Chapter Text
It should have been like any other day. It was a Friday, the last day of the week, so Daeyoung should have woken up feeling relieved that the week was almost over. Instead, he woke up that day with a sinking feeling in his gut. The usual comfort of the room didn’t ease the tightness in his chest. He was supposed to feel good—it was Friday, after all—but the unease lingered like a cloud hanging overhead.
Beside him, Yushi was still asleep, one arm draped loosely over Daeyoung’s waist. Daeyoung laid there, staring at the ceiling, listening to Yushi’s breathing, and tried to ignore the discomfort gnawing at him. He shifted a little, turning to face Yushi, whilst trying not to disturb his sleep. The longer he watched his fiance, the stronger that feeling grew. Something didn’t feel right, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. Was it the project deadline looming over him at work? Or maybe the pressure from the wedding plans that had been building up? Is the stress getting to me? Daeyoung thought, but deep down, it didn’t feel like any of these were the cause.
After a while, Yushi stirred beside him. Half-asleep, he pulled Daeyoung closer, tightening his arm around his waist. Daeyoung let out a soft sigh and melted into the embrace. For a moment, that feeling faded—just a little. They stayed there, cuddled together, until the alarm started blaring, harsh and insistent, reminding them it was time to get up. Yushi groaned softly, flopping onto his back and glancing at Daeyoung with a sleepy smile.
“Morning, baby,” Yushi said, his voice thick with sleep.
“Morning,” Daeyoung replied, pressing a quick kiss to Yushi’s lips before gently pulling his arms off his waist. That feeling returned again, slightly stronger than when he had first woken up, but he brushed it off and got up. They settled into their daily routine with Yushi preparing breakfast while Daeyoung went to shower. As he washed the sleep off of his body, Daeyoung tried to shake the feeling away. Maybe it was just work stress after all. He had an important meeting today regarding the project his team was in charge of, something that had been weighing heavily on his mind.
When he finished showering and walked towards the kitchen, towel around his shoulders, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and pancakes began filling the apartment. Yushi stood at the stove, flipping pancakes and humming a tune he couldn’t catch.
“Smells good.” Daeyoung said, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
“Of course it does,” Yushi said, grinning. “I have to make it perfect for you. Especially today.”
“Today? What’s with today?” Daeyoung raised an eyebrow.
“It’s Friday,” Yushi said, flipping another pancake. “I’m making you a special dinner tonight. You’ve had a rough week, and on top of that, you deserve a treat after all that hard work you put in for your project.”
Daeyoung smiled, feeling touched. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re such an angel?”
Yushi giggled, glancing at Daeyoung over his shoulder. “I just wanted to make you feel a little better.”
Daeyoung laughed lightly, setting his coffee on the table. He walked over to Yushi and hugged him from behind, resting his chin on Yushi’s shoulder for a moment.
“So, what are you making for dinner tonight?” Daeyoung asked, teasing.
Yushi chuckled, tapping the spatula against the edge of the pan. “I can’t tell you. It’s a surprise.”
“Come on, at least give me a hint,” Daeyoung pressed, squeezing his waist gently.
“Not a chance,” Yushi said with a grin. “You’ll see tonight when we get home.”
After Yushi finished preparing their breakfast, they sat down to eat, the conversation flowing easily between them, touching on little things—updates about work, lighthearted banter about Yushi’s experiments with new coffee blends at the café. Daeyoung felt the tension leave his shoulders, a comfortable warmth settling in his chest.
The pair finished up their breakfast, and Daeyoung stood up to clear the dishes while Yushi went to shower. Once he had gotten ready, they grabbed their jackets and bags, slipping out of the apartment and heading towards the car to truly start their day and head on to work. They settled in, and Yushi started the engine as Daeyoung turned on some music after buckling his seatbelt.
“Traffic looks light today,” Daeyoung said, his eyes sweeping over the road where a handful of cars would normally be.
“Yeah,” Yushi replied, glancing past him to check, then turning back with a grin. “It’s usually crowded when we leave at this time.”
He drove off, humming along to the music while Daeyoung gazed out the window, allowing his fiance’s delicate voice to wash over him as he watched the city pass by. It was the same old routine, like any other morning, yet today felt different somehow.
“So,” Yushi said, breaking the silence, “Are we eating lunch later? Or are you just grabbing something quick?”
“Maybe I’ll swing by the cafe,” Daeyoung said, turning to him. “I want to see what you’ve been up to.”
“Sounds like a good plan,” Yushi nodded. “I’ll save you a slice of that new cake I made yesterday.”
Daeyoung laughed, leaning back in his seat. “Alright.”
By the time they reached Daeyoung’s office building, the streets had picked up traffic. Yushi pulled over and parked for some time to wish the younger well before he began work for the day. He turned to Daeyoung with a soft smile, leaning over to press a quick kiss to his lips.
“See you later, baby” Yushi said.
“See you,” Daeyoung replied, smiling as he unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out. Yushi waved from the car before driving off to open the cafe, leaving Daeyoung to head inside and start his workday.
The morning slipped by in a blur. Daeyoung buried himself in work, sitting through meeting after meeting and answering emails as they came in. By the time lunch rolled around, he was more than ready to skip the rest of the day and go home.
“Hey Daeyoung.”
He looked up to see Sion, a co-worker and a friend of his, standing at the front of his cubicle.“We’re heading out for lunch. Are you coming?”
Daeyoung glanced at the clock in surprise before shaking his head with a small smile. “I’ll pass today. I’ll be eating with Yushi.”
“Oh?” Sion grinned. “Tell Yushi I said hi! And remind him I’m still waiting on that free coffee he promised me last time.”
Daeyoung laughed and waved Sion off. “I’ll let him know. See you later!”
Shooting off one last email, Daeyoung grabbed his things and headed towards the elevator. The office was mostly empty, save for the few people who were still at their desks. He stepped into the elevator, pressed the ground floor button, and headed straight for the lobby.
The street was bustling with people once he stepped outside. Daeyoung weaved through the small crowds, thinking about what they’d be having for lunch, and he didn’t notice an old man stepping out from the alley until he bumped into him.
“Oh! I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you.” Daeyoung quickly apologised, but the old man just stared at him. Daeyoung thought he was rather odd and turned to walk off, but what the old man said next stopped him in his tracks.
“Time shall tick backwards over and over, but you will never save him.” The old man said, then disappeared into the crowd. Daeyoung blinked and frowned at the sight of the old man walking away. What an odd thing to say… he thought to himself, straightening his jacket and continuing down the street toward the cafe.
When he arrived at the cafe, Yushi was behind the counter talking with his part-timers, so Daeyoung found a spot by the window and sat down, his gaze fixed on his fiance. He watched as Yushi chatted with the part-timers, a smile tugging at his lips as he made them laugh.
Yushi had always been like this—so easy to talk to, effortlessly kind, and always able to make the people around him feel comfortable and at ease. How had Daeyoung ended up with someone so perfect? Someone who could brighten any room without even trying? It was hard to believe they’d only met a couple of years ago and now, in just a few months, they’d be getting married. He’d always known Yushi was the one, but lately, with the wedding coming up, the reality of it all was raining down on him at full force. They were about to build their future together, and Daeyoung was certain, beyond anything else, that Yushi was the right person for him.
Yushi turned around and caught Daeyoung’s eye across the room, a grin instantly spreading across his face. Daeyoung smiled back, his chest swelling with warmth as Yushi made his way over, holding their lunch and the slice of cake he promised the other earlier.
“Here you go," Yushi said, setting the tray down in front of Daeyoung before sliding into the chair across from him. "Here’s lunch and a slice of cake, like I promised. I hope you're hungry."
“Thanks,” Daeyoung said, picking up his fork. “You didn’t have to bring the cake too.”
Yushi shrugged with a grin. “I know, but I promised. Plus, it’s Friday! Everyone deserves a treat, right?”
Daeyoung laughed softly. “True… Speaking of treats, have you decided on the wedding favors yet?”
Yushi thought for a moment. “I was thinking something small but cute… maybe handmade cookies? With little flower decorations, like the ones we picked for the table?”
Daeyoung smiled, imagining it. “Sweet and simple… kind of like you.”
Yushi rolled his eyes playfully. “Is that so?”
“Of course,” Daeyoung said with a smirk, his gaze softening as he looked at Yushi. “You know how perfect you are, right?”
Yushi’s eyes softened for a moment, and he reached across the table, squeezing Daeyoung’s hand gently. "I could say the same about you”
The warmth of his touch, the sincerity in his gaze, made Daeyoung’s heart swell.
They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the peacefulness of the moment settling over them. Daeyoung finished the last bite of his lunch, glancing at Yushi across the table. Yushi met his gaze, and gave a small smile before returning to his own meal.
After Yushi finished eating, Daeyoung stood up, wiping his hands on a napkin. "Alright, I’ve got to get back to work."
"Okay! Call me when you’re done, okay? I’ll come pick you up later.” Yushi replied with a smile, standing as well and gathering their plates.
Daeyoung leaned over and kissed him quickly on the cheek, his eyes soft. "Will do. See you later”
The rest of the afternoon went by uneventfully.
The project meeting dragged on longer than expected. Daeyoung sat through slides and timelines, nodding along as his team discussed deadlines and revisions. He jotted down notes mindlessly, already thinking about the weekend.
When the meeting ended, chairs scraped against the floor, as people started packing up and leaving. As Daeyoung stood and stretched his stiff shoulders, the distant sound of sirens wailing by his office building caught his attention.
“Wow, that’s a lot of sirens,” Sion said casually, holding his laptop as they walked out of the meeting room. “Something big must’ve happened.”
Daeyoung hummed in response, barely paying attention. “It’s Friday. Probably an accident or something.”
“Well, I hope everyone’s okay,” Sion added before heading to his cubicle.
“Yeah,” Daeyoung said absentmindedly. Sirens were part of city life. Fires happen every day. He didn’t think twice about it as they parted ways, the sound fading into the background, swallowed by the noise of the office and the shuffle of people returning to their desks. Daeyoung didn’t think to look out the window. If he had, he would have noticed the direction the sirens were heading.
When the clock struck six, Daeyoung packed up his things and stood from his desk. He was ready to go home and relax for the weekend, but as he reached for his phone to call Yushi, he noticed the screen was blank. No new messages.
That was unusual. Yushi always texted him around the time he finished work.
Daeyoung’s heart skipped a beat as he glanced at the time again. Yushi should have texted him by now. Something wasn’t right. He could have simply been too busy to text, but Daeyoung couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
He grabbed his jacket and bag and made his way to the elevator. As the doors slid shut, his thoughts spiraled. Don’t overthink it, he told himself. He probably just forgot. Maybe his phone died? Or he just got busy? But his chest felt tight, and with every passing second, the silence on his phone felt louder. The bout of unease he experienced that morning came rushing down his spine again.
By the time he stepped out onto the street, his eyes were already scanning the curb out of habit. Yushi’s car was always parked in the same spot, where he sat waiting for Daeyoung to finish work.
It wasn’t there. Daeyoung stopped short. Maybe he’s still at the cafe… He thought to himself and headed towards the cafe.
As he headed in the direction of the cafe, Daeyoung noticed a crowd gathered a few blocks down. People were standing off to the side, some whispering, others staring with wide eyes. His gaze instinctively followed their attention toward the fire trucks in the distance, their red lights flashing violently. For a split second, he thought, What a big fire… Before he realized where the smoke was coming from.
Daeyoung’s pace quickened, his stomach churning as the thick scent of burnt wood filled his nose. His mind froze. No...he thought. The cafe he had just left that afternoon, the place where Yushi worked. It was burning, smoke was pouring out of every window, though it was dissipating as firefighters rushed to put out the fire.
Panic surged through Daeyoung’s chest. His legs moved on their own, carrying him toward the scene as his mind raced. His breath quickened as he pushed past the people standing in front of the police tape, desperate to get to the cafe.
“Sir, you can’t go in there,” a voice barked from behind him, and a police officer grabbed his arm to stop him.
Daeyoung shook his head violently, trying to pull free. “I need to get inside, my fiance’s in there! The cafe owner—!” His voice broke on the last word, tears prickling at his eyes from the smoke and something more.
“I’m sorry, sir,” the officer said, his face softening with sympathy. “We’re still trying to get everyone out. You need to stay back.”
Daeyoung’s heart pounded in his ears. His body froze. “No… no, you don’t understand. Yushi is in there. He’s…” His voice faltered.
Then he saw the stretcher.
Paramedics rushed past, shouting instructions to one another. A white sheet covered most of the body, edges stained dark with soot and ash. The stretcher was lifted halfway into the ambulance, when one hand slipped free from beneath the sheet, fingers limp and unmoving.
Daeyoung’s breath caught in his throat.
On the ring finger was a familiar silver band—slightly scratched, but definitely the same one he had on his own finger as well. The ring he had slid onto Yushi’s finger with shaking hands and teary eyes.
“No,” Daeyoung whispered, the sound barely audible. His knees buckled, and if someone hadn’t grabbed him, he would have collapsed onto the pavement. His vision blurred as he gasped for air. No, this can’t be real. It can’t be.
Someone was talking to him—an officer, maybe, or a paramedic—but the words didn’t register. All Daeyoung could hear was the roaring of the siren in his ears.
Daeyoung didn’t know how he made it to the hospital. One minute he was standing outside the cafe, the next he was sitting on a hard bench in a sterile hallway, hands trembling in his lap.
The smell of antiseptic burned his nose. The fluorescent lights overhead hummed relentlessly, each buzzing sound cutting through the silence like a dull knife. Time seemed to stretch in this empty space, each second heavier than the last. Daeyoung's mind was blank, detached from reality, like he was watching his own life unfold from a distance.
A doctor eventually approached him, expression grave. He didn’t remember most of what was said, just fragments. We did everything we could. I’m so sorry. There was too much smoke inhalation.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
Those words echoed hollowly in his chest.
Daeyoung made the call to his parents with numb fingers, barely recognizing his own voice as he told them Yushi was gone. Somewhere in between, he called Yushi’s parents too. They arrived soon after, their eyes swollen and red, and they wrapped him in a tight, silent hug.
The funeral was held a few days later.
Just as Yushi had wanted, it wasn’t somber. There were photos of him laughing behind the counter, apron dusted with flour, eyes crinkled with joy. Soft music played. People shared stories, some funny, some warm. There were smiles through tears, laughter breaking through sobs, because that was the kind of goodbye Yushi had always said he wanted.
After the burial, when the crowds thinned, and the noise faded, Daeyoung returned to their apartment alone. The apartment felt too quiet, too still. Everything he touched reminded him of Yushi—his toothbrush, his shoes by the door, the clothes on the chair. It was as if the world had stopped, frozen in place.
He sank to the floor, back pressed against the door, chest heaving as sobs tore out of him uncontrollably. Yushi was gone. They were supposed to grow old together, to share their lives, their futures. And now, all that was left was this—this unbearable, empty silence.
Daeyoung cried until his throat burned and his body ached, until exhaustion finally took over.
Daeyoung didn’t know when he fell asleep, but slowly, his eyes fluttered open, and a wave of confusion washed over him. He was sure he had been crying in the hallway, but now, he was staring up at the familiar ceiling of his bedroom. His mind scrambled to catch up with the confusion when the weight on his waist—the familiar warmth of it—pulled him from his spiraling thoughts. He froze, eyes flickering to the side.
Yushi was still there, his arm draped across Daeyoung, breathing softly in his sleep.
Daeyoung blinked, his heart hammering in his chest. This didn’t feel right. He was certain he’d experienced it all—the loss, the shock, and the hollow ache in his chest. Daeyoung tried to make sense of the situation. He had to be dreaming, right? He closed his eyes tightly, as if willing himself to wake up, but when he opened them again, Yushi was still beside him.
Daeyoung’s heart began to race. The memory of everything he’d just gone through throbbed in his chest. It didn’t add up. He had seen Yushi’s body in the morgue, collected his belongings, and even held a funeral. Cold sweat clung to his skin as he looked over at Yushi, still asleep beside him, completely unaware. Daeyoung’s hand reached out instinctively, hovering over Yushi’s arm, but he quickly pulled it back, afraid that if he touched him, he might disappear.
His mind spun in circles, and he squeezed his eyes shut again, trying to suppress the overwhelming confusion, but the tears came anyway, hot and relentless, flowing down his cheeks as his body trembled. He couldn’t breathe or think, the grief threatening to drown him.
Yushi stirred beside him, blinking sleepily before his eyes widened in concern. “Daeyoung…?”
Yushi’s voice cut through Daeyoung’s panic. His warm hand gently cupped Daeyoung’s face, wiping away the tears. “What’s wrong, baby?”
Daeyoung couldn’t answer at first, his chest heaving with the intensity of his emotions. He shook his head, trying to push the confusion and pain down, but it was too much. His mind felt like it was breaking under the weight of the fear.
“I—I had a dream, Yushi. You… You died in a fire.” His voice cracked. “I thought I’d lost you. And I thought it was real. I thought I really lost you.”
Yushi’s brow furrowed with concern as he leaned closer. “Hey, hey, it’s just a bad dream, Daeyoung,” he said softly, his thumb gently stroking Daeyoung’s cheek. “It was just a dream. I’m right here. Nothing’s going to happen.”
Daeyoung looked at him, his tear-filled eyes searching Yushi’s face. “But… it felt so real,” he whispered. “Everything. The smoke, the hospital, the funeral. I saw your body on the stretcher, Yushi.”
Yushi’s expression softened, and he held Daeyoung’s hand gently, as if to say everything was okay.
“I’m here now, okay?” Yushi said, brushing a stray lock of hair from Daeyoung’s forehead. “And I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”
“Okay… could—could you at least leave earlier today?” Daeyoung asked, his voice small, hesitant.
Yushi gave a reassuring smile. “If that makes you feel better,” he said, squeezing Daeyoung’s hand lightly.
Daeyoung nodded weakly, still holding onto Yushi’s hand, though a part of him wondered if he was being foolish for asking that.
Yushi pressed a soft kiss to Daeyoung’s forehead, his voice gentle but concerned. “Do you… want to skip work today?”
Daeyoung swallowed, his chest tightening. He wanted to stay, wanted to hide in this small bubble of safety, but he knew he couldn’t. His hand squeezed Yushi’s weakly. “I—It’s okay… I can go,” he whispered.
“Are you sure?” Yushi asked softly, his concern clear in his voice.
Daeyoung swallowed and nodded. “Yes,” he whispered.
“Okay,” Yushi said softly, motioning to stand, but Daeyoung’s hand caught his wrist. “Wait… just a moment,” he murmured.
Daeyoung buried his face in Yushi’s chest, taking a moment to breathe. The steady thrum of Yushi’s heartbeat pressed against his ear, reminding him that Yushi was real, alive, and right here with him.
After a long moment, Yushi’s hands rubbed soothing circles on his back. “We should probably get going soon,” he murmured softly, though he didn’t push. “Or… do you need a few more minutes?”
Daeyoung shook his head slightly, still clinging. “No… we should… we should go,” he admitted, his voice tight.
Yushi let out a quiet sigh, brushing a hand over Daeyoung’s hair. “Okay… just remember I’m right here,” he said gently.
Daeyoung nodded, reluctantly pulling back.
They got up together after that, the morning unfolding much the same as it always did.
Daeyoung moved through the apartment in a haze, every familiar detail suddenly feeling fragile, like it could disappear if he stared at it too long. Yushi moved around him easily, humming under his breath like normal. As if Daeyoung hadn’t just watched him die.
Breakfast tasted bland, though Daeyoung forced himself to eat. He answered Yushi when spoken to, smiled when he was supposed to, nodded along to plans for the evening. He told himself again and again that it had just been a dream. A vivid, but cruel one. Nothing more.
Still, he felt uneasy.
They left the apartment together, just like before. Yushi drove him to work, fingers tapping lightly against the steering wheel, completely at ease. Daeyoung kept glancing over at him, memorizing the curve of his smile, the way the sunlight caught in his hair.
“You’re staring,” Yushi said with a laugh, glancing at him briefly.
“Sorry,” Daeyoung murmured, looking away. “Just… thinking about the dream.”
Yushi reached over and squeezed his knee. “Try not to think about it anymore, okay? You can always call or text me to check in.”
Daeyoung’s chest tightened at the words, but he forced a small smile. “I’ll try.”
The kiss goodbye lingered a second longer than usual. Daeyoung stood there and watched until Yushi’s car disappeared into traffic.
The day passed much like the one before. Meetings after meetings, and emails after emails. Daeyoung checked his phone far more often than he needed to, half-expecting, half-dreading something to be different.
Lunch came and went. He went to the cafe again, just to see Yushi, to reassure himself that he was still there, alive and smiling behind the counter. Yushi teased him like usual, slipped him an extra pastry, kissed him on the lips when no one was looking. See? Daeyoung told himself. He’s fine and nothing will happen.
On the way back to the office, he ran into the old man again.
This time, Daeyoung noticed him standing at the edge of the sidewalk, watching him as if he’d been waiting. As Daeyoung passed, the old man spoke while looking at him.
“You can change the path,” he said. “But not the end.”
Daeyoung stopped short and spun around. “What did you say?” But the old man was already walking away, swallowed by the crowd just like before.
The rest of the afternoon went by like always.
When six o’clock came, Daeyoung’s heart started to pound. He packed up quickly, hands unsteady as he grabbed his things. He checked his phone.
ushi
I’m on my way! I should be there soon.
Daeyoung let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. A small smile tugged at his lips as he typed back.
daeng
Okay! I’ll be waiting downstairs.
He slipped his phone into his pocket and headed for the elevator, the unease from earlier vanishing. Maybe he really had been overthinking everything.
Outside, the air was cool, the street washed in the orange glow of the sunset. Daeyoung stepped onto the curb where Yushi always stopped, adjusting his jacket as he waited.
A few minutes passed before he saw Yushi’s car turn into the street, headlights cutting through the evening traffic. Relief bloomed in Daeyoung’s chest so suddenly it almost hurt. He raised a hand instinctively, already smiling.
And then—
Everything happened all at once.
Daeyoung barely had time to register the speeding car barreling down the intersection before it slammed into Yushi’s with a deafening crash.
The sound was violent. Metal crushing under the impact, glass shattering as the car was thrown sideways. Yushi’s car lurched hard as if it weighed nothing, spinning out of control. Tires screamed against the pavement, one headlight shattered, sending sparks skittering across the road, the impact echoing through the street. Every beat of Daeyoung’s heart seemed louder than the crash itself, and every nerve in his body screamed.
For a split second, Daeyoung couldn’t move. His brain refused to process what his eyes were seeing as Yushi’s car lurched violently, thrown sideways, slamming into the curb. Every sound sent a knife through his chest. His stomach twisted, his chest tightening so painfully he felt like it might split in two.
Someone was screaming, and it took Daeyoung a terrifying moment to realize it was him.
“Yushi!”
He was running before he even knew his legs had moved, shoving past stunned pedestrians, nearly tripping as he reached the wreckage. Smoke and the stench of burnt rubber and gasoline stung his nose, burning his lungs as he tried to reach Yushi.
“Yushi! Yushi, please—!”
The driver’s side door was crushed inward. Daeyoung clawed at it desperately, hands shaking so violently he could barely grip the twisted metal. Every scrape of his fingers across the jagged edges made him wince, but he didn’t stop. His knuckles were raw, and he felt the heat of the engine through the metal, pulsing against his palms.
“Help! Someone help, please!” he screamed, voice breaking raw in his throat.
Someone shouted that an ambulance was coming. Someone else tried to pull him back, but he didn’t hear them.
With a strangled sob, Daeyoung forced the door open just enough to reach inside.
Yushi was slumped over, blood streaking down his temple, soaking into his collar. His eyes were half-lidded, unfocused. The sight ripped something open inside Daeyoung’s chest.
“No—no, no, no—” Daeyoung choked, hands trembling as he cupped Yushi’s face in his hands, the warmth of his blood sticky against his fingers. “Hey! Hey look at me, please. Please look at me!”
He dragged Yushi carefully from the car, lowering himself onto the pavement, pulling him into his lap. Blood soaked his hands instantly, warm and slick, and he pressed his jacket against Yushi’s side as best he could, trying to slow the bleeding.
Daeyoung pressed his jacket against Yushi’s side, hands shaking violently. “Stay awake. You have to stay awake, okay? Help is coming. I swear—help is coming.”
Yushi’s lashes fluttered weakly. “Daeyoung…” His voice was barely there, fragile and thin.
“I’m here,” Daeyoung sobbed, leaning down, forehead pressing against Yushi’s. “I’m right here. Don’t you dare—don’t you dare leave me.”
Yushi’s lips curved into the faintest smile, blood staining the corner of his mouth. His hand twitched weakly, fingers brushing against Daeyoung’s sleeve.
“You’re… crying,” Yushi murmured, breath hitching.
“Don’t—don’t talk,” Daeyoung begged, tears blurring his vision. “Save your strength. Please. Please, Yushi.”
Yushi swallowed with difficulty. “I was… gonna make dinner,” he whispered. “You still will,” Daeyoung sobbed. “You promised me. You promised.”
Yushi’s gaze softened, unfocused. “I love you,” he whispered.
Daeyoung shook his head frantically, gripping him tighter. “No, no, say it again later. Say it when you’re okay. You’re going to be okay.”
But Yushi’s eyes were already losing focus.
“Yushi?” Daeyoung’s voice cracked completely. “Hey! Hey look at me! Wake up, please! Please don’t do this to me!”
Sirens wailed in the distance, but they couldn’t reach fast enough. He could feel Yushi’s hand slipping, limp and weak, from his own grip.
“No… no, no, no…” His chest heaved as the world tilted, and a cold realization crept in. He might never hear Yushi’s voice again.
“Yushi!” Daeyoung screamed, clutching him desperately. “Wake up! Please! Please wake up!”
He stayed there, kneeling on the pavement, cradling Yushi’s bloodied body. The world closed in around him. Sirens wailed, but all he could hear was the sound of his own screaming.