Purple Rain

6 (Final)

Three weeks later...

"Dinner is served!" Yunhyeong announced happily, settling the big pot of stew onto the pot holder already placed on the table. He had made samgyetang, to celebrate Junhoe's full recovery from his ailment. Everyone cheered happily. Yunhyeong had recorded himself preparing the stew and cooking it, for his vlog, of course. Perhaps, the most important part of today's dinner was actually celebrating Junhoe's and Jiwon's relationship. It had had come as no surprise to most of them, that the two has had feelings for each other for years' now and everyone, other than Hanbin and Yunhyeong, of course, had truly believed that Junhoe's recent condition had spurred Jiwon to confess proper and make it official. Yunhyeong scooped the first bowl for Junhoe. He had lost some weight, but it was quite obvious that he was happy again and would probably regain it in due time. Jiwon sat beside him, handing him a spoon and Yunhyeong would bet the rest of the stew left in the pot that they were both holding hands beneath the table.

"There's not enough spoons!" Donghyuk was shouting now as the rest clamoured for Yunhyeong to scoop the stew for them as well. Jinhwan kept holding out bowls for Yunhyeong to fill but he was not passing them at all. Chanwoo began relegating the bowls while whining and in all this general chaos he had learnt to lived with, Yunhyeong kept his gaze every now and then at the one person who has remained quiet since he announced that the stew was ready. Hanbin stood up, grinning indulgently, assuring Donghyuk he was going to take more spoons from the kitchen. As it is, everyone got their respective bowls and began eating industriously, commenting on how delicious and rich the stew was. Yunhyeong gave his spoon up to Donghyuk to shut him up and almost without notice, retreated back into the kitchen to see what was taking Hanbin so long.

Hanbin had his back to Yunhyeong at the sink and Yunhyeong was pretty sure that the leader was trying his best to grit and remain cheery.

"Are you alright, Hanbinnie?" Yunhyeong asked in concern, walking straight towards Hanbin. Hanbin put his hand up to stop Yunhyeong from advancing any further.

"I'm fine. Just a little under weather. " Hanbin tried to explained, but Yunhyeong, who knew better placed a hand over one slight shoulder. He was probably crying, Yunhyeong thought. As the leader, Hanbin rarely revealed his thoughts or emotions readily. He would often keep to himself, or keep himself locked away in the studios and pen his emotions into songs rather than sharing them with even those closest to him. It was pretty obvious that from the moment Junhoe had begun spewing petals from between his lips, Hanbin's overwhelming worry for his condition affected him, more than meets the eye. It was almost as if Hanbin was wracked by a tremendous amount of guilt and he appointed himself to be Junhoe's caregiver until Jiwon arrived at the hospital to take over.

Once, when Yunhyeong had came early to the hospital, because his mother had bought some ginseng to help speed up Junhoe's recuperation, he caught Hanbin sleeping by the side of the bed. Now it might not have seem much to just see him fast asleep, head on the edge of the bed near where Junhoe himself was resting quietly. It was the way Hanbin had held Junhoe's hand, almost tightly gripping, which revealed to Yunhyeong, Hanbin's love for Junhoe. The petals had completely stopped pouring out of his mouth after two days and another MRI had determined that the growth below his chest level had reduced significantly. Yunhyeong could pinpoint exactly what had caused it.

It had happened right after Hanbin had dragged Jiwon out when the members came to visit Junhoe. They had disappeared somewhere and Jiwon had returned looking as if he had been crying, but with a steely look of determination in his dark brown eyes. He had walked in, sat beside Junhoe and held his hand almost tenderly, a gesture that took all of them by surprise. Junhoe had woken up, struggling to smile only to start coughing up endless reams of petals at the sight of Jiwon, his one true love.

"I'm here, Junhoe-ya. I love you. I love you very much. I always have." Jiwon whispered, tears falling forward as Jiwon caressed the side of Junhoe's head.

"But...I thought..." Junhoe wavered.

"It's you. Always have been you and I'm stupid for not telling you sooner." Jiwon declared softly. Donghyuk burst out crying and Jinhwan was there to hold him. Yunhyeong retreated to a corner, surreptitiously wiping away the tears that had dribbled down without notice. Chanwoo turned away, quickly rubbing his eyes before the tears actually fell. Only Hanbin remained outside the ward, holding back his sobs, very much aware how broken his heart was knowing that his own selfishness had almost cost the life of the person he truly loves and how he had no other choice, but to let go.

"Hanbin?" Yunhyeong asked quizzically now, still holding Hanbin by one shoulder. He had not answered and once again Yunhyeong wondered if he was crying. He glanced over and it was as if both of them were suddenly stilled by time, unable to move.

A petal lay on Hanbin's smooth palm. Like a swatch of velvet; the deep dark crimson of a tea rose. More petals began to drift down from between Hanbin's lips. He turned, gazing at Yunhyeong, unable to utter a single word, his eyes filled with the hapless silence of despair.

Love is a growth; deadly and soft like the blooms of spring accelerated, hurtling straight into the abyss of winter.

Hanbin was pretty certain of this.

END