SEQUEL TO HOLD ME
"it's only human."
those are words that stick in the minds of eight boys who have found themselves closer than ever because of a year spent at the same college.
minsung, seungin, changhyunlix... and chan :')
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Having set the dough out to rise, Chan suddenly had a breakthrough moment of clearheadedness as he washed the flour off his hands, in which he realized that he really ought to check that he was actually going to be able to visit. Now that he looked at the time, after getting his ingredients and making his dough, it'd gotten a bit late in the day— and he still needed more time to let the bread rise and bake... so at that point, maybe there wouldn't be time. It'd suck to get his hopes up any higher if not. Ah... maybe he'd just forget the bread and head back to the grocery store to pick up some flowers on his way to the hospital.
Realizing that all this determining was in unnecessary, time-wasting advance, he simply called Jisung.
"...Hello?"
"Hey, Ji. Just wanted to check in on you all and, uh, ask if your mom's feeling up to another visitor today?"
It was quiet on the other end. Dead quiet... until Chan heard a faint sighing sound, followed by a sniffle.
A pain that Chan wasn't used to struck his chest. A hollowness; a desperation unlike anything he'd known before. He brought his hand down on the counter to support himself; white-knuckling the cool granite.
No. No, please no.
"...Can I sleep over tonight?" came Jisung's wavering reply, after that thousand-year pause.
"O-of course. Jisung, I'm... I'm so sorry."
"Thanks, hyung... um... we'll probably be there in an hour or so. I still have some paperwork to fill out... I also have a life insurance claim to file. Apparently she started paying for it about a year ago."
So she knew. She knew her time was running short. Chan clutched at his chest as he felt it clench. He forced the tension back down his throat with a harsh swallow, in an effort to soften his voice as he asked, "You sure you don't want to just sort it all out later?"
"No. I just want to get it over with. I don't want to come back here. Ever."
"Okay. See you soon, Ji. And, again... I'm sorry."
"...Please don't say that."
"I—" Chan was at a loss. What on earth was he to say? Nothing could express this incredible wave of absolute despair that had rushed over him and left him drowning in an instant. But something had to be given to this poor boy, who must have been feeling it ten times stronger. All he could think to offer was: "Well... love you." Chan knew he couldn't say another word; his voice was already getting shaky, and if he tried to speak just once more, it'd completely fall apart.
"Love you too, hyung. Bye."
Chan could barely hang up fast enough. As soon as he hit that button, his phone fell from his limp hand and his knees slowly gave; he sunk down against the counter.
