PAPER HEARTS || JAKEHOON

LIVE

Doc. Yeon carefully observed Jake, who lay unconscious on the hospital bed, his once vibrant spirit now subdued by the weight of his illness. With a heavy heart, the doctor motioned for the nurses to leave, ensuring privacy for the conversation that needed to take place.

"Sunghoon," Doc. Yeon's voice was calm yet tinged with sorrow as he addressed Jake's companion. Sunghoon's attention snapped to the doctor, a knot of apprehension forming in his stomach.

"Doc. Yeon?" Sunghoon's voice trembled, a sense of foreboding settling over him.

"I think it's time for you to know," Doc. Yeon said solemnly, his gaze meeting Sunghoon's. Sunghoon's heart pounded in his chest, anticipation mingling with dread.

"To know what?" Sunghoon's voice wavered as he awaited the doctor's words.

"Jake doesn't have much time left," Doc. Yeon stated his tone grave. Sunghoon felt as though the air had been knocked out of him, disbelief coursing through his veins.

"Is this some kind of prank?" Sunghoon blurted out, his mind struggling to comprehend the gravity of the situation. A part of him hoped desperately that it was all a cruel joke.

"No, Sunghoon, I'm serious," Doc. Yeon replied, his expression somber. Sunghoon's heart sank as the reality of the situation began to sink in.

"What... what do you mean?" Sunghoon's voice caught in his throat, his fear threatening to overwhelm him.

"Five months ago, before you arrived, Jake was alone, battling leukemia," Doc. Yeon explained, his voice heavy with regret. "He knew then that his time was limited."

Sunghoon's mind raced as he tried to process the information, his thoughts spinning with disbelief and anguish. "But... but why didn't he tell me?" he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

"He didn't want to burden you," Doc. Yeon replied gently, his eyes filled with sympathy. "He wanted to protect you from the pain."

Tears welled up in Sunghoon's eyes as he looked at Jake, a profound sense of loss washing over him. "What... what happens now?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Leukemia has progressed rapidly," Doc. Yeon explained, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Despite our efforts, we couldn't stop it. Jake's condition is terminal."

Sunghoon felt as though the ground had been pulled out from beneath him, the weight of the news crushing him. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he looked at Jake, his heart breaking at the thought of losing him.

"It's either he'll be in a coma," Doc. Yeon continued, "Or..." He trailed off, leaving the unspoken words hanging in the air, heavy with sorrow.

Sunghoon's mind whirled with a whirlwind of emotions, each more devastating than the last. He felt a surge of helplessness engulfs him, knowing that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't change the cruel hand fate had dealt them.

As he gazed at Jake's peaceful face, a profound sense of sadness washed over him, mingled with a fierce determination to cherish every moment they had left together. Despite the overwhelming despair threatening to consume him, Sunghoon knew he couldn't give in to despair, not when Jake needed him the most.

With a trembling hand, Sunghoon reached out to grasp Jake's cold, limp fingers, holding on as if his touch alone could ward off the looming specter of death. He whispered words of love and reassurance, his voice choked with tears as he poured out his heart to the man he held dearer than life itself.

In that moment, as they clung to each other amidst the suffocating weight of uncertainty, Sunghoon vowed to be Jake's rock, to stand by his side until the very end. For in the depths of despair, they found solace in each other's arms, a beacon of hope in the darkness that threatened to consume them whole.

Jake woke up from his deep sleep. He immediately smiled at Sunghoon but seeing Sunghoon crying ruined him. "why are you crying?" 

Sunghoon's heart skipped a beat as he met Jake's gaze, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. He reached out to brush a stray lock of hair from Jake's forehead, his touch was gentle yet tremulous with emotion.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Sunghoon's voice cracked, his words laden with the weight of unspoken fears and unanswered questions. He couldn't bear the thought of Jake suffering in silence, facing his mortality alone while Sunghoon remained blissfully unaware.

Jake's smile faltered as he sensed the gravity of Sunghoon's words, the light in his eyes dimming with remorse. He reached out to cup Sunghoon's cheek, his touch warm and comforting against the coolness of Sunghoon's skin. "Tell you what?" 

"Don't act stupid, Jake. You know what I mean" Jake sighed and looked at Sunghoon. His heart started beating so fast. The scenery made his heart shattered.

"I didn't want to burden you," Jake whispered, his voice barely above a hoarse whisper. "I thought... I thought it would be easier if you didn't know."

Sunghoon's heart clenched at Jake's admission, a surge of anguish coursing through him at the thought of Jake bearing such a heavy burden alone. He leaned into Jake's touch, seeking solace in the warmth of their shared embrace.

"I've always wanted you to live," Sunghoon said.

"And I've always wanted to live" Jake replied.