FATE

32. Finale

Sunlight peeked through the blinds, painting stripes across Won's face. He stirred, reaching for Jeong next to him, but the other side of the bed was cold.

"Jeong hyung?" Won called out, his voice thick with sleep.

Silence answered him. He grabbed his phone, a flurry of unanswered texts sent to Jeong already displayed on the screen. Worry gnawed at him as he got out of bed.

"Hyung?" Won called down the stairs, using the respectful term for his bandmate Eun-hee.

Eun-hee appeared in the doorway, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Morning, Won! Jeong just stepped out to get something special for you."

Won relaxed slightly. "Special? Is there an occasion?"

"Your upcoming fourth anniversary, silly! Jeong's a softie, remember?" Eun-hee chuckled.

"Oh gosh, Jeong Hyung you are still as thoughtful as ever." Won smiled, warmth blooming in his chest.

Suddenly, the sound of the television downstairs drew their attention. Riki, their youngest member, was just switching it on. A news report blared to life, the announcer's voice serious.

"There's been a fatal accident on the main highway earlier this morning," the announcer reported. "A young man has been identified as a member of a popular K-pop group..."

Won felt a prickle of unease crawls up his spine. He couldn't explain it, but a cold dread settled in his stomach. Ignoring the news report, he dialed Jeong's number again. It rang and rang, but there was no answer.

"Jeong?" Won whispered, his voice thick with panic.

Eun-hee's smile vanished, replaced by a look of dawning horror. His phone rang, the ringtone sharp in the tense silence. He answered, his face draining of color as he listened.

"Hyung?" Won's voice cracked. "What's wrong?"

Eun-hee hung up, his face pale. "Won..." he began, his voice trembling.

Just then, Won's phone buzzed again. It was their manager, his voice frantic. The news report... Jeong... the accident...

Won ripped himself away, tears blurring his vision. "No! No, it can't be!" He dialed Jeong's number again, a desperate plea echoing in his heart. "Pick up, Jeong. Please pick it up!"

But there was only the same relentless ringing. A choked sob escaped his lips, morphing into a torrent of tears.

They rushed to the hospital, a tense silence hanging heavily in the air. Won, pale and trembling, was surrounded by his bandmates, their arms a fragile barrier against the storm raging inside him.

Outside the ICU doors, Jeong's family and them waited, a collective breath held. Won swayed on his feet, tears streaming down his face. "Jeong Hyung, please wake up," he pleaded into the sterile air. "Fight, please. I'm waiting for you."

Hours bled into an agonizing eternity. Finally, the doctor emerged, his face etched with sorrow.

How is he, doctor?" Jeong's mom tearfully asked.

The doctor shook his head sadly. "We did everything we could, but... he lost too much blood in the accident. I'm so sorry."

Won's world shattered. "No......... love..... P-please w-wake up! D-don't do this to me. D-don't l-leave me! Love...... h-hyunggg" A heart-wrenching scream tore from his throat as he collapsed, his cries swallowed by the suffocating silence of the hospital hallway. All around him, tears fell freely. Jeong, their sunshine, their brother, was gone... forever.

******

A choked sob ripped through the silence of the practice room, echoing off the floor. Suddenly, a gentle tap on his shoulder sent Hae-won lurching upright, a scream tearing from his throat. Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring the already unfamiliar surroundings.

A gentle hand on his shoulder startled him further.

"Are you okay?" a concerned voice asked.

Hae-won blinked, momentarily disoriented. "Thank you, hyung," he stammered, wiping his tears. "I just had a dream and it feels so real."

A chuckle softened the man's voice. "You were screaming, and tears were falling while you were asleep."

"Oh, no, I must have looked awful," Hae-won mumbled, embarrassed.

"Not at all, you're like a cutie cat," the stranger smiled amusingly. "By the way, I'm Park Hyeon-jeong. Jeong for short. What's your name?"

"I'm Yang Hae-won. Won for short, hyung." Hae-won extended his hand, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Jeong took his hand firmly. "Welcome to the agency, Won. Looks like we'll be going through training together."

FIN