Ren felt so much turmoil, and a storm of emotions raged within her. She couldn't believe the words that came out of her best friend's mouth. What kind of fuck up shit was this?

"Keanu, you're kidding, right?" Ren doesn't sound like she's questioning him, but instead she's pleading him. She's pleading that he tell her anything that would reassure her.

"Ren, why on earth would I lie about I feel?" Keanu spats back, feeling upset at her reaction. He's literally dying for her, and his simple confession wasn't enough.

But Ren looks like she wants to cry, "Oh God, why didn't you tell me that sooner?"

The time was always wrong, when she adored him, he didn't. Now he loves her, but Ren isn't too sure if she can still say she loved him too, at least not the way he wants it. She's in love with River, and yet she felt a speck of rekindled feelings for Keanu.

"I don't understand, Ren. How could I had tell you? You were ignoring me!" Keanu pointed out, feeling so tired of feeling so damn sad. He was frustrated, and all he wanted to do was to live to see the next day.

"Keanu, I loved you once too. But you're too late, and I really wish I could say it back but if I did, I won't be sure I'm being completely honest." Ren forlornly confessed, her voice cracking as she cries.

Keanu is crying too because to be confirmed his own death is such a horrifying concept, "I wish the timing was right, Ren. I hope you're happy, and you'll always be my best friend."

"Keanu, why are you leaving us? River and me?" Ren tearfully questions, noticing Keanu stand up, as if he's ready to walk away from her forever.

"You'll be better off without me, Ren. Trust me." Keanu states, taking one long look at her, as if he'll never see her face again.

And just like that, he walks down the road, and out of sight. Ren felt too weak to stop him, but she had a very bad gut feeling. It seemed like he was hiding something, and was desperate to know, but not desperate enough to chase after him.

Once upon a time, Keanu and Ren were childhood best friends. That's it, until they both fell in love at the wrong time. And now? It seems that they're not friends at all. For the first time, Ren experienced grief for a person who wasn't even dead.

Keanu coughs up more petals in the middle of the living room, and his mother panics, rushing to his aid. It terrifies her to see how much blood are on the petals, staining the carpet, and then Keanu collapses.

His mother lets out a startle scream, they needed to see those doctors soon or Keanu will die.

It's been a few hours, and Keanu awakens feeling very weak. He notices he's in his bed, sitting across him is Alex, who looks so relieved to see him awake. There's a duffle bag, an old one used to use for hockey, and it looks full.

"What happened?" Keanu questions, feeling lightheaded still, as he shifts his position on the bed.

"You collapsed. You puked up so much flowers and blood, we were sure you were dying." Alex reveals, he seemed scared for Keanu. He couldn't lose Keanu, he would have no one if Keanu were to disappear one day. Alex couldn't handle that pain, he and Keanu were a mischievous duo and it needed to stay that way.

"That makes sense, that reaction I had. Alex, I told Ren I loved her and we couldn't be friends anymore." Keanu disclosed, feeling a struck of pain at the thought of the end with Ren.

"What?" Alex gasped out, flabbergasted at the turn of events. But the more he thought about it, perhaps Keanu's decision was a smart move.

"I had to, maybe if I cut her out of my life, it would save so much pain." Keanu explained, looking at a picture frame that hanged on his wall. It was the two of you, and he was so sad to see how much things changed.

"No, I respect your decision. You see, we're leaving to New York to meet Dr. Parker and Dr. Tanaka tonight. You're getting the surgery." Alex informed Keanu, who seemed upset at the news.

"But I don't want to forget about Ren or to stop loving her." Keanu argued back, feeling the itch return.

"Keanu, imagine how Ren or River feels when you're gone. Imagine how your sisters or your mom is going to feel not to see your face everyday. I know I would be devastated, so please...I'm begging you. Please go along with it and get the surgery." Alex pleaded, and Keanu felt a surge of guilt at his friend's tone. He sounded to heartbroken, so needy.

He sighs, thinking about it for a moment longer before announcing, "I'll get the surgery."

Alex smiled, feeling bittersweet but reassured that his best friend still had a chance. The rug Keanu puked on had to be thrown away, especially after the blood couldn't come out. His mom was running around the house, making preparations for the flight.

Around midnight, Keanu, his mother, and Alex appeared at the airport. Alex came along, after a long discussion with his parents on why he needed to take time off of school and leave to New York. He used his savings to pay for his plane ticket, the same savings that was originally going towards his new motorcycle.

But he can always start over, being here for Keanu seemed more important to Alex than a bike.

As they three sat on the airport seats, waiting to broad the plane Keanu looks at Alex, "Do you thinks would had been different if I never dated Jennifer to begin with?"

Alex doesn't even have to think of his reply, "Yes, I think it would had made a huge difference. I always thought you'd ask out Ren, not Jennifer Way."

But all Keanu can hear is Ren's voice echoing in his head, whispering, "You're too late, Keanu."

An after an hour longer of waiting in complete silence, mourning over the loss of Ren, who Keanu will soon forget, the three boarded the plane to New York.

•••

Author's Note:

So, they're heading to New York to meet Dr. Parker and Dr. Tanaka, the relatively unknown doctors and authors of The Petals of Daffodils! Perhaps Keanu MIGHT live, lol! Ren and River still don't know he's dying, but at least Ren knows Keanu loves her. I mean, isn't that what she wanted in the beginning? Anyways, I apologize for the grammar, spelling, and punctation errors.

Also, this title is highkey inspired by Alice Deeyjay's Better Off Alone (aka an absolute jam).