A Bittersweet Smile

The Final Call

Se Hun's POV

"Hello, Seokie hyung. I missed you already."

I heard a deep, but weak chuckle from the other line. I wonder how he's doing.

"You always say that every time I call Se Hun."

"Just because it's true."

"Well, I miss you too. All of you. I saw your live performance a while ago. It was great. You really slayed on stage."

I heard some coughs from the line and figured out that maybe his condition worsened.

"Hyung, are you alright? You sound so weak."

"Nah. I just caught a fever this morning. But the doctor said that I would be fine. I am strong after all."

That's Seokie hyung for you.

"Anyway, I wanted to ask a favor from you, if that's okay."

"Hyung, you know I would do anything for you. With the exception of marrying you, of course."

"Oh, really? Well, can you visit me? I kinda had the urge to at least hug you."

"Sure thing. But, I need to sneak out of my schedules first. Where are you anyway? Are you still living there?"

"No. I'll text you the address since you won't be able to memorize it."

"Sure thing. I'll text you when I'll be able to visit. Maybe I can do it within this week or the next."

"Okay. Take care, Hunnie. Take care of your hyungs for me. I love you."

"I love you too, Seokie Hyung."

---

Lu Han's POV

"I love you too, Seokie hyung."

Seokie? Min Seok? Xiu Min?  Baozi?

He's talking to. . . Xiu Min? How? Why?

Before I got caught by Se Hun, I hid behind the folding divider of the restroom and the entrance to the kitchen. When Se Hun was already out of sight, I released the breath that I didn't think that I was holding in.

Se Hun was talking with Xiu Min? Since when did Se Hun start keeping this as a secret? Why would he? How could he?

Here we were, fighting the urge to break down because of his departure and Se Hun didn't even let us talk to him? Or even ask him why? Why he left SM. Why he left the group. Why he left us. Why he left me.

I felt anger rise. But I know that if I confront Se Hun now, he won't tell me anything and avoid me. That would make finding him difficult. I need to find him, no matter how difficult it may be. I just need to.

I returned to the table with a mask on. I need to hide the fact that I heard Se Hun and Xiu Min talking over the phone.

"H-hyung. Where did you go? They said that you followed me. But I didn't see you outside."

Oh, yes, you didn't. Because you were too busy hiding Xiu Min from all of us.

I tried to form a smile that would look natural. To them.

"Well, I got lost and entered the kitchen instead."

"O-oh. I see."

The awkward atmosphere was back. No one dared to break it nor shift it. Our manager called Su Ho and told us to come back already. The fan signing was cancelled because the weather just worsened from a small drizzle to a heavy rain.

---

When we entered the dorm, everyone went directly to their rooms. Baek Hyun and Chan Yeol didn't make up, yet. Baek Hyun went to Chen's dorm and Chan Yeol stayed at their room.

I took a shower and tried to formulate a plan to snatch Se Hun's phone when the text from Xiu Min comes. When I was sure that I cooled my head already, I turned the shower off and wore my sweater and shorts. I passed by Chen's room and heard loud sobs.

Chen is crying?

I took a peak at the opened door and saw Baek Hyun crying on Chen's shoulder.

"Why is he like that? He knows that I love Min Seok hyung very much."

"Maybe he was just hurt. You know how prideful he can be. But you also know that he also loved hyung just like you did."

"He was there to witness the pain that hyung was suffering with his disease. Leaving the group was hyung's only choice. And all of us knew that. Except for Han hyung."

I didn't notice that I already opened the door. Shock was written on Chen's face and panic  was on Baek Hyun's.

"What are you two talking about? I don't know about what?"

"H-hyung. You got it all wrong. We were not talki-"

"Shut the fuck up, Jong Dae. I clearly heard what Baek Hyun said. What is this disease that you're talking about?"

"If you already heard it, then there is no point in denying it."

I turned around and saw Lay, and Kris with their arms crossed. So they also knew.

"You knew? All of you knew? All this time? No.. I don't think that's the right question. Am I the only one who doesn't know about this?"

They looked straight at me and nodded wearing a cold hard expression.

I felt dizzy. I saw the others faces. They were spinning. No, to be precise, my vision is spinning. I felt my breath stopped. No, it was stuck. My chest hurts. My body is numb. 

Before everything went black, I saw Se Hun at the door. He was wearing a guilty, yet relieved expression.

"I'm sorry, Xiao Lu."