Taehee let Minho sleep in the same room as Taemin, but sleep wouldn’t come to Minho. Taehee had explained Taemin’s condition. He wasn’t supposed to last for more than another month.

            Taemin turned over and opened his eyes, and that’s when Minho realized that it was already daytime.

            “Oh, hyung, you’re awake,” Taemin said with an adorable smile. Minho stared at him. This kid was dying and yet he could smile like that.

            “G-good morning, Taemin,” Minho mumbled.

            “Did noona ever come home?” Taemin asked. “Do you know?”

            “She did. We talked a little bit, but she was kind of drunk.”

            “Typical noona,” Taemin sighed. “She’s nice when she’s sober.”

            “Uh, Taemin, do you want to, you know, do you want to do something today?” Minho asked nervously. He knew he shouldn’t be nervous. Taemin was the world’s most gentle teenager, but Minho couldn’t help it.

            “Sure, hyung! Can we go to the park? I really want to ride the merry-go-round.”

            “Of course we can,” Minho replied with a smile. Anything for you.

            The two strolled through the park, Taemin bouncing around just as much as usual, pointing out trivial things again as he always did. But Minho couldn’t help but be guarded. Had he been treating Taemin well enough?

            “Wah!” Taemin cried, tripping over a rock and falling on the ground. Minho rushed over to him.

            “Taemin! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Do you need some ice?” Minho asked frantically, his hands gripping Taemin’s shoulders.

            “I’m fine, hyung,” Taemin laughed, getting up and brushing himself off. “It was just a scratch.”

            “Okay,” Minho sighed with relief. He put his hand on Taemin’s shoulder protectively. Taemin looked at him, seemingly slightly confused.

            “Can we go to the merry-go-round first thing?” Taemin asked, jumping up and down.

            Minho nodded with a smile. He was pleased when he felt Taemin take his hand and lead him over to the merry-go-round.

            “Hyung, I want to ride the giraffe one!” Taemin cried as he scrambled over to his chosen steed. He reached up to climb onto it, but he’d have to pull himself up. Minho rushed over and helped him get on the giraffe.

            “Uh, thanks, hyung, but I can manage, you know,” Taemin said.

            “I…yeah, I know,” Minho replied, getting onto the horse next to Taemin as the merry-go-round started to turn. Taemin looked at Minho, laughing, and Minho smiled. Taemin really was beautiful. And how he could smile like that was completely beyond Minho.

            Once the ride had finished, Minho dismounted the horse and hurried to help Taemin off, but Taemin just jumped without any problem. Minho took his hand gingerly once again and Taemin smiled, gripping Minho’s hand tighter.

            They saw an old woman carrying what looked to be several heavy boxes. Taemin stepped over.

            “Ahjumma, can I help you?” he asked, holding out his arms to carry a box.

            “Thank you, young man,” she replied graciously, and as she was about to hand Taemin a box, Minho came up and took it.

            “I should carry this,” Minho said, glancing at Taemin.

            For the first time ever, Taemin looked angry. He didn’t say anything until they’d helped the lady put her boxes next to her fruit stand.

            “She told you, didn’t she? Noona told you! That’s why you’re acting like this; because you know I’m sick!” Taemin said accusingly once they were out of the ahjumma’s earshot.

            “No, Taemin, I’m just—” Minho began defensively, but Taemin stopped him.

            “Don’t lie to me, hyung,” Taemin said monotonically. Minho gulped. Taemin looked so serious and so…hurt, and Minho couldn’t bear to see him like that.

            “I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

            “I’m trying to live like a normal person while I can,” Taemin explained bitterly. “Don’t treat me like I’m not normal.”

            “Taemin, I’m sorry. I…I haven’t…I mean,” Minho stammered. “Agh,” he said, running his hands through his hair in frustration. “I don’t know what to say.”

            “Just pretend like noona never told you about my disease. Treat me like you used to.”

            “I’m always going to be worrying that I’m not treating you as well as you deserve to be treated though,” Minho told him. Taemin smiled sadly.

            “But hyung, I don’t deserve to be treated any special way, because I’m not special.”

            “You’re special to me,” Minho mumbled. Taemin’s lips turned up.

            “Thank you, hyung.” Taemin sighed heavily. “Hyung, I guess now that you know, I’d better tell you. I live at the hospital during the week. They let me come home on weekends but…this is the last weekend I’m allowed to be out. They’re starting the intense treatments next week, but they say it probably won’t save me.”

            “Taemin…” Minho breathed.

            “Hyung,” Taemin said, looking over at Minho with panic in his eyes, “I’m scared.”

            Taehee opened the door slowly.

            “Tae?” she said gingerly. “I brought someone to see you.”

            Minho stepped into the hospital room and took a breath to steady himself.

            “Hyung,” Taemin said weakly with a slight smile. Minho blinked his eyes forcefully. Taemin’s entire demeanor had changed. His skin that used to glow was now almost a sickly gray color. His hair and even his eyes had dulled, and his lips were chapped. There were tubes hooked up to his arms and nose and he was thinner than Minho had ever seen him.

            “Taemin,” Minho said, taking Taemin’s hand gently. Taehee left the room quietly to give the two some privacy. “How are you?”

            “I could be better,” Taemin replied feebly. He gave a frail chuckle and shook his head slightly. Minho swallowed thickly, his eyes burning.

            “Taemin,” he said again. “I…I…”

            “Hyung, do you remember the first time we met?” Taemin asked pensively.

            “Y-yes,” Minho choked.

            “Don’t cry, hyung, I’m right here. Remember how you came up the stairs and the clock chimed and I surprised you?”

            “Yes,” Minho whispered.

            “I was glad you came. I asked if we were friends and you didn’t even hesitate; you just said yes and then we were. That meant a lot to me, hyung.”

            Minho just nodded, unable to speak as he tried desperately to hold back his tears.

            “Hyung, why are you crying?” Taemin asked tenderly. He lifted his hand slowly and placed his cold, bony fingers on Minho’s cheek.

            Minho couldn’t hold back any more. He started to cry openly, tears running down his face and the lump in his throat strangling him uncomfortably.

            “Hyung, even Taehee-noona’s not crying yet. The doctors say I still have a few more days. This isn’t goodbye,” Taemin reassured Minho, but it didn’t help.

            “Taemin,” he sobbed, “I need more time. I need more time to love you like you deserve. Taemin, I love you. I love you.”

            He looked at Taemin with his blurry eyes and saw tears fall on to Taemin’s hollow cheeks.

            “You’ve done so much for me already,” Taemin replied sweetly.

            “I never danced with you when you asked,” Minho wept. “I want to dance with you now, but it’s too late. I should have when I had the chance.”

            Taemin sniffled and smiled gently at Minho.

            “It’s okay, hyung. Knowing you want to is enough for me.”

            “Taemin,” Minho said, “I have to make it up to you. I’ll do anything. Anything you want. Tell me what you want and I’ll do it.”

            “I don’t need anything,” Taemin replied quietly. “Except…hyung, will you…will you kiss me?”

            Minho didn’t need to be asked twice. He leaned towards Taemin and their lips met, Minho’s plump, soft lips against Taemin’s thin, rough ones. Tears fell from Minho’s eyes onto Taemin’s sunken cheeks.

            He couldn’t embrace Taemin, but Minho cradled Taemin’s head in his hands, and even though they were both crying, Minho could feel Taemin smile into the kiss. Taemin was putting all the affection and all the feelings he had left into that kiss, and Minho responded with equal—or perhaps more—feeling.

            They finally broke apart, and Taemin gave Minho a tiny smile.

            “I can die happy now,” Taemin sighed, closing his eyes.

            “No, Taemin, please don’t say that,” Minho pleaded, still holding Taemin’s head in his hands. “Please don’t say that.” Taemin’s eyes opened again.

            “Stay with me,” Taemin whispered, his fear evident in his dulled eyes. “Don’t let me die alone.”

            “I’ll always, always be with you, Taeminnie,” Minho replied, kissing Taemin’s forehead as tears spilled down his cheeks once again.

            Minho always had his phone on him for the next few days, the ringtone volume turned all the way up so that if something happened, he’d know right away. It practically ripped his heart out of his chest every time that ringtone went off. He found himself dreading finding out who was on the other end, just in case it was the worst.

            And then the call came.

            “Minho,” Taehee said tearfully through the phone, “Minho.”

            “No…no, noona, no, please no,” Minho replied, the uncomfortable lump forming in his throat once again.

            “It’s not that,” she said, still sniffling. “But it will be soon. Minho, he’s asking for you. He needs you here right now.”

            Minho ran.

            He entered the hospital room quietly but swiftly and rushed to Taemin’s side. He was surrounded by doctors and a weeping Taehee.

            “Taemin,” he said gently, holding Taemin’s tiny hand, “I’m here. I’m here.” Taemin turned his head slowly towards Minho, his eyes barely open.

            “I knew…you’d come,” he said weakly. “I ha-had…to say…goodbye.”

            Minho couldn’t help the tears that seeped out of his eyes.

            “Taemin, you can’t go, please,” he begged, crying freely.

            “H-hyung, I have to. I’m so…so tired,” Taemin said, in a voice barely above a whisper. He closed his eyes.

            “No, Taemin, do not do this to me, open your eyes, open your eyes,” Minho sobbed frantically, Taehee crying in the back.

            Taemin opened his eyes slightly again.

            “I…I never told you, but…hyung, I love you,” Taemin breathed. He opened his mouth, but no more words came out. He realized this and nodded feebly instead.

            “I love you so much, Taemin,” Minho sobbed, holding Taemin’s hand tighter.

            Suddenly, Taemin convulsed, evoking a cry of terror from Taehee and urgent movement from the doctors.

            “Hyung,” Taemin squeaked, his eyes suddenly flying wide open. He frantically searched for Minho’s face. “Hyung, l-look at me.”

            “I am, Taemin, I am,” Minho bawled.

            “Please, h-hyung,” Taemin said urgently as he gripped Minho’s hand, “smile one last time for me.”

            “T-Taemin,” Minho cried.

            “Smile, hyung,” Taemin murmured, letting his own lips turn up in a gentle smile. Minho finally, difficultly, did as he was asked, and Taemin locked eyes with Minho as he gave a great, relieved sigh.

            Minho wailed as he felt Taemin’s grip slacken.