Days (oneshots)

Hanahaki Curse

A/N High school setting of my take on the Hanahaki curse; I'm sorry, I know it's severely overdone, but I was feeling inspired. I've also written this a little differently than I usually do so...there's that. But this is mostly just an experimental story. That's all.

Unrequited: adjective; (of a feeling, especially love) not returned or rewarded.

That Google definition was always open on Leila (Lei) Courtney Maddox's laptop, on the far left hand corner. Right next to it would be a detailed explanation of the Hanahaki disease on a fan website.

Obviously, this would conclude that she had romantic, one-sided feelings for someone.

That's where I come in. I'm Jeremiah Cham, 18 years old, 5'10 and single. And I'm here to tell you about the time I unintentionally crushed my best friend 4 years ago.

Maybe I'm trying to relieve the guilt, or maybe I'm nostalgic, or maybe I just miss them. Can't I just miss my former best friend? I wish I could go back in time and slap my former, oblivious self in the face.

Okay, so maybe I'm trying to relieve some guilt.

Let's get on with the story, shall we?

Setting: January 1st, senior year, living room at the annual New Years party at the Dexter-Portman house on the rich side of town.

Characters: Jeremiah Cham, Jude Charter (best friend), Abigail Nicole Perry (my date), Leila Courtney Maddox (Jude's close friend)

Extras Necessary: 25-30

Scene 1 of 1: Flashback

Loud dance/electronic music in the background.

Jude: (clearly drunk on a glass of wine) He-e-e-ey, Jer...

Note: She gets drunk really, really easy and she's slurring her words drunkenly (obviously). She is also talking very softly, as if she has a bad sore throat.

Jeremiah: Jude, stop drinking. *plunks drink out of her hand*

He's concerned, first, because she's clearly drunk, and second, her voice has become so quiet that he's sure she's sick too.

Jeremiah: You're sick, too. C'mon, this was a bad idea. Let's tell Abby and-

Jude: *interrupts* No, don't tell Abby anything.

Jeremiah: (softly, calmly) I can't just leave my date here without explanation, Ju. I'll tell her and Lei, and I'll bring you home so Ma can take care of you.

Jude: No...don't tell Abby anything...I fucking hate her.

Jeremiah: (surprised, because he stupidly thought that Jude and Abby would really click) Is that so? Why?

Extra #1: *accidentally roughly bumps Jude* Sorry!

Jude: *falls forward, coughing, blood tricking from her mouth*

Jeremiah: Jude! *kneels down, trying to help Jude*

Extra #1: Shit! Wait, what the fuck? *addressing Jeremiah* Dude, is she okay?

Jude: *waves Jeremiah away, her other hand in front of her mouth* I'm fine, I'm fine. *sporadic coughing* I promise, I'm fine.

Extra #2: Whoa, is she good? Is she fucking coughing up blood, man?

Leila: Jude?! *appears suddenly* Honey, are you okay? *pushes Jeremiah away* We're going to go home now, okay?

Abigail: (panicky, worried, phone in hand and ready) Jeremiah! Is Jude alright? What's happening?

20-25 extras stop dancing and begin gathering around the commotion, where Jude is still aggressively coughing blood and covering her mouth. Semicircle formation, hands trying to help Jude up and opening up to route to the main entrance.

Jeremiah: *helps hoist Jude out into the main entrance, sweating and extremely worried* Jude, hang in there, okay? We're going to bring you to the hospital.

Jude: No, no, no...you can't. *coughing, starting to cry*

Abigail: We have to bring you to the hospital, Jude. you're coughing blood and-

Leila: *interrupts* I know exactly what's wrong with her. The hospital...going there won't help. Jude, honey, you have to help yourself.

Muted chaos and talking around the four characters as they carry her into the passengers seat of Jeremiah's car (preferably a 2006 Honda Civic Sedan).

Jude: *removes hand covering mouth slightly, revealing bloodstained cherry blossom petals, tears falling as she continues to cough up petals and blood*

Jeremiah: *taken aback* Are those flower petals...? Are you coughing up flowers?

Leila: Jude, honey...you can't do this much longer...

Abigail: Wait, what's happening? Why's she coughing up cherry blossoms? Lei, do you know something?

Extras disperse slowly, Jeremiah takes the wheel, Abigail and Lei get into the back. Jeremiah drives somewhat recklessly into the night, trying to get to the closest hospital.

Leila: *strangely calm* Are you guys aware of the Hanahaki curse? Or maybe, the curse of the flowers?

Abigail: Sure but-oh no. *panicked* Is that what's happening to Jude right now? I thought that wasn't a real disease!

Jeremiah: *driving recklessly as rain starts to fall, out of breath* What the fuck is a Hana-whatever curse? What does it have to do with Jude right now?

Jude: *coughs profusely* D-don't...Lei, don't, please...

Leila: I...sorry, Jude, I have to tell him what it is, at least. *conflicted look on her face* The Hanahaki curse is a curse of unrequited love. The victim under the curse has flowers growing in their throat and will die unless they confess their love.

Abigail: Then we have to find the guy she loves, right? Do you know who he is?

Leila: *deep breath* I do. Jude, you have to tell him, you'll die-

Jude: Jer! Car!

Truck (preferably 2009 Dodge Ram 1500) charging approx. 50 mph in 30 mph zone, Jeremiah, surprised, does a dangerous swerve.

Jude: Jere! I love-

Jeremiah: *underestimates the truck's speed*

Flash of bright lights and a bit of fire, when sparks die down, the truck has T-Boned driver's side of the compact car.

Jude: -you. I love you. *crying*

Scene 1 of 1: Flashback-end

Oh, I just realized, I haven't finished introducing myself properly. How impolite of me.

I am Jeremiah Cham, 18 years old, 5'10, single and dead.

(Hanahaki Curse was inspired by You Know Me Well by Nina Lacour and David Levithan)