"Very good! Guys, we'll take an hour break since you've been doing well."

All five cheered, "Thank you Big Brother!!"

"No problem guys. I'll be back and we will continue in 60 minutes."

Mick ran to their water bottles and handed his Big Brothers one each. Tyrone and Jun plopped on the dance floor, both thanking Mick for the water. Benedict laid down on a bench and covered his face with a towel. Cyril wiped the sweat off his face and sat across Jun. 

He looked at his cellphone and was contemplating whether to call Eira or not.

"Just call her. She's waiting."

Cyril looked at his best bud to find him still lying on the bench with a towel covering his face. He smiled and walked out of the practice hall.

"Wow Big Brother... you must be a psychic... how'd you know Big sis is waiting for Cyril Big Brother's call?"

Benedict removed the towel from his face and sat up. He showed the messages on his phone to the younger ones...

"Big brother, I'm doing well. I hope all of you are not pushing yourselves too hard."

"Of course I wish that you are here with me. Uncle added new medicines... they hurt T.T "

"I refuse to call Cyril. I don't want to interrupt your practice."

"Why are you able to message me a lot? Aren't you supposed to be practicing? Ya! Don't slack off!"

Benedict took the phone away and lied back down on the bench. The three scrambled about and got their phones, "Let's send a message to big sis. She probably misses us too!"

"I bet she misses me more than the both of you"

"Ya shut up! How can big sis miss someone as loud as you?"

Mick stuck out his tongue at his Jun Big Brother as response. The two continued bickering, trying to grab each other's phones while Tyrone was busy typing a message to his big sis.

=========================================================================

Cyril walked out of the practice hall and leaned on the wall. He bowed to the dancers, choreographers and other staff who were coming out of the other practice rooms before he fished the cellular phone out of his pocket and dialing a certain number.

*ring* *ring* *ring*

A slightly hoarse voice answered, "h-hello..."

"I'm sorry, did I wake you up?"

"Love? Uh...no, I'm already awake. Is the practice over?"

Cyril could hear shuffling noises in the background which proved that Eira indeed just woke up and he chuckled, "we have an hour rest since everything is going great."

Eira proudly smiled on the other line, "Of course you guys are doing great. I know how workaholic the five of you are. Not stopping until everything is perfect."

"We have to make sure everything is perfect. We owe it to the people that we love. They've been supporting us without asking for anything in return... the least we can do is to make sure we give our best always."

Eira leaned on the headboard and winced when she accidentally moved the arm with the dextrose. She bit her lip to avoid from saying something unladylike over the phone.

"Eira?"

"I-its nothing..."

Cyril sighed "With you nothing is ever really nothing. Can you at least promise me that you will take care of yourself? Just until I'm there with you again."

"Cyril... I can take care of myself."

"Really?"

"What's with that tone?" *pout*

Cyril smiled and kept quiet, worrying Eira on the other line... 

"Cyril? Are you still there?"

"I miss you..."

Eira blushed and looked down, "I miss you too..."

Cyril laughed and Eira's heart warmed, how she loved hearing his laugh... and she wondered what she would do if that would be the last time she would hear it.

They talked a bit more until the remaining members shouted for Cyril to come in for practice.

"Ah... Eira, I have to go. Our rest period is up."

"Oh... okay. Don't push yourself too hard, King Cyril. You guys are already one of the best out there and your fans cannot be prouder."

"Thank you... I'll call you tomorrow before the performance. I need to hear your voice before going out there."

"Tch... who are you?! What have you done to my Cyril? My boyfriend is not mushy!"

Cyril made a face, "I'm being serious and you are making fun of me. "

Eira laughed and Cyril grunted, "I'm sorry... I'm just not used to you being all sweet and stuff"

"You are making a good job of making me seem like a bad lover."

"Of course not... you are the best boyfriend a girl can ever have and I'm extremely happy and satisfied."

Cyril finally grinned, "Good. Cause you are stuck with me now."

Eira's smile dimmed a bit and she just hummed in response, "Hey I can hear them calling for you already. Don't be like Big brother Ben who sends messages in the middle of practice."

"Benedict does?"

"Yeah but never mind that... its practice time."

Cyril sighed deeply, "all right... I'll call you again."

"I'll wait... I love you."

"I love you more.  I'm going in now. Sleep first okay..."

"Yes Sir!"

Cyril ended the call and came into the practice room, ignoring the teasing of the choreographer and the other dancers. 

He didn't care if he was smiling like an idiot because he was happy.

"Come on guys! Practice time!"

=============================================================================

"Was that Cyril dear?"

Eira grinned at her umma, "Yeah... they were given some rest time."

"I see... dear, you need to eat dinner because its almost time for your medicines."

Eira scowled, "medicines again? Where's Uncle? We need to talk."

"He Ran...Jung su is a doctor, he is just doing his job and as his patient you have to follow. Now eat up."

Eira let out a deep sigh and whispered, "these aren't going to work anyway..."

Mrs. Choi looked up from fixing the medicines Eira was supposed to drink, "did you say anything He Ran?"

Eira gave her mom a smile and she shook her head, "uh I asked how about you? You haven't eaten yet."

"I already had a sandwich and I'll eat again later, I don't have meds to drink."

Eira inwardly groaned, "You don't have to remind me every time you can mom..."

Eira grabbed the sandwich and took a bite. She was about to place her mobile on the table beside her bed when she noticed several messages.

Message 1:

"Beautiful big sister, I hope you are feeling better. <3 The practice had been hectic but they said we are doing very well. We'll visit you after the performance – TyTy"

Message 2:

"Hiya Prettiest big sis in the world! I know you must be missing me already so I sent you a message. Junie Big Brother won't believe me that you miss me the most. Hmp! Micky doesn't lie! If he messages you don't answer him okay? 

Oh, my sister said our family would be praying for you too so you always have to be strong. I'll bring you apples when we visit you tomorrow. Appa sent some since we have good harvests. - handsome Micky"

Message 3:

"Sis, Mick has been telling everyone that you miss him the most but that isn't true right? Cause you would miss Cyril Big Brother and Ben Big Brother more than you'll miss him... please don't mind him, he's crazy. Our performance tomorrow is for you so look forward to it. – Junie"

Eira chuckled at the cuteness of the three younger members, she placed the phone down and finished her sandwich and drank the medicines before replying to each one.

The sound of raindrops was heard and Eira looked up,  "Mommy, is it raining?"

"Yes dear. Would you like me to open the curtains? Its dark outside but at least the sound of the rain would be more prominent."

"Thank you mom..."

Mrs. Choi grinned as she opened the curtains, "I know how much you love the rain... although I never got to know why..."

Mrs. Choi then walked closer to Eira and tucked her in. Eira murmured her thanks and Mrs. Choi sat on the chair close to her daughter's bed. 

She was about to continue reading the novel she brought when she heard Eira's voice...

"The rain... it falls and most people think it disappears... but it doesn't. Its still there although it had changed its form. As they say... when one ends, another begins... 

I want to think that I will be like rain. That even if I die I will not disappear... I'll become everyone's angel ... making sure that everyone I love is safe."

Mrs. Choi's tears fell and she discreetly wiped them away, "what are you saying He Ran?"

"Mommy, we don't know what would happen tomorrow. I may or may not die but I take comfort that even if I go physically, I could stay in another form and continue loving everyone."

Mrs. Choi cried harder and Eira removed her gaze from the window to look at her crying mother. "Mom, I didn't mean to make you cry.  But you need to be strong for daddy, big brother Ben and Uncle Jungsu."

"You can't just give up like this... I cannot lose you..."

Eira sat up and smiled at her mother, "Mom... who said I was giving up? I am not... I'm just readying myself for anything that might happen. We don't have a hold over the future but we can be ready for it."

Mrs. Choi glared at her daughter while hastily wiping her tears with tissues, "don't go all philosophical on me Choi He Ran. You are just like your dad, always making me cry..."

"Sorry mommy... I won't mention this again so please..."

Mrs. Choi stood and still glared at her daughter "I already tucked you in and you sat up. Get back under the covers!"

Eira gave a mock salute and buried herself under the blankets, "Yes ma'am! Besides... it was you who asked why I love the rain."

"Smartypants..."

Eira let her mom tuck her in bed and give her a kiss on the forehead, 

"I love you mommy, thank you."

Mrs. Choi caressed Eira's cheek, "don't thank me dear.  I'm doing all these because you are my only daughter and I love you."

Eira finally closed her eyes and let the sound of the rain sing her to sleep.

================================================================================

Extra:

In case you guys are curious about what Eira sent the boys...

Message 1:

"I'm feeling a whole lot better, thank you Ty...I'm glad that the practice is doing well, you are all great performers so it's not surprising. I'll anticipate your visit after my operation tomorrow. Good luck Prince Tyrone!

Message 2:

"Of course I miss you Micky and I miss the other boys too. Of course Micky is not a liar but it's not nice to pick a fight with Junie especially since he is older than you, apologize for big sis okay? 

Please tell your father thank you for the apples and thank your sister for the prayers for me. I really need all the prayers I can get for the operation tomorrow."

Message 3:

"Thank you for dedicating your performance for me tomorrow Junie... as for Mick, he might be a little hyper but that adds to his charm ^^ I do miss you three too not just Cyril and Big brother You boys are the younger brothers I don't have. 

Good luck for the performance tomorrow ^^"

Message 4:

"Big brother, I know that you are worried about tomorrow although you aren't saying anything. I'm going to be fine. I've told you that lots and lots of times. 

I would be lying though if I say that I am not wishing that you are here with me during the operation but you have to do what you were born to. I'll be cheering while in bed... just remember that while you are the greasiest, nastiest flirt I know... 

Message 5:

"Don't exhaust yourself... being a perfectionist is all right but remember that you are still human and humans have limits. Goodnight ^^"

Message 6:

"Uncle, I hate you. (*_*) You gave me new meds that taste like crap. Don't ask me if I have tasted crap or I'll throw pillows at you!!! >.< 

Seriously, don't you have any meds that taste a little better? "