Similarities

-That's it!

Chan slammed his hands on his knees and kneeled in front of Hyunjin who was standing in the edge of the bed, just staring at the wall.

He snapped from his trance and looked confused at the older man.

-What are you doing?

-I'm begging you to tell me what's going on. That's the only way I can fix my mistakes. I don't want to lose you, Hyunjin! You're the best thing that happened to me. I mean it. Please help me understand you, he placed his hand on Hyunjin's cheek and watched as the latter melted in his touch.

-Sit down, the taller patted the place next to him.

Chan did as he was told and waited patiently for the truth.

-When I was a kid...

He took a deep breath and gathered the courage to say it.

-When I was a kid, dad used to beat mom often. He was high All the time and an absolute drunkard. After mom left him, he found another target.

-You.

-Me. I was punished for every little thing. For eating too much, for hiding from him in my room, for being around him.

-That's why you don't eat that much, Chan felt his heart being squeezed inside his chest.

-He even took down my door and broke it into pieces in front of me. Then used one of the planks to hit me on the back.

-And that's why you don't lock your door, Chan covered his mouth in shock.

-After grandpa caught him threatening me with a knife, I was taken away, but I started running away from people. Isolating myself. I was too afraid to say or do something wrong. I thought I deserved to be alone because I was such a failure, Hyunjin hid his face in his palms. Then the Lee brothers came around and forced me to go outside again. They didn't rush me. They took care of me. I was finally able to be around people and... and I met you and I was so happy.

-But I'm a boxer. I'm someone who makes money from violence.

Hyunjin shook his head slowly.

-Boxing is a sport. It's purely professional. You don't hit your opponent with hatred. I can accept that. But how you treat Jisung... It broke my heart to see how you two can't see how similar you are.

-Us? Similar?

-You two would do anything for your friends, but won't give a damn by your own person. And it drives me so mad that you're attacking each other like you would attack yourselves. I don't want you to just be nice to him. I want you to accept yourself and let yourself be happy, Hyunjin placed his hand on Chan's shoulder.

-I'll think about what you told me. And I'm so sorry you had to go through that hell! I wish I could take the pain away. I love you, Hyunjin! I'll do anything for you!

Hyunjin smiled weakly and hugged his partner tightly. Maybe there was still hope for them...

The next day

-Lix! Lix, wake up!

-Hmm?? What? the freckled boy opened his eyes.

-Have you seen Jisung?

-What? No?! Why?

-I can't find him anywhere. He doesn't answer the phone either.

-He...doesn't...

Felix took his sweet moment to process what he had just heard before jumping off the bed and rushing to grab his phone.

-Shit Shit shit!

He tried to call Jisung as well, but no one picked up.

-Jeongin! Jeongin, where are you? he ran outside the room to wake the younger up and drag him in his room.

Meanwhile Changbin was tossing and turning in his bed, trying to sleep more.

-What's wrong? Jeongin yawned.

-Jisung is missing!

-Again? You don't think he...

-I do think that! Felix freaked out.

-Fuck! He wouldn't do it without telling us, right? Jeongin sat down on the bed to calm down.

-Ahm, guys? Changbin tried to get their attention.

-Of course he would! He's Jisung! He hates asking for help! He might be already...

-Don't say that! We need to find him before jumping to conclusions, Jeongin reasoned with his hyung.

-Guys! Changbin tried again.

-Where do we even begin? This city is huge! Felix paced back and forth.

-We can check the surveillance system and see in which direction he went.

-Or you can go to the train station, Changbin chimed in.

-Or we can go to-

Felix stopped confused for a second and turned towards his boyfriend.

-Why would we go to the train station?

-Because he told me he was heading there. Like two hours ago.

-Why didn't you say something, dumbass? Jeongin yelled.

-You didn't let me! Changbin replied offended.

-He's living... He's breaking up with Minho hyung.

-He got scared again, Jeongin concluded.

Waterloo Train Station

-Are you going or not? I don't have all day and I haven't eaten breakfast.

Jisung furrowed his eyebrows before looking behind him and spotting Chan.

-What are you doing here?

-What everyone does. Looking for you. Minho is worried sick.

-I was about to call him.

-Sure you were. Is this your way of breaking up with him? You're such a coward, Chan scoffed.

-I'm just gonna hurt him if I stay, Jisung covered his wrist with his other hand.

-Again with that bullshit? When will you stop whining like a bitch, huh? Minho is happy. More than happy. I've never seen him like that before. Why do you sabotage yourself like that? Are you a masochist?

-I just-

-You just, you just what? Hate yourself? Too bad, buddy! Minho loves you. And you have the responsibility to take care of him! Don't fuck with his feelings like that!

-I'm sorry! I'm scared!

-Scared of what? Of a happy life? Of love? Of the idea that someone can actually care about you?

-I'M SCARED OF DEATH! Jisung shouted from the top of his lungs. I'm scared that I'll have to leave Minho alone. I would rather have him resent me for the rest of his life than mourn me!

-Right... Your stupid disease, Chan laughed. Why the fuck are you still going with that lie?

-It's not-

Jisung gathered his courage and walked towards Chan to show him the numbers on his wrist: 20.

-You changed your stupid tattoo?

-It changed by itself. I'm cursed. The more I am loved by people around me, the faster I die.

Chan froze for a second before breaking into a laugh.

-What the fuck, man? Do you think we're in 'Supernatural' or something?

-It's not a joke. Hit me!

-Huh? Chan stepped back.

-Hit me! I'll prove it to you!

Chan did want to hit him since he ran away again. So it came naturally for him to throw a punch right in his nose.

-Damn! That hurts so bad! Jisung held his broken nose.

-You told me to do it, Chan shrugged.

-I did, he took a napkin out of his pocket and covered his nose. Look! he showed him the wrist once again.

The number quickly changed to 21 under Chan's dumbfounded eyes.

-What the- How? he grabbed Jisung's wrist and tried to erase the tattoo.

But it was real.

As clear as day.

It was true.

-So you're dying... You're really dying?

-I am.

-Man, I can't hate you now! he complained.

-Why not?

-I can't hate on a dying person! I'm not a monster!

-You have to! You're the only one who can buy me some time!

-You should have thought of that before showing me your tattoo! Chan yelled back. How long do you have left?

-I don't know... A week at best.

-A week? Isn't it a cure for it?

-No. I can't stop it from happening, but I can stop it from spreading.

-Spreading?

-If I die, the curse gets passed on to the person I love the most.

-Minho...

-But I can prevent that by dying before my number turns 0.

-Suicide.

-Exactly!

-That's why you ran away.

-I need to die by the end of this week, Jisung confessed. And I'm terrified. But I'll do it for Minho. I'll do anything for him.

Chan dragged Jisung closer and wrapped his arms around him, surprising both of them.

-I'm sorry I broke your nose and cursed you and pushed you down the stairs and punched and all that!

-It's fine! You helped me a lot by doing those things.

-You do deserve Minho. I'm glad he found you! And I'm gonna miss you!

Jisung felt his eyes filling with tears. He buried his face in Chan's chest and hugged him tighter.

-Where are they? Do you see them? Minho held tightly on Hyunjin's sleeve as he analysed every person passing by.

He was searching for Jisung through so many faces and the more time passed the more impatient he became.

-Chan hyung said they would be here in a few minutes.

-There they are! Minho jumped to see them better.

He ran towards Jisung and engulfed him in a hug.

-You're okay, you're okay! What happened? What did you do? What happened to your nose?

-Some guys wanted to rob me. Lucky me, Chan hyung was there to save me, Jisung lied.

-Chan hyung? the rest of them asked in awe.

-Yeah. He's not that bad as I thought.

-Is that true? Hyunjin approached Chan.

-I guess it is, he rubbed his nape. You were right. Jisung and I are similar in so many ways. I'll be nice to him from now on. And to myself.

Hyunjin cracked a smile before kissing his boyfriend.

-Minho? Are you mad at me?

-I could never be mad at you, Sungie! I'm glad you're okay. We'll talk about it and fix everything, alright? he placed his hand on Jisung's chest.

-What did I do to deserve such a kind soul like yours? Jisung brought Minho's hand to his lips and placed a short kiss on the back of his palm.

___________________________________Looks like we're close to the ending.

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Thank you for reading!