strawberry shortcake

67. happily ever after?

A month.

A whole month had passed and Minho hasn't awaken. Jisung was sitting by his side any chance he got.

Their work was a chaos, now that Ryukzaki was dead.

Since Jisung was his only left family, all his belongings automatically went to him. It wasn't much, mostly what his father had before so he was familiar with his inheritage.

However the whole mission sent Jisung into a complete depressive spiral. If not knowing whether his lover will survive another day or not wasn't enough, he was completely unable to be around Yongbok or Hyunjin, feeling such deep guilt and shame it would kill him if he had to as much as look into their eyes and see the hatred they must've had for him.

However he hadn't cried since the day Minho died. It felt as if there were no tears left to cry. Not being able to let himself properly mourn only left him feel that much more broken.

Everything was bottled up inside of him. The pain, the guilt, the anger. It was only a matter of time before they resurfaced and made him act up in some way.

He sat by Minho's side as he did everyday, holding his hand and mentally telling him everything he wanted to. He didn't have the strength to speak up out loud and he doubted Minho could hear him anyways.

Like this he liked to imagine Minho was able to hear his thoughts somehow.

Maybe he was going crazy... at the very least he definitely felt like it.

Jisung flinched when he felt a hand on his shoulder which snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Dinner's ready." Chan's soft voice cut through the silence the younger exhaling deeply at the disturbance. "Not hungry."

"You have to eat Sung. Come on." He said in a soft tone and tried lifting him up by his arm, but Jisung just shook his head and weakly swatted his hand away from him.

"I can't, I'd throw it up. Just leave me here to die with him." He muttered, lying his chin on the mattress right next to Minho's arm and staring up at him.

Even like this he looked angelic, out of this world. His skin and lips although rather pale appeared so soft, his long lashes gently resting on his cheeks as if he was simply taking a nap.

He was still beautiful and Jisung regretted not telling him enough when he had the chance.

"Oh don't be like this sweetheart, Minho's not going to die and neither will you..." Chan sighed, sitting next to him. He wrapped his arm around the younger's waist and pulled him closer.

Jisung's eyes stung at the warmth radiating off Chan and how nice it felt being hugged again.

He really wanted to cry, but no tears made themselves present. They just made his eyes sting painfully as if punishing him for all the pain he caused.

"How is Minho doing?" Chan asked softly, knowing he was still Jisung's favorite thing to talk about earning another small sigh out the latter.

"Beomgyu said that the wound is healing well, but it doesn't look like he'll wake up soon.. if ever."

"Even Gyu could be wrong, don't let it crash your hopes. You'll have him back soon, I'm sure of it." Chan tried lifting up his spirits.