His shaking hands went to his ears. He hit his ears once, then again. "H-Hyung! What.. What are you saying?! Why can't I hear you- where's my voice?!"
Junseo's eyes widened in realization.
"L-Leo.." He quietly muttered watching as Leo banged his ears.
Sangwon immediately held Leo's hands stopping him. Leo looked at them scared, his chest heaving. He pushed Sangwon and he staggered back.
"Hyung!" Anxin yelled as Leo ran out. Junseo held his arm when he tried chasing after him.
He shook his head.
-
Leo's eyes were clouded with tears as he staggered through the streets in fear. His eyes looked around. Where did the noise go?
The streets that used to be so noisy. The noise he called home. Where was it?
All he could hear was a loud ringing followed by low hums. He panted, his body knocking down some goods of the sellers.
He saw their mouths moving as they scolded him, but he couldn't hear a word. He slapped his ears, shaking his head, not wanting to accept this.
He took off on his heels.
-
Sangwon struggled, trying to break free from the guards' grip. They pushed him into his room and locked him from the outside.
"When you're cured, you'll come out"
He heard his father's voice. He shook his head as his tears fell. He banged on the door.
Please. I have to go to Leo.
He turned sliding down against the door.
-
Leo opened his eyes. He immediately squinted his eyes when he met the sun. He quietly sat up. He looked at the lake.
His face fell in disappointment—still nothing.
It's been days since he ran away. He's been by the lake since. Waking up each day, hoping his hearing would magically come back.
Once to be welcomed by a painful throbbing and loud hums.
He was tired of crying. He had cried out all the tears he had. His throat hurt. Yelling out but not hearing anything.
Was this how Sangwon felt?
He felt like his life was over. How could he continue with this? This just reduced him to a zero.
He hugged his knees, burying his head.
He immediately whipped his head when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
-
Sangwon weakly sat up. He heard someone at his door. It's been days since he's been locked in there. His mind was only on Leo.
What if he hurt himself? How was he supposed to accept the new change?
Only negative thoughts were in his head. His worry growing each time.
His eyes slightly widened when the door opened. He saw Junseo and Anxin. Junseo stood out while Anxin ran in.
He immediately hugged Sangwon. "Hyung, are you okay?" Anxin wiped his tears as he asked. Sangwon folded his lips as he nodded.
Anxin gulped. "Leo hyung is still missing... I-I don't know where to search.. he's not at home.. I've checked the places we used to go together but... I asked around, people said they saw him but they didn't know where he went"
Sangwon stood up, his brows furrowing in worry. He then looked at Anxin. I think I know where he is.
-
Leo turned, seeing Sangwon looking down at him. He immediately stood up backing away.
They looked at each other in silence.
Leo turned his head, not wanting Sangwon to see him. "G-Go"
Sangwon folded his lips, wiping the tears that fell. He walked to Leo, hitting his arm.
Do you know how worried we were?
Leo looked away. He tried to leave but Sangwon immediately ran in front of him, stopping him.
'Why are you running? It's me.'
Leo shook his head. He didn't want to accept that this was the end. He wanted to see Sangwon when his hearing got back.
Sangwon shouldn't love someone like him.
Someone who couldn't hear.
Sangwon kept quiet as he read his face. He immediately hugged him.
Sangwon listened to the birds chirping and the soft splashes of the lake, Leo listening to Sangwon's heartbeat against his chest.
He closed his eyes when he felt tears forming. His arms hugged Sangwon tighter. His face buried in his neck as he cried.
Sangwon rubbed his back gently. He folded his lips holding in his tears. He slowly leaned out of the hug, wiping Leo's tears.
'I know you're scared. Take a breath, I'm here with you. I'm not leaving'
Leo looked into Sangwon's comforting eyes as he took deep breaths.
'I know this is hard to accept and believe but you have to Leo. It will only be harsh on you if you refuse to accept reality'
Leo shook his head. "N-No" He closed his eyes when he could only feel the vibrations of his voice but not hearing it.
"I.. I can't hear myself Sangwon.. Go.. You're right.. we shouldn't be together" Leo said, gently pushing Sangwon away.
Sangwon's face twisted in hurt. He moved back closer to Leo. 'I don't care Leo. You loved me without my voice, what makes you think I won't?
It's you I like, even if you wake up in a different body. I like you. Your kind soul. I can never stop liking you just because of this'
Leo shook his head, looking away. Sangwon gently brought his face back.
'You can't give up now. Please. I need you. I need your voice. You said you'll be my voice, please don't change your mind.
I still want to hear your singing in the morning. I want to hear your bad jokes. I want to hear your stupid laugh.
Please, even if you can't hear it. Let me.
You can be my voice, I'll be your ears'
Sangwon finished, his tears escaping his eyes.
Leo cried as he looked at Sangwon. He nodded wiping his tears. 'We'll go through this together' Sangwon signed wiping his tears.
Leo immediately hugged him.
"Thank you for not giving up on me"