The hallway was unusually quiet.
Choen padded toward Choel's hotel room, cradling a small gift bag in her hands — a simple, silly souvenir she picked up after the fan sign. Something about it made her think of him. The boy who always teased her, protected her… stood beside her even when the world didn't.
She knocked once. No answer.
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
"Still sleeping, sleepyhead?" she whispered, and slowly opened the door.
The curtains were half-drawn, golden twilight spilling across the room. There he was — Choel — lying perfectly still on the bed, arms resting at his sides, his face peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Choen stepped in, smiling.
"Yah," she said gently, "I know you're pretending. Wake up, will you? You promised we'd watch that movie tonight."
She sat on the edge of the bed, nudging his shoulder playfully.
No response.
Her smile faded, replaced with confusion.
She leaned in. "Choel?"
She touched his cheek — cold. Too cold.
"Choel!" she whispered louder, shaking him slightly now. "This isn't funny anymore."
Still no response.
Her breath caught in her throat. Her fingers trembled.
"Sunwoo! Mathew!" she cried out, voice rising into panic, rushing to the door. "Somebody, please!"
Footsteps thundered down the hall. Sunwoo entered first, his face twisting into panic as he saw Choen crying beside Choel's unmoving body.
Mathew was already dialing emergency.
Everything after that blurred — sirens, shouting, the dizzy ache in her chest as Choel was carried away on a stretcher. The charm he had received at the fan sign tumbled from his pocket and hit the floor with a soft clink.
The hospital room was cold, sterile — a world away from the bright stage lights and cheering fans. Choen's hands trembled as she sat beside Choel's bed, his face pale and still, lips barely moving in quiet whispers she strained to catch.
Her heart pounded like a war drum, every breath a desperate prayer.
"Choel, please… wake up," she whispered, voice cracking, tears slipping down like fragile rivers. "You're not allowed to leave. Not now. Not like this."
Outside, the world was unraveling.
News broke like wildfire — Choel's sudden collapse, the emergency rush to the hospital. Social media exploded with speculation, praise, and venom. Among the noise, cruel voices rose loudest.
"It's all because of Choen!"
"She's the curse, the disaster!"
"They say her presence brings nothing but tragedy!"
The words pierced her like daggers, but Choen's gaze never faltered from the still figure before her.
Inside Choel's mind, trapped in darkness, he fought a silent war.
His breath shallow, heart heavy with memories of Choen — their past lives, their stolen moments. He reached through the fog, aching to break free, to open his eyes and tell her: I'm still here. I'm fighting for us.
But the chains binding him tightened.
Back in the hospital room, Choen clutched his hand, warmth flowing through the cold skin, her tears whispering promises only the two of them could hear.
"I'm here, Choel. Always."
"I'll carry us both if I have to."
And in that quiet space between life and death, love burned fiercely — a fragile flame against the storm.
The world outside might judge, blame, and shout — but inside, two souls battled fate together.
💌 To My Aurablooms ✨🌸
You found this story…and it found you right back. 💫
Thank you for blooming 🌷 beside me in every twist 🔀, tear 💧, and heartbeat 💓.This isn't the end — just a deep breath 😌 before the next spark 🔥.
Keep glowing 🌟. I see you 👀. I cherish you 💖.— Castle 🦋📖