until the end of time | seungjoo

:𝔱𝔴𝔬:

The weekend arrived. Every weekend meant meeting with parents-getting to spend plenty hours with them, talking, playing, hearing some news about the live in the house, like for example that Jooyeon's dog had finally given birth to 3 small adorable puppies or that the weather here got way nicer and flowers had bloomed on the balcony.

Jooyeon was overjoyed after the little talk with his parents that as soon as they left he rushed to his best friend to discuss with him everything interesting he had heard seconds ago, or share with him his favourite pack of gummies his parents had bought him.

Moments before entering his room, he stopped because he thought he heard something, or actually someone. It was Seungmin and his quiet, muffled cries.

Jooyeon didn't understand what was happening, so he twisted the doorknob gently, first taking a peek at the boy in the room and then finally stepping towards him.

Seungmin was on his bed, his legs were curled under his body, and he was hugging a blue teddy bear in his hands, hiding his pretty face in it. And even now Jooyeon was confused. He had never seen him looking that way! He was red, and his body was trembling.

"They forgot about me," Seungmin whined, revealing the reason behind his loud sobs and bitter tears. "They didn't come today again."

"I'm sure they didn't forget about you, Seungmin." Jooyeon never knew what to do in moments like these, additionally, because it was his first time seeing him this sad, so he just came closer, placed his hand on top of his head and ruffled his hair, trying to get a glimpse of his face.

"No!"

Seungmin's parents were very busy. Seungmin tried to explain to himself that they had work and a little free time so they rarely visited him, but knowing that his other friends' parents also worked and still had time for their kids hurt him very much.

He was certain that his parents loved him-of course, they did, but it still pained him the way he didn't get to spend a lot of time with them. He just wished to see them more. Not even daily, because being in the hospital made it impossible for them, but one visit a week would still do.

And they, for unknown reasons, couldn't even find a few minutes to talk with him every FEW week. It hurt.

Not that Seungmin had been there for years that he knew the frequency of their visits, but still, he was probably the most abandoned out of the rest of the children there.

And he despised the little thought that loved to cross his mind whenever he was upset... There was one girl who liked to tell Seungmin that his parents didn't love him, she made fun of him, because her parents visited her a couple of times a week, and laughed at him whenever he told her that they were going to visit him that day, or even the said week, and they never did.

She found it hilarious, not knowing how hurt Seungmin was.

"Close your ugly mouth," Jooyeon told her off one day, snatching the doll from her hands and throwing it somewhere in the corner of the green room. "You aren't funny at all. You are disgusting, and nobody here likes you!"

The girl then ran away from him, her eyes looking glassy as if she were about to cry. She was not pitied by either Seungmin or Jooyeon, even considering that crying people were Jooyeon's weak spot, and he always cried when he saw someone doing the same.

This time Seungmin was the one crying so he had to restrain himself from shedding tears in front of him, for he couldn't let him think that he believed his words about his parents forgetting about him, because he really didn't believe them. He was sure his parents would get there one day, maybe not today or not even in a few days, but still, someday.

"Maybe they had something important to do today." Jooyeon whispered, tucking the stray lock behind Seungmin's ear. He wanted him to listen to his words and, what's more, think that way as well, but his friend just shook his head left and right and let out a disappointed sigh.

"But everyone else's parents are here."

Jooyeon bit his lower lip, placing his hand gently on Seungmin's shoulder.

"Mine were here too, but they are gone now." He caught the older boy's attention, and soon after, he felt his gaze colliding with his eyes. "So, I'm stuck with you. Lucky me!"

A shy smile crept onto Seungmin's lips, and Jooyeon could swear that his face lit up, despite the tears rolling down his chin. He giggled quietly, letting the teddy bear fall onto the floor, and he nodded at Jooyeon.

"Yes, lucky you." He didn't even see it coming, but his friend decided to hug him; a bit stronger than usual, squeezing his chest very tightly.

He liked Jooyeon so much. He was the only one he thought really enjoyed spending time with. As far as his memory could reach, Seungmin couldn't remember anyone else being there for him when he needed them.

Not even his elementary school friends, and he couldn't lie. He had plenty of them here, but no one was like Jooyeon. There was no way anyone could ever replace him or even come close to being just as amazing as him.

Here, Jooyeon literally made him laugh and smile, even when he was sad and missed home. It was only because of the younger boy that he was able to bear his time here. He could even say that he enjoyed being there because his friend was such a ball of joy and positivity.

No matter what was happening, he had a smile on his face. This expression didn't even vanish from his soft lips when Seungmin told him about his bad examination results.

Maybe not that bad, but the doctor said his asthma attacks were too frequent lately and that his visit there would definitely be longer than planned.

Seungmin felt like crying. He didn't want to be there anymore, and he bit his lower lip, trying to keep his cheeks dry.

Sitting there next to Seungmin, Jooyeon, on the other hand, tried his best to make him giggle by telling him some stupid jokes he remembered his father telling him when he was younger. He couldn't bear to watch his lips curl downward or his eyes avoiding eye contact. It pained him seeing Seungmin like that.

But he was a good comedian, and after a few sentences he heard an uncontrolled chuckle escape his friend's lips.

Seungmin laughed with him (more at the way Jooyeon thought these jokes would make him giggle than because of the fact that they were funny). Yet the laughter didn't last long, and he felt the tears welling in his eyes again.

He could have seen it coming, but he decided to trust Jooyeon's words even though he had a strange hunch towering over his mind.

When they started playing tag in the room, Jooyeon suddenly leaned against the wall, hiding his face in the crook of his raised arm, and when asked by Seungmin, he told him that he needed a moment because his vision had gone dark-and that might have been true-but the little rest he had wasn't enough and soon after he passed out.

Seungmin did the same thing as always; he put him up on the bed, but as time passed, he didn't open his eyes.

He would normally do that after a few seconds-really-it was usually up to a minute that he was unconscious, but this time it took way too long.

Seungmin rushed to the Sister. He was coughing very uncontrollably by the time he reached her, and with some difficulty, he managed to utter that Jooyeon wasn't waking up.

They took him to some place Seungmin didn't know, and he, himself, made his way to his room again, and lying in the bed with his face hidden in the snow-white duvet, he sobbed quietly. Not only because he didn't know what was happening to Jooyeon, but also because he knew his own health got worse. He thought that his asthma would calm down and he would come back home pretty quickly, but no.