Blaze’s POV

I was left on the bed, contemplating as to what I should do next. So the mark had that effect huh I muttered to myself, as I remembered the things I’ve heard from Luhan and Kai’s conversation.

I had not meant to hear them, but sharp hearing is a basic vampire thing. Shutting it off is the problem.

I tried controlling the amount of aural stimulation that I perceive, but still I failed miserably in doing so. The thing when you are an original, you are ten times stronger in terms of power or strength, but you are the weakest when it comes to control.

I sighed, trying once again  to block off stimuli from that room.

“The mark makes them do a lot of crazy things.” I looked up  and resisted the urge to rub my eyes. In front of me, stood a grinning  Sehun- a brighter Sehun.

“You’ve been –woah, are you okay?” I asked genuinely concerned. Yesterday he was just crying his hearts out but now, he is smiling almost scarily. His brows furrowed in confusion. “Why is that?”

“Well , yesterday you’ve been devastated and-“ I stopped  unable to speak when Sehun sat with me on the bed, looked me intently in the eyes and spoke “Will you hold me? Just for a second?” He said.

I opened my arms, allowed him to nuzzle his face on my neck. Sehun felt warm- must be a wolf thing.

“I’m not okay” He whispered, to which I replied, “ I know.”

“But it’s a wolf tradition you know, to stop grieving a day after a comrade’s death. Losing someone, is not new to us, which is why it is a rule to just let go whenever a friend dies- whenever a family dies. Harbouring grief, they say is like… mocking your life- a life that could have been lost but did not. Smiling, being happy, living is honouring the life that you still have. But it’s hard, it’s so damn hard to smile”

“I know” I mumbled as I ran my fingers through his smooth and silky hair.At that moment I wished I have said something, more intelligent, more inspiring, but I knew it was not what Sehun needed. He came to me not seeking for words of comfort. He came to me, so that someone could listen to his aching heart.

Moments after he stood up, reaching for my right hand. “Will you come with me, for a second?” he asked. Nodding , I just followed him, wherever his feet would take us both.

“It’s beautiful” I breathed as I let my fingertips brush the clear water that flows down the stream.

“Never thought they would be able to find a house in the middle of the forest” he mumbled as he threw one stone towards the river before gently smiling at me.

“What are we doing here?” I asked, his smiling slightly fading , before putting up a happy façade again.

“Don’t do that” I whispered as I gently touched  his face. “Do what?” he asked.

“Faking your smile.I ‘m sure he wouldn’t like it” He grabbed my hands , and reaching for his pocket he brought out paper boats.

“We used to play with this when we were young, ” he said, his face relaxing a bit. I could tell he was seeing a memory he was very fond of.

“He was a good hyung to me, you know. Yuhan” he said as he made one boat afloat in the river. The wind gently blew,  and we silently watched as the first paper boat sailed its way towards the far end of the stream.

“I’m bidding farewell to him noona.” He whispered, choking in his own tears, my hand instinctively reaching out to wipe them, but he cught my hands and instead placed one paper boat on them.

“You were the last one who saw him.” He said, and I shuddered, remembering what happened. How he died. AND how I lied to Sehun about it.

“He was- he was brave Sehun. Up to his last moment, he cared about you” I said, finding myself crying too.I’m so sorry Sehun. I’m sorry I have to do this. I have to protect you.

That was when a pair of warm arms wrapped around me. “Sehun-ah”

“Noona thankyou, for being here. With me. Right now.”

I shivered at the warm feeling as I felt his lips touch my forehead.

“Komawo noona. Komawo”