“Time of death”

“4:02 AM”

Seunghyun ultimately, hearing the finality in the doctor’s voice, unclenched his fists. He looked at Jiyong’s seemingly sleeping face. He closed his eyes and focused all his energy on trying to remember Jiyong – his smile, his voice, his touch, his scent, his taste. But all of it was gone from his memory.

There is only emptiness.

He didn’t stand at the doorway much long as the doctors discussed more and the nurses shut all the machines. He passed by a few people who were breaking down into sobs, and walked the long corridor to a busy hospital lobby.

“Stop telling me to relax!” Seungri shouted at his manager. “I told you I don’t want to go to the hotel! I WANT TO BE HERE WHEN HYUNG WAKES UP!” he angrily threw a cup of hot coffee on the floor. “Why don’t you worry about the media who’s killing Jiyong hyung before he even dies?!” Seungri shook his head in annoyance. The news about the accident has already gone public. The media was all over the hospital. Articles were already posted in the internet. What set-off Seungri were the videos of the concert that night headlined with “Kwon Jiyong’s Last Concert.”

“Jiyong’s parents are with the president, they’ve just landed.” Taeyang said as he hung up the phone. He had been in contact with the YG family the whole night, updating them and asking for support. He found out fans back home and other countries have united in prayer. The whole world woke up for Kwon Jiyong.

“Would you stop sniffling hyung?!” Seungri angrily shouted at Daesung who had been sitting in a corner with hands in his face. He had been there the whole night, no one bothering him. Everyone was quiet like him at first. But five hours of waiting can get anyone on edge. Daesung didn’t hear him. He was in shock. He was the one nearest Jiyong when it happened. He had been around death before and nothing could be more frightening.

Seungri blocked his ears with his hands, as if the noise was driving him mad. “Would you stop-”

Daesung looked up at last.

“T-Top hyung…?”

At one glance at Seunghyun’s face, Daesung curled back to his corner and let out a heart wrenching wail. Nothing could be clearer than the sadness in Seunghyun’s face. There was no other emotion there. No anger. No exhaustion. No hopefulness.

Just sadness in its rawest form.

Only sadness.

Everyone turned to look at the source of the loud cry - now the only sound in the room. All eyes landed on Seunghyun who was standing at the end of the corridor. They haven’t noticed his presence before and now everyone was holding their breath for what he was about to say.

His lips moved a little and all the world came crashing down.

“Hyung, what did you say?!” Seungri asked while making his way to Seunghyun, pushing everyone in his path. “No, no, NO!” he grabbed Seunghyun’s shirt. He was about to punch him for being ridiculous but a closer look at Seunghyun’s face made him resign. “JIYONG HYUNG!” he cried, pounding his fist in Seunghyun’s chest.

“He’s gone.” Seunghyun repeated softly while he hugged Seungri tightly. At that the maknae had finally stopped movement and let the weariness sink in.

Taeyang came rushing past him at the corridor, running at full speed to see Jiyong. Amidst the cries, a sound of a fist hitting a wall could be heard.  Taeyang had brokendown in front of Jiyong’s room at the sight of his dead body.

Daesung had his palms in his face once more, his fingers painfully digging in his hair.

“He’s gone.” Seunghyun whispered again.

Jiyong was gone. Erased from his memory. Removed from his system. Taken. Hidden. Stolen.

Not a trace was left.

Seunghyun couldn’t find him.

Not until-

I love you Choi Seunghyun

A face registered in his memories. “I love you Choi Seunghyun…” The boy whispered while he smiled, closing his eyes for a moment, reaching out a hand to cup his face, kissing him ever so lightly and smiling again. They were in a hammock under the stars, under layers of warm blankets. The boy closed his eyes as he snuggled close to him, resting his head on Seunghyun’s shoulder and neck, sleepily caressing the other boy’s chest before laying the hand flat against his heart, feeling his heart beat.

Seunghyun kissed the hair on top of Jiyong’s head before smiling himself. He inhaled the sweet scent of his hair while tenderly the back of his head. He gently tightened his hold on the younger boy, determined never to let him go. He heard Jiyong murmur before finally surrendering himself to sleep.

“…always remember that.”

Now that Seunghyun had found his sanctuary, he would never let it be taken away from him. 

TBC