Love Marathon [Completed]

He Was Gone (Part 2)

Forth's POV

It hurts me seeing both my best friend and my lover break into pieces by grief.

I was grieving for him too. N'Yo, he was still so young. He was only twenty-seven. He still had a long way to go and a bright future, but the illness took away everything, leaving behind the sorrow and pain.

He was like a little brother to me. When he knew about me and Beam, he was the first one showing us the support we need. He was the one who encouraged us and told us not to give up on each other, no matter what happen.

Tears filling my eyes, blurring my vision.

But I remind myself that I can't break into pieces like them. I need to be strong. Beam needs me. I need to be strong for Beam.

Looking down at Beam who is crying like a baby in my arms, I know he is not in the condition to pass the box to Ming. As his boyfriend, it's my duty to complete the task for him.

I carry him to our bedroom and tuck him in our bed. I plant a kiss on his forehead before leaving him. He is still crying when I leave. I couldn't bear leaving him alone, especially when he is in this state. But I have to.

Walking back to the living room, looking at my best friend. He is sitting lifelessly on the floor with pale face and a pair of puffy red eyes.

My heart wrings with pity. I can imagine how painful it is to lose the one you love.

I take in a deep breath and walk to the coffee table where the box is placed. I pick up the box and walk to Ming.

I squat down in front of him and extend my arms towards him with the box lying on my open palms.

"We were told to deliver this box to you by Yo. He wanted you to have it."

Without a word, he reaches for the box and hugs it tightly against his chest.

With some struggles and a little help from me, he manages to get on his feet and stumbles towards the door.

I follow closely behind him with the fear of him falling down. I stop him before he can turn the knob and walks out.

I demand, "Give me your car key. You are not fit to drive."

".... I am fine..." He says with a voice as cold as death.

"No. You are not. Give me. You can grab a cab home. I will drive your car back to your house tomorrow morning." I insist.

Holding the box against his chest with one hand, he reaches into his pocket with another. He throws the key to me, turns the knob and walks out.

I'm worried about him, but I can't leave the house. Someone in here needs me. And that 'someone' is my first priority.

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Ming's POV

I didn't take a cab home as what Forth told me to. I just walk, with no destination in mind. I don't know where I want to go, or should I say I have nowhere to go.

I feel lost. I feel my whole world collapse right in front of my eyes and I don't have the ability to stop it. I just... watch it collapse right in front of me.

Still hugging the box tightly against my chest, I walk and walk. I don't know how long I have walked. I lose count of time and I didn't see where I am walking. I just walk.

Then I stop and look up. Subconsciously, I have walked to the place where I last seen him. It's also the place where Yo first confessed to me, asking me whether he can be my bride.

Walking to the spot where I sat on the last time I was here with Yo, I sit down on the same bench with the box on my lap.

It's a shoe-box sized box with cute bears all over it. It's Yo's style. Yo likes cute little stuffs.

I lift up the lid of the box and there is a letter with my name on it. I put the letter aside and I cry when I see the contents inside the box.

It...it's our memories. He... keeps... the things we shared. The donkey cards we played when we were kids, the pen I bought him on his sixteenth birthday, the bookmark he...he stole from me, all the birthday cards I made for him and a photo album with our photos in it.

Weeping silently, I open the letter and read.

To the one I love,

There is so much I want to say, but when it comes to writing it down onto a paper, I don't know exactly what to say. Funny, right?

I'm sorry. I broke my promise. Remember that pinky promise we made when I was ten. I promised that I won't leave you, but I didn't keep my promise. I leave you, not once, but twice and this time is forever. Sorry.

I love you. I never regret in loving you. If there is any regret, I guess the only regret I have is not being able to build a future with you.

But I will never stop loving you. Like I said before, it's my love marathon and I will keep running till my last breath.

Please don't blame P'Beam and P'Forth. I'm the one who requested them not to tell you. I don't want you to watch me die, and I know you will spend most of your time with me if you knew I was sick.

You are already engaged. I don't want to be the conflict between you and your fiancée and make things difficult for you. This is the least I can do for you.

Don't mourn for me. I don't want you to be sad.

My last wish in this world is, I hope that you can live the life the way you want it, live your life for yourself and not for anyone.

I know it's hard, especially you have your parents to think of. I just want you to be happy.

P'Ming, if there is next life, will we be able to see each other again? Is there any possibility that we will be friends again? If there is next life, I hope things between us will be different from this life.

P'Ming, I love you. Goodbye, my love.

From someone who will always love you.

I clench the letter against my chest and cry out loud.

I hate myself for being such a coward! I hate myself for pushing him away when he was still alive! I hate myself for not being by his side when he was sick!

Why you choose to leave me in this manner?! Is this your punishment to me?! Punishing me for being a coward?! Punishing me for wasting the chances I have?!

I haven't told you that I love you. I have so many chances to tell you when you were alive, but I didn't. And now, I will never have the chance to tell you.

*Blubbering*

I don't know how long I sit there. What I know is, the sky was dark and the tears on my face had already dried up.

Ring~ Ring~

I didn't answer the call. I guess it was Ma who's calling, asking me why I didn't come home for dinner. Most probably will start questioning me where I am right now, where I have been, what I am doing outside and who I am with.

They most probably will be very angry with me, thinking why their well-behaved son will do something like that.

Undoubtedly, I will get lectured by Pa when I reach home.

But it doesn't matter anymore. Because the only thing that matters the most to me is gone.

He was gone...