sick - im jaebum

twenty-five :: end

subin couldn't breath. she felt like there were five body suffocating her all at once.

because she was.

the whole time leading up to her getting released, she was thinking about how amazing it was going to be; out in the real world, no specialists to talk to every day. albeit, she would have to visit the rehab center every so often for a checkup, but she was fine with that. she thought she would be fine leaving this hellish place.

mark, bambam, jackson, youngjae, and even jinyoung had her swallowed in a group hug. yugyeom stayed separate from everyone, not quite sure what was happening.

"i'm going to cry, stop," subin choked out. "this isn't goodbye, okay? i'll come visit all the time. besides, most of you will get out soon, and we can meet up outside."

mark, for sure, was getting released in a month. his parents moved to korea from LA to make sure he'll have a place to stay when he gets out. bambam had to gain two more pounds, and he'd be released. jackson's new medication was really helping him. jinyoung has been learning to control his cleaning urges. youngjae also has been on a new medication that has practically eliminated all of his tics.

but that left yugyeom.

not long after subin got the good news that she was being released, yugyeom got the unfortunate news that his disorder was incurable. within a month at the most, he would have the symptoms of late alzheimer's. it was especially difficult for subin to say goodbye to him, because he'd never remember her.

subin gave the five boys surrounding her pecks on the cheek (and jinyoung didn't even freak out) and she went to sit next to yugyeom.

"hey," she said, patting his knee. "i know you don't remember me, but my name is park subin. we've been in rehab together for a handful of years now, and it breaks my heart to see your condition get progressively worse. can i give you something?"

yugyeom had a confused look on his face, which was the only expression he seemed to have nowadays. he nodded nonetheless; even if he couldn't remember subin, he could still tell that she was a genuinely nice person without a mean bone in her body.

subin placed a simple leather bracelet in yugyeom's upturned palm. it had a single, circular silver charm on it. when he looked closely, he could see initials carved in perfect cursive.

p.s.b. + k.y.g.

"at least if you won't remember me, you'll still have this as a part of me."

yugyeom looked up at subin to see tears quietly spilling out of her eyes. he didn't know what to do so he smiled softly and said a thank you.

before her tears turned into heart wrenching sobs, subin got up and gave everyone one last hug. jaebum was waiting by the elevator; he had given his farewells before subin, which were very very brief compared to hers. when she met up with him, she turned to her friends one more time.

"i'll see you all on the other side, alright?" he called. they all called back words of confirmation. 

just as subin was about to step into the elevator, she heard one last shout, "i love you park subin!"

she turned around to see mark with his hands still cupped around his mouth. that was the loudest she had ever heard him speak. her heart hurt.

"i love you too mark tuan!"

the elevator door closed and the floodgates opened behind her eyes.

jaebum immediately brought her into a hug, letting her soak his grey t-shirt with her tears. he rubbed her back. he didn't have to say anything, and subin didn't want him to. just him offering comfort was all she needed.

by the time the elevator reached the bottom, subin's tears were dried, but the spot on jaebum's shoulder wasn't. he carried their pitiful excuse for luggage, which was only one bag a piece. he stored them in the car that was waiting for them. they were in their own separate worlds as they rode to jaebum's house, and they were both more than content with it. 

"what are your plans once we get settled?" jaebum asked amidst the silence.

"i've been thinking about that, actually," subin said, looking at jaebum who was already looking at her, "i need to find a job, first of all."

"where were you thinking? a waitress, secretary, or what?"

"well, i really like fashion. all i read in rehab were fashion magazines, so i was hoping to get a job a boutique. i know it won't be a glorious job or anything, but i want to be surrounded by clothes."

"surrounded my clothes, got it. i'll keep that in mind for birthday and christmas gifts," jaebum teased before he thought further into it. "i've just realized that we don't know our birthdays."

"april thirteenth, ninety-five."

"so, technically, i'm older than you and you should be using honorifics with me, right?"

"i'd rather live in the streets, jaebum."

before the couple knew it, they were in front of jaebum's house again. unlike the first time subin saw the house, she felt different this time. as she looked at the ultra modern house, she knew that this was home. then again, rehab was home too, but only because of the people there. this was the house where, hopefully, she would live for a long time.

as she became consumed in her thoughts, jaebum walked up behind her and slung an arm around her shoulders.

"what's got you in dreamland, babe?" jaebum asked.

subin scrunched up her face at the name. she wasn't a person to like pet names, she realized. she'd have to tell him later. 

"this house is my home now," subin said, resting her head on his shoulder.

"because i'm your home."

"on second thought, i think i'll ask a nice old neighbor-man to live with him. that'll be my home."

jaebum wrapped his arms around subin before she actually went and walked up to a neighbor's house and asked to live with them.

"this is the first day of the rest of our lives," jaebum said.

"as cheesy as that is, you're right im jaebum."

"hey, did you know that i love you?"

"yes, jaebum, and i love you too."

~

IT'S COMPLETED LETTUCE HAVE A MOMENt OF SILENCE

i have questions and i'll look forward to reading the answers >:)

((i want you guys to read about things you love, so i will take your comments and try my best to incorperate them into the sequel))

what was your favorite part of the book?

least favorite?

anything you want to see more of in the sequel?

any new character you'd like to see in the sequel? like a member from another group?

!on a serious note, from the bottom of my heart, i want to thank every single one of you readers. yes, even you ghost readers out there. i love writing, and it brings much so much joy and elation to see people enjoying the things that i've written. i look forward to reading all of your guys' comments, laughing maniacally when you freak out over a plot twist, feeling over the moon when you all get happy over something i wrote, when you laugh at a stupid joke i put in. thank you so much for reading!

until we meet again in the sequel...

goodbye!