Beginning of the End (1/1)

Sehun is propped up on the bed. He stares at the wall, at the clock. He waits, an unfathomable expression on his pale face. Counting down the minutes.Tick tock. Five, four, three, two, one minutes till he comes. He's never late, and there's no reason why he will be this time, although Sehun wishes that he would not push himself so.Just as the clock strikes 12, the door bursts open, and he runs in, stumbling as hevery nearly loses his balance. Sehun manages a wry, and somewhat pensive smile as he looks at the man in front of him, who's collapsed into a chair, panting as he tries to catch his breath."You should eat before coming. I don't like how u skip lunch because of me. Take care of your health." Sehu's tone is disapproving, but his words are said in a rather halfhearted manner. He nods, but they both know that he won't. Time is a luxury that they cannot afford.They talk. For the remainder of his lunch break, they talk. They talk as much as they can, as if they're trying to make up for the time which they know will come soon. The time when Sehun can't talk anymore. And so they talk. Now. About the past, about his present. They dont talk about the future. Its too terrifying a thing to talk about. It's an unspoken taboo that they are too glad to avoid.When it's time, Sehun just gives him a sad smile, telling him to go before he's late and angers his boss. He lingers for a few more minutes before tearing off at top speed to avoid being tardy.Sehun usually lies on the bed for the rest of the day. He's always always too tired to move, and he couldn't really move much even if he wanted to. More often that not he would fall. Thus, he usually stares at the clock, waiting for the time he gets off work and can visit again. This way of life had already become routine for them, ever since they knew that Sehun had ALS. A few weeks later, Sehun finds that he has lost control of his legs. He can't move them, no matter how hard he tries, and fears hits him, cold and hard. He panics and scream for help, choking back his sobs, and Mr Lu, the nurse, quickly gets his doctor. Doctor Wu comes running, and Sehun knows that he will come soon, too.He practically teleports to the hospital and hugs Sehun, and Sehun feels safe, protected even though he knows that nothing was, or would ever be fine again.He quits his job, and spends his whole day at the hospital, with Sehun. Sehun's condition continues to deteriorate, and soon he cannot even speak properly, let alone move his limbs. One day Sehun finds that he can't swallow his meal, and as the liquid dribbles out of his mouth, hot droplets of frustration and humiliation roll down his cheeks. He can't do anything, even though he can think clearly, and he feels so small and weak inside his own body. However, he stays by Sehun's side through all this, and tells him that he still beautiful, no matter what. That he will still be the one that he loves, forever and always.Sehun's lungs start to fail him, and a machine is needed to keep him breathing. They both know that it will be a long and painful process until the end, even more so for him.It's today. He can feel it in his bones, and as he stares deep into Sehun's eyes, he knows that he knows it too. He gently caresses Sehun's hand, and gives it a gentle squeeze.They spend seconds, minutes, hours locked in each others gaze. The only sound that could be heard was the the clock. Tick tock tick tock. In that moment, Sehun hated that clock as much as he had loved it. It spoke volumes about the love that they had for each other, and what they could, should have been. What they were meant to have but were never given the chance to fulfil.A single tear rolls down Sehun's eye, and they both know that this is it. He kisses Sehun on his forehead just as the clock strikes 12, and when he looks at Sehun again, he sees that he's already gone. Dr Wu bursts into the room and as  Mr Lu leads the wreckage that is him out, Jongin lets go of the remaining thread of his consciousness and allows the black to engulf him.