Darkness. That's all what greeted you as you entered the empty house. You frowned as you stepped inside the dead place, searching for something or rather someone. "Why is it so dark in here?" You whispered, the only voice in the house. The only life in the house. But you weren't supposed to be the only living thing in the house, and you wondered where he could be. You went deep inside searching every room, hoping to see his figure on every bed you pass. You went back to the living room, and a black, blurry figure at the balcony caught you attention. You walked closer to the balcony squinting your eyes at the figure. "Mino." You whispered in the cold air, as you opened the balcony's door. The figure never turned. " Why are you here in the cold?" You eyed his bare feet, and sleeveless shirt. No answer. You sighed at the smell of smoke coming from his direction, knowing you can do nothing to stop it. You tried convincing him countless times as to not smoke, but he would always snap at you telling you to leave him alone and never comeback if you will keep on nagging. You walked closer to him, your heart beating with every step, hoping he went ask you to go back. " Are you okay?" You placed a hand on his cold shoulder. He turned his face to you, smoke released from his nostrils and mouth, penetrating the cold air. His expression is of something you couldn't understand, of surrender and sleep. He gave you a dry, dead laugh. " You still haven't given up on this question?" He spoke with a husky, low, tired voice. You let out a shaky breath, failing in finding a clever comeback. " Why are you here?" "Because I have an extra key." You eyed the smoke breaking free from his mouth, wanting to sound as stupid as possible. "Why are you here, ____?" He gave you an empty look, just like his tone. "To check on you." You tried to sound as calm as possible. "Why?" "Because that's what friends are for." You tried suppressing the urge to sob and punch the boy before you, begging him to wake up and comeback. Oh, how it tore you into pieces to see the once bright friend you had is as dark as night and grudge. Another laugh that at being a laugh. "Friends?" You looked at his sarcastic face with a confused expression. " We both know that you don't see me as any close friend anymore,_____." His tone bruised you, and you looked away at the far sky not wanting to meet his gaze. "I'm over it, Mino. That's not why am I here." "Sure, whatever." He looked back at the dark horizon before him, the cigarette still trapped in between his index and thumb. You gave him a look of 'What-happened-to-you?', not wanting to slap him for his indifference towards your emotions and concern. Towards the fact that you came all the way to his house in the middle of the night to make sure he's all right. You wanted to slap him for his nonchalance towards his drastic change, towards his psychological decline. You hated him, but you loved him. "Let's go back, Mino. It's cold in here." You pulled on his freezing arm. "Leave,____." He spoke callously, as he pulled his arm away from you. You stared at him for a moment before shaking your head. "No." "What do you want, _____?" He sighed. " I want you to speak to me. Talk to me, tell me how are you doing, unleash your burdens. I would like to share their weight with you." You spoke in calm voice, as calm as the night's cold breeze. He gave you another dry laugh. " Don't say things you can't commit to." He threw his cigarette far away from the balcony, after it's fire died away. Just like his. " Don't say things you don't know." You gave him your smartest comeback of this night. He rubbed his face forehead with his hands, and turned around to the balcony door. He slid it open, and slid it shut. You turned to face the balcony door, only to find his figure on the other side of the door, not caring about your existence. You sighed and followed, telling yourself that it's all right, and that you can't blame him. " Tell me, _____." He looked at you, after you came from the balcony, and picked an empty mug from the table. You eyed the mug as it lifted to your eye level. " What's inside the mug?" He brought the mug closer to you. "Nothing, it's empty." You answered, suspiciously. Not knowing what's he getting to. " If you want, you can fill it with anything you want ;coffee, water, jelly beans, oil. But not everything empty is meant to be filled with anything you want . No random passer by can fill an empty house that's meant for its owner. Therefore, if the house's owner is dead, the house stays empty. Dead." You frowned slightly confused at his talk. " You can't fill my emptiness, even if you think you can. I'm sorry, but it's never the same. So stop concerning yourself with things you can't change." "That is none of your business whether I'm concerning myself or not." He sighed at you, giving up, and turned to leave. "What happened to you?" You immediately held his elbow to halt him from turning, but he pushed harshly with his elbow causing you to stumble and fall back. You closed your eyes waiting for the cold solid ground to acquaint your body, but was surprised to find a soft fluffy texture under you. You opened your eyes to find yourself on his couch. You mentally sighed with relief, thanking Mino for not being an in this thing, too.  "Everything happened to me! happened to me,______. Are you blind? Can't you see?!" His tone was of exhaustion, madness, and depression. "But you can't give up." You whispered. "Give up on what?!" Now he yelled, making you flinch. "What do I have to give up on?!  Tell me!!! I lost it all! Everything! My brother, my friends, myself!" You didn't what to tell him, because you know it's all true. It all started with Mino's brother, Minhyuk. He was involved in a car crash, a year and 6 months ago,while his drunk friend was driving, and both his brother and his brother's drunk friend passed away. Mino's face was a dark as death the moment he learned about his brother's death from his brother's friend's parents. You saw it all. How he broke into stones, and rain storms from all the agony upon losing his only family to the heavens. Yes, his only family. Mino's dad ditched them when he was 11 and his Mom died from a sudden heart attack when he turned 13, which left him with his only older brother. Right after his brothers death, Mino's mental and psychological health started deteriorating. He stopped going to college, and started smoking. His change made him fight with most of his friends, which lead to the halt of their relationship. And so far, you were the only survivor. Even though he tried myriad times to push you, you were determined to stay with him until he gets better. You did think about staying away from him sometimes, losing hope in ever seeing him going back to his old self, but you would always dismiss the thought. You were so worried that depression might get the best of him, making him act mindlessly. Especially when he once told you this : 'Stay away from me,____.' 'Why?' You asked. 'You're my best friend, and it'll hurt you.' 'What are you talking about, Mino.' 'If I killed myself....it'll hurt you.' 'Mino...' You trailed out of words. ' Try to not contact me a lot or at all. I can't stay in here, I don't belong here,____. I'm so disturbed and exhausted, and i feel so lifeless. I can't handle it anymore; I can't get rid of this darkness. I just want to rest in peace, but I still don't want you to get hurt, but I can't stay here. This is not my happy place. it's better for both us. You wouldn't be that bruised, and I wouldn't be this concerned about you.' 'What are you-' You couldn't finish your sentence, as tears welled up in your eyes. ' Honestly, you're the only reason why I'm still in here. Don't you want me to be happy? This is the only way.' 'Mino, please! Don't let it get the best of you, please!' You begged as tears slid down your flushed cheeks, you came closer to him and hugged him.'You have to grow up and stay happy, to die happy. Die while sleeping on your warm bed after dreaming of pride and gold. Tulips, dawn and kisses. Chocolate and white dresses. Diamonds and cakes and forests.' He said in a hushed tone, not hugging you back.  'But I want to grow up with you! Remember when we promised to grow up together?!' You said in between your tears.  'I'm so sorry........Promises are meant to be broken.' He whispered. Therefore, you made sure to check on him daily. Not leaving a single day. You were ready suppress all his attempts to push you away, because you weren't ready to attend his funeral. He sat on the couch before you, elbows on his knees, and his hands in his hair. Silence of agony and weakness haunted the air around you, and it suffocated you. " I just want the old Mino back." You spoke as calmly as you could master. " The old Mino is dead, and I have no reason to bring him back again nor a reason to stay here, so save your pain and never come back." "What about me? Am I not enough for you to stay? You're just going to leave me here?" You asked, hurt eating your eyes. "Find someone happy that can make you happy,____. I can't. I'm damned." You let out a shaky breath, not wanting to respond, so you ignored his statement. " I have to go now, it's late. I'll comeback tomorrow." You said turning to the door, his dead laugh resonating in your ears. You started sobbing the moment you entered the car, disappointed. You rested your head at the wheel, shaking. The thought of him dead made you disturbed. You loved him a lot, more than just a friend. You knew it. He knew it. You never confessed, but he wasn't dumb. However, it was one-sided. He always tried signaling to you that he can never return your love to him, until he said it to you on his brother's funeral. ' I can never love you back, if that's why you're here.' You were flabbergasted at his rude words to you, when you only came to pacify his melancholy. 'What are you talking about?' You asked with the 'Do you think I'm here because of that?' tone. 'You know what I'm talking about' He stood by his brother's grave. 'Mino, you're tired. Maybe you should get some rest. And I'm sorry, but I have to be somewhere else. Take care.' You turned but halted when he said,ghastly callous : 'Now that you know it's one-sided, never come back.' Ouch. That left you torn into papers and sand. Made you weightless like the remaining feathers of a shot bird. But you came back to your ground and forced yourself into walking away from him.