Chapter 14

"Remember that he could hear us, so you have to pretend that everything's fine. Okay?" He turned to whisper one last time, a hand covering the flames of the candles to stop them from flickering.

The day had finally come. To Yeonjun, it both felt like it was too soon and too late at the same time.

His last day with Beomgyu.

It was March, and for this special occasion, he had asked Taehyun and Hueningkai to visit Beomgyu just so they could celebrate his birthday together. The two males were nowhere near as close to Beomgyu as he was, but they were also the only ones aside from him that can be considered his friends.

"Okay," the other two responded in unison, nodding. Next to them, Soobin offered a small smile before sliding the room door open.

Like a mask, a bright smile immediately slipped onto his face—although he knew the boy wouldn't see it either way, his lips still curled up in a way that didn't reach his eyes. It had somewhat become natural to him after all these years, so it wasn't that difficult a feat. What he didn't disclose, was that the smile was to fool himself more than it was to fool Beomgyu.

Following closely behind, Taehyun and Hueningkai both took that as his cue to begin singing a very loud, unsynchronised version of 'Happy Birthday'. With Soobin quietly mumbling along, they all clapped as Yeonjun rounded the bed to go to Beomgyu's side. In his mind, he tried to imagine the look of surprise and bliss that would have marred the younger's face right now if he was able to express it. He'd imagined the younger's eyes lighting up and his cheeks pink; like that breezy autumn night underneath the maple tree. The thought eased him.

"Happy birthday, to you!" They finished, wrapping it up with another round of uneven applause. On the pulled out food tray, Yeonjun put down the matcha-flavoured cake—he remembered to get Beomgyu's favourite.

Well, it wasn't like Beomgyu would be able to taste it—or see it, as a matter of fact. But it was the thought that counted, right?

Dread began to sink into the pit of his stomach as he looked at Beomgyu. This would be the last day he was able to sit by his side like this; the last time he'd ever see him lay on that bed.

The last time he'd ever see him again.

As selfishly as he could form a thought, Yeonjun just wanted to freeze this moment in his head; capturing the image of the only boy he's ever looked at in front of him and burying it into the deepest crevice of his brain, and probably the only one he would ever look at. Until the end of forever.

I guess this is as long as forever could be.

"Beomgyu, you've got visitors." He announced, trying to keep his tone as light as he could. Behind him, the addressed boys stepped closer. "Hi, hyung." They spoke simultaneously.

"You recognise that? That's Taehyun and Hueningkai. I told you I'd drag them to see you one day. They're so in love, it's gross." He joked, which resulted in a light giggle from Hueningkai and a tiny punch to his shoulder from Taehyun. "Beomgyu hyung, we got you some birthday gifts!" Chirped the youngest before he gently laid the said gift onto the male's lap. It was a bouquet filled with baby's breaths and red asters, neatly wrapped in lilac linen paper.