Action Speaks Louder Than Words

It was the month for the flowers to bloom and so did my love. I was 19 that time and he was 22. He looks perfect in all sides, even his sleepy face makes the boys and girls fall for him. Somehow he was still in our sch­­­ool and was in his 3^rd year in high school while I was struggling in my first year life. Our school was a prestigious school for the smartest student and as a first year, sunbaes were on our tracks. Bullies—they were into those students who look weak to oppose them. I was one of those weak-looking students they went for, they beaten me up once day which didn’t last longer thanks to him—Lu Han. I don’t know why he saved me but to the point of taking care of me outside of the school is just too much.

“Are you still in pain?” His fingers caressed my forehead, wiping the sweat on my forehead.

I shook my head I don’t want him to laugh at my lisp.

“Answer me I want to hear your voice.”

I shook my head again. He sighed, sorry to disappoint you but I won’t let myself be a laughing stock anymore. Ever since I attended the school, I never uttered a word to my teacher or to my classmates causing me to have no friend. It didn’t bothered me at all, it was nice to not to talk. Talking will only lead me to be laughed at.

For the next 2 weeks of my stay in the hospital, Lu Han was still in there. I don’t know what’s inside his head but I kept on reminding him that I don’t like his presence. I always write my complaints on my big notebook but he’s still here in my room sitting in the visitors chair like an idiot while I eat, sleep and glare at him.

The last days of my stay in the hospital were worse, this time he kept on asking me things. I wonder where he gets the informations about me but he kept asking things about me as if were close.

“So how about I treat you on a bubble tea and you pay me by talking?”

He raised his brows at me and grinned widely.

“Yah, Oh Sehun.” He sighed as he put his elbow on my toes.

“What can I do to make you talk?”

I took away my eyes off him and looked at the window. He didn’t talk anymore and looked back at him then—

“Ahaha, so cute.”

His index finger sank in my face.

“Do you not smile?”

I didn’t answer him. I’m tired already though I don’t know why but I didn’t throw him the vase which is just beside my bed or stabbed him the fruit knife on the table. His eyes, I don’t know why but it’s like it’s taunting me.

“Do you like someone?”

He was closer to me now. He moved his chair again and I have to move again far from him in the bed.

“Sehun,” My heart beat faster when he mentions my name.

“What’s wrong with you?” The way his perfect pink plump lips move intrigues me.

His hands touched my cheeks, “Do you hate or love me?”

I didn’t know what to answer I just locked my gaze to him which the worst move I made. His eyes change. His eyes entranced me until our faces were so close.

“F-Fine.” I stuttered and pushed him away from me.

He almost kissed me. The heat rushed on my face and I can clearly see the wide grin on his face.

“Your voice is cute!” He hugged me too tight and ruffled my hair like I was a dog.

I glared at him he smiled.

“W-What do you want?” I can’t help but stutter.

“Let’s become friends.” I rolled my eyes.

“Is that the only reason why you were bugging me?”

I blushed the minute those words come out of my mouth, now he’s going to laugh at my pronunciation. I didn’t hear any laugh at all. He just looked at me and smiled.

“I want to be your friend, can’t we?” He pouted at me.

I sighed and nodded. He got closer again.

“At least answer me, I want to hear more of your voice.”

“Fine.”

Since then, he had been on my tail. He kept on bugging me to be on their clique and I rejected the offer but he’s still talking to me. I thought that when he graduated and would go to college, everything will be back to normal. I was wrong though, he didn’t stopped actually it became worse. Every morning he walks me to school and he scolds me if I don’t hold hands with him.

“Why do I need to hold hands with you?”

He smiled, “Because I like it.”

I rolled my eyes, “People are looking at us.”

He just giggled and looked at me.

“You’re taller than me after all.” He pouted.

I didn’t answer, sometimes he would just talk and he just waits for me to answer. I wonder when this guy will stop following me. I don’t know myself why I let him touch me, I don’t like it when strangers touch me but he was different he was always the tender one.

When I got to my last year of high school, Luhan was bugging me again. This time he kept on talking about my classmate Huang Zitao. Apparently, the tall kid was silent like me too and has a scary look that scares the students and the teachers. Luhan was the first one to make him talk when he went to visit me in the school. He was a total idiot because Tao wasn’t even listening to him. I glared at him sometimes I want to cut off his tongue to make him stop talking.

“What?” Luhan spit when I was unconsciously glaring at him for I don’t know minutes.

I shook my head and look down at my phone which obviously has no message.

“Are you angry?” I shook my head again.

“Hey, at least answer me.” He pouted again.

“I’m not.” My classmates were looking at me. This is the first time I talked in school.

“Where are you going?”

“Bubble tea.”

I left the room and walked rapidly while Luhan shouted at my back what my problem is. That started everything. I don’t know what this feeling is. My chest pains when I see him with his best friend. When he talks to other people my breathing gets shallower. I didn’t talk this to Luhan actually I was even thinking why am I letting him into my head?

“Sehun are you still angry with me?”

“I’m not angry Luhan.” I said coldly.

“Then what’s with your attitude a while ago.”

I rolled my eyes, “He’s not listening to you Luhan.”

“Not like you’re any different.” He muttered loudly.

“Yeah.” I agreed, but also deny it. I listen to his words.

“N-No, that was just a joke.” He said, taking back his words.

“It’s okay.”

We walked home and suddenly something cold fell on my hair. He smiled at me.

“The snow is starting to fall.”

Winter has been bad to me, all of the sudden Luhan was busy and my phone’s inbox was silent. That made me happy but sometimes quite sad. Without his voice my world just gets too boring.

My first year in college was smooth, no bullying and no Luhan behind my back. I was starting to become guilty that I was the reason why he just disappeared like that. What hit me the most is that I went on the same college at him though two days has passed but I didn’t even see him. One of his friends was my classmate in my biology and he kept on staring at me. I wonder what’s his problem is.

“Oh Sehun.” He called me. I pretend not to hear him and walked away but he pulled my wrist and led me into a room.

“What did you do to Lu Han?” He looked angry at me.

I bit my lip, I can’t talk—no I don’t want to talk.

“Answer me!” His fist was ready to punch me.

“Not going to answer?” He hit my gut and my eyes started to tear up. I curled on the floor and he kicked my back.

“Sehun!”

I heard his voice. I shouldn’t feel happy but somehow hearing his voice clears up my worries. My vision became blurry and I kept on hearing his voice disappearing. No, don’t leave me Luhan.

“I’m here. I’m sorry Sehun.”

I remember some things when I came into my senses.

“Ah, no I’m his friend.” Luhan’s voice rang on my ears.

His friend.

“Sehun’s mother went back to her office and…”

Mom went to see me? I blinked twice and opened my eyes to see Luhan’s back with a guy in white. Suddenly my chest pains again. Who is he?

“Sehun, is there something wrong?”

The doctor was looking into a TV with lines moving and Luhan looked at me with worried face.

“He’s still having some attack but it’s not really major.”

Luhan nodded and the doctor went out of the door. He turned to me, looking angry.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He looked at me, he’s suffering too. Why?

“Since when did your chest pains started?” He asked me, taking my left hand.

“Last… year.” I lied.

“Don’t talk, sorry for what happened.”

I nodded and closed my eyes, hearing his voice makes me feel secured. I clench his hand, the hand I swore I would cut off if it won’t let go of me is now something I want to hold forever.

“Sehun, are you still in pain?” I shook my head lightly.

His chuckle rang on my ears.

“You look really handsome now.”

I let him talk I know he misses to talk. I opened my eyes to look at him.

“Is there something wrong?” He stopped talking.

“Where were you?” I breathe out.

“Where did you go?” He didn’t look at me.

“I went to settle some family problems.” I nodded.

“I’m really sorry I—”

He closed my lips with his finger. “You’re stealing my words.”

“I’m sorry for what Minseok did. He thought you were the reason for my sudden absence.”

My heart race again, I really don’t know anything about Luhan. He’s so mysterious even with his bright smile. I touched his face. He’s really beautiful without trying. Why is he so perfect? I can’t even compare myself to him. I can’t even match us together.

“Sehun, what’s wrong. Are you in pain?”

He touched my face. I was crying. I remember my doctors’ words about my unique disease.

“I had this disease called ‘standstill.’ Whenever I get stressed or get emotional, my chest pains occur and I will lose consciousness. I was in state of comma for 4 years and when I woke up, everyone just got older. I’m not 19 Luhan I’m 25 years old stuck in a 15 years old body. I just woke up last 2009 and everyone got colder to me.”

Tears were streaming down my face. He wiped them off again.

“I know.” My eyes went big.

“I know everything Sehun because it’s my fault.”

“You knew? Wha-What do you mean you knew about it?”

“I caused you to get hurt Sehun. That’s why I… I broke up with Seyoon.”

Sister?! He was in a relationship with Seyoon-noona?!

“Sehun, breathe.” He said, and I slapped him hands.

“Why?” I asked, my vision becomes blurry again.

“Why did you keep it secret?” I broke into tears.

“It was all planned by our parents. You are the one I love Sehun but I was scared to say it.”

I looked up to him, “You lost your memories when you were in comma for 4 years.”

“I kept on waiting for the right time to confess to you.”

He wipes my tears and hugged me.

“I’m sorry for hurting you—Sehun? Sehun?!”

Author’s POV

“Is he having another withdrawal?”

The doctor nodded and puts the oxygen mask on Sehun’s mouth. Luhan gripped on Sehun’s hand muttering some words.

“Doctor, is Sehun alright?!”

A lady in pink dress came inside the room and looked shocked to see someone else inside the bed.

“Yes, Sehun’s friend here took care of him.”

“I could see that.” Her voice changed.

“I’ll take my leave then.”

“So you’re here after all, Lu Han.”

“Seyoon, say what you want but I won’t let go of Sehun anymore.”

“Oh, yes of course. Since you’re not the son of Lu family anymore my parents decide me to marry Jiangnan.”

He kept quiet and wiped off the sweat forming in Sehun’s forehead.

“Why are you so quiet? Aren’t you jealous?”

Luhan snorted and turned his head to him.

“Congratulations then, I’m happy for you.” He smiled at her.

Seyoon hit Luhan with her bag. “Wipe that off!!”

She shrieked and Sehun stirred in his sleep.

“Quiet down—”

“No! Wipe off that smile in your face Luhan!”

“Seyoon—Luhan…” Luhan’s brother appeared and saw a cut on Luhan’s face.

“What happened? Seyoon, your brother is sleeping. Luhan, let’s talk outside.”

Seyoon bumped on Jiangnan and went out of the room. Luhan was still hesitating if he should go or not.

“It’s okay, let’s just talk outside.” His brother assured him.

He took out something in his torso. “I stole this from Seyoon.”

Luhan looked at him in shock. He took the envelope and opened it. It was Sehun’s personal papers and his credit card.

“I overheard them talking about letting the boy do as he please because he was going to di—”

Luhan choked his brother before he could finish his sentence.

“Lu-Luhan!” He let go of him.

“Sehun won’t die. We will live longer—longer than any of you.”

He said though his eyes were starting to tear up.

“I’m sorry I can’t do anything.” His brother said and he just pats his shoulder.

“Thank you and sorry.”

Sehun’s POV

I lost consciousness again. I opened my eyes and everything’s black.

“Luhan?” I can hear my voice echo.

“Luhan where are you?!”

I shouted again but there was no response. Where am I? My tears streamed down my face and suddenly images were appearing out of nowhere. I saw our pictures when were together. It was like a slideshow of what happened to me, the first time I saw Luhan, the first time he treat me to a bubble tea and the time when my sister announced that Luhan was his fiancé. I touched the last one and everything became bright.

2009-July-2 – The day my withdrawal strikes first.

The memories were so vivid I could feel my eyes tearing up for real. I was finally on my sense and opened my eyes. I heard Luhan talking to someone in Chinese. He went outside. Is he leaving me already? I tried to move my body but I can’t.

Luhan, don’t leave me.

3 years passed

“Hyung, tell me.” Sehun said as he pulled Luhan’s arm closer to him.

“Yes?” He asked, picking the small pieces of cookies in the latter’s face.

“Why do you look so young even though you’re almost 30?”

“Aigoo, I heard that from Kai before. Really you should stop talking with Kai.”

They were in their house now. Luhan finished his college course and was able to make his own business. Sehun was still in his 3^rd year in college, he’s taking the same course Luhan got. Both were enjoying their lives, no strict parents, no bullies and no more withdrawals.

late hunhan gift!thanks for reading <3