Sunggyu laid Sungjong gently on his bed and straightened up.

            “I can’t even go to the bathroom for a second.”

            “You have no idea how long I waited until you had to go, hyung.  I have to admit, hyung, I thought you wouldn’t even go at all!” 

            Sunggyu frowned but ruffled Sungjong’s hair anyway. 

            “Don’t do that again, Sungjong.  You’re still weak.” 

            “I’m not weak, hyung!  I can walk around just fine!”

            Sunggyu put a hand on Sungjong’s head as he laid back on his pillow, “You were too weak to even stand the past couple of days.  You still need time to recover.”  

            Sungjong patted the part of his head where he could feel the tumor poking out.  It was slightly bigger now.  He had to admit that he was having more painful headaches each day.  There were times where he would black out from the pain.  He could feel himself getting more fragile.  He couldn’t even look at himself in the mirror without feeling disgusted at how skinny he was.  And it’s not like he could help how skinny he’d become.  Each time he tried eating, he’d only be able to stomach it for three hours before he threw it all up.  And just the slightest movement would make him nauseous.  Eating didn’t help; he never had an appetite unless it was ice cream or chocolate…which he could only have in limited amounts. 

            Sunggyu was looking at Sungjong with worried eyes that Sungjong had to give him a reassuring smile. 

            Sungjong’s tumor had almost doubled in size since the initial hospital admission.  Sungjong didn’t have a month to wait.  If he did wait that long, it was almost certain that Sungjong would die.  So Sungjong would be undergoing surgery in a week and if that was successful then he would have to survive chemotherapy.  Sungjong hated the idea, but he wasn’t going to give up.   

            “Stop looking like that hyung!  You’re getting me depressed,” Sungjong teased, but he soon started coughing.  Sunggyu quickly patted him gently. 

            “How’s work?” Sungjong asked. 

            Myungsoo felt his way along the walls as he tried to go back to his room.  He was about to step into the room when he heard the nurse behind him softly say, “It’s the next one.” 

            After Sungjong’s last visit, he was almost certain that the boy wouldn’t be visiting him anytime soon.  Myungsoo was really worried about Sunjong; he didn’t know what condition the boy was in but he knew it was bad.  So instead of worrying, he tried to distract himself.  Myungsoo’s eyes were predicted to recover at least 80% in about three to six months.  But he might as well get used to his new home a.k.a the hospital for the time he would be here.  He already knew how to navigate his room and go to the bathroom himself.  And it had only been a few days!  Now he was trying to navigate the burning victims ward by himself. 

            “Thank you,” Myungsoo bowed to the nurse as he stood outside his room. 

            “Press the bell if you need any more help!” the nurse said happily and he heard her walk away to the reception area.  He turned around and walked towards where his bed was but almost tripped when he was in front of it.  The chair that was usually placed along the wall beside his bed was next to his bed now. 

            Myungsoo slowly reached out a hand and felt thin soft hair on his bed.  He reached out further and sensed that someone was seated on the chair but laying their head on his bed. 

            He touched the head softly and knew immediately that it was Sungjong.  He was shocked when he felt how thin the boy’s hair was; it easily slipped through his fingers.  He could almost feel the boy’s scalp.  And the hair was thick in patches at some parts of his head. 

            “Sungjong?” Myungsoo whispered. 

            The figure slightly stirred and then the chair moved back.  Myungsoo could tell that Sungjong was sitting in his chair now. 

            “You’re back,” Sungjong said brightly. 

            Myungsoo smiled brightly as he sat on his bed, facing Sungjong. 

            “You were waiting for me?”

            He heard the boy chuckle, “I needed to talk to someone.  My brother is killing me with his constant worrying.” 

            Myungsoo couldn’t help the frown that showed on his face.  He could tell from the silence that Sungjong was feeling uncomfortable.   

            “So is it serious?” Myungsoo didn’t want to anger the boy, but this question was the most important one he wanted to ask.  Of course he also wanted to ask what exactly Sungjong was suffering from and if he was well enough to visit him but the ‘serious’ question was all he could manage to say.  He swallowed the lump in his throat when Sungjong sighed heavily. 

            “It is actually.” 

            Myungsoo sat rigid on his bed.

            “But it’s not like I haven’t done this before.”

            Myungsoo couldn’t help but admire this boy even more.  Obviously he was a strong fighter. 

            “What about you?” 

            On a sudden instinct Myungsoo reached out and he immediately caught Sungjong’s outreached hand.  Sungjong laughed, “I thought you couldn’t see.”

            “I can’t.  But I will be able to…in a couple of months, I’ll be able to take off these stupid bandages. 

            “That’s really good.” Myungsoo felt Sungjong squeeze his hand.  Myungsoo hated how it was Sungjong that was showing that little bit of affection when it should’ve been the other way around.  He was almost certain that the boy was terrified. 

            “I might not be able to visit you in a while, Myungsoo.”

            Myungsoo could feel the boy’s hand loosely pull out of his and without thinking Myungsoo brought the boy to him in a tight hug. 

“Sungjong?” a different voice asked. 

            Sungjong squirmed out of Myungsoo’s embrace and slightly flinched as he felt some pain.

            “Hyung?” Sungjong sounded surprised. 

            “Sungjong!” Myungsoo heard a shaking voice.  Then he heard footsteps nearing where Sungjong was.  By now somebody was crying. 

            “Why didn’t you tell me that it came back?”

            “I didn’t want to worry you, hyung,” Sungjong was whispering.

            “Are you kidding me?  Do you know how much I care about you?  Look at you!  You’re all bones!”  Myungsoo could sense that somebody was hugging Sungjong. 

            “Stop; it hurts,” Sungjong said weakly. 

            “I’m so sorry!” the other voice said worriedly.  Myungsoo unconsciously scowled.   

            “Yeol-ah, why are you here?” 

            “I’m not going to leave you this time, Jongie.” 

            Myungsoo could hear the two sets of footsteps leaving his room.  He didn’t know what to do.  He hoped that Sungjong would come back, if only to say goodbye.  He wanted to call out to Sungjong.  But in the end the footsteps faded and finally disappeared.