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Glowing crystal stands in the center of the hall, inside is the resting place of an unanimated boy. Majestic with its beauty and mystery, yet for Choi Yeonjun, it serves nothing but a painful reminder of what he has lost — his life and love.
He withers away while waiting for those big sparkling eyes that hold all the light in the world to open again. Every passing day, a bit of his heart crumbles, until there’s nothing left.
When Taehyun falls into slumber, Yeonjun’s heart goes with him.
The man presses a hand on the crystal — face blank, eyes dimmed.
“It’s been a decade, Taehyun-ah.”
Everything they loved and hated is already gone, leaving an empty hole in his heart. An emptiness Taehyun can fill with his smile alone.
But Taehyun remains asleep, stuck in an eternal dream, the unfair consequences of his sacrifice.
“You said you won’t take long.”
A lie.
Both of them know how false of a statement it is— a mare promise to comfort a broken man, a promise that’s never meant to be fulfilled.
Yeonjun knew but he still waits, remains to wait until grief eats him away, reducing him to a shell of what he used to be.
Kang Taehyun has saved the common people but failed to save Yeonjun.
“I’m sorry.” Yeonjun smiles a hallow smile.
He slides down on the ground, pressing his back against the crystal. Yeonjun takes out a small glass bottle, containing an ominous red liquid. Closing his eyes, he recalls the past, snippets of happier days, moments filled with their laughter.
Yeonjun loves everything about Taehyun, but if he has to pick one, it will be the boy’s smile. The very moment Yeonjun sees Taehyun’s smile with his eyes forming a lovely crescent, he knew he's doomed for life.
Oh, how he yearns to see it one last time.
Yeonjun’s movement is dull as he uncaps the bottle. In one swift movement, he lets the liquid slide down his throat.
Before the darkness completely consumes him, Yeonjun has one final plea —
—I want to see you again.
Choi Yeonjun’s body slumps backward.
Stifling silence falls heavy.
Moments later, a cracking sound is heard in the empty hall.
Kang Taehyun opens his eyes.