Rewrite the stars || bokuaka

CHAPTER 16

Bokuto was becoming more vulnerable by the day. Agony seeped through his eyes. The twinkle in his golden orbs was no longer there. His face was shrivelled up due to lack of food and under his eyes, dark rings started to assemble. He was drained. Living drained every speck of energy out of him.

Akaashi had no more hope that Bokuto would survive this tragedy.

"Akaashi, come here." His voice was raspy and dreadful.

"I'm right next to you Kōtarō."

An illusion, again...

Tears were at the brim of his eyes. But he had to stay strong for Bokuto.

"The drawer in front of you. Could you open it?"

"Sure thing."

As he opened the drawer there lied a painting, faced down with a message on the back. Akaashi read it out loud:

"To Keiji,

You asked me what I painted the day you took me to the room, so here it is. Thank you. Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for being my assistant. Thank you for entering my life. Thank you for existing."

Akaashi couldn't hold it in anymore. He let out the tears he bottled up for 4 months - it was a good cry, painful but good.

"Why're you crying? You haven't even seen the painting yet."

"Oh shit yeah. My bad."

He turned over the painting and couldn't believe what he saw. It was himself. It was the side view of his face staring up at the night starry sky. He was speechless. He also wondered why the painting looked better than he does in real life. But if that's how Bokuto visualised him, he couldn't be anymore happier.

"I love it. Thank you."

"I'm not ready Akaashi. I'm not ready to die yet, I have so much more I want to do but I have no time left."

Akaashi could feel the pain in Bokuto. He wanted to comfort him, tell him everything will be all right. But he'll only be fooling himself. So he didn't say anything like that, instead, he finally opened up about his feelings. He couldn't bear it anymore.

"I like you Kōtarō."

Bokuto turned his head. His eyebrows raised and his face started becoming red, so did his ears. On the other hand, Akaashi was nervous. Would he get rejected or does he feel the same way? These thoughts flooded his mind.

"I like you too Keiji."

Sunlight seeped through its way around the room. It became warm. Not because of the sun, but because of their love for one another.

Akaashi leaned in, head to head with Bokuto.

"You'll make it. I know you will."