007
Title: Cigarettes (for the 100 Infinite Fic Challenge)Rating: PG
Pairing: Dongwoo/Woohyun
Genre: Tragedy...?
Summary: High School!AU - The scent of cigarettes would always remind Dongwoo of him.
Length: 1,395 words
Nam Woohyun was the embodiment of everything Jang Dongwoo disliked in a person. He was arrogant and always sure of himself. He had a body that men envied and women drooled over. He could hold his alcohol like a pro and smoked a pack of cigarettes a day. Everything about Woohyun just antagonized the male in Dongwoo's eyes.
The boy had been like a whirlwind; he had stormed suddenly into Dongwoo's life, changing everything, before leaving equally as suddenly. It was unfair, Dongwoo thought wistfully. Unfair how Woohyun had been able to shift the mood of a room by simply stepping into it. Unfair how Woohyun had been the student every teacher lauded, and every girl swooned over. Unfair how, despite the love of everyone around him, Woohyun had chosen to be with him, Jang Dongwoo.
Dongwoo had asked him about it one day, with furrowed brows, while the two had been walking home together from a particularly draining day at school. Why do you like me so much?
(To Dongwoo, it was a complete mystery how the two had even become friends. The first day of sophomore year, Dongwoo had been looking for a place to eat his lunch in solitude. By a twist of fate, he had stumbled across a door leading to the school's roof. By a bigger twist of fate, he had stumbled upon Woohyun leaning over a railing, taking a smoke. Fancy meeting you here, sunbae, the younger boy had smirked as he tossed his cigarette under his foot, twisting his shoe to extinguish it. Dongwoo had gaped at him, open-mouthed, until the other boy laughed. Sunbae, you know, you're kind of cute. And that had been when Dongwoo had run away, excusing himself.)
Woohyun exhaled a smoke ring in response. I don't know, I just do.
(The day after the school roof incident, Woohyun had begun seeking Dongwoo out on a daily basis. Sometimes it was to ask him for help on homework, other times it was to ask for his company during a smoke break. Each time, Dongwoo would quickly protest and try to make excuses. Each time, Woohyun would pout and plead in a finger-curling tone in response. Dongwoo always ended up complying to the younger boy's demands.)
Isn't that enough? Woohyun intertwined his fingers with the older boy's, before kissing each of Dongwoo's knuckles softly. The truth of the matter was that Dongwoo could never have enough of Woohyun. He hated the person he had become thanks to him. Insecure, jealous, and needy.
---
Stupid, was another word that came to mind when Dongwoo received his junior year grade report. His usual straight A's were marred by a B in Calculus. His family ate in silence that night.
Woohyun, I think I'm going to stop hanging out with you for a little while. Just until I get accepted into a university, okay? Woohyun's smile had faltered for a millisecond before he shrugged.
Actually, hyung, I'm not going to be in school for my junior year. I-I'm being home-schooled.
Dongwoo had raised an eyebrow. Something didn't sit right with him, but he decided to ignore his instinct and instead clapped both of his hands onto Woohyun's shoulders. Oh. Well then. I wish you luck with that. Keep in touch, okay?
Dongwoo hadn't noticed it until he had returned home, but Woohyun hadn't smoked a single cigarette that day.
---
The texts came on a daily basis after they stopped attending school together. Woohyun's text messages varied from, Hyung, I hope you're eating well. Today, my tutor said this this and this... to Dongwoo-hyung, I miss you.
Dongwoo never replied to the latter messages.
Then, the texts stopped coming. At first, Dongwoo thought that maybe the younger male had simply forgotten to text. But then, a week passed. And then, a month passed. A knot formed in his stomach as he remembered that instinctual feeling of worry that had initially shown up when Woohyun had announced he was being home-schooled.
---
It was easy enough to get Woohyun's home address from the high school. It became difficult when Dongwoo had arrived at the home, only to be greeted by one of the younger male's parents.
Who are you? Are you a friend of Woohyun?
I'm more than a friend, ma'am. I think. That was what Dongwoo wanted to say. Instead, what came out of his mouth was, Yes, ma'am. Is he home?
Oh dear, that son of mine... He didn't tell you?
Tell me what?
About his cancer?
---
Dongwoo took deep breaths in the elevator as it made its slow ascent upwards.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
When the elevator doors chimed, notifying the elevator's arrival to the fifth floor, Dongwoo felt his breath catch in his throat. Oncology Unit, he read. With cautious steps, he hesitated all the way until his feet had brought him to a door with Patient: Nam Woohyun written on a small nameplate. As he twisted the cold door handle in his hands, his breath caught in his throat as he saw Woohyun lying in a bed, tubes inserted into various places throughout his body. The boy looked malnourished, his bones looked ready to jut out from his near-transparent skin. His hair had mostly disappeared, leaving a trace of short stubble behind on his head. A large stitch could be seen going across his chest.
Woohyun, he had choked out. Woohyun, Woohyun, Woohyun, oh god, Woohyun-
Oh, hyung... Fancy seeing you here, Woohyun replied weakly, a smirk attempting to spread across his face. I guess you noticed the lack of text messages? Sorry about that - this hospital has bad reception.
Dongwoo shook his head as he stared at the young man before him. You had lung cancer? And you still decided to smoke a pack a day? What the hell were you thinking?
There was a pause as Woohyun's smirk fell. Several, quiet minutes passed as the younger male seemed to be considering his options. Eventually, he took a deep breath and responded in a low tone. I was just thinking how nice it'd be to die, honestly. He grinned, but it was an empty one. How nice it'd be to not have to burden my loved ones with my existence.
You aren't a burden to your family, Woohyun. Dongwoo hadn't realized it, but a tear had managed to sneak out of one eye and drop onto the hospital bed's blankets. And you aren't a burden to me. Why didn't you tell me?
At this point, the younger male grimaced as he struggled to sit up. He reached a hand out to the older's face and wiped another tear that was threatening to spill out. I didn't want to see you cry. Besides, death is a heavy burden to carry, hyung.
What?
They told me I wasn't going to make it.
---
Nam Woohyun was the embodiment of everything Jang Dongwoo loved in a person. He was a boy that always acted confidently, even if he was feeling insecure about himself. He was a boy that was blessed with timeless looks; he was sure to be just as handsome at age 30 as age 16. He was a boy that always put others before himself. Everything about Woohyun was flawless in Dongwoo's eyes.
The boy had been like a hurricane; he had stormed suddenly into Dongwoo's life, altering everything, before leaving just as suddenly as he had entered. It is unfair, Dongwoo thought, as he stared emptily at the funeral processions. Unfair how Woohyun had stolen his first kiss a week before passing peacefully in his sleep. Unfair how Woohyun would never be able to open his beautiful, chocolate eyes again. Unfair how the two of them would never be able to go on dates to Lotte World together, travel the world together, or do anything else together. Unfair how Woohyun had been taken so prematurely from the world, when he had so much to offer.
Dongwoo looked on as Woohyun's family mourned the loss of their youngest son. Soon, it was his turn to offer a carnation to the casket that held the body. With trembling hands, Dongwoo walked over and dropped his lone, white carnation into the abyss below that held more of its kind. I love you, Nam Woohyun, Dongwoo whispered quietly to himself.
I love you, and I'll miss you.
A/N: Oh geez, this was supposed to be a simple drabble... Instead, this fic got dragged out and bludgeoned to death by my keyboard. Someone take my keyboard away from me, so that I never write a pitiful attempt at sad!fic again.