❛ ── chapter four
FOREVER? AND ALWAYS. ❜

          𝐘𝐔𝐍𝐀 𝐑𝐀𝐍 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐒, her little legs barely keeping her from falling. Before she got to the bottom, the young child launched forward and tackled the boy in front of her.

" Seok-Hoon! " 7-year-old Yuna giggled as the both of them fell onto the floor, the boy cushioning her fall.

He grunted before looking up to see her beaming at him so wide that he could see a few of her fallen teeth.

" Look what I found! " She says proudly as she pulls out a flower from her pocket, " mom says it's a daffodil! "

" Hello to you too, forest fairy. " Seok-Hoon chuckles, and Yuna huffs, putting the flower back in her pocket before she gets off him, allowing him to follow suit.

The girl tucks her arms over each other and glares at him. " I already told you, I'm not a fairy. " She shakes her head, her pigtails swaying from side to side.

" No, but you're short like one. " He smirks and Yuna begins to whine, dropping her hands so they rested at the side of her body. " Alright, alright. I'm sorry, okay? " Seok-Hoon shakes his head at her as she turns away.

" Don't be mad, I'm just joking. " He says in a light tone, but she was still giving him the cold shoulder. " Fine, since you won't talk to me. . . I'll just have to tickle you until you do! " The boy shouts and begins tickling Yuna.

" S- stop it- t! " She shouts through her laughs. " Fi- fine, I forgive you! "

The both of them slumped back down on the cold vinyl flooring of the community room. Their shoulders touching as they focus on the ceiling.

Joo Seok-Hoon and Jang Yuna had always known each other. They grew up basically side by side in Hera Palace and were attached to the hip at all times.

The two of them were too young to understand that they were engaged, but to them, it just meant that they'd be able to spend more time together even when they grew up.

" I'm bored! " The girl shot up into an upright position, looking down on Seok-Hoon who had his arms propped behind his head. " Can we please do something? " She whined, tugging the hem of his long-sleeved shirt.

He peels open his eyes and meets her gaze. " I think my parents are out at the moment, do you want to see the sunset from the penthouse? " He proposed, and watched as she perked up immediately.

Yuna nods her head vigorously, and jumps up. She pulls him by the sleeve towards the penthouse as Seok-Hoon obliges.

They arrive at the top of the building and instantly, Yuna feels the cold air kissing her cheeks. The balcony was tall and they could barely reach the railing so they didn't need any adult supervision for them to go out.

They watch the sky, painted in different hues of blue, oranges, and pinks. Enjoying the serene moment they shared.

" The sky is pretty today. " She whispers to him, her attention still on the backdrop. Seok-Hoon hums in acknowledgement, as he stares at her instead. " Don't look at me you idiot, we came up here to watch the sunset. " Yuna rolls her eyes.

" Woah, woah! Since when did you learn that bad word? " He asks as she sticks a tongue out at him.

" What? It's because you are an idiot. " She scoffs, pinching his cheeks causing him to yelp in pain. The boy fights back and uses both of his hands to pinch hers. " Ouch! Only I get the right to do that to you! "

" It's called payback! " He argues but stop immediately, not wanting to pinch too hard and hurt her.

The two of them fall back into another train of silence with the occasional chuckle here and there.

" We'll always have each other's back, right? " Yuna suddenly blurts out, the wind blowing her loose strands back.

Seok-Hoon looks at her with a questionable expression, " of course we will. " His tone like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

She locks eyes with him, holding out a pinky. " Forever? "

He looks at it for a few seconds before back at her, he proceeds to hook his pinky around Yuna's " And always. "

          𝐒𝐄𝐎𝐊-𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓, tears slithering down his cheek as he watches Jang Yuna helplessly.

How much the sight pained him, she couldn't even breathe properly and needed a ventilator to help. And even with the machine, her breaths still came in short and ragged pants.

At that moment, Yuna manages to barely open her eyes. And the corners of her lips turn up at the sight of Seok-Hoon.

They don't say anything, but the both of them know. They know it's time.

Seok-Hoon doesn't want to believe it, he wishes for it all to be some kind of fever dream── or nightmare even. But no matter how many times he pinches himself, he doesn't wake up.

The doctors had called him, saying she didn't have long left, and her time was down to the hours.

Only hours left before the girl he loves the most becomes a mere memory.

With a shaky hand, Yuna reaches to her oxygen mask and takes it off.

" W-what are you doing? " He exclaims, reaching to put it back on. But she weakly shakes her head, signaling him to stop.

" It's okay── " She's thrown into a coughing fit which cuts her sentence off, they came out as wheezes as Yuna's throat burned from the sensation.

" Yuna, please. " And the tears begin to pour like rivers, " please, please no. Put the mask back on. "

" It's going to be okay. I'm going to be just fine. " The girl sniffles, making an effort to cup his cheek with her hand, catching his tears. Seok-Hoon grabs ahold of it, trying to give warmth to her frail hand.

" Seok-Hoon, everything is going to be okay. " She smiles tiredly, making an effort to keep her eyes open. " I'm glad we met, Seok-Hoon. I really am. You made me the happiest and most── " Another fit of wheezing. " Most content girl in the world. " Yuna continues.

The boy doesn't say anything but doesn't stop crying either.

" I'm so happy you're here. . . " She pauses, noticing that his sniffles keep growing louder. " The sky is pretty today. " Yuna notes softly.

Seok-Hoon stops for a second, his cries replaced with a chuckle. " It's nighttime, you idiot. " He smiles.

" I know. " The girl mimics, before coughing again. This time it's weaker, and they know life is fleeting.

" Yuna. . . I love you. "

With the remaining energy Yuna has left, she shakily raises a pinky. " Forever? " She croaks.

Seok-Hoon sobs, and gently wraps his pinky around hers. " And always. "

And Jang Yuna takes her final breath, with a relieving smile on her face.

# 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒 ! ₊˚ˑ༄ؘ

my heart </3 but the second half was so crappy i apologize. my goal is to at least make one person shed some tears :D also credits to tiktok for all these sad lines hahaha, please vote !