It's almost winter.

The air is getting chilly and frost is forming.

"Minnie!" Jongdae called. "Come here!" 

Minseok looked up from his book as he sat at a table in the school's library.

Jongdae smiled widely and held out a book.

"I think we should read this book." Jongdae said as he made his way to Minseok.

Minseok smiled slightly and nodded as he put the book he was currently reading down on the table and took Jongdae's.

The book was titled The Cat Brothers. 

Since Jongdae and Minseok became close friends, everyone called their pair, the "cat bros".

They were named that because of their cat-like features, Jongdae's lips and Minseok's eyes.

"You like this color too." Jongdae said, pointing at the red on the cover. Minseok nodded.

"Yeah. I'm not colorblind." Minseok muttered. Jongdae laughed.

"I know, Minnie-"

"Hey, guys. I'm here. Sorry I'm late."

The two boys in their last year of high school looked to their right.

"Ah. Sohee Noona. You're here. We can start now." Jongdae said, excited, as he got into the seat beside Minseok. Although all three of them were in the same grade, Jongdae had started school early and was one year younger than the two.

Minseok and Sohee stared at each other for a little until the attraction was broken by Sohee.

Sohee sat on the other side of the table across from Minseok and put her backpack down.

"You just transfered here a week ago, right? We'll help show you around." Jongdae suggested, eye-smiling. Jongdae turned to Minseok. "Right, Minnie?" 

Minseok nodded.

"Oh. You two are the Cat Bros.?" Sohee said. Jongdae smiled a toothy smile and nodded.

"How did you know?" Jongdae said, putting an arm around Minseok's shoulder. 

Sohee peered at Minseok, only to blush slightly when Minseok looked up at her.

"Come on. I didn't sign up to assist tranfer students around school just to sit here." Jongdae said, standing up and pulling Minseok with him.

Sohee stood but got her foot caught on the foot of the table, stumbling over.

Minseok's instinct kicked in and he caught Sohee before she could fall below her waist.

"T-Thank you." Sohee said, Minseok letting go of her. He spared her one last glance before walking toward the exit with his hands in his pockets.

"Okay! Let's go!" Jongdae said, taking Sohee by the hand.

Sohee nodded and grabbed her backpack.

 

Jongdae blabbered on and on about the scenery as Sohee dragged behind with Minseok.

"So um, what's your name?" She asked.

Minseok glanced down at his nametag without saying a word.

Sohee read the nametag and slightly giggled.

"Kim Minseok. You're funny." She said.

Minseok averted his eyes and stared at Jongdae's head of hair.

"....and that's why the food now!" Jongdae finished. Sohee barely picked up anything he had said but nodded.

"Yeah. Got it." She said, before peeking back at Minseok.

 

The day was long but it eventually came to an end.

Jongdae and Minseok walked to Jongdae's house.

"Okay. So...we eat. Homework time. Singing time. Eat again..." Jongdae continued, but Minseok was distracted most of the time.

Minseok kept thinking about Sohee.

"Jong." Minseok said, immediately gaining the latter's attention.

"Yes, Minnie?" Jongdae said, blinking.

Minseok sighed as Jongdae pulled out his key to unlock the front door.

"Will we see her again?" Minseok asked. Jongdae nodded as he pushed the door open.

"Sure we will." Jongdae said surely, Minseok smiling, making Jongdae smile as well.

 

Just over the coarse of the week, Sohee and Minseok had already become official.

 

They earned the name Kitty Couple.

 

The Cat Bros. soon faded as if they never existed.

 

Jongdae sat alone in the corner of the cafeteria. He would go join his group of friends but he didn't feel like being questioned. 

Jongdae sighed deeply.

He held his video camera with the red "play" button in his hands.

He smiled downward to himself then put it back in his bag carefully.

Jongdae sighed again.

He wanted to ask Minseok if he would go to Jongdae's performance at the school's talent show.

But...

Jongdae doesn't know how to talk to Minseok when Minseok ignores him.

Jongdae looks up at Minseok and Sohee.

It hurts to see Minseok smile so much. He even laughs louder now.

Jongdae puts a hand over his heart and clenches it.

"Minnie-ah. Please don't ignore me anymore." Jongdae pleads.

 

Jongdae just finished singing and has come out of the building when a man in a suit stops him.

"Please acccept this invitation. We would love you to work with us." He said as Jongdae accepts the small informational card.

"SM Entertainment?" Jongdae reads the large print.

"Yes. Please call the number by midnight so we can come pick you up." The man finished, then disappeared into the darkness of the night

 

Jongdae goes to Minseok's house, only to find out he isn't home. Minseok lives by himself so Jongdae leaves because the lights are off too.

But before he leaves, he leaves his camera in Minseok's mailbox just in case it rains.

He feels like it could any second.

 

Sohee takes he hand off Minseok's mouth and gets off of him. She switches the lights back on after making sure that nuisance is gone.

"Whew. That was a close one." She sighed, then wrapped her limbs around Minseok. "What do you wanna do now that he's gone?"

Minseok shrugged.

"I don't care, as long as I'm with you." Minseok said, pecking Sohee on the cheek. Sohee nodded.

"Then, let's go to the mall." She said, pulling Minseok up with her.

"But-"

"No buts. I need new clothes in order to feel good. You know that, Minseok." She interrupted. Minseok sighed and followed Sohee out.

 

Jongdae stared at his clock.

He had been out searching everywhere for Minseok and had just returned from the mall.

His feet are so sore.

He was running out of time.

 

It's 11:58 pm

 

If only Minseok gave Jongdae his new phone number.

Minseok had been forced to get a phone by Sohee so she could contact him when she was lonely.

Jongdae was sweating and felt like his brain was being fried.

He wants to move on.

He wants a brighter future.

But he doesn't want to hurt Minseok in the future.

And if he does, he'll take whatever eternal pain Minseok had to give him.

But not now.

The clock ticked.

 

11:59 pm

 

Jongdae picked his phone up with shaky fingers.

He dialed the number on the card and the phone was immediately answered.

"Yes, my name is Kim Jongdae...A-accept?" Jongdae clenched his fists and swallowed hard.

He blocked the bottom of his phone and moved it away from his ear.

He bit his bottom lip to keep his tears back.

But the tears overflowed and came flowing out down his soft cheeks.

"Minnie...I'm sorry."

Then he brought up the phone up to his ear and removed his hand.

"I accept."

 

Minseok doesn't know what just happened, but he found himself sitting alone on the curb of the sidwalk.

He feels like he's missing something.

No...

Minseok scrunches his eyebrows and sees a blurred world.

He puts his hand out in front of him and feels weak all of a sudden.

He feels like he's going to faint at any moment.

If only there was someone there to catch him-

Minseok's vision and mind became clear again.

"Jong." He breathed, then he got to his feet and ran to Jongdae's house.

 

Jongdae hopes Minseok will continue being happy without him and takes a deep breath.

He takes his first step into the airport.

 

"Jongdae!!" Minseok calls, after being told by Jongdae's father that Jongadae was at the airport.

 

Jongdae recieves a text from his father right as the announcer announces that the flight to

"America will depart in five minutes."

Jongdae's heart sped and his eyes darted from face to face.

 

Coolest Dad Ever: You didn't tell Minseok you were leaving?

 

Jongdae couldn't help but tip-toe to see above everyone's heads.

He searched for Minseok.

Minseok still cares?

 

Three minutes

 

Minseok took his first step into the massive airport building.

"Jongdae!!!" He shouted the loudest he had ever shouted.

 

Two minutes

 

"Minnie!!" Jongdae yelled, pushing people aside as he headed toward the entrance.

But then he stopped.

Minseok doesn't need him anymore.

He hesitated but eventually ran back to his flight area where everyone was being loaded.

 

One minute

 

Minseok felt dread wash over him and collapsed onto the cold tile in the center of the crowds.

 

Minseok is sent to the hospital.

 

 

 

*One Year Later*

 

 

 

Minseok laid in bed, holding a photo of his Jongdae in one hand and a photo of EXO's Chen in the other. 

His hands shook, making him drop the photos onto his chest.

He sighed and mustered the energy to sit up and grab his video camera.

He smiled as he scrolled through the videos Jongdae had recorded.

Tears began welling up so he set the camera down and went for his phone instead.

He scrolled through SM Town's news, only to regret it seconds later.

EXO's Chen in car accident...

Minseok hurried on two wobbly legs out of the cold, lonely, medical equiped room.

 

Minseok searched everywhere for Jongdae until he finally stopped in front of an open door.

He saw Jongdae's father, who bid him to enter.

Minseok entered the room and saw a man he thought to be Jongdae's manager.

They stood beside Jongdae, who seemed asleep.

Minseok made his way to Jongdae's side, replacing Jongdae's father.

The two men left Minseok with Jongdae and exit the room to talk about his condition.

Minseok went to pick up Jongdae's hand but it was too heavy so he moved the medical band on Jongdae's wrist instead.

 

Jongdae is in a mini coma.

 

Minseok's heart drops and he feels like this feeling is becoming more and more famliar to him.

Minseok bends down and plants a kiss on Jongdae's temple.

Minseok stays there for a while, until he grabs a chair and props it open next to Jongdae.

Minseok falls asleep there, to the noise of buzzing and beeping of machines, but he's already used to the noise.

 

Minseok stays there for three more days.

EXO's manager has already lied to the world, telling it that Jongdae's injuries are minor.

 

Minor.

 

Minseok gets why.

 

But why?

 

On the third night, Sohee calls Minseok and wants to try again.

He's not sure why she would call after all this time but he goes anyway.

He wants to know why she left him during that time.

When he thought they were perfect.

But when he gets there and they catch up, Sohee can't date someone in his current condition. She apologizes and leaves him alone once again.

Minseok decides to return to the hospital, only to find an empty room.

"Patient thirteen was discharged twenty-four minutes ago." The nurse said.

Minseok nodded and thanked the nurse before making it back to his house.

He could barely turn the door knob when he entered his bedroom.

He went straight to his bed and fell asleep for the first time in a long time.

 

EXO hits top charts!

 

EXO wins first place!

 

The winner is EXO!

 

2014's international idol group is EXO!

 

Minseok tried going to as many fansigning events as possible just so he could see and hear Jongdae even though he was breaking.

 

Jongdae noticed Minseok had been attending EXO's fansigning events. He wants Minseok to move on and not stay stuck to Jongdae. 

Like how Jongdae had made that decision himself years ago.

So Jongdae decided to visit Minseok one last time and maybe convince him to move on.

 

Minseok lie in bed with worry clouding his brain although that wasn't the only thing clouding his brain.

Minseok held the camera with the red play button in his hands.

Minseok heard a knock at the door and could barely rise up to greet whoever it was.

He shouldn't have rejected her help yesterday.

Minseok disconected himself from plastic and made his way through his house to the front door.

Minseok opened it and there stood his dream.

A dream he thought would never come true.

Jongdae stood in the doorway with a slight smile and a wave of the hand.

"Hey, Minnie." Jongdae greeted. "May I come in?" He asked.

Minseok's eyes turned blood red before he moved out of the way.

Jongdae walked in and looked around.

"Hm. Seems the same. A little dusty even." Jongdae commented.

Minseok nodded.

That makes sense.

He hasn't been out here since last year.

"Oh. You have my camera." Jongdae pointed out, motioning to Minseok's middle.

Minseok nodded and went to sit on one of his dusty sofas, Jongdae following.

"Why are you here?" Minseok asked.

"Well, I just wanted to check on you and..." Jongdae looked around the room again. "Where's Sohee?" He asked, recieving a slight snicker.

"Sohee's long gone. Guess we weren't as perfect as everyone thought." Minseok said, starting to feel weak again.

Jongdae sighed.

"Oh. I'm sorry." Was all he could say.

But at least he said something he had been wanting to say.

Minseok didn't have the guts to tell Jongdae.

He peered down at his hands sadly then an idea came to mind.

"Jong."

Jongdae lost a breath at the sound of his name coming from Minseok's lips.

"Can I...Can I record you one last time?" Minseok asked.

Jongdae lost another breath before he could answer.

"Y-Yeah. S-sure." He stammered. 

Minseok smiled thankfully with a natural wink.

"Go on and stand over there by the window." Minseok said, staying in his seat. 

Minseok raised the camera with all the strength he could muster as Jongdae readied himself.

"Is this place okay?" He asked. 

Minseok gave him a thumbs up and a,

"Perfect."

"We're rolling now." Minseok said, making Jongdae smile happily. Minseok steadied the camera and zoomed in to Jongdae's face and shoulders, a perfect profile. 

"Tell me about yourself, Kim Jongdae. Don't leave anything out." Minseok said.

Jongdae nodded and smiled widely before introducing himself like how he would during an interview.

"Hello~! My name is Kim Jongdae~! I am a member of EXO-M. My stage name is Chen and I have had a really great time since I joined EXO but even before that, I had a just as good life. I had an amazing friend but it just didn't work anymore..."

Jongdae continued on

and on

and on

until the battery to the camera died.

"I have to go." Minseok said once the time was nine at night.

Minseok handed Jongdae the camera with the red play button.

Jongdae thought Minseok was really tired out from just sitting and holding a camera.

Jongdae accepted the camera and started toward the door.

"Press the white play button when you have time to watch the video." Minseok instructed as Jongdae stepped outside into the cold. 

"Goodbye, Jong." Minseok said, which then would be the cue to shutting the door, but Minseok kept it open and stared at the man he had followed till his death.

"G-Goodbye, Minnie." Jongdae said, before turning and leaving slowly.

Time dragged on for what seemed like eternity for both of them as the Cat Bros. finally ended permanently.

"I'm sorry, Jong. I didn't have the guts. But please press play. I love you." 

 

A few hours later, Jongdae finally found the time to watch the video after asking Baekhyun for a charger.

Jongdae searched for a white button but only saw a red one with an arrow.

Why did Minnie say it was white? He's not colorblind.

Jongdae brushed it off and pressed play. He started watching what he had expected to see but then...

"...since I joined EXO..."

Minseok's voice came ringing over Jongdae's.

Minseok's voice was in a silent whisper, weak and cracked.

 

"Hey...

 

This is Minnie...

 

Umm. Thank you. For always being there...

 

as a friend..."

 

Jongdae's eyes burned.

 

"As someone I could tell anything to...

 

Hah..."

 

Minseok's voice became breathy, as if he was getting tired.

 

"It's been such a long time...

 

So-um...

 

From a person that has...

 

A brain tumor..."

 

It was Jongdae's turn to feel complete, heavy, deep dread wash over his soul.

 

"I love you, Jong. Jonggie, as you would say...

 

Um...

 

I have brain surgery today...

 

Ten percent survival...

 

Says the doctor...

 

But you...

 

You would say a one...

 

hundred percent...

 

huh?"

 

Jongdae didn't notice tears fall from his chin.

 

"I know...

 

I won't make it...

 

So...

 

Goodbye...

 

Fighting..."

 

"Minnie! You remember when we..."

 

Jongdae dropped the camera before he could finish the video, shattering the glass.

He ran to the hospital, which was only a few blocks down.

He didn't care if people recognized him, he just kept running as fast as his legs could carry him.

Jongdae was out of breath by the time he reached the surgery room.

He knew he was too late.

He felt his heart had shattered, pouring blood everywhere, leaving him with blood pounding everywhere in his body.

The pounding was so loud, he could barely hear the nurse in the room's words.

All Jongdae heard was-

"He didn't make it."

Jongdae sat up against the wall in the cold hospital hall, bawling into his hands.

His phone must have rang a thousand times but he never answered one of them.

He stayed there until the lights went out and was escorted outside.

His manager picked him up and demanded he at least pretend to be happy on-camera.

And that's all Jongdae can do now.

Pretend.

Jongdae knows this is the eternal pain he had promised Minseok.

He's known that since he spoke the words,

"I accept."