five

                                    

                                          

Dear Haechan,
I hope this letter finds you well. I'm starting to feel desperate here. The silence is becoming unbearable, and I'm seriously considering coming back home early. I've been trying to figure out how to make it work, financially and logistically, but it's a challenge. I need to see you, to be there for you in person.
I understand that you might not want me to worry, but not knowing how you're doing is breaking me. Please, if you can, let me know how you're holding up. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to be there for you.
Missing you more than ever,
Mark
-

Mark's world was increasingly consumed by worry and frustration. The silence from Haechan had reached a point where it was almost unbearable. He had been trying to maintain his routine, but the strain was taking over. The thought of Haechan suffering alone while he was stuck thousands of miles away was overwhelming.
Desperation led Mark to consider returning home earlier than planned. He began researching flights and weighing the costs, but his financial struggles where keeping him back from doing so. He also faced logistical challenges-resigning from his current position, finding a temporary place to stay, and dealing with the mass amount of details that came with such a major decision.
Mark spent hours on the phone with his company's HR department, trying to negotiate a leave of absence or an early termination of his contract. Each conversation seemed to end in frustration, and the barriers only added to his sense of helplessness.

-

Jaemin and Jeno sat with Haechan, who was propped up in bed, trying to find some comfort amidst the pain. Jaemin was reading a book aloud, his voice a soothing presence in the quiet room. Jeno was checking the medication schedule, making sure everything was in order.
"How are you feeling tonight?" Jaemin asked gently, glancing at Haechan with concern.
Haechan sighed, his energy waning. "It's been tough. I'm struggling to keep up with everything. I wish I could write back to Mark, but it's so hard."
Jeno, looking up from his notes, nodded. "I know it's difficult. But we're here for you, and we'll make sure you're taken care of. Mark understands that you're going through a lot."
Haechan appreciated their support but felt a  sense of guilt. The silence he had maintained was meant to protect Mark from the full extent of his suffering, but it was becoming a burden in itself. The weight of his illness and the inability to communicate were causing him emotional distress.
As he lay back on his pillow, he thought about Mark's desperate attempt to reach him. The thought of Mark considering coming back early was both heart-wrenching and comforting. Haechan wanted nothing more than to comfort him, but he couldn't. He was being hard-headed. His friends had offered to write for him multiple times, yet Haechan declined everytime. He wants to be the one writing to Mark. He wants to be the one telling Mark what he is going through. Only him
Both Haechan and Mark were fighting their own battles-Haechan with his  health and Mark with the distance and barriers that kept him from being by Haechan's side. The situation was dire, and hope seemed like a fragile thread that both of them were clinging to, each in their own way.