore. Suddenly, the siren went off and the red lights flashed. 

It was the end of round three. 

The lava stopped splashing and the lava rocks disappeared from the sky. As the mountain began to descend like magic, it shrank back into the earth until it was the same level as the lower ground. Not waiting for a second longer, Zhanghao wiped his tears before hoisting Taerae onto his back and taking off. 

He didn't know how he remembered the way he had came, but soon enough, Zhanghao found himself nearing the stone door. On the other side stood Gyuvin, Ricky, Gunwook and Hanbin as per usual. Bursting through the door, Zhanghao ignored their remarks of shock as he laid Taerae's body on the ground. 

Looking up at Hanbin, his eyes pleaded. "Hanbin. Do something. Please." He said. 

Hanbin crouched down beside him, eyes dreading. "I-I can try, but there's no spell that can bring people back from the dead, Zhanghao. So, if he's gone, he's gone." Hanbin told him. 

Zhanghao's eyes welled up again, "Just try anything, I don't care." He begged Hanbin. 

Hanbin nodded, pulling out his quill as he drew a large symbol over Taerae's chest. 

"What's he doing-" Gyuvin started, but Zhanghao silenced him. 

The mark lingered on Taerae's chest before fading and disappearing. Zhanghao felt his spark of hope fading as well as Hanbin continued to draw, over and over again, but every time he did, the symbol would fade and then disappear. 

 "No.." Zhanghao sounded under his breath as Hanbin stopped and Zhanghao collapsed into his arms. 

"I'm so sorry, Zhanghao." Hanbin said. Around them, Gunwook held a curled up fist to his mouth, tears welling up in his eyes too while Gyuvin and Ricky watched with grieving faces. Zhanghao cried silently as his tears drenched Hanbin's shoulder. 

Taerae was gone.

—

It had taken Hanbin much effort to get Zhanghao to stand again, as well as to bring him back to his room. The guards had taken Taerae's body away, and Gyuvin, Ricky and Gunwook had left Hanbin to take care of Zhanghao. 

As much as maybe he hadn't particularly liked Taerae, Hanbin had tried so hard to bring Taerae back. But the mere healing spell was meant for wounds and cuts, not for bringing someone back to life. He had tried so hard, because no matter what, it was the desperate, fallen look in Zhanghao's eyes that had made him try harder. 

And it was that look along with Zhanghao's sobs which had made Hanbin shed tears too as Zhanghao's body trembled in his arms. 

Taking Zhanghao back to his room, they sat on the bed for a good while, Zhanghao's cries filling the silence. Hanbin knew it wasn't the time to talk so he just waited, arms still around Zhanghao, until the cries dried out and stopped.

Zhanghao's eyes red and puffy, Hanbin took him to the bathroom before running the shower, handing him a towel and leaving him in there. This situation felt so similar to that of after the second round. With both of them, Zhanghao held felt overwhelming emotions that left Hanbin to attend to him. 

Zhanghao had been in the shower for quite a while, Hanbin about to go into the bathroom to make sure he was alright, before he heard the shower turn off. When Zhanghao came out of the bathroom, the tears had stopped and the swelling in his eyes had gone down but the look on his face seemed dark and mournful. 

"Oh, Zhanghao." Hanbin said after seeing his expression. "Come here." He said, before sitting on the bed, leaning against the pillows. Zhanghao ruffled his hair with the towel once more before going to sit next to Hanbin. 

Their legs spread forward but their backs bent against the cushions, Hanbin held an arm out as Zhanghao leaned into him, his head resting against his chest. As Hanbin lowered his arm around Zhanghao, Zhanghao spoke, "It's all my fault." He said. "If I had been stronger, I would've been able to push the rock off him in time." 

Hanbin shook his head, "Don't blame yourself, Zhanghao. What happened, happened, and as harsh as this sounds, there's nothing you can do anymore. It's finished." 

Zhanghao sniffed, "Then, why Taerae? Why did it have to be him."   

Hanbin looked down at Zhanghao, "The universe isn't always kind. It's horrible and cruel to the best of us." He paused, "Maybe Taerae will be reborn in another universe—another universe where he'll awake happy and live a life of joy." 

Zhanghao gazed up at him. "I hope you're right. I really do."