The Senior Sports Festival had arrived sooner than Jaehee had expected and she couldn't help but wonder what she'd done on the weekend. Once again it had proven to be as unproductive as ever.

 

"Ready?" Kai asked as he met her behind the curtains. She looked at him, taking in his completely grey attire. The Seniors had to wear shirts according to their team colour but as team captains they had to be completely in their colour. Jaehee wore a thin black V-neck with black jeans and combat boots. She had gym shorts and sneakers in her bag but the students wanted her to wear something more 'chic' and 'badass' for the cheer off.

 

She nodded and mischievously pulled the grey sweat band over his eyes, "Good luck. Try not to embarrass yourself too much."

 

Another pair of hands helped Kai realign the sweat band making Jaehee snicker. She could already see how competitive Mihye was getting. She smirked back at the girl, "Oh it's on. Black team got nothing on us."

 

"Oh I don't know about that."

Jaehee spun, knowing it was Baekhyun. Their outfits were practically identical and she immediately knew their team had planned this. Baekhyun chuckled, shaking his head in amusement as he stood beside her.

 

"You guys actually do look rather intimidating." Suho frowned, being the last ones to enter the room.

 

Jaehee looked at her partner, mirroring his grin.

 

Let's do this.

 

 

 

The black team, as always, was called upon first and Jaehee exhaled the breath she'd been holding, shaking her hands once before heading onto the stage with Baekhyun beside her.

 

She maintained an expressionless face as they'd asked her too.

 

The black team was known for their image of being chic so she had to represent that. It surprised her how well Baekhyun was fairing. He definitely looked badass with his hair pushed backwards and she could have sworn she saw eyeliner around his eyes.

 

The cheering for them was loud. Probably louder than it had been for the other two teams and they took pride in that.

 

The teachers announced the commencements of the cheer offs and Jaehee exchanged a nervous glance with Baekhyun but his eyes were calm and reassuring.

 

 

 

 

 

"You were amazing!" Mina exclaimed, immediately running over to Jaehee and Mihye.

 

"Which one of us?" Mihye asked sharply, making Jaehee chuckle.

 

"Jae of course!" Mina screamed, shocking both of them. Jaehee had never been one for cheering and enthusiasm. Chanyeol did enough of that for the both of them.

 

"Yeah I had to admit you surprised me Jae." Kai chuckled, lightly tapping a bottle of water against her head.

 

She took the bottle and smiled shyly. She had never been too good with compliments.

 

After changing into her sports gear, Jaehee began warming up her muscles. The first event had been the boys 100m sprint and she knew that the girls would follow on. She shook out her legs and felt her collar bone, finally finding the pendant against her left bone. She hugged the locket and clenched her eyes together.

 

The teachers had wanted the girls to take off all jewellery but since Jaehee refused to take off the necklace they had no choice but to let it be.

 

She had to admit she was nervous. She had never run a race without Chanyeol at the sidelines.

 

Jaehee followed the other girls to the starting line, watching the boys at the finish line waiting for their results. Kai had won the heat. She took another shaky breath, taking the lane second from the bleachers as she always like to. It made her want to cry.

 

"Go Jaehee!"

 

She froze.

 

That was impossible.

 

"You can do this! I believe in you!"

 

But those were Chanyeol's chants.

 

Her eyes searched the crowd but she couldn't deny the disappointment when she realised it was Baekhyun that was cheering for her. Her eyes softened. He knew she was struggling and he was trying to make her feel better. She gave him a small thumbs up before crouching down in position. She felt a surge of adrenaline.

 

For you Chanyeol.

 

 

 

 

"You actually did it! You're a bloody goddess." Sehun grinned, he and Baekhyun hoisting Jaehee on their shoulders. She'd placed first in all the women's track events and considering how well their team had done in field events, they were almost positive that the Black team had won.

 

Jaehee chuckled, "You guys were pretty amazing yourselves but you can put me down now...we need to prepare for the relay."

 

Baekhyun steadied her on her feet, allowing the girl to scurry off to where everyone was warming up.

 

"What do you think?" He asked, watching Jaehee as she helped some of the girls stretch.

 

Sehun seemed to know what he was referring to because his gaze was cast over her as well, his expression bearing the same wistful look, "I think it's time for her to move on."

 

 

 

 

When Jaehee arrived back at the hospital she was surprised to see that Chanyeol was already wearing the black team shirt. She grinned, setting the one she had brought for him on the table. Baekhyun. She lifted her hand, slowly running her fingers through his hair.

 

"So you were cheering for me after all."

 

For some reason she felt her lip twitching up at the thought.

 

Still wearing that goofy smile, Jaehee folded her legs so she was sitting on the bed at Chanyeol's feet. She told him about the festival, filling him in on all the details she knew he'd feel so gutted for missing. She flushed as she showed him her first place ribbons. She wasn't even sure if he could hear her and yet she still felt embarrassed bragging about herself.

 

"Impressive."

 

Jaehee chuckled. It was odd that she had barely known him for a week and yet she was already adjusted to Luhan's spontaneous appearances. She shrugged in response to his compliment, subconsciously hiding the ribbons but Luhan was too quick. Somehow he'd managed to cross the short distance to the bed, swiping the ribbons from her hand.

 

"You came first in 5 events?" He asked incredulously.

 

"No, 4. One is for our team relay." She murmured shyly, taking back the ribbons so she could stuff them into her bag. She heard him chuckle and flushed.

 

"You don't need to be so shy Jaehee. I'm congratulating you."

 

Jaehee froze and looked up to him realising she hadn't heard him say her name before. She smiled briefly to convey her gratitude before looking back over to the door, "Where's Nam?"

 

"With Lav's mother in the ward." He answered. Jaehee nodded comprehensively. As dumb as it sounded, she had forgotten that Lavender had a mother. Before she could stray and start thinking about her own parents, Luhan caught her attention with a small object.

 

He spun the sides vigorously and Jaehee didn't say a thing, watching his movements precisely. After a few moments he cut through the silence with an excited exclamation of "Done!" He waved it in front of her and she gaped at the rubix cube that was now solved. "I'm getting faster." He grinned.

 

"That was awesome!" Jaehee snatched the cube from him, jumbling it is the most unorderly fashion.

 

He gave her an amused grin as he took it back, giving it a quick analysis before solving it.

 

Jaehee chuckled, pulling it one of the blue ribbons from her bag, leaning forward to pin it to his shirt. She pat it down when she finished, giving him a broad smile.

 

"Don't you need this?"

 

She waved him off, "I think you deserve it more than I do."

 

"Hyung- Oh!" Nam's shrill cries halted as he looked into Chanyeol's ward. He turned back and Jaehee assumed there was someone behind him because he yelled,  "I found him!"

 

She looked to Luhan who suddenly stood from his chair and headed to the door, "Sorry I was just visiting a friend's ward." He explained to whoever was outside. Jaehee arched a brow in confusion. Why did it sound like he didn't want the person to come inside?

 

Luhan looked back and mouthed something to her but she couldn't quite catch it. He ushered Nam away from the door and closed it behind him as he left. That was definitely suspicious.

 

 

 

Sehun and Baekhyun dropped by just before visiting hours were over and judging from the looks on their faces, Jaehee knew they had something to say to her.

 

"What?"

 

Baekhyun looked over at Chanyeol. His eyes were filled with pain and sorrow but he didn't answer her question and instead approached the bed, placing a hand over Chanyeol's limp shoulder. "I'm sorry Yeol. We just want you to be happy."

 

"What are you talking about?" Suddenly Jaehee was filled with anxiety and fear. She didn't like the way he was speaking.

 

Before she could move to Chanyeol defensively, Sehun held her back by the wrist.

 

"We've been talking to Mr. Park." Sehun wouldn't meet her gaze. It was the first red flag. The second was the fact that they'd been talking to Chanyeol's dad.

 

"ing tell me what's going on!" She screamed, giving up on the concern for the other patients.

 

Baekhyun looked over at Jaehee, his eyes now hard and final. "Jaehee it's been over half a year! We can't keep hanging onto him! He needs to move on! Who knows what he's going through right now?"

 

Jaehee covered , appalled by Baekhyun's words. She never thought he, of all people, would ever have that thought. How could he give up so easily? "You want to give up on him?" She whispered, dread apparent in her shaky vocals.

 

"No I want to let him go, Jae."

 

This time she couldn't stop the tears from falling from her eyes. She had managed to hold back her tears in front of others for so long but now she couldn't help but sob. She was angry and upset and scared. She knew it was being selfish but she couldn't give up on him- not just yet.

 

"Please." She begged desperately, "Not yet. I'm not ready yet."

 

Sehun and Baekhyun exchanged a long look. They couldn't help but soften at her tears. They were so rare and  precious. Chanyeol had always said anyone that caused them would be punished by god. Sehun sighed, pulling her head into his chest and Baekhyun knew they had lost once again.

 

"If you follow our conditions." He frowned, looking back down at Chanyeol. Jaehee pulled away from Sehun, giving Baekhyun her attention. She'd do anything. "You'll hand in that university application you keep hidden in your locker, you'll stop sleeping here and you start learning to live...without him."

 

Jaehee was mildly surprised. How did Baekhyun know about the university application? She could only assume Chanyeol had told him because they had intended to hand them in together. It also shocked her than Baekhyun knew she wasn't planning to hand it in. She couldn't do it without Chanyeol's beside hers.  She could concede to handing it in though but the other two were hard limits.

 

"I need to sleep with him Baek...you know that." He did know that. When she wasn't at the hospital all the horrid thoughts would lead to sleepless nights of guilt and pain. "And learning to live without him...I'm trying. I really am."

 

 This time Baekhyun had to go give her a hug. It was bad enough that they were suffering but he hated to see Jaehee suffer. She used to be so carefree and happy. Before the accident Jaehee was always smiling. He could remember wishing he shared the kind of relationship with someone that Chanyeol and Jaehee did. He felt her tears through his shirt so he didn't pull back until he was sure she'd calmed down.

 

"We know Jae, we're all trying. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I just want to see you happy again. Chanyeol would have expected that much from me."

 

She smiled half heartedly but inside she couldn't help but think how mean Chanyeol was being. He always wanted her to be happy but how could she ever be happy if he wasn't here on earth? Thinking about the future, Jaehee had wondered how she'd deal with life if Chanyeol dumped her and she'd known it would be hard but it was something she'd learn to come to terms with. Him dying though...it wasn't something she'd ever come to terms with.

 

"I'm sorry for burdening you guys but I can't give up on him...I don't know if I'll ever be able to give up on him." She said, her voice trailing out to an almost inaudible whisper.

 

 

Luhan pulled away from the doorframe, an unreadable expression on his face. He'd only come when he'd heard Jaehee screaming but when he'd heard the cause of the argument he knew it wasn't his place to intrude. He knew the conflict well. When everyone was saying it was time to let go but he couldn't give up on the thread of hope that she'd come back.

 

He headed down the corridor, now leaning against the frame to Lavender's ward door. Even if she couldn't hang on, he wouldn't regret hoping or waiting for it to happen. That was something no one else would understand.

 

"Hope is what we thrive on."

 

 

 

---

Authors note:
Feeling kind of nostalgic today ahah
I guess sometimes things have to end for them to remain good memories.