For the past few days, Hongbin and Wonshik were together for his treatment. They exercise together, eat together, rest together, and at the end of the day, they sleep toegther. Hongbin can't help it but to feel happy. He's with him all day. But he can't be too excited for Wonshik, right?

He woke him up happily one morning.

     "Wonshik! Wake up baby boy." Hongbin said in a sweet voice. He was shaking him soft but Wonshik brushed his hand off. 

Hongbin pouted. "Wonshiiiiiiikiiiie~ I made breakfast for you! My special pancakes!" He announced and continued shaking Wonshik.

     "WILL YOU STOP IT?!" Wonshik glared. With just those words, Hongbin felt heavy. He nodded while Wonshik was still looking and headed for the door. Maybe she just have to let Wonshik be for a while. He needs to sleep right? Besides, his change of attitude is part of the symptoms. Hongbin needs to be understanding.

Mrs. Kim was right outside coincidentally. When Hongbin head out, she smiled and assured him that she'll talk to Wonshik. She went inside, firm and ready to talk Wonshik out of his depression. She needs to. Otherwise, all of them will break down.

     "What was that all about?"

Wonshik checked who it was and closed his eyes again. "What?"

     "How could you yell at Hongbin like that? He made those pancakes he was proud of for 2 hours!"

     "Well maybe because I need to sleep like what the doctor told me so. I can't hardly sleep at night and you'll wake me up this early?"

Mrs. Kim sighed and forced Wonshik to sit down. "Stop this."

Wonshik sat down annoyed. "Stop what?!"

     "Bringing Hongbin down! He's not as strong as us, you know? And you have to be strong too! If you're strong, everyone is strong!"

     "WELL MAYBE I'M NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO EVEN MAKE EVERYONE STRONG?! MAYBE I CAN'T DO IT?!"

They both stared at each other. No one was talking but they can feel how hurt the both of them is.

Wonshik broke down. "Maybe...maybe I disappointed everyone. I disappointed Hongbin. And it's not making me strong any further." 

     "What do you mean you disappointed us?" 

     "I promised to graduate and be someone in the near future. I promised Hongbin that I'll give him a good life! I studied and worked hard but because of this disease, my 24 hours is taken away for my treatment. I'm nothing now, mom."

Mrs. Kim gave Wonshik a tight hug and looked into his eyes.

     "Son, you are never a disappointment and will never be a disappointment to us. We're not pressuring or rushing you to become someone you want or someone you're not. We're here for you no matter what and no matter how long this takes, you'll always be someone we're proud of. Remember that." she said.

     "And Hongbin... oh that sweet guy. Do you think he's disappointed in you? He wasn't even expecting you to give him a good life. Because if he did, he wouldn't be here right now, willing to sacrifice everything for you. All he wants is for you to show your love! Remember that." she continued.

Mrs. Kim gave Wonshik an earful and he was happy about it. He kept bringing himself down when everyone is trying to raise him up. He's making his symptoms an excuse for something that he's giving himself. Yes, he's sick. But he shouldn't indulge himself that he is because nothing will happen if he will.

Little did they know, Hongbin was outside, listening. He teared up hearing how down Wonshik is and how Wonshik thought he disappointed Hongbin made him feel heavier. He was part of why Wonshik is feeling down.

They went down and they all ate breakfast normally. Hongbin was quietly sitting away from Wonshik. He thought that he needs to give Wonshik a space. Wonshik felt so bad seeing Hongbin with his head down, not even an eye contact with him. After breakfast, he asked Hongbin to talk to him outside.

     "I was an a-hole earlier wasn't I?" Wonshik laughed but Hongbin wasn't amused. He was still sad but he gave a faint smile.

     "Hongbin, look." he sighed. "I'm really really sorry for what I did earlier. It wasn't because of my disease and it wasn't even my symptom." he continued looking sad. "Hongbin... I should be taking care of you." Wonshik said. "It should be the other way around."

Hongbin looked at him and caressed his face. "Wonshik, listen. I am never and will never be disappointed in you. I am proud of you no matter what." 

Wonshik looked at Hongbin, surprised. How did he know?

     "You gave me enough reasons to stay." Hongbin then leaned and kissed Wonshik's lips softly. 

What Wonshik planned to be a very long conversation ended in a minute. He was now reminded of why they are together. It wasn't out of his high dreams for Hongbin, it was out of love. He's reminded of how gentle and soft Hongbin is, how loving he is and how fragile he is. And because of that, he loves Hongbin even more. He remembered how they promised to be together until they're old and grey and how they wanted people to see how love made them stay with each other after all those years. 

Wonshik went to the Hospital again. He wanted to take in medications so bad.

     "I'm so sorry Mr. Kim but we can't give you any medications right now."

Wonshik was anxious. "W-why not?!"

     "Solely, because the sooner you begin to take in medications, the longer you'll have to be without them because it will no longer be effective. The most effective medicines will lose its ability to cure or influence the symptoms."

     "Does that mean... my symptoms will get worse?!" Wonshik was freaking out. Hongbin held his hand to assure that he's with him.

     "I'm sorry, Mr. Kim. But, yes. Your symptoms will get worse. Parkinson's Disease is a progressive disease, therefore, the symptoms will evolve as time goes by. Just like how we oriented, there is no cure for the disease as for this moment so we'll have no choice but to stick to the given treatment. Medications will be given after a few years to assure its effectiveness until..."

     "Until I die...." Wonshik cut him off. 

     "We're very sorry, Mr. Kim. But there's nothing we could do for now." 

Wonshik regretted it so much. He shouldn't have been greedy and thought of a shortcut to cure himself because right now, he's depressed more than ever. But seeing how Hongbin holds his hand, telling him it's okay and never let go even once, he saw how he is willing to stay with Wonshik until their last day on the physical world.

Hongbin was indeed a motivation. Wonshik never slacks off and sleeps in the right time. He told himself he can't let Hongbin be burdened. He has to do something for himself, for his family, and for Hongbin too. He continued exercising everyday just to stop his symptoms.

But nothing is going in their way.

Wonshik reached Stage 2 of his disease. One of his hand would shake at times before but for the past few days, it would be both of his hands. He would feel his left foot stiff, right now, it's both of his feet. Not only his motor symptoms got worse, his non-motor symptoms got worse as well.

He would forget informations that he perfectly knew before. One time, he cooked some noodles and forgot about it. He almost burned down the house. He wasn't able to smell it too, being it part of his symptoms. He would speak fast, too and slur his words. He can't express his thoughts well. He tend to forget why he was talking to someone too, in the first place.

Sometimes, they would ask him their birthdays and even his. He hardly answered it correctly. 

Hongbin still stayed. This is nothing, he repeatedly told himself. This is nothing.

Wonshik stayed with his treatments, After two years, he finally decided to go back to school. He insisted to go to his old university instead of being home schooled. Not only that he'll get to exercise his body, but he might do something with his cognitive changes too.

He still needs assistance from his friends and professors. He would get special treatments such as taking a quiz two days after the discussion to prevent him to lose all those information from his memory. He would still shake and his legs would stiff every now and then, but the school knows about it and everyone is kind enough to help him out. 

Despite experiencing all these, Hongbin is still at home. Waiting for him, cooking his special pancakes for him and supporting him from all of his decisions. It's been roughly 3 years since they knew each other. Time doesn't define their love. Their experiences does. 

And that's when Wonshik thought he should step up his games and take their relationship into the next level.

One Monday morning, Hongbin went to the hospital for his appointment for his treatments. He was wondering why the lights were dim. He was probably in the wrong entrance because he saw the other patients going in a different entrance. When he was about to go out, he saw a letter for him. 

Mr. Lee Hongbin, you can proceed to the Rehabilitation room.

He was wondering why he could go there and not other patients. Maybe because he's a special patient because of his father. 

He went to the elevator and went up the floor. When the door opened, the whole floor was dim. But the familiar nurses were around, holding on a scented candles leading his way to the Rehabilition room. Only one thing was on his mind, "What is this, Kim Wonshik?"

He went inside the Rehabilitation room only to find the room dark. Then, one by one, pink candles were lit. Hongbin can't clearly figure out what the shape was. When some of them kneeled down, it was formed into a heart shape. Hongbin couldn't help but smile at how cute it was.

Then, a bigger candle was lit in the middle. Even without a light, his heart was beating so fast. He knew it was Wonshik in the middle. Flashlight were pointed onto the middle to create a small spotlight for Wonshik. He was smiling very wide and he was holding onto a beautiful bouquet of assorted flowers. The candles that were shaped into a heart then scattered to give way for Wonshik.

He slowly walked to Hongbin and a beautiful Violin Instrumental was played in the background. He gave the flowers to Hongbin and he noticed more candles were lit behind Wonshik. He could recognize Wonshik's family and a few nurses and doctors who are close to him.

The violin stopped playing.

     "Hongbin." he sighed, obviously nervous. "I want to say three things today." he let out a deep breath.

     "First of all, you look gorgeous today just like any other day."

Hongbin couldn't help but smile from his cheesy words. 

     "Second, I want to thank you for staying by my side all throughtout these years. We've seen the best and the worst of each other, and I am happy to know that we both never gave up and we only wanted the best for each other. No one can top off the things you did for me."

Hongbin who was smiling a few seconds ago, is now on the verge of tears. Wonshik wasn't far from doing so too. His hands were shaking. Not because of his symptoms but because he was nervous. He has never felt this way before. He feels like his heart is about to break because it can't handle the beats of it right now. His hand were ice cold and he can't even move it well. His face was stiff too and his mouth can't say properly the words he continued on praticing for 48 hours again and again and again. This was a huge moment to announce how much he loves Hongbin.

     "Third..." his mouth can't move well. He tried his best to conceal the way he feels. He let out a deep breath and kneeled down infront of Hongbin.

     "Will you marry me?"