"Papa, Daddy is not waking up!"

Mark raised his head up as he heard a voice muffled beside him. "Jeno, what is it?"

Jeno, who's busy washing dishes, raised a brow at his friend who suddenly spoke after they were quiet for a while. "What was what?"

"You were saying something." Mark told him. He was so sure he heard something.

"Dude, I'm purposely zipping my mouth as a protest that Jaemin is making us wash the dishes." Jeno told him, looking genuinely upset.

It looked like he was telling the truth. Maybe Mark was indeed hearing things. Shrugging his shoulders, he went back to the chore he was asked to do together with Jeno.

They were currently at the apartment where Donghyuck shared with both Jaemin and Chenle. While Chenle and Jisung were playing games in the living room, Jaemin and Renjun were out to buy groceries. They all collectively agreed in making a grand meal for Donghyuck's parents arriving in the city. It might be technically way past the date, but they were all too busy mourning about Donghyuck's accident to even have a proper welcome party.

They needed time to think and accept the situation.

"Daddy, wake up!"

"Jeno!" Mark snapped his head towards his direction, clicking his tongue in irritation. "Stop that!"

"What the fuck?" Jeno was confused as hell to see his friend suddenly act this way. "Have you gone mental?"

"Ahhh!"

Just when Mark was about to accuse him once more for always mumbling incoherent words in his ear, a loud shout was heard in the living room that caused the two in the kitchen to drop the dishes on the sink and rush to where the scream was.

"Jaemin!" Jisung threw tantrums at how his shout startled him, making him lose by one point behind the game that he played with the happy Chinese sitting next to him. "God. I almost had it."

"Kids, seriously." Jaemin ruffled the male's hair to annoy him more.

"Stop it!" Jisung complained, coming off as a whine that his hair keeps on getting messed up.

"I won!" Chenle jumped up from his spot, rubbing it off on his partner's face. "Such a loser."

"What did you guys even bet for Jisung to be that upset?" Renjun asked, handing the plastic bags from groceries to Jeno and Mark.

"A kiss." Jisung pouted his lips, sulking at the armrest of the sofa.

"Wait, but why did you shout, Jaemin?" Jeno asked after placing the plastic bags on the kitchen island.

"Right!" It was Jaemin's turn to whine. "Renjun and I forgot to buy green onions."

"We wanted to ask if you two could go out and buy it?" Renjun questioned in a polite manner. A couple of them were already frustrated about different things, he didn't want to escalate the situation more.

"No, I demand them to go." Jaemin told them sternly.

"But we're washing the dishes." Mark replied, pointing at the sink that still had half of the plates and utensils unwashed.

"Chenle!" Jaemin raised his voice like a parent calling their son over.

Responding like a child, Chenle groaned. "Why can't Jisung finish that? He lost!"

"Hey, that's not part of our deal!" Jisung complained once more as he was too lazy to even move a muscle.

"It is now! The loser should do it." Chenle said with that adorable smirk. Aside from rubbing it on his face that he won the game, he also knew that this guy couldn't resist him at all.

"Ughh... Fine." Jisung threw his hands up in a defeated manner before dragging his feet towards the kitchen.

"Okay! Chenle, Jeno, Mark!" Jaemin called them over. "Go buy green onions."

That's how the three of them were now inside the cab, making their way to the supermarket and getting this done quickly since they have to go visit the hospital before the sky gets dark. Not wasting any time, Jeno immediately got a cart the moment they stepped inside the supermarket looking tired and worn out. It wasn't because Jaemin ordered them a lot this morning, it was only because they're too lazy to go out, but can't seem to go against Jaemin's wrath.

"That's your friend," Jeno spoke, having the two following him around as he searched for that damn onion. "Why can't you talk back?"

Chenle could only scoff. "Donghyuck can't even go up against his attitude. What made you think that I can?"

"Baby, come here." Donghyuck called him from the kitchen.

"No! I want to play with Daddy!" Their son huffed out.

Mark looked around, snapping his head from left to right, figuring out where the voices came from. His panicked actions caught the attention of the two that were now holding the green onions that they were asked to buy.

"Mark, you good?" Jeno asked, genuinely concerned.

"Are you looking for onions too?" Chenle raised the ones he was holding to show it to him. "Here, we found it."

"No, I..." Mark paused for a moment, waiting to hear the voices again and catch whoever was toying with him.

But a minute has passed of him waiting and he got nothing but Jeno making a fuss about it.

"This Dude is at it again." Jeno sighed, placing the green onion on the cart and started pushing it.

"What do you mean?" Chenle followed, looking confused at the situation he got in between these two friends.

"He's been hearing things ever since we were at your apartment." Jeno explained casually, finding a counter that had less people in line.

Chenle gave the guy in question a look before turning back to Jeno with an intrigued expression. "Can he hear ghosts?"

"He's just weird, Chenle." Jeno said. "Did Jisung not tell you about it?"

"He did." But Chenle didn't expect that Jisung would be serious about making that claim. Taking his attention away from the person they were talking about, he diverted his eyes back on the vegetable they were asked to buy. "Hey, don't you think the green onions are too big?"

"Daddy, come on! Let's play!"

A laugh was heard from Donghyuck. "Chan, he's sleeping. Leave him alone."

Mark raised his head up only to see that the people he's with were having a conversation. The more he heard the voice, the clearer it got. He stopped blaming Jeno for it because it didn't sound like him at all.

It was a child and someone that sounded too familiar.

Mark could never guess it wrong. He knew that voice belonged to Donghyuck.

But why would he be hearing him?

"Should we not buy it?" Jeno pulled it out from the cart, asking him a question that he didn't know the answer to. Honestly, he didn't know what the onions were for. Jaemin just told them to go out and get it for him.

How important could it be?

"I just said they were big." Chenle had to take a step back and not mess with the ingredients especially when it's Jaemin asking for it. "I didn't say we should not buy. But I don't know, what do you think?"

"Mark," Jeno called him. "What do you think?"

Mark spaced out for a while, cautious at what he will be hearing next. He was putting all his focus on the voices— only for him not to hear them again. However, he gave it time, only putting his attention on the thoughts he had inside his head.

"Mark!"

They just had to ruin his focus.

Sighing, Mark stopped trying and decided to ignore the voices that were bothering him. "I don't know. How important are the green onions?"

🕙

The green onions were indeed important.

The three of them decided not to buy green onions that were as big as a half-grown tree (an exaggeration) and decided to buy the circle ones instead. Without a doubt, they got an earful of nags and complaints coming from Jaemin himself. If they were able to hold the green onions, why did they not bother buying it? Undeniably, there was chaos inside that apartment. Luckily for Renjun and Jisung, they were exempted from the feud happening. Safe to say, Jisung was thankful he was the loser that got to wash the dishes.

"Daddy... You're making me worry."

As for the voices inside his head, Mark learned to ignore it.

However, he couldn't shake the thought as to why he was hearing both his son and his husband. They weren't memories that he had with them. It sounded like a conversation they were having at the same time.

Shaking his head, Mark reminded himself not to think too much about it. The voices are the result of him being sleep-deprived and being exhausted. He just needs to rest and everything will be back to normal.

"I'm sorry, it's an emergency."

Mark's ears perked up at the conversation that Jaemin was having with the nurse on duty.

After all the preparations in wanting to make a small and simple welcome party, they immediately rushed to the hospital without any time to waste. They came here as fast as they could as they wanted to spend more time with Donghyuck and his parents. Now that they were all gathered at the lobby, they seem to be having a hard time passing through Donghyuck's ward.

"His parents are waiting outside." The nurse informed them.

"But why..." Jaemin wanted to ask but the words won't come out from his mouth, worried at the idea he had that continued the situation.

"He's rushed to the operating room."

Mark didn't need to hear more as he immediately rushed to where Donghyuck is supposed to be. He pushed aside those who were blocking his way, running towards the nearest elevator to get to the floor where the operating room is supposed to be. He was frantically pressing buttons with his breathing starting to get uneven. Being alone inside the elevator, his sight became blurry as he could hear his heavy breaths echoing inside the metallic lift.

He started to become dizzy. He stumbled back but luckily had a hand slammed to the wall to prevent himself from falling.

"Daddy?"

"Shut up." Mark grumbled, his hazy eyes glaring at the hallway the moment the lift opened up for him.

He dragged his feet to God knows where, finding where the fuck the operating room is just so he could see him.

Wanting to see him would be an understatement. Mark wanted to be with him, he wanted Donghyuck to be beside him; alive and breathing.

"Papa, why is he crying?"

"Shut up!" Mark shouted, aggressively placing both his hands on his head, groaning at the throbbing pain he's feeling.

The sudden headache caused him to stumble forward, on his knees. He stared at the tiles that showed a vague reflection of him looking like a mess.

"Mark!" The others were able to catch up to him on the same floor, running towards him and helping him get his balance back.

"Let go of me!" Mark didn't care if it was his friends that were holding him, he pushed them aside harshly. "Lee Donghyuck!"

"You're having a nightmare... Daddy?"

"Get out!" Mark shouted, frustrated and confused at what's going on.

"Mark! Hey!" Jeno rushed in front of him, holding the guy by his shoulders to keep him in place. "Mark, hey... What's wrong?"

"Shit." Jaemin bit his lower lip after getting a message from his friend's parents.

"Jaemin?" Chenle turned to face him. His eyes getting teary at the situation they are in. "Tell me, Donghyuck is going to be okay. Right?"

"Chenle..." He tried to hold everything in. Jaemin wanted to be the bigger person and be there for them when they come crying. However, it looks like he's the first one to break down. "Donghyuck is..."

"Ahh!" Mark shut his eyes tight at the throbbing headache.

It wasn't helping that he saw Jaemin across from him crying his eyes out as he sat on the floor. Chenle kept on shaking him, grieving right next to him. "No... Jaemin! You're supposed to tell me that Donghyuck is going to be alright. That he's going to get better."

"But he's crying! Papa!"

"Jaemin..." Even though he was feeling physical pain, Mark worried himself more at how the latter was acting. "What... What happened?"

"Donghyuck..." Jaemin couldn't make out the words that he was meant to say.

Mark saw him shake his head and that was enough to tell him what happened.

"No!" However, Mark refused to believe him. "Donghyuck! Lee Donghyuck!"

"Mark?" Donghyuck's soothing voice called him out in a gentle manner. "Love?"

"I can't..." Because of the pulsating pain, Mark couldn't find a way to stop himself from feeling it. He could only hit his head countless times as he suffered the agony of hearing the news from Jaemin. "I can't stop... hearing these voices."

Jeno looked up to Jisung who stood there in shock, standing right next to him was Renjun who had tears falling from his eyes but was too stunned to move.

"Mark." Jeno stopped his friend from hitting himself, grabbing his wrists and grasping it tight.

"Love."

"Donghyuck... No." Mark buried his face onto Jeno's shoulder, sobbing loudly. In pain physically and emotionally.

They had plans together.

They were supposed to grow old together.

They were supposed to be together.

Jeno patted the guy's back, hushing him down. "Mark, shhh... We're here."

"Love, shhh... I'm here."

Donghyuck is gone.

The idea of it feels surreal.

The laughs that they shared, the anger that they threw at each other, the jokes that they exchanged, and the memories that they had— gone just like that. Mark couldn't imagine living life without Donghyuck.

Who's going to tell him that it's stupid to use a metal spoon on a non-stick pan?

Who's going to remind him to pick their son up from school?

Who's going to greet him with a loving smile every time he comes home late?

What about their future together? What about their son? What's going to happen then?

What about Mark? What will he do without Donghyuck around?

No. Mark still refused to believe even when he saw Donghyuck's parents walking towards them and grieving together with both Chenle and Jaemin that were mourning over the loss of their best friend.

This can't be. Mark started shaking his head aggressively. Donghyuck won't leave him just like that. He wouldn't. Mark convinced himself that this is just a nightmare. He's going to wake up with his lover sleeping soundly in his arms. This is just a nightmare. Donghyuck is going to wake him up soon and scold him for being in bed all day.

This is just a nightmare.

Donghyuck is still with him.

It's all a dream.

A dream?

"Daddy!"

Mark fluttered his eyes open, adjusting to the light that's blinding him. It took him a few more moments to notice a weight on top of his abdomen, making him squint his eyes at the small figure that's clasping his hands in relief.

"Papa! Daddy is awake!"

Then it all hit him. "Chan?"

— to be continued