Love You till the Last Rose Dies [KOTLC Sokeefe fanfic]

Chapter 5: Double Love

Keefe's Pov

Am I really going to die? I've almost died. I've been on death's doorstep quite a few times. Heck, I was even in a coma a few times. But all those times, I had something to fight for. That's why I didn't die. But now... I know a cure. I know 2 cures. But I can't reach for either. So... All I can do is accept my imminent death. Great. Walking out of the office, Dex and I are silent. We both probably don't know what to do.

"Are you gonna tell them?"

"I don't think I'm up for it."

"Suits you. But just know that you can't hide the fact that you can cough up rose petals for much longer."

"Great way to put it, Dex."

"Just trying to lighten the mood."

"Hey! That's my job!"

"With everything that's going on, we might need a few more people on the job."

I wasn't sure what he meant by that. Was he planning what to do if I die? Wait, no. When I die.

"I guess we can try to slow the process with elixirs, but there's only so much we can do."

"Well then, to end this conversation on a cheery note, how do you even know about this hakahani disease thing?"

Dex sighed. "It's called Hanahaki for starters. And they do these weird movie things with the concept. That's how I knew. I didn't think it was real though. It sounded absurd."

"Guess I'm living proof of something impossible!" Until I die, I finish in my head.

"What are we gonna do?" Dex seemed really worried. I didn't realize how worried he was until now.

"You care?" I know, I know. I sounded really stupid. But what else could I say?

"Of course I care. I think the others will as well when they find out."

I wasn't sure if I wanted them all to find out. This is my problem. I should be able to solve this by myself. And then, I remember, love comes in pairs. I won't be able to fix this problem on my own. And just when I thought I could mask it away just like a bunch of my other problems.

---

We were calmly sitting down for lunch. After the shock of my condition, Magnate Leto had cancelled all of our detention. The others (except for Dex) were really confused by this. But of course, they were happy to not be in detention.

"So, how was everyone's day?" Fitz said while sipping his lushberry juice.

"Nothing much. Just coughing up bloody flower petals." I said it without thinking. Oh no. I didn't want them to find out so soon.

Thankfully, no one really caught on. "Yup. We totally believe you." Tam's remark was full the brim with sarcasm and by the way everyone else was looking at me, they didn't believe me either.

I breathed a sigh of relief and continued to eat my food. That's when I started choking.

Lihn was the first to react. "Oh my god. Keefe! Are you okay?"

Yup. Perfectly okay. Just casually choking. "I'm fine." Was all I could manage in between my coughing. That's when I thought, oh shoot. The flowers. "Um... I'll just go to Elwin's. Don't miss me too much!" I ran off, doing my best to cover up the bloody rose petals that just kept coming.

Sophie's Pov

I didn't really see what was going on. All I heard was Lihn. Then Keefe started coughing. I just sat there, frozen. What could I do? Before I could decide, Keefe had run away, apparently to the healing centre. But I saw that he was cupping his hand over his mouth. And, was that a flower petal? No. Couldn't be. It probably just fell out of his pocket. What fantasy would I be living in if someone just started coughing up flower petals?

Dex's Pov

I'm really worried. That moment when Keefe let the bomb slip, I thought all hell was going to break loose. But, almost thankfully, no one noticed. We would have had to explain so much. Then, Keefe started to choke. He was choking on those flower petals. No. It couldn't be happening that early, could it?