With a body hurting like he’d been up all night working out, Seunghyun awoke slowly with a groan. He didn’t quite dare open his eyes in case of the bright sun he guessed would be there just to torment him. A strong, familiar source of warmth next to him was comforting though, and it pulled him back to unconsciousness but he tried to resist. His brain started working again and it became increasingly more difficult to return to his slumber.

Dazedly he opened his eyes and squinted around the room, taking in his surroundings. When his eyes returned to the smaller form next to him he couldn’t help but smile at the serene face. The way the angel looked so peaceful and otherworldly while sleeping captivated him for a few moments. It took him only a couple of seconds to remember that Jiyong never slept. In his daze he had forgotten momentarily and his heart started racing as he reached for his shoulders, wanting to wake him.

“Jiyong? Jiyong!” The blonde didn’t move an inch and he prayed the angel was actually asleep and not sick or hurt in any way. While shaking the smaller body he looked for any sign of life on his body, panic seeping through his bones slowly. He had no clue what was happening and after several attempts to wake the angel he leapt off the bed and started pacing worriedly. It wasn’t like he could call an ambulance, nor did he have any angel nearby to ask for help.

With a frustrated sigh he sat down next to Jiyong and pleaded for him to wake up, feeling more helpless than ever. He smoothed the soft strands of hair on his head and brushed it away from the perfect face and waited in silence, thinking that he might wake up anytime. Heart still beating like crazy, deafening everything else in Seunghyun’s world, his eyes closed heavily.

Before he managed to open his eyes completely he felt Jiyong stir beneath him and he gasped in relief when the blue eyes revealed themselves. They focused on him eventually and Seunghyun couldn’t help but chuckle nervously.

“What- Jiyong, what happened? Are you okay?” there was a pregnant pause between them before Jiyong grabbed his hand slowly and he could feel their connection again, emotions swirling through and mixing together. It was difficult to tell whether he should’ve been happy or not. It wasn’t until Jiyong smiled that he could feel at least a little bit of relief.

“I’m fine, Seunghyun,”

“What are you talking about, you were sleeping. That is not fine,” actually Jiyong had predicted this would happen some time ago. That his body would weaken fast after he’d finished his last task. However he’d hoped that it wouldn’t happen this fast. Although he did have a little more time left on earth it wasn’t nearly enough, then again, forever would probably not be enough either. There was no time for Jiyong to have any regrets now so he steeled himself for what he was about to say.

“You remember what I said yesterday? That I needed to tell you something?” when Seunghyun nodded he continued telling him about what would happen from now on with a courage he didn’t know he had. Although maybe fake courage he hoped it would help calm Seunghyun a little after hearing the news spoken with confidence instead of grief.

“You’re kidding right? I can’t just forget you, that’s not possible.” Seunghyun had tears rolling down his cheeks and Jiyong could feel his own breaking free as well. He pulled the other man’s hand up and kissed it in a silent apology as he tried to gather his thoughts enough to speak clearly. The larger hand squeezed around his for a minute before he was pulled into an embrace. Truthfully Jiyong was almost too weak to get up from the bed but he would have to endure for the next few days. He had to.

“How can you tell me this now? There’s got to be a way for you to stay right?” he was pleading. His heart was shattered by the news Jiyong delivered and he didn’t know how to deal with it. Maybe if he wished for it hard enough, the angel would stay and defy whatever greater power was out there trying to take him away. Jiyong’s silent sobs confirmed what he feared the most, making him tremble slightly. Forgetting the angel was unimaginable, it wasn’t possible. If he had to go away he could have at least been granted with a faint memory of him. Seunghyun refused to understand what was going to happen nor did he want to accept it. However his brain told him otherwise, logically deciding that in the end, he has to.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Jiyong cried into his shoulder and he could feel his shirt becoming wet. It wasn’t too noticeable because his body was gradually becoming numb, helplessness yet again washing over him. When Seunghyun failed to respond anymore, the blonde pulled back and cupped his face in his hands. Searching the dark orbs for something, anything besides the desperate tears Jiyong swallowed thickly and spoke slowly.

“I don’t want to go, I love you. I would give anything in the world to stay with you,” he could tell Seunghyun had regained his focus when fresh tears started forming beneath his eyes. The angel tried to wipe them away with his thumb but he wasn’t quick enough and it frustrated him. “But I can’t- I can’t stay. But you will be fine even without me here, I promise,” his voice broke and it turned into a whisper at the end while he tried to reach the other man with his feelings. Seunghyun still didn’t know if he should become angry or anything at all. Instead he focused on the voice he loved so much. In the end he couldn’t help but slump down and cover his face in his palms with an unsteady sigh. He could feel Jiyong circle his arms around his shoulders and squeeze him tight, as if his life depended on it. Jiyong’s warm breath was on his neck and when the thought of it disappearing crossed his mind he cried again, unable to prevent the ugly sob escaping his mouth.

The two of them sat in a wordless embrace for a while, everything outside of their small bubble being nonexistent, time momentarily frozen. Knowing it was going to be hard, Jiyong never predicted it to be this hard. With every single tear that fell from Seunghyun’s eyes, a part of his soul shattered to pieces. He wasn’t sure if there was anything left of him still able to feel happiness. Hoping that the other man could feel his grief as well, he continued embracing him tightly until he could feel slight gratification seep through their bond. After many minutes Seunghyun spoke into his hands, not yet willing to meet his eyes in fear of another breakdown.

“So, how long do we have?” the angel smiled bitterly when he heard him say ‘we’ and kissed Seunghyun’s shoulder. Did he really want to tell him? He wasn’t sure – no he was positive he didn’t want to. But he had to tell the truth.

“With the condition my body is in now, I do not know exactly, but I guess a couple of days would be my limit…” Instant regret washed through him when Seunghyun’s body stiffened in his embrace and he could tell the man was holding back with everything he had. He could relate easily, he felt exactly the same after all.

“Are you sure there isn’t anything we… I can do? Anything at all?” Seunghyun didn’t wait for an answer because he knew there wouldn’t be any. Jiyong’s silence yet again spoke more than words but he desperately tried to cling to that tiny sliver of hope. “I don’t know if I can do this, I love you, Jiyong, don’t go.”

The blonde bit his lower lip and nodded, now trying to lift his head up again, away from his hands. Slowly but surely the other man complied and let Jiyong do whatever he wanted, catching his eyes with his own. The sight of the blonde’s smile made him feel slightly better although it was coated with sadness and regret. It was still the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen.

As selfish as it was, Jiyong didn’t want his last days to be like this. He wanted them to move on, he wanted Seunghyun to drink his coffee and go to work, smile and be happy. Undoubtedly it would never be the same but he wished for it either way. Seunghyun understood when he conveyed his feelings, of course he did, but it was almost too unreal.

“Let’s have breakfast, I’ll try eating with you,” he offered with a smile, watching the other man struggle with his emotions before standing slowly. Jiyong extracted himself from the covers carefully, every piece of him aware of the pain coursing through his body. He didn’t mention that bit to Seunghyun; that his physical body was slowly dying and painfully so. The pain in his chest was dull but moving his limbs was more difficult than ever. Barely managing to take two steps before he faltered made Seunghyun return to his side to steady his body against his silently, letting him lean on him fully.

“Hey, are you alright? Can you walk?” his voice was worried.

“Yes, I’m just a bit unsteady, thank you.”

They reached the kitchen quickly with Seunghyun’s support and he made the angel sit on the couch while he went back to make breakfast. He didn’t think, he just acted while watching Jiyong in the corner of his eye. They remained in silence until he returned to the couch with sandwiches he thought the blonde might want to try. He could see an unfamiliar tiredness in the angel’s eyes and he figured this was what Jiyong had been keeping from him all this time. It hurt that he didn’t tell him but he really understood why he refrained from saying anything. Like a death sentence, it was a difficult topic to breach. Especially since they both loved each other and couldn’t imagine a future without the other. He was close to wishing they had a different relationship. Seunghyun shook his head, not wanting to cry any more and handed Jiyong a piece of bread.

“Hey, can you sing?” it was a random question, but it gave him a sense of normality. The angel looked at him curiously before smiling, nodding quickly. Seunghyun reached out to grab his free hand, tips of his fingers gliding to his wrist.

“I don’t know if you can call it singing, but it is something we do to show emotions we wish we could have. Although only angels can hear it besides the people we allow to.” Seunghyun nodded and figured he was one of those, since he could hear Jiyong’s voice. The question was genuine though, he’d always heard about angels singing and their mystic powers.

“Can you sing for me sometime?”

“Of course,” he answered with a smile, cheeks reddening. Seunghyun couldn’t help but interrupt their meal by leaning in and covering his lips slowly. The feeling of their lips colliding was the most intense feeling in the world and he wanted it to never change. Although he was still sad, it was impossible to not drown in this sensation and he sighed into his mouth. Jiyong’s eyelashes fluttered against his cheek, making his stomach do familiar flip flops and his breath hitched in his throat. He pulled back with a smile and waited for Jiyong to calm down. The angel was flushed red when he opened his eyes again and turned his body slightly away.

“Try the sandwich,” he gestured at the bread and started eating on his own while waiting for the angel’s reaction. Almost relieved at the way Jiyong’s face turned in a distasteful way he couldn’t help but chuckle and took the food away from him. Intending on finishing it himself he put it on his plate and let his body sink back into the couch. Suddenly he felt the angel’s weight on his side and he turned his head to see Jiyong pressing against his side like a child and he smiled at the sight. To be honest he still felt at a completely loss as of what to do, but he figured that as long as Jiyong was there right next to him, he would be alright.

“I will probably never understand how to enjoy this food,” Jiyong said jokingly and stared at the black television screen in front of them, watching their reflection. Seunghyun hummed in response and nudged him playfully. The atmosphere was considerably heavier than before but they tried their best to make it work. They both wanted the same thing; to enjoy their time together and they wouldn’t be able to do that by crying all day. Sure, they would probably not be able to hold it all in but sometimes they would just have to sacrifice a bit of their own feelings. Seunghyun knew what he was dealing with. This heavenly power that controlled Jiyong was something out of his reach. He wasn’t supposed to know about this at all, that was probably why his memories would be erased. Even in the presence of other angels he cowered and lay low, understanding how unimportant his existence really was. That was fine though, he didn’t mind being inferior and it was nice to know something other than humans existed out there. Although he didn’t agree on how they were treating him and Jiyong, taking his love away from him like this and brutally so.

Jiyong’s soft voice startled him out of his musings and he snapped back to attention. The angel was singing, the music startling him and giving him goose bumps throughout his whole being. It was like hearing him speak for the first time all over again, only this time it was even more beautiful. His song sounded like a lullaby but he was unable to understand the lyrics. Though Jiyong continued singing and he could only listen, body unwilling to do anything else but let it seep through his ears and revel in the comforting, soothing voice that brought calm to his senses.

TBC...

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A/N: Hiii~ I've been super busy lately and I'm feeling a bit under the weather now... but I hope you like this anyway! Thank you so much for all your feedback <3 This story is soon coming to an end!