Chapter 16 After Christmas, Kyuhyun, Donghae, Jongwoon and Hyukjae sat down at the table together to have a really good -and much needed- conversation. It was obvious that everyone had tried to put away their thoughts and feelings about what the doctor had said, because no one of them wanted Christmas to be ruined. But now that Christmas was over, it was time to really spill everything that was on their minds.   Due to circumstances, Hyukjae and Donghae only knew the basics about what the doctor had said that fateful 22nd of December. Jongwoon and Kyuhyun re-explained the whole story, but with all the details they could remember this time. This was the first time Hyukjae and Donghae heard that Jongwoon wasn’t going to stop treatment, even though the hospital had advised him to do so.   Jongwoon explained why he had chosen to do this.   He had received ten chemo-sessions this far, so that meant he still had four to go for the actual treatment to be completed. Miracles still happen, so who said that those four sessions wouldn’t make a difference? And the doctor had also said that the treatments did slow down the process a little, even though it is just minimal. Every extra day to live was worth fighting for, so Jongwoon wasn’t going to just give up without a fight. Not after the huge battle he had already fought until here. He still truly believed he could get better, or at least live long enough to do everything he wanted to do in his life.   Kyuhyun listened to Jongwoon’s explanation in awe. How could someone, who just heard he was going to die, stay this optimistic, this hopeful and this persevere? There was still a lot Kyuhyun could learn from Jongwoon, that was for sure.   And maybe Jongwoon wasn’t that crazy after all. Four treatments weren’t nothing indeed. And to make a long story short, it all came down to the fact that the battle wasn’t over yet. Not for Jongwoon, but not for Kyuhyun, Hyukjae and Donghae either. And it was a battle they were all willing to take up on. At the end of the conversation not only Jongwoon had hope, but Kyuhyun, Hyukjae and Donghae had refound their hopes too.   They also talked about their feelings and thoughts about the whole situation. It turned out that Donghae really suffered by all the don’t-let-Jongwoon-know-my-feelings kind of spirit that both Hyukjae and Kyuhyun had. Jongwoon just kept his thoughts to himself, but Hyukjae spilled all his worries on his boyfriend, and Kyuhyun spilled all his worries on his best friend. They decided to just be open with their thoughts, worries, fears and feelings to each other from now on. It wasn’t the time for secrets and pent-up feelings anymore. Donghae could feel a whole burden fall off his shoulders almost immediately.   The conversation lasted longer than 4 hours in total, but afterwards everyone was feeling refreshed and hopeful and ready to start the battle again.     ✭✭✭✭✭     Jongwoon’s 11th chemo session got rescheduled till after new year. Normally, people wouldn’t be too happy with an appointment being rescheduled, but this one came in pretty handy. Now Jongwoon wouldn’t be feeling sick yet, so he could celebrate New Year's Eve as well!   On the 31st of December, at 9 o’clock in the evening, Jongwoon went to bed. He was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to still be awake at exactly 00:00 if he didn’t get some sleep beforehand. But that was alright, Kyuhyun would wake him up at 11:30 and they would all walk to the park together then.   They had decided to watch the fireworks in the park, the place where Jongwoon just loved to go to. Well not only Jongwoon, they all loved to go there, but it had a more special meaning for Jongwoon. It was his place to go to if he felt bad. The place that gave him strength.   Kyuhyun went upstairs at exactly 11:25 to wake Jongwoon up. He barely entered the room when Jongwoon started talking.   “You are 5 minutes early.”   Kyuhyun chuckled and the lights in the room. Jongwoon’s eyes had to get used to the light for a little, but other than that, he looked pretty much awake.   “Did you sleep well?” Kyuhyun asked. Jongwoon looked this awake, that Kyuhyun started thinking that Jongwoon might not have slept at all. And it he truly didn’t, it wouldn’t be too good. He might fall asleep in the park later.   “No, I did sleep, you are just very loud when you walk up the stairs.”   Kyuhyun chuckled again and threw Jongwoon’s clothes to the latter who was already sitting up in the bed.   “Get dressed lazy, we got to go to the park.”   While Jongwoon got out of the bed and started dressing himself, Kyuhyun unintentionally saw his back. The bump was clearly visible on his lower back and Kyuhyun could have sworn it looked bigger than it did when he had first seen it. It slightly discouraged his positive mood, but Jongwoon soon put on a shirt, and with that, the insecurity that Kyuhyun was feeling disappeared.   They arrived at the park 10 minutes before 00:00. Jongwoon’s usual bench across the playground was still free, which was a miracle really. Most of the benches in the park were already taken, wait scrap that, all benches in the park were already taken except for Jongwoon’s.   Hyukjae had brought along his own fireworks. Well fireworks.. it was one tiny sky-rocket. He said he wanted to lit it together, so they could send their bad experiences of that year up and away with the rocket. All bad things would leave, all good things would become good memories, and the new year could be started with a fresh feeling.   Jongwoon wasn’t surprised with