Chapter Text
As soon as Heeseung stepped off the plane, he went straight to his studio. He sat down at his desk and stared at the blank page in front of him. His fingers hovered over the paper, but he couldn't seem to find the words. He was a mess. His emotions were a whirlwind, a chaotic storm that raged within him. He was desperate, hurt, and confused. He didn't know what to do or where to turn. Heeseung stood up and paced around the room, his hands clenched into fists. He felt a surge of anger, a desire to lash out at the world.
But he knew that wouldn't solve anything.
He sat back down at his desk and tried to focus. He started playing the piano, his fingers dancing across the keys. The music was raw, filled with emotion. It was a cacophony of sound, a chaotic symphony of pain, longing, and despair. As he played, Heeseung felt a sense of release. The music was a way for him to express his feelings, to let them out. But it was also a way for him to cope with the pain, to find a way to move forward.
Heeseung played for hours, his fingers never stopping. He lost himself in the music, letting it consume him. He was no longer playing the piano; he was channeling his emotions, his pain, his rage. He was a vessel for darkness, a conduit for madness.
A hand was placed gently on his shoulder.
Startled, he looked up. His eyes widened in disbelief as he saw the faces of his former bandmates. Jungwon, Niki, Jake, Jay, and Sunghoon were standing before him, their expressions filled with concern. Heeseung's heart pounded in his chest. He had been so lost in his own pain that he hadn't even heard them approach. He swallowed hard, trying to control the emotions that were threatening to overwhelm him. But he couldn't hold it in. Tears welled up in his eyes, and before he knew it, he was crying.
He cried uncontrollably, his sobs echoing through the studio.
Months had passed since the incident. Heeseung had thrown himself into his music, pouring his heart and soul into every note. His latest album had been a critical and commercial success, earning him even more recognition in the industry. Despite his achievements, a sense of emptiness lingered within him. He had achieved everything he had ever dreamed of, yet something was still missing.
As Heeseung drived down the street, a sight caught his eye. A young boy was running ahead of his parents, his backpack emblazoned with a fox. The image triggered a wave of memories, a flood of emotions that washed over him. As Heeseung's watching the boy, tears welled up in his eyes. He missed Sunoo more than he could ever say. He regretted the way he had treated him, the words he had spoken. He wished he could go back in time and change everything. Heeseung stood there for a long time, watching the boy until he was out of sight. A sense of urgency suddenly washed over him. He needed to go back to Jeju. He needed to see Sunoo. Heeseung immediently went home, grabbed his suitcase and headed to the airport.
When he arrived at the inn, he went straight to the front desk. The innkeeper looked up, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Mr. Heeseung!" she exclaimed. "It's good to see you again."
Heeseung nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "Is Sunoo here?"
The innkeeper hesitated; her eyes filled with emotion he can't understand. "I'm sorry, Mr. Heeseung,"
Heeseung's heart sank. "Please, tell me," he insisted. "I need to know."
The innkeeper took a slow deep breath and took Heeseung's hand. "Come with me," she said, her voice soft.
Heeseung followed her without a word. They walked in silence for a few minutes, until they reached the outskirts of town. Heeseung's heart pounded in his chest as he realizes where they are going. They approached the cemetery gates. He felt a sense of dread, a fear that he had never experienced before. Time seemed to have slowed down as the innkeeper led Heeseung to a small grave, marked by a simple wooden cross adorned with colorful flowers. Heeseung recognized the blooms immediately—they were the same flowers Sunoo had planted. Heeseung knelt down beside the grave, his eyes misty. He reached out and touched the cross, his fingers trembling. As he sat there, his eyes fell upon a small metal plate engraved with a name. His heart skipped a beat. It was Sunoo's name. Heeseung's mind raced. He couldn't believe it.
Sunoo was dead.
He reached out and touched the plate, his fingers tracing the letters of Sunoo's name. He felt a wave of sadness wash over him, a pain so deep that it felt like a physical wound. He remembered the day he had last seen Sunoo, the way he had looked so pale and frail.
"He had lung cancer," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
"He came here to Jeju to try to recuperate, but it got worse. He... he didn't last long."
Heeseung stood up and looked down at the grave. "I'm sorry, Sunoo," he said, his voice filled with regret. "I'm so sorry."
"He loves you, Mr. Heeseung," she said, her voice filled with sadness. "He loves you very much."
Heeseung collapsed to his knees, his body wracked with sobs. He cried uncontrollably; his tears flowed freely from his eyes
"He was afraid to leave you again," she said.
"He knew that he was dying, and he didn't want to hurt you." The innkeeper placed a hand on Heeseung's shoulder
"He would watch videos of you and your friends every day. And when he was asleep, he would mutter your name."
"Sometimes, he would ask me if he made the right decision," she said, her voice filled with sadness.
"If he should have just stayed with you."
More tears streamed down his face like a waterfall. His sobs were so loud, they seemed to echo through the quiet cemetery. The innkeeper turned and walked away. She knew that Heeseung needed some time alone to grieve. Heeseung closed his eyes and tried to picture Sunoo's face, his smile, his laughter but the image was blurry, fading into a haze of sorrow.
He knew that Sunoo had loved him, just as he had love Sunoo.
But it was too late.
He would never have the chance to tell him how much he loves him again.
Now, with mind a blank slate, Heeseung looked up at the sky, his face tear-stricken. Sunoo was gone, and Heeseung was left adrift, empty and lost.