Hanahaki - BTS Fanfic #Wattys2017

Try Something New

My eyes fluttered open, and I winced at the glare of the sun through the car window. Sitting up, I look over, seeing Yoongi glancing my way.

"Hey, Gi," he says quietly. "I guess my high ran down after I took a nap."

"What time is it?" I ask groggily, sitting up a bit straighter and adjusting to the light. 

"7 AM or something," Yoongi says. "I let us park by a McDonalds, and I took a nap. I guess it all ran down or something, but I ended up throwing up a bit and had to pull over."

My eyes glanced down at the petals scattered across the floor of the driver's seat. I sigh, "Jesus Christ, Yoongi. You know that's a hazard, right? We probably could've died. You should've just woken me up."

Yoongi stays silent. "We're only a few minutes away from a hotel in Daegu."

"I thought we'd stay at your parents' or something," I mumble.

He shakes his head. "I have no idea what I was thinking, but there's no way I can see them again."

My eyes widen, "What? Why not?"

He sighs, his eyes blank as he takes a turn. "My mom would know within a second that I'm... sick. She got the disease herself, and the night after Dad left."

"Oh God, I had no idea Yoongi-ah," I say sympathetically. "That's... awful."

"I was only 3 at the time," Yoongi mutters. "I didn't believe her. I thought the flowers were just a myth, and I went away to college believing she was a liar. I don't think I can face her again after that, and I know she'd simply gloat or find me pathetic with this irony. For a man, no less."

I place my hand on his arm, giving him an affectionate squeeze. "It's not your fault, Yoongi. We can't control our own emotions, that's the cruel thing. Sure, we can get rid of it through surgery, but it comes with a price. It's up to you if that's a decision you want to make."

He shakes his head vigorously. "No way. I want to go throughout life no longer being able to love."

I shrug, leaning back in the seat and staring blankly at the road. "That's your choice, and I'll respect whatever path you want to take. Just know the people who really care for you will ultimately not judge you for the decision you make and will want what's best for you. Your mom might understand. She's had the hanahaki disease before, you never know."

Yoongi hums quietly at that. "Yeah. Maybe one day, but not on this trip. I think... I think I want to simply forget for a few days, or even a few hours or anything, that I'm not cursed with this damn disease. Seeing my mother after all this time... it won't help the coping process. Not for me at least."

"Got it," I nod. "I'm here with you as you get through this. It'll be fine, one way or another."

I spot the ghost of a smile on his lips with those words.

-

It becomes fun. It's the same routine. We stay at a hotel, paying with the cash and credit cards we took with us. We make our way to Busan, sometimes veering off the path and visiting interesting small towns, or going to places that seem to be attractions. We were traveling buddies, but I started to feel my heart thump a bit faster with each stare Yoongi gave me. Even as I stared at him on the bed we would share (since we couldn't afford a room with more than one bed), I wondered how someone so beautiful could be so impossibly broken already.

He'd sleep a lot more than I'd think he would. Like, a lot. He threw up often, and I'd coax him or lull him to rest again. When he wasn't sleeping or throwing up, I'd drag him to different destinations and such, going to the few sites in the tiny towns and such. Then we'd take turns driving and such, letting the other catch up on sleep.