• Yoon Residence •

"There's something in the air of Busan." Seokmin stretched as he got out of the car, "I love this unique smell."

"Your nose is just over sensitive." Minghao remarked, "Get it checked."

"Stop it guys, let's go in." Seungcheol commanded as everyone made their way to the front door of the Yoon residence. He pressed the bell and waited for the gate to open. A couple of minutes passed in silence so he decided to ring the bell once again.

"Are they not at home?" Jun muttered.

"Maybe they are at the hospital?" Wonwoo suggested.

"But how do we contact them? No one is picking up our calls." Woozi scoffed.

It was when the door opened, revealing a completely bewildered Kihyun.

"Oh Kihyun!" Seungcheol chuckled, "Why are you all not picking up your calls? Where's your hyung?"

"H-hyun-hyung." Kihyun began to cry.

"What happened?" Seokmin immediately embraced him which increased the sobs of the younger.

"Let's go in." Minghao suggested.

They somehow managed to calm Kihyun and served him a glass of water.

"Now tell us, what happened?" Wonwoo calmly asked.

Everyone had a conversation through their eyes. They were thinking that Jeonghan's dad must have been in danger or have passed away as they were aware that he was admitted to the hospital.

"I can't." Kihyun muttered while looking down.

It was when Mr. Yoon Jaebyeom and Mrs. Yoon Jiah that is, Jeonghan and Kihyun's parents showed up. Jiah began to sniffle as well while Jaebyeom consoled her.

Only one person was missing among them. Jeonghan. Over that, all three of them were crying. It was enough to raise the concerns of the group.

"Dad? Mom? What happened?" Seungcheol restlessly asked, "And where's Jeonghan?"

"We're sorry." Jaebyeom looked down.

"Sorry?" Woozi stepped forward, "Why?"

"Jeonghan-" Jaebyeom chocked on his words, "He's- he- he's no- no-" He inhaled a deep breath, "A week ago, he went to bring my medicines. Next day, we got a call that the car registered on my name was found beside a forest and it was severely damaged. And they said-"

"They said?" Vernon asked in horror.

"They couldn't find Jeonghan hyung." Kihyun blurted out, "The police said the forest was home to wild animals so it refers to only one thing."

Enough. It was enough explanation and enough for everyone to drop down on the floor in complete shock.

"D-dad." Seungcheol's lips quivered, "Tell me you're lying. No- this can't be- NO!! PLEASE NO!!"

Jaebyeom crouched down in front of Seungcheol and cupped his cheeks, "I'm sorry son."

Seungcheol fell over the old man's shoulders as he broke down. The other ones also began to cry heavily. Within a moment, the peaceful room was filled with the overwhelming cries of all the people present there.

It took hours for them to finally calm down. Morning turned into evening and everyone was just scattered in the hall, lost in their own traumatic world.

"Seungcheol." Jaebyeom approached him, "Let's go. Although we couldn't get his body, we still made his memorial. We'll take you all there."

"No." Seungcheol muttered, "There's no need for his memorial dad. Let's go and find him. He must be wandering alone in the forest."

I'm still holding onto everything that's dead and gone
I don't wanna say goodbye 'cause this one means forever

"Seun-"

"And it's cold too. You know he hates cold right?" Seungcheol was almost going crazy, "He must be shivering so much. What are we doing here?"

"Seungcheol! He isn't there." Jaebyeom held his shoulders, "We searched for him for three days but we couldn't find him."

"No dad, he must be hiding there to play with us." Seungcheol refused to believe the reality, "HE PROMISED ME THAT HE'LL ALWAYS STAY BY MY SIDE. HE CAN'T BREAK THAT PROMISE!!"

"Hyung!" Woozi held his back, "We can't do anything. Let's just go."

"What are you saying Woozi-"

"He's right hyung." Wonwoo wiped his tears, "Let's say a proper goodbye to him at least."

"I'm sure he would be waiting for us." Minghao stated, "Let's bid him a warm goodbye."

"Seokmin hyung isn't waking up!" Vernon panicked as he tried to shake Seokmin whose head was laying on his lap.

Jiah and Kihyun rushed towards him, "Seokmin? SEOKMIN?"

They sprinkled some water over his face after which he woke up.

"Hyung?" Vernon tried to make sure that he was fine.

Seokmin immediately rushed towards Seungcheol, "Did you hear them? What are they saying hyung? This is wrong. This is very wrong."

Seungcheol grabbed his hairs as he engulfed his face into his palms. He wished he could console his younger ones but he was himself out of his mind.

And now you're in the stars and six feet's never felt so far
Here I am alone between the heavens and the embers

"Seokmin, calm down." Jun's voice came out to be uneven, "Please?"

"What calm down?" Vernon sniffled, "Hyung please say this is not the truth. Please say it for once, I beg you!"

Jun embraced Seokmin and Vernon, "I can't say that, I'm sorry."

Jiah approached Seungcheol and caressed his hair. He looked at her with vulnerability visible in his eyes, "Mom- How? Why?"

"I don't know son." Jiah patted his shoulders, "You should know this. He was planning to tell you that he loves you. He told me two days before the accident and I was really happy."

"I love him too." Seungcheol cried, "I love him so much. I didn't even get a chance to tell him. WHY?!"

And hence, evening turned into night. And night turned into next morning. Jiah and Jaebyeom managed to force all the boys to eat something after which they took them to Jeonghan's memorial.

And the scenario repeated itself, they all weeped there as well. It was hard to detach them from Jeonghan's memorial but they somehow returned home. Yeah, everything was just happening, somehow.

"We're going back, dad." Seungcheol mumbled.

"What? Already?" Jaebyeom stood up, "No!"

"Yes, let me have my other sons for a few more days at least." Jiah's eyes welled up with tears.

"Yes hyung, please stay." Kihyun insisted.

"Sorry but I don't think I can breath Busan's air anymore." Seokmin stated, "It's suffocating me."

"I hate this city now." Minghao muttered, "This land is cruel."

"We're going back to Seoul." Wonwoo stated, "Do you want to come with us?"

Jaebyeom nodded, "We can't. And it's okay, we'll not force you to stay. Just take care!"

"But-"

"It's fine Jiah, let them be." Jaebyeom explained, "We can't force anyone at this sensitive moment. Let them find their comfort."

"Comfort." Woozi chuckled bitterly, "It's gone forever."

"Sorry mom, sorry dad, sorry Kihyun, but we can't stay." Seungcheol concluded.

After sharing some warm moments, the seven boys left the city which has shattered their lives into million pieces. And they never turned back to the place for six whole years.

Oh, it hurts so hard
For a million different reasons
You took the best of my heart
And left the rest in pieces

• Seungcheol's apartment •

Seungcheol threw his bag on the couch as he finally returned home.

Home. Those four walls weren't his home. His home was rather a person who wasn't going to come back.

Unconsciously, tears began to flow through his eyes. He dropped down to the floor after shutting down each and every source of light in the room.

"How could you?" Seungcheol gulped the lump in his throat, "Why did you leave me like this? You said you'll always support me so what about that promise now?"

He collapsed against the cold wall, "Now what am I supposed to do with myself? How am I supposed to live without you?"

He continued to weep for a while after which he recalled, "I've a promise I made to you and I'll definitely fulfill it."

Diggin' through your old birthday letters
A crumpled 20 still in the box
I don't think that I could ever find a way to spend it
Even if it's the last 20 I've got

He got up as he wiped his tears. He opened the curtains of the window to witness the beautiful evening. He went towards the kitchen and looked through the things he had. He noted a few things in his phone and went out for grocery shopping.

When he returned home, it was getting darker. He quickly got into the kitchen and indulged himself in cooking while playing soft music in the background.

After an hour, he was done with food as the aroma of delicious meal occupied the hall. Next, he set up a table beside the huge window which had the view of sea-shore. He laid a floral table-cloth on it and settled a few candles on it. He brought the food he had prepared and decorated it on the table along with a bottle of wine and two glasses.

"Oh how can I forget the flowers." He brought a small vase and placed a bunch of roses into it.

"Now I should get dressed nicely." Seungcheol chuckled, "I've to impress him afterall."

He rushed to his room and got dressed into a decent suit. He did his hair and put on a beautiful smile as he took a deep breath.

After that, he came back to the hall where he had prepared everything. Night had already fallen so the moonlight was making its way through the window. He dimmed the lights of the hall and lit the candles.

"Perfect." He took a seat and grinned, "Jeonghan, I had promised to myself and to you that I'll confess my feelings to you after your Busan  trip. So here I am, this a small date, I prepared for us. Wait, did I miss something? Oh yeah, music, just wait a minute okay?"

He pulled out his phone and connected it to the speakers, "I'll play a nice song for us."

"Yeah now, I should say it, I'm so nervous, I hope you like it." Seungcheol inhaled a deep breath, "I love you Jeonghan. You're my world and it has been a long time since I realised it. I was just searching for a good time to tell you and today is that day when I finally gathered the courage to do so. I love when you rely on me and I'm also grateful that I can rely on you too.

With time, a lot of things will change but my love for you will always be pure, innocent and kinda childish but mature. I'll never forget the warmth of your embrace. I'll never forget your voice, your giggles, your smile and your mesmerizing eyes. Don't you dare think that you can go anywhere. Choi Seungcheol will always cherish you in his heart."

I'm still holding on to everything that's dead and gone
I don't wanna say goodbye 'cause this one means forever

Seungcheol held his chest, "I feel so good after telling you all this. Now let's enjoy the meal I myself prepared for us. Yes of course, I did it by myself, believe me. I'll pour the wine too."

"Hmm I knew it would be delicious." Seungcheol ate three to four bites after he gave up. He gave up on pretending that Jeonghan was there because he wasn't.

"I worked so hard for this, WHY CAN'T YOU JUST COME TO ME?!" Seungcheol broke down, "I need your appreciation that I did well. I need to hear it from you, PLEASE!!"

He sided the food and rested his head over the table as he continued to sniffle.

It was when a cold wind blew past him. He slowly looked up and made his way to the window as he looked at the moon shining brightly in the night sky.

Now you're in the stars and six feet's never felt so far
Here I'm alone between the heavens and the embers

The breeze dried all his tears as if someone had wiped them for him.

"Seungcheol, my biggest emotional support! Cheer up, you did well today too. Good night, sleep well!"

Seungcheol turned his head back as he chuckled. It was an old audio recording that Jeonghan had sent him. It had played through his phone which was connected to the speakers.

"Thank you." Seungcheol smiled, "I know you'll never leave me Jeonghan. You've my heart, I'm all yours. If it's not you, then it's no one else. No one will get a place in my heart because you'll stay there forever. I promise you, I'll love nobody else except for you, at least not in this life. I promise, my love."

Oh, it hurts so hard
For a million different reasons
You took the best of my heart
And left the rest in pieces

• Blue Vintage Restaurant •

After around seven months, yeah seven months, the group finally held a gathering. For the past months, they rarely talked to each other. The only words they exchanged were if everyone was doing fine. They didn't have the courage to face each other.

Cling!

They clicked their glasses of alcohol without saying any words for the cheers.

"It feels so empty." Seokmin muttered, "Seven of us are here but we can't fill the void of one."

"Because we're incomplete now." Woozi retorted, "And we'll always be."

"The truth is bitter than this alcohol." Jun chuckled bitterly.

"I still can't believe that Jeonghan hyung isn't here." Vernon inhaled a deep breath.

"I see, no one of us have accepted the truth yet." Minghao scoffed as he closed his eyes.

Wonwoo massaged Seungcheol's back part of the neck, "Hyung, it has been so long. Please say something. We haven't heard your voice for these seven months. We've already lost one older brother, we don't want to lose another."

Seungcheol laid back as he clutched his chest, "My voice won't fill this emptiness, nothing can. I'm not living my life anymore, I'm just surviving because I don't want to disappoint him. If I get to meet him in my afterlife, I can at least meet him proudly. I'm really sorry to all of you if I failed to take care of you like your Jeonghan hyung used to do. I'm sorry if I couldn't encourage and appreciate you like he used to do. But I'll try me best from now on, I promise."

"Why do you think it's all your responsibility hyung? We aren't kids. We should take care of you as well." Woozi stated.

"We can encourage and appreciate each other." Jun grinned without humour, "We can heal each other."

"Yes, we can." Vernon nodded, "Jeonghan hyung will be so proud of us."

"Let's not cry anymore." Minghao remarked, "Let's miss him with wide smiles from now on so that his soul can feel happy while watching us."

"Let's try harder from now on." Wonwoo nodded, "We need to recollect ourselves."

And from that day, they began to pretend and believe that they were fine when in reality, their lives were becoming more and more hollow by each passing day.

The only good thing was that they had each other for emotional support and they couldn't ask for more.

A/n : Guys, is it okay if this book stretches to a larger amount of chapters like 50-60? Cuz since y'all voted for the longer version, I actually started writing it for all the ships and now I've so much to write💀💀
But if it seems too much, you can tell me now.

Also 1k woohoooo, thank you sm!!💎✨

Take care everyone!
-Jeonghanneyonghaseyo