Leeteuk's POV
It pained Leeteuk to see how lost and terrified Minnie looked back in his own house. He looked so vulnerable and childlike as he clutched onto Leeteek's sleeves, refusing to let go when his father ordered the servants to bring him back to his room. His mother was crying and stepped forward, calling upon Sungmin and reaching out a hand towards him. When he flinched at her touch, Lady Lee looked so heartbroken that Teukie felt sorry for her. He pushed Sungmin gently to stand behind him. "Minister Lee, I told you that Minnie lost his memory, he doesn't remember anyone and needs time to get use to this environment that is now new to him. Please allow Kyuhyun and I to accompany him back into his room and help him adjust." Truthfully, Minister Lee looked just as worried about his son's new condition but something at the back of his glance made Leeteuk felt unease. He nodded, "I thank you and Kyuhyun for saving him and caring for him as his friends. I'll ask the family physician to look at him again after he got a little more used to our presence. For now," he looked at his wife and gave her a brief shake of his head before turning back to the young gentlemen, "I'll leave him into your hands for awhile more." Turning towards Sungmin with a gentle smile, he took the younger man's hand into his, "Come Minnie, we're going to your room. Don't be afraid, this is your house; you grew up here." Sungmin shook his head, his eyes b with tears, "but I can't and don't remember it at all." Leeteuk smiled and said firmly, "You will. Soon, you will. Come, let's go." Putting his trust in Teuk hyung, Sungmin followed him and walked into a room filled with calligraphy and some paintings of plum blossoms. The painting of red plum blossoms falling and scattering onto the ground caught his eyes first and he pointed towards it, "Hyung, are plum blossoms my favorite flower?" Kyuhyun looked at him in surprise. "Yes, Sungmin hyung, it's your favorite flower but there's another as to why you loved it so much." Sungmin looked at the younger man who suddenly looked at lost for words and waited for him to elaborate. Teuk hyung stepped in and answered, " It's also the flower that the person most important to you loved and there's the reason why we are returning you here first, we are going to find your most important person. So, Minnie, can you stay here and wait for us to bring that person back?" Leeteuk asked. "But I'm afraid. I don't know any of these people here." Sungmin confessed. Gripping the younger man's cold fingers in his tightly, he squeezed in reassurance, "You didn't know us in the first place either, Minnie. Besides, they are your family and they love you a lot more and care for you deeply. We'll be back as fast as we can, so in the meanwhile, spend some time with your family. They're extremely worried about you and you can also take the chance to recall your memories, alright?" Though Sungmin still looked uncertain, he nodded his agreement and Teuk hugged him tightly, "I'm sure you'll be fine, Minnie. You're strong, for yourself and for Wo..." Sungmin frowned in puzzlement as Leeteuk left what he was saying drift off and released him. Patting him on the back, Leeteuk and Kyuhyun bid thirst farewell,"Stay safe, eat your medicine and food properly. We'll be back sooner than you think." With tears streaming down his face, Sungmin hugged the both of them once more, "Be back right soon..." Sungmin reluctantly released the both of them and watched tearfully as they left him alone in this unfamiliar environment, "if not, I fear I might change..."
No one's POV.
"Ryeowook!", Leeteuk shouted for the younger man as he spurred his horse forward, tryng to catch up with the carriage in front of him. When he finally caught up, he pulled tightly at his reins and the horse reared up, a few metres in front of the carriage, forcing it to stop. Kyuhyun who was right at his back, rode up to the side window and opened it, "Ryeowook...". His words drifted off as he looked on speechlessly at the empty carriage. Jut then, the driver shouted, "What are you two doing?! Who are you...". Leeteuk interrupted him after doubling checking that the crest on the carriage belonged to the Kim family, "Where is your young master?". The driver stared at Leeteuk before stummering, "My young ... mas..master? He should be on his way towards the temple at the front already...". Without waiting for the man to finish, Kyuhyun exchanged a look with Leeteuk and the two of them went galloping off away, hoping fervently that they'll be able to catch up to the younger man soon.
They didn't manage to catch up with Ryeowook on the road so it was about a day later before they reached the temple, having had to change horses on the way and find inns to stay. Bowing to the Reverend, they explained to him that they were there to find Ryeowook and were directed towards the west hall where he was recuperating. When they approached his room, they shared an uncertain look between each other, it was too quiet. "Ryeowook?" Leeteuk called out but when no one responded after a few moments, he cautiously slide open the door. Kyuhyun's eyes widened in shock when he took in the scene in front of him. "Wookie!", he cried out as he pushed past his lover to get to his friend, who was unconsciously and had collapsed on the floor. When he took him gently into his arms, he found him shivering uncontrollably and sweat dotted his forehead. "Ryeowook! Ryeowook!". Kyuhyun shook his body, trying to wake him up. By then, Leeteuk was already kneeling besides them and touched the younger man's forehead. "He's having a fever. Wait for me here, I'll go call for the doctor. There should be one in the temple.". With that, Teuk left the room, leaving Kyuhyun alone with an unconscious Ryeowook. Kyuhyun's eyes filled with tears as he took in the bandage on his friend's left wrist. Although it was bandaged, a small amount of blood still seeped through the cloth, showing a large slash on the man's thin wrist. Hugging his friend closely to him, he cried, head down, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably, "Why? Wookie, why? Why do you do such foolish thing? God, I'm so sorry for hurting you in the past, I.... I...". "Kyuhyun?". Kyu's head snapped up at the weak voice of Ryeowook, "Wookie?!". Ryeowook frowned when he saw the tears on his friend's face, "Why are you crying, Kyu? Where are you here?". Kyuhyun was so happy to hear Ryeowook's voice that he didn't say anything and just hugged his friend tightly against his chest. "Kyu... It hurts. But don't cry...if it's because of me, because I'm not worth it...". Kyuhyun released Ryeowook from his tight hug and frowned at his words. "How can you not be worth it?! You're my dearest friend, Wookie! Don't ever die on me ever again! How do you think Sungmin hyung would feel when he got to know of your suicidal?! Do you think he'll carrying on living?! Even though he can't remember anyone now...". Kyuhyun realized his mistake and an uncomfortable silence filled the room before Ryeowook asked, his voice cracking with shock, "He can't... remember...? What happened to him?!". Ryeowook asked, hysterical with anxiety which took a toll on his body and a harsh cough seized him. Panicking, he tried to calm Ryeowook down by telling him what happened to Sungmin. "Hyung... hyung... he slipped in the forest four days ago at night when there was a huge storm and accidentally hit his head on a rock down slope. God knows why in the world did he go into the forest so late at night... But don't worry about him, we sent him back to the Lee Mansion already. Ryeowook, listen to me...". However, Ryeowook caught on to something, "The night when there was a huge storm... could he have...? No... No!", Ryeowook shook his head fervently and gasped as pain shoot through his chest and he clutched it tightly. "Wookie? Wookie? What's wrong?! Do you know of why Sungmin hyung went into the forest?" Kyuhyun asked. Looking up bleakly at his friend, Ryeowook said heart brokenly and dejectedly, "He knew... He saw...". Frowning in confusion, Kyuhyun asked, "What did he see?". Ryeowook slowly let out the breath that he held in since he heard what Kyuhyun said about Sungmin and whispered, "He saw me betraying him...". Then his eyes closed and he slipped into blissful darkness. "Ryeowook!" Kyuhyun screamed as his friend went limp once again in his arms.
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