Acceptance |akˈseptəns|

(n) in humanpsychology is a person's assent to the reality of a situation, recognizing a process or condition (often a negative or uncomfortable situation) without attempting to change it, protest, or exit.

“Hi…”

“H…He..Llo..” Sungyeol stuttered and smiled apologetically.

“Umm… Hi. Hello… It’s… It’s good to see you again…” Sungyeol smiled again, he looked too vulnerable sitting on that wheelchair. Slumped as if he was being put that way. Well, he was, but Myungsoo was hoping for somekind of movements from the love of his life, beside that crooked smile…

“Excuse me, I’m sorry to bother you, I’m just gonna give Sungyeol ssi his medicines okay…” a nurse came in and saved Myungsoo from crying out loud.

“Oh… okay… It’s fine…” he slide aside, giving the nurse her way to Sungyeol’s body.

“Okay Yeollie, I know it always hurts, but I need you to endure it… okay… nod for me if you get it… Umm… Myungsoo ssi, if you mind, you could step outside for awhile, I’ll call you when it’s done.”

“No. no. I’m okay…”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” No.

“Okay…” the nurse took a syringe. Myungsoo began to regret his decision. Sungyeol didn’t even flinch when she started to inject the sharp syringe onto his skin. It came across Myungsoo that he was used to with it.

“Myungsoo ssi, before anything unwanted happens, I would like to suggest you not to encourage Sungyeol to talk. For one and another reason, he can barely use his nerve, therefore it is extremely hard for him to talk. I would suggest you to use that alphabet board for him to spell his words. I know it’s hard and take a lot of patience but…”

“I know.” Myungsoo cut her off, his head was spinning. 6 months. It took 6 months from the healthy and happy Sungyeol to this point.

“Look Myungsoo ssi, I was jus…”

“Yes, I.. I’m sorry but yes I know what you meant. I…would you just let me be with him for a while?” The nurse nodded and left.

“Hi… I’m sorry you had to hear that… I… I’ve missed you, you know…”

“M.. M..Myun…”

“No! Don’t. Don’t speak…Wait, let me grab your board… Here…”

‘This ’

“No it’s not…”

‘Yes this is… I miss you too.’

“Yeol… Come home…”

‘I’m home…’

“No Yeol, home. To our apartment okay…”

‘this is my home now Soo… can we not fight about this?’

“But…”

‘Please…’ Sungyeol stared at Myungso for a while, that dark brown orbs used to light up and now, it seems so dull and sad.

“Okay… Okay…”

‘I’ve missed you…’

“I miss you too…”

‘Come sit beside me… It’s okay…Plenty of space. I’m very skinny. Like very.’ Myungsoo nodded and sat beside him.

‘how’s your life?’

“Fine… I guess…”

‘Come on now… Been listening to the nurses’ dull stories. I need yours to cheer me up’ Myungsoo stared at Sungyeol.

“I… I’m fine. I’m holding on… I’m a survivor.”

‘survivor?’ Myungsoo smiled.

“You were all I had. After you left… What makes you think I could survive? Look, stop… Stop. It’s fine, I’ll talk…”

‘please do… can I lay my head on your shoulder?’

“Thought you’d never ask…” Sungyeol rest his head on Myungsoo, “I think I’ve done a hell of a great job… I made it to the magazine you know… took pictures of too many famous faces. Went to a lot of cool places. I went to Santorini… I… it’s beautiful… Too beautiful… I spent my personal memory card because I want to capture every single corner there Yeol… It’s like… I can’t describe it… but it took my breath away… That place, it seems like God designed it by Himself. Everything just seems in the right places… I bought you presents from those places I’ve visited…”

‘yeah? What are they?’ Myungsoo gulped and closed his eyes, it’s hard for him to see the love of his life laying lifeless on his shoulder…

“Picture frames Yeol…” Myungsoo let out a bitter laugh, ”Picture frames…”

‘why?’

“Because I thought I want to fill them with our pictures…”

‘oh… did you?’

“No… apparently no…”

‘why?’

“it’s painful…”

‘what is?’

“Seeing your faces inside those frames… without you around… it feels like, you’re gone…”

‘I am gone.’

“you’re not.”

‘yet.’

If God told Myungsoo that he could ask for one thing, and one thing only. Myungsoo would love to tell God he wants to freeze this moment, this moment only. When Sungyeol fell asleep on his shoulder, he could play around with Sungyeol’s hair, touched his skin, and saw him fell asleep. He wouldn’t and couldn’t ask for anything more than this. He wouldn’t ask to turn back time, because this very moment, Sungyeol looked peaceful.

“Excuse me Myungsoo ssi, but visiting time is over…” a nurse came in, Myungsoo nodded and lay Sungyeol carefully on his bed. Sungyeol’s eyes fluttered open.

“a mo.. mo.. mom..ment ple…please.” The nurse then stepped outside.

“Yeol… Don’t. Don’t speak… What? What do you want? Are you thirsty?

‘no… I want to say goodbye before you leave.’

“I’ll be back tomorrow.”

‘I know…’ he smiled, ‘do you mind if I ask for one thing?’

“What?”

‘kiss me?’ Myungsoo chuckled.

“Are you sure? You can’t resist me huh?”

‘Stop. Or else I’ll scream.’ Myungsoo smiled and lean forward.

It was sweet.

“I… Love… You.”