3 months, it’s been three months since the incident and they didn’t communicate at all. Jieun and Ailee were busy to meet up each other and talk about the incident, Daehyun is still locked up on his room and Jongdae is the same.

Things got worse for them and their parents were worried for them, especially the Jung’s. They had the uncomfortable feeling settled in their stomachs and it showed no good sign at all.

After a week on the third month, Daehyun called Ailee and Jieun up, telling them to meet him up in their favourite café. Ailee didn’t want to agree first but when Daehyun apologized and told him that it was his mistake and that he’ll do everything to fix up their friendship; Ailee sighed and agreed to meet up with him. Jieun didn’t need to think twice and agreed immediately.

Daehyun was nervous-heck, it was more than that. It’s been three months since he last saw them and it’s been 3 months since he thought of how to repair their friendship back. It took quite time to think about it, but he needs it. He needs to know the reason why Jongdae became like that and throughout the racking of memories, he remembered Jongdae telling him something odd.

“Daehyun, the world is so dull and unrealistic. I don’t know if I exist in this world or not, but I can’t grasp anything within my hold except to see it with longing.”

He didn’t understand what he was saying back then, but he knew that there was something troubling the older back then, but he didn’t show it and overcame it as he went back to normal-as he have concluded back then.

Thinking it about it now, the same thing is happening again and he knows that Jongdae wasn’t able to overcome it. During those three months, he found out what he meant there, what Jongdae is trying to say. He-scratch that, they knew Jongdae since they were young and they knew every single detail about each other that kept them inseparable. They knew each other’s weaknesses and flaws and they knew how to help each other in need.

But it was a tradition to them, to keep things for themselves and not to burden anyone else. It was also a tradition to everyone else, where trouble comes and strikes their bond and separate each ways. Daehyun knows too well those traditions and he knew they weren’t an exception.

Thinking about it, Jieun was the first one who got the turbulence in their friendship. Jieun was in a accident, almost losing her voice. It was a drastic tragedy for them, Jieun was so depressed that she couldn’t sing, that she couldn’t speak and that she couldn’t speak a single word. It was a curse, she writes on the paper one day to them. She told them how she wishes; she didn’t leave the night to pick up a dress for the upcoming ball.

They tried their best to help her, encourage her that she’ll have her voice back and that she all has to do is to wait. But she was impatient, stubborn and she was blinded by longing. She wants to speak now and then and she yearns for her voice every single day that it almost drove her mad.

The Lee’s were desperate to have their daughter back when Jieun started to lock herself up. It was 7 months after, no connection with them all and the three of them were in a frenzy of worry. They haven’t seen her for 7 months and they were so close to being in a craze when Ailee speaks up that they have to see Jieun. They were a bit doubtful at the plan, but nonetheless they agreed. Daehyun used his underground entryways and they arrived in the balcony of the Lee’s.

They sneakily went their way to her room, Jongdae using the old-fashioned hair clip and opened the door of her room. That day was like the most horrible and traumatic sight they have seen. Jieun was hung by a wire from the room’s large fan and Ailee was quick enough to go to her and bring her down. Jongdae took of her pulse once Ailee brought her down on the ground, her thin frail body cradled on her arms.

There was a faint pulse and they sighed in relief. Jieun’s parents came to the scene and saw their daughter, unconscious. Mrs. Lee shrieked to her husband to call for an ambulance and she went by to Ailee’s side and cradled her daughter in her arms as tears slid off from her eyes.

Jongdae and Daehyun was stunned to do anything but only watched the mother cry for her daughter. They still had hope since Jongdae told them that there was a faint pulse before the men in white came and placed Jieun to a stretcher and quickly went to the ambulance together with them.

The results were fine; the doctor said that their timing was great because if they weren’t able to be there on time, she might have taken her last breath. The doctor explained to them that her voice will come back longer than last time, seeing that she was quite malnourished and she hasn’t been trying to speak for awhile-they concluding that Jieun have lost the will to speak after how many attempts.

After two days of an unconscious Jieun, she came back and she was met with a worried faces of her best friends. As she saw them crying, especially Ailee, she could feel guilt eating her. She wasn’t expecting her friends to see this and she wasn’t thinking of seeing them in a condition like this.

She mouthed an ‘I’m sorry’ and that’s all it took for them to break down making her more guilty than ever. They weren’t upset or angry at her but instead they were worried for her, telling her how much they missed her and how they couldn’t think straight when they first heard that she lost her voice.

Jieun was guilty for what she had done and she cries for her irrational and rash decision and the three of them envelope her into a hug, telling her that it’s okay, that they forgive her and that she’ll have her voice back.

After a few months of struggles and patience, Jieun recovered her voice back after 5 months since the incident. They threw a party, celebrating her recovery of voice and that time Jieun sang them a song that made them cry because her voice was pure angelic and innocence.

Daehyun sighed, rubbing his temple with a tightening chest. He ignores the feeling by drinking his fruit juice as he waits for Ailee and Jieun to come.

He remembers when they were 3^rd year high school back then, that Jongdae became so dull and not himself. It continued for a month but after that, he was back to normal again. It was where the time Jongdae told him the odd statement that he didn’t much paid attention to. Well, he did paid attention to what he said that time, but he didn’t pressed onto it but he does know that there is something troubling the older and that he concluded he overcame it when the older was back to normal.

Time passed by with small fights, teasing and all and another heavy turbulence came up. It was about Ailee and Jongdae. This time, misunderstanding and words were on the topic. Ailee was harsh with her words to Jongdae and they knew that Jongdae took it seriously but covered it with a simple excuse of helping Ailee out after their friendship was restored. No one pressed on Jongdae but the tingling feeling of worry for their best friend was still present. Hearing the words from Ailee was concluded by them that it was very harsh and cold. As if destroying one’s dream and pride. 

They knew that it scarred Jongdae heavily and that he needs to take a break for a few months to heal the scar that was dealt in his heart and self. They knew that Jongdae wasn’t good in expressing his emotions or to simply say, his emotions were expressed through his actions and pictures more. He was the type of taking things seriously yet with effortless.

He was just that skilled.

They didn’t pry into much to him, knowing that Jongdae have overcome it but seeing what happened a few months ago-they concluded that they spoke too soon.

Daehyun fisted his hand on his lap before loosening up.

After that, there were some fights between him and Jieun, then Jieun to Ailee, sometimes the three of four would fight and sometimes all of them would have the small fight. It was minor yet it was still turbulence, nonetheless. It served them lessons and experiences and they were a tad bit grateful that they have overcome the obstacles that fate had given to them.

And now, they had turbulence in their bonds again and Daehyun knows that Jongdae’s condition is worse and that handling Jongdae is going to be hard since he’s a bit complicated to talk to. He’s much into his life and art and that talking to him with plain words wouldn’t get to him.

Taking some breaks in his life, he needs to fix up their friendship fast. His breath hitches as he felt his chest tightens more than before. He catches his breath, placing a hand on his painful chest and takes a deep breath and exhales, repeating the process again.

As he had finished regaining his breath and his chest felt a bit ease, he sips a bit of fruit juice to ease his scratchy throat.

When he phones Ailee, he wasn’t sure if the older will take his call, but he was surprised when she picked it up. He was happy despite her flat greeting. He was prepared for his apology and all and even though Ailee agreed to meet up with him, he was sure that Ailee didn’t forgive him fully and he vows to fix his friendship with her first.

He coughs a bit, putting his palm on his mouth to cover it. He retreated his hand and his eyes widen a bit and was about to take a tissue when Jieun’s voice ran on his ear.

“Daehyunnie~” she sang with her soft voice and Daehyun fisted his hand on his lap, forgetting the idea and plastered a smile on his face.

He greeted her with his usual bright smile, “Jieun-ah!”

“Daehyunnie!” Jieun hugged him as soon as he stood up and he returned the hug before rocking a bit to the sides and leaned their foreheads with each other before letting out a goofy grin. It was there sign of greeting when they haven’t seen each other for a long time and it also shares how they miss each other.

The pulled away, Jieun settling on her seat across Daehyun who settled back on his seat. He eyed the waitress who took an order from him and he nodded once they locked eyes. The waitress came back and handed her latte and a glass of shaved ice with twinkles of fruity and crumbles of cookies.

Her eyes lit up as she takes a bite and he chuckles at the sight. As she was eating, she took in Daehyun’s sight. He was a bit thin and he was slightly pale than usual. She blinks and asks.

“Dae, are you okay?”

Daehyun felt his throat constrict before letting out a nervous chuckle.

“I’m fine, Jieun. I’m eating regularly for the past three months, you know and I’m taking fresh air some times and sometimes I go out to take a look at the world we’re living in,” he replies back, assuring her that he’s okay.

Jieun pouts at his reply but didn’t press on further and Daehyun took it that she believed him. After a few minutes, Ailee came and settled on beside Jieun. Her aura was cold and Daehyun winces a bit as she greeted him.

“Hey, Dae,” she greets him flatly and Daehyun knows he deserves it. He sighs and briefly glances at Jieun who nodded her head, encouraging him to continue. He slightly nods his head, eyes shifting at Ailee who was busy drinking her tea after the waitress (the same waitress who took an order from Daehyun and the one who gave Jieun her drink) gave it to her.

He takes a deep breath and starts with a shaky breath.

“Ailee…” he trails off, fumbling with the words he is going to use. Jieun slightly nudge his leg making him side-eye her and watches Jieun gritting her teeth. He nudge her leg in return before clearing his throat, eyeing Ailee who still has her gaze at the table while sipping her tea.

“I-um..Ailee, I-“

“It is okay, Dae.”

Daehyun chokes a bit, a faint gasp leaving from his mouth as he was abruptly cut off from Ailee. He looks at her in surprise as Ailee shifts her gaze away from the table and locked in eyes with her-a smile blooming on her face.

“Ailee…” he mutters, a bit shock at the sudden confession. Ailee grins at him. Chuckling a bit to ease the tensed atmosphere as Jieun’s lips twitched upward, her lips playing a smile.

“I-wha. What the is happening here?” Daehyun couldn’t help but curse a bit, totally unbelieving what is happening right now. He was quick to catch on and when he saw the two smiles from the ladies across him, he knew something was up.

Jieun teasingly smiled at him, “Language, Dae, Language.”

Ailee coughs a bit before letting out a sigh of relief and content.

“I already forgive you Dae. That day when you stormed off the café and after Jieun and I had a chat, I forgave you. I couldn’t stay mad at you for so long when you didn’t do anything wrong,” Ailee explains to him before taking a sip on her tea. Daehyun could feel tears well up on his eyes as he tried to hold it back.

“I knew that you were trying to let Jongdae know that we’re worrying for him and knowing that he won’t back down no matter how much you say something to him, it’s just a lost case. But I wished you could have stayed calm and tell him in a simplest manner how much we care for him.”

He looks down at his lap, thumb rubbing off his palm.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbles.

“It’s fine, Dae. Don’t worry about it,” Ailee responded back with a smile. He looks up and saw that she was sincere in her words and couldn’t help but feel at eased and happy.

“Ailee-ah…” he croaks out and Ailee laughs at him.

“It’s nice to see you again, dongsaeng.”

After joyful tears, laughters and catch-on topics, Daehyun talked about why they came to meet up with him. After a few explaining and such and telling the truth to them, Ailee recoils a bit at the sudden explanation.

Silence enveloped them as Daehyun watches them absorb and process the information in their mind. After a few minutes, Ailee spoke.

“He’s broken, isn’t he, Dae?”

Daehyun didn’t answer.

“It’s because of my words, right? I-He was having troubles and such that I didn’t know and I even added a scar, I-what have I done?” Ailee mutters solemnly, taking in the information and concluding it right away.

“It’s not yet proven Amy. I’m not sure if that’s really what Jongdae is feeling. It’s only my hunch,” he replies carefully. Ailee nods her head and huffs out a sigh, frustrated and tired.

“So, what are we going to do with him?” Jieun pipes up after a long time she didn’t speak. Daehyun gazes at her before slightly his hair on the side.

“Well, duh. We’re going to take him back.”

They arrive at the Kim’s residence, beautiful and enchanted. The mansion was decorated with art and everything was art itself and they couldn’t help but be awed every time they would enter the Kim’s residence.

They stood in front of the large double doors that pass their heights, which look like from a palace itself. Two heavily armed guards stood in front, eyes piercing them with death as they gulped nervously. No one spoke a word as the three of them nudge each other who will talk.

At the end, it was Daehyun who was picked. He glared at the two of them before clearing his throat and shifts his gaze at the two guards, who has now their attention to him and Daehyun swears he could see his grave in their eyes.

“I-err, um-we’re here for Kim Jongdae,” Daehyun squeaks out, completely terrified by them. The two guards stared at him and Daehyun swears if they’ll continue to stare at him, he’ll die from it.

The guards crossed their guns on the side, forming an ‘X’ before the older of the two spoke up.

“Lord Kim and Lady Kim aren’t here for they are at work whilst master Jongdae ordered us not to allow anyone to enter the mansion including his friends,” he says in a loud, firm and scary voice that made the three of them gulp and nod their heads.

“Okay, thank you,” Jieun mutters before pulling the two away.

“That Jongdae, ugh!” Jieun ruffles her hair in distress. Daehyun pats her back a bit before using the last resort.

“We’ll use the underground passage,” he exasperatedly says and they look at him angrily.

“Why the hell didn’t you tell us?!”

After a few smacks from the two, Daehyun leads them up to the Jung residence and uses his favourite passages. Passing many routes and torches, Daehyun leads them up to a dead end and some bushes in front.

“Where does this lead to?”  Ailee questions in awe.

Daehyun smirks before grinning.

“It’s Jongdae’s favourite garden,” he replies in glee before pushing the rock a bit to the side and he lets the two girls go first through the fit in slot before hopping to the opening and pushing the rock to its rightful place. He steps out from the bushes that surround the entryway and watches the two girls giggle in delight.

Rolling his eyes, he ushers them to sneak through the garden maze with his lead.

They got in safely in the mansion, thanks to the maids who were worried about their young master. They were at Jongdae’s door, intricate with a swirl of flowers on the middle of the door and a carved name on the side of the swirls.

Ailee knocks on the door, speaking in the minimal sound, afraid that the guards might hear them.

“Jongdae-ah. It’s us, Jieun, Daehyun and me. Open up the door,” she says in the calmest way, trying to cover up the worry on her voice.

No one answered on the side and Ailee tries the doorknob.

It wasn’t locked.

She briefly looks at the two as they nod their head to her, motioning to her to continue. She pushes the door and takes a peek inside the room, making an opening for Daehyun and Jieun. The room was pitch-black and they couldn’t see anything.

Ailee opens the door widely, hands trying to find the switch and when she does find it, she flicks it open. Instead of having a bright light, instead they were met with a dim light, showing enough look at the room. Jieun closes the door and she gasps at the sight.

The places was a mess, everything was. Books scattered everywhere, pictures ripped out into three and four, bed messed up as if a hurricane passed by- everything was in chaos.

A sudden rain poured down and they could hear the soft beat of the rain drops on the ground as they snapped their head to the window.

Their eyes sighting Jongdae by the window dazed and look dead. Daehyun approaches him carefully, afraid that Jongdae would go berserk, but he wasn’t like that. When he was a good measure away from Jongdae, he calls out to the older.

“Jongdae.”

Jongdae didn’t answer and Daehyun feels tensed at the situation. He tries again.

“Jongdae-ah,” he calls out softly but the older didn’t respond. Daehyun lets out a shaky breath before calling out to him again.

“Jongdae hyung,” he calls out with a soft pleading; his voice cracking a bit on the process. Jongdae’s hand fisted on his side before loosening a bit.

He sighs.

“What are you guys doing here?” he mutters flatly and Jieun winces at the tone. His tone was dead and cold.

Daehyun gathers up his confidence and proceeds to talk.

“I’ve come to apologize, Jongdae hyung. I-I didn’t mean to shout out you like that, uh, what I meant is that, I didn’t mean to throw those words at you. You didn’t deserve it.” Daehyun’s voice was child-like, soft and innocent as if a little boy asking for his mother’s hug.

Jongdae stares the crying sky before looking back at Daehyun. Jieun recoils, tugging Ailee a bit with her.

Jongdae was like back then, lips chapped, tousled hair, frame so thin and his pale like a chalk and to make it worse, his eyes were devoid of emotion. There were bags underneath his eyes and life and energy seems to be away from him.

Daehyun looks at him with worry, not pity, but worry and Jongdae seems to be a bit glad at Daehyun’s reaction.

“I don’t remember inviting anyone of you and I made sure that the guards know my request,” he replies monotonously. The soft wind blew outside making a slight sound of swing on the large transparent window.

Daehyun snickers, “Yeah, we know. The guards were scary so we didn’t bother using the front door for decency and politeness but used my underground passage instead,” he replies with a scoff.

Jongdae wasn’t affected in the slightest bit but only nodded as he mumbles a ‘figures’.

He looks back at the window, watching the rain drops dance and collides each other-it looks so dull in his sight.

“Jongdae, we know you’re having problem so please talk to us about it,” Ailee says as she steps forward bringing a clinging Jieun with her. They weren’t strangers, they were best friends! It’s only natural for them to disclose it. Some important issues or problems or secrets can’t be disclosed but in Jongdae’s situation, it’s needed to be disclosed to them.

They wanted to help him and not keep it as a secret.

Jongdae didn’t answer.

Ailee was slowly breaking down.

“Jongdae-ah, please! Please, jebal! Let us help you! You can’t keep it forever! We’re your friends! We’re here to help you!” her voice cracks as she pleads.

Jongdae sighs, his walls are easy to crumble. For an old window like him, such few words could break his glass.

It was so pretty damn easy.

His hand touches the cold foggy glass, fingertips feeling the coldness of the outside. He shuts his eyes and felt everything around him is so true and that he was a fraud. A being that shouldn’t exist in an existing world.

“The world is so dull and unrealistic in my eyes. I couldn’t grasp anything, I couldn’t breathe in the same air like anyone else, I couldn’t see anything right, I couldn’t do anything right. Everything is so surreal, foggy, that I can’t see myself anymore,” he mumbles but it was so loud and clear for them in a silence room they are in now, ignoring the pitter-patter of the rain.

“Jongdae…” Jieun trails off, stepping forward as she retreats her hand that was clinging into Ailee’s arm. Jongdae laughs dryly.

“The pictures are dull and void of colours. I can’t appreciate art anymore and that sickens me to death. I’m afraid that I’ll lose art, and indeed, I lost it so easily, but who could I blame? No one, but me. For a window of art that showcases the art of life through the transparent window seems so unrealistic and dull,” he continues. They didn’t speak a word as they listen to him.

“I’m a broken glass that is of no use to anyone. So just leave me be and go on with your life. You don’t need a broken window like me in your life that shows nothing but nothingness.”

He turns his head at them, a very bright sad smile plastered on his face and all of them could see past it. All sadness, disappointments, frustrations and tiredness was seen on his smile and their hearts broke at the sight.

Daehyun’s hands fisted as he walks toward Jongdae, with a shaky breath; he punched Jongdae on the jaw earning himself a collective gasps.

Jongdae spits out the blood on his mouth, hand touching the stinging pain on his cheek and he slightly winces before staring at Daehyun. Daehyun growls at him, grabbing his collar and snarls at him.

“That’s for what you did back then to me and this is for being such a naïve jerk.”

He punched him again on the same side of the jaw as his frame drops on the cold, hard floor. He feels more blood on his mouth and spits it on the floor as he sits up. Daehyun was ready to hurl another punch on him when Ailee decides to step in and holds back Daehyun.

He coldly stares at him, emotions coming out from the deepest corner of his heart; anger rising in his body. He stood up, eyes boring into Daehyun’s small frame.

“ing Jung Daehyun, what the do you think you are doing? Punching me and crap. Who do you ing think you are? Who the are you to judge my life like that? Who do you ing think you are, who ing thinks knows my life? Jung ing Daehyun, who the ing think you are, huh? , tell me!” Jongdae seethed out in anger as he steps forward to Daehyun, who managed to release Ailee’s hold from him and steps forward too, their faces barely a few inches away.

Anger filled his eyes and Daehyun smirks at the emotion he had seen, before landing another punch on Jongdae’s face, hurling him into the wall of his room. Jieun gasps at the scene that was unfolding before her and her feet refused to move to help Jongdae.

Jongdae slid down on the floor, coughing out some blood before looking up and saw Daehyun hovering him. He shuts his eyes, expecting Daehyun to grab his collar and punch him in the face again as he also prepare for any kicks as to come.

He waited, but nothing came. Instead, he was met with a warm embrace, an embrace that he feels so warm, safe and true.

He opens his eyes slowly, adjusting to the now bright room as the light have decided to brighten up the dim room. He could see Daehyun hugging him, his frame trembling and it makes him worry for the younger.

He wants to say something when Daehyun beats him to it.

“, , you, Jongdae. I ing hate you. How could you say that to us? How could you say that you’re a broken window? How ing dare you? How can you even ing say that we should continue our life without you? Who the ing are you to tell us, huh?” Daehyun tightened his hug around him and he felt his heart race at the sudden words of Daehyun. HE shifts his gaze when he saw Ailee walking over them, a warm smile decorated on her face.

She kneels down, enveloping them both in a hug.

“Jongdae-ah…we’re your best friends. We grew up together since we were young. We shared our problems and secrets together and we helped each other with the best abilities we can. We had gone through a lot through thick and thin. We had trusted each other so much than our own parents. Jongdae-ah, we’re here for you. Always by your side to help you; we always got your back.” 

Jongdae felt so touched by her words, he could feel his heart swell with affection.

Jieun kneels down with a crying face and hugs the three of them, her hug much tighter and stronger than others.

“Jongdae-ah! Why are you like this? Don’t you trust us anymore? Don’t you want us to be friends anymore? Wae? We miss you a lot for the past three months! We were worried for you and your health! Why are you being like this? Jongdae-ah!” Jieun cries out to him and Jongdae could only do was lower his gaze on the floor.

They broke the hug, their knees on the floor as Ailee cradled Jieun in her arms and soothingly pats her back to comfort her. Daehyun was silent and Jongdae could only look at the floor in shame.

“Jongdae-ah, we’re here. We’re your friends. We won’t abandon you. And we’re not going to live without you. You are our best friend since young. We’ve done a lot throughout the struggles in life. Don’t give up on your life. You deserve to be repaired if you are broken, but you aren’t,” she says making him look at her with tears welling up in his eyes.

Daehyun continues for her, “You’re not a broken window, Jongdae. You’re just a stained window with lots of dirt and mud. You can’t see the beauty of art and life itself, because you’re stained. You lacked the confidence. You lacked the ability to appreciate small things when you are so used to appreciate big things. Jongdae, you can’t be by yourself forever. Everything can be shared, pain, love, happiness and sadness. We’re here for you. You’re not by yourself.”

Jongdae could feel his chest tightens at the words, he feel his head throb in pain and he could feel his throat constrict in pain as he lost his voice to speak.

Jieun pulls way from Ailee’s cradle, wiping off her tears by her sleeves before looking at Jongdae with a bright smile.

“You’re not alone Jongdae! We’re here by your side even as time passed. We will be friends forever. Forever and ever it will be, even death couldn’t part us from our bond,” Jieun utters.

“Don’t carry the burden alone,” Ailee continues and Jongdae could feel the heavy feeling in his chest and shoulders lifts up as the burden vanished away as he breaks down on the floor. Crying out his pain, misery, cowardliness and everything that he was feeling in his life; he cried it out.

Ailee pulls him into a hug, Jieun following and Daehyun after; they enveloped their best friend in a warm and secure embrace that words couldn’t beat it.

Anything that had happened in the past can’t be fixed anymore, but in the present, it could be repaired. The past had shown its lesson and they were able to learn from it. Friendship has been fixed as they had reconciled and made up with their fight. They share each other’s pain and happiness again. Their friendship back again as it should have been supposed to be.  

Everything in life has a purpose. Struggles, defeat, pain, death and everything; everything has its own reason. Many struggles teaches a lot and lessons are valued worth in those struggles. You learn to live your life to the fullest and cast away any doubt in life. Learn from the past and apply it in the present. There’s no need to think about the future.

Learn to live your life to the fullest.

Learn to appreciate small things instead of big ones.

Because those small little things means the most than you could have ever imagine in your life.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

5 months passed---

Jieun walks around the park trying to find Daehyun. He called her up when she was on her part-time job and thank god, she was on her break. She makes time for Daehyun and they agreed to meet at the park. And here she was, trying to find her best friend throughout the park.

As she takes a tour around the park, she spots him further inside the park wherein flowers bloomed in every side. Her eyes caught a familiar figure on the left.

There he was, standing with a freshly picked flower in his hand, looking at it intently with those chocolate eyes. He glanced at her direction and for a moment they locked eyes. She was so immersed and entranced of his brown hue eyes that she didn't noticed that he walked towards her.

She was, of course, startled by his presence in front of her that made him amused and chuckled slightly. She observed his face for awhile and she noticed something different. Nothing physical, but within him; something changes within him that made her worry.

"Are you doing well?"

He smiles, a bit forced and twirls the flower that is in his grasp.

"Don't forget to remember me."

Jieun her head at the side showing off her confusion.

“Friends for eternity,” he mutters to her and she was beyond confused now.

"What are yo-" she stopped talking when Daehyun puts the flower on her ear beside her brown-amber locks.

"Just don't forget about me. That's all I'm asking for,” he mutters softly to her before leaving a gentle kiss on her forehead. Turning his heels away, Jieun watches his retreating back until he was gone from her sight.          

“Believe me Ailee! Daehyun is acting strange! He’s like ‘don’t forget me’ and ‘remember me’ stuff! I don’t know what’s going on with him,” Jieun whines, completely perturbed by Daehyun strange actions these days.  It’s been three weeks since the incident and Jieun was completely at her wits with Daehyun’s constant change and weird attitudes.

Ailee looks at her polished nails before shifting her gaze at Jieun.

“Ah-strange, indeed. I wonder what came up to him to say strange things like that,” Ailee boredly responded, face blank.

“He’s always strange,” Jongdae piped up.

Jieun gazes at him and he responded with a shrug.

As things were normal again, Jieun, Jongdae and Ailee came back to their favourite café and took their usual order. Setting themselves comfortably in their seat, they wait patiently for Daehyun to come and occupy the empty seat.

As they wait for him, Jongdae’s phone buzzed. Jongdae took out his phone from his pocket and looked at the caller ID.

Jung Daehyun

“Who is it?” Jieun asks as she sips her latte, her eyes trained at Jongdae’s phone. Ailee sips her iced coffee, eyes furrowed together as Jongdae shifts his gaze back to his phone and answered it, pushing back the unsettling feeling in his stomach, not aware that the two has the same feeling he has the moment they entered the café.

Jongdae places the phone on his ear and greets the other person on the line.

“Daehyun?” he asks, unsurely.

Jieun and Ailee looks at him in surprise that it was Daehyun who was calling. They watch Jongdae nod his head and hummed and watches his face dropped as if something bad had happened to him. He finishes the call, placing back the phone back to his pocket.

He stood up; drinking his fruit juices in one go and placing it back to the table. Jieun and Ailee stood up abruptly, confused at why Jongdae stood up.

“What’s wrong, Jongdae?” Ailee asks in worry. The two of them could feel their stomach tightens at the terrible feeling that they are having.

Jongdae gazes at the dazedly before turning his head away and uttered.

“Daehyun is in the hospital.”

As much as they couldn’t believe what they heard awhile ago, they felt the news so real and the unsettling feeling in their stomach worsens and proves its point. They rushed to the hospital, trying to get there quick as they can.

As they have learned the number of the room from the receptionist, they run their way to Daehyun’s room. Heart clenching in worry and fear as their head throb in questions, they quicken their pace. As they found his room, Ailee opened the room and the three of them got in, spotting a brunette lying on the bed with oxygen mask covering his face and needles connected on his body and a doctor and two nurses in the room checking up on him.

The doctor was startled a bit at the sudden entrance of the three. He took note that the three must the patient’s friends. He walked towards them with a small smile decorating his face.

“I take note that you are Jung Daehyun’s friends?” he asks with a smile. The three nodded their heads and the doctor nodded his head as his conclusion has been confirmed.

“Doc, what happened to him?” Ailee asks; worry filled her voice. The doctor took a brief glance on Daehyun before ushering them out of the room.

Once they were out, the worry and nervousness poured them as they anticipate what the doctor is going to say about Daehyun.

“I believe he didn’t tell you that he has pneumonia?” The doctor implies with slight accusation to Daehyun. The three of them could feel their heart stilled, breathe hitched and a loud smack of pain punched on their chest and heads.

“P-Pneumonia?” Jieun chokes out and the doctor nodded his head.

“H-how? When?” Jongdae sputtered out, completely shocked at the news that was delivered out to them. When did Daehyun have pneumonia? Why didn’t he tell anything?

The doctor looks at the three with a solemn look, he was sad for them. Daehyun has been one of his patients and the younger often comes for his check-up. He knew Daehyun since he was 15 and seeing now that he is 19, it’s been 4 years since they met.

Daehyun has been bright, bubbly and a total cheesecake addict as the doctor have known-well of course, he does. (He also buys cheesecakes for the younger, you know.) Daehyun’s pneumonia has been only seen when he was 17 years old back then. The doctor did his best to help Daehyun, but when Daehyun became 19, he stopped all the treatment all together.

He recently found out when he visited him a month ago and he told the younger that he’s pneumonia was worse than before and that he couldn’t be saved anymore. It was kind of sad to see Daehyun laughing humourlessly and even thanked the doctor for letting him know about his current decision.

The doctor wished he didn’t tell the younger, but he still told it for his sake. He has the right to know after all. As he watches his best friend’s worry for him and watch them break makes him sad and broken, too.  He closes his eyes before shaking his head.

He sighs before opening them up again.

“I’m sorry. He’s a lost cause,” he mutters to them before leaving, ignoring the calls of Jongdae to him.

There they stand- horrified, stunned, and shocked at what had instantly happened. How and why?

They watch the same doctor who talks about Daehyun’s pneumonia, revive Daehyun’s flat line. He tried several times to revive him, but it was too late. Everything seems so surreal, fuzzy and dizzy. Their ears were blocked except one sentence made it clear in their ears.

Jung Daehyun is dead.