His chest swelled with pain, and felt everyday was a struggle to getup. It was hard to hide the fact he was coughing up petals, next thing you knew, there would be bouquets everywhere.

Sometimes the pain–the coughing–it wasn't too bad, but he'd see Ren and the pain would just flare up. He wanted scream and shout, even cry, but use was that? He read the book Mrs. Hinata gave him, there's simply no hope.

He couldn't bare getting surgery, he didn't want to forget about Ren Fujioka. He much rather die than do that, and it seemed like he was heading that direction. Keanu was running out of excuses to tell his sisters and mother about his coughs.

"I wish the timing was right." Keanu muttered to himself, feeling that tightening feeling in his throat as he resisted the urge to cry. He knew Ren didn't love him anymore, River accomplished what he wanted, snatching her away when Keanu didn't even realize.

If she loved him, he would not be laying on the cold tile floor of his bathroom, surrounded by daffodils. He just kept coughing them up, drooling and choking on the floors, and his throat burned at the sensation.

The timing was all fucked up. Ren had loved him once, and perhaps she coughed up petals too. But Keanu didn't want to imagine that, he couldn't bare seeing her die for him. He wasn't worth that pain. But now she's in the arms of his best friend, safe and sound, and Keanu loves her now. But it's too late, the timing was wrong, and they could never love each other at the same time.

"Sweetie, are you okay?" Keanu's mother sleepily questioned behind the bathroom door, the only barrier from her seeing the mess he's become. She couldn't know, who could? He was helpless.

He remembers Mrs. Hinata's words clearly, "Some people believe it's a complete joke or myth..."

If he said anything, who could help him anyways? He'd end up as a medical experiment and that's not what his love was. It was more complex than that.

"I'm fine, mom. I just have a bad cough." Keanu replied in a raspy tone, hoping for his mother to head back to bed.

"Sweetheart, if you aren't fine, you know I'll have to take you to the doctor soon." His mother pointed out, and the idea seemed so unsettling for Keanu.

"I'll be fine, I promise. I'll get better." Keanu answered back, but instead of sounding reassuring, he came off more as pleading.

Despite the skepticism lacing her voice, Keanu's mother simply uttered, "Okay, I'm heading back to bed."

Where did it all go wrong? God, why did he have to fall in love? Love was suppose be a joyous thing, but it seemed more like a death trap.

He coughed up more daffodils, and the tears ran down his cheeks.

"It's not fair." He cried out, trying to stay as quiet as possible. He didn't need his mom
up again.

'I love you, Ren. I'm sorry I didn't realize sooner, but I hope you're happy with him. He'll take care of you when I'm gone.' Keanu thought to himself, throwing the petals down the toilet and flushing them. He hopes to get some sleep tonight.

It was going to be another dreamless night. After all, how can he dream when only his nightmares come true?

"You look like death." Alex points out in the middle of English, drowning out Mrs. Ellis's monotone voice.

"I feel like it, dude." Keanu replied back, staring at Ren's back. She looked beautiful today, she almost seemed to glow like she used to when they hangout. But they haven't done that in awhile, and Keanu wonders if she even misses him.

"Are you sick?" Alex inquires, feeling concern. Keanu's best friend might've been River, but Keanu was his best friend. He cared for him deeply.

"Something close to it." Keanu vaguely replied back, still gazing at Ren. But something unexpected happens, Ren looks back and she meets Keanu's brown eyes.

It felt like Keanu's body was on fire when he held his gaze with hers, and his heart pounded. Then the awful itch came, and Keanu panicked, but there's no way he could resist it.

He coughed loudly, catching the attention of the whole class, and Keanu ducked down, hiding his face.

"Are you okay, Mr. Reeves? Need water?" Mrs. Ellis asked, and everyone's attention was glued on him. He weakly peered him, and nodded.

He clutched the daffodils in his palms, wasting no time to leave the class.

Alex noticed Ren's gaze never left Keanu's disappearing figure as he went out the door.

After kneeling down in the same crammed bathroom stall, coughing these damn flowers, Keanu figured he was going to become very familiar with it. The sensation of his throats arching and burning was become such a routine, he felt so accustomed and used to it.

After awhile, he felt at peace. Keanu flushed the toilet and opened the stall door, but it seemed like life absolutely despised him.

'Was I really that much of an asshole in my past life?' Keanu thinks as he meets the shocked face of River, his now estranged best friend.

"Are you okay, Keany?" River asks, his voice drenched in concern, and Keanu felt exhausted. It seemed like every had questions lately, but he had no answers.

"I-I feel like death, Riv. No biggie." Keanu stuttered out, throwing a grin to seen convincing but River knew better.

Keanu washes his hands, knowing Ren would be grossed out if he left a public bathroom without doing so. It's an old habit that hasn't died out. River is still staring out him, searching for the words to say to his best friend.

"Congrats." Keanu simply mumbles a moment later, leaving the blond flabbergasted.

"Congrats?" River repeated in confusion, arching an eyebrow.

"Yeah, congrats on your relationship with Ren. Thanks for mentioning it, buddy." Keanu clarifies, throwing the wet paper towel away, and saunters out the bathroom.

River felt hurt by the statement, but in a sense, he figured he deserved it. He didn't mean to ignore Keanu, being so caught up with Ren. It was hilariously cruel, he ended up doing the same thing he hated Keanu doing.

Ignoring him for the girl, but that's what happens when you adore someone.

Author's Note:
What's your position on the love triangle? Who's team are you on? I promise Ren will make a return soon, but I love focusing on Keanu. I apologize for any grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors!