iv. Parting

Sunggyu broke in to a run through the road. Bumping into people. Got scolded, but he didn't care. Sunggyu was out of his mind when kicked open the door of an inn that mentioned in the letter. He flew climbing up the stairs like an eagle. Passing the doorman who yelled at him while pointing at the now broken door.

Corridor of the second floor already filled with people. Wearing that city troops guard's uniform. Swarming. Mumbling lowly. Dejected. Concerned. Heechul and Xue Fu also there. Hand clasped in their own mouth.

Sunggyu with darkened eyes ignored them.

Kept running into a certain room.

The letter was mentioning about his Woohyun. A bad news. How bad? What happened to his Woohyun. What was happening?

Stupefied. His movement stalled. Straight away.

Look! Woohyun lied in his bed. So peaceful in his sleep. Smiled happily. The morning sunshine broke through the window's glass illuminating his face. His white clothes created an impression of a deep melancholy. That face already frozen.

Sunggyu's heart instantly felt like sliced by a knife.

He fell to his knee beside the bed. Facedown, like a fallen leaf. Covering his face with both of his hands. In seemingly endless time. Without any sound. Completely quiet. Just his body trembling. Until slowly his sobs heard. Bit by bit getting louder. Sunggyu crawled closer to the bed. With much difficulty he squatted beside his Woohyun. His red eyes stared at that boy's face intently.

His lips trembled calling for a name. "Woo.. Hyun…"

The people inside the room fell into silent. Also hurting as they saw the misery in Sunggyu's f