Time went by intimidatingly fast, Taehyung no longer saw Seokjin in a doctor-patient way, he no longer kept close attention on how bad the situation he was in; he no longer planned for the worst. But even so, he clearly knew that... The life of a terminal stage leukemia patient who doesn't take medical treatment or medications couldn't last long.

It had been a week since Jungkook called. That man didn't call him again but it was probably the right move. If Jungkook had the last bit of his conscientiousness, he would feel guilty to the younger in a condition like that.

Seokjin still went to the french windows to enjoy the little gardens from the second floor when his mind was clear. Sometimes, the dog and kitties would sneak into the garden and damaged the plants when it lacked Taehyung's protection. Every time he looked down through the transparent window, he felt calm inside as if he floated in the air totally relaxed.

He had found a book that quite interested him a few days ago. He had been reading it for several days, it was a book with pictures, called '100 Places You Must Go In Your Life'.

Taehyung sat next to him when he read the book and his dark brown eyes dimmed as he saw the title.

Seokjin noticed  he smiled and rubbed one side of Tae's waist with his foot. His navy blue coral velvet sock failed to cover his snow-white ankle, which was extremely pretty.

The tickles on Seokjin’s foot from Taehyung finally erased the deep sorrow in his eyes.

"I'll give this book to you once I finish reading it," Seokjjn smiled, "You gotta go to every place in this book twice, okay?"

‘The second time... is a remedy.’

"Tomorrow is your birthday." Taehyung didn't answer him, but leaned on Seokjin shoulder and snuggled with him intimately.

He nodded, "I've been waiting for very long. The birthday present you prepared has been tantalizing me for more than half a month."

Taehyung kissed his cheek in a smile, his eyes were full of happiness and love, "You have been tantalizing me for half a year."

Seokjin rolled his eyes at him and went back to his book. He had enough of those words but the pictures cheered him up. He had read this book over and over.

He was quite cheerful today, he didn't feel drowsy. When he read enough, he leaned on Taehyung and let his mind fly.

Tae held Seokjin in his arms so that he could lean on his chest. "What's on your mind?" When he talked, his chest gently shook. The shake numbed Seokjin's ear.

"You."

"I don't believe you."

"It's true," Seokjin smiled, "My life's worth it. I end up with such a good man."

"What do you meam, end up with?" Taehyung felt a bit unhappy, "You keep your mind drifting away. You talk, I hurt."

The younger chuckled, the heat from his mouth warmed Taehyung's heart.

Their dinner was little dumpling Taehyung made, which the younger ate quite a lot. He seemed to have a better appetite than before.

"You like dumplings?" Taehyung gave him half a bowl of seaweed and shelled shrimp soup.

Seokjin was lost, he lowered his head, scooping the soup again and again. "Not really, I just..." He tilted his head, looking pretty distressed.

Taehyung realized something and jealousy budded on his heart, but he didn't show it in his words. "Alright, finish the soup. I'll cook you more tomorrow, I've made plenty of dumplings."

Seokjin didn't say anything, he slowly finished the soup.

"Can I have a bath tonight?" Seokjin asked Taehyung after he helped him wash the bowls. He had showers earlier, so Taehyung didn't allow him to take a bath at night, lest he’d get dizzy.

"Don't take too long." Taehyung cleaned the kitchen sink and replied to him gently, "Watch out for the slippery floor when you get out."

Seokjin hummed a yes and left.

It wasn't a short bath. Up until Taehyyng finished the cleaning and took his shower, the younger wasn't finished yet.

Tae flicked through the book page by page in bed and called Seokjin's name every once in a while. He was still worried about him.

Seokjin on the other hand was sick of answering him but he knew Taehyung cared about him. He stayed in the water for a while longer, had a quick shower and came out.

His skin got wrinkle and his cheeks were red. He dried his hair with a towel carefully next to Tae.

"How come you smell so good?" Taehyung looked at him from behind and exhaled.

"I used that lush 'swan feathers' soap," Seokjin's voice was a bit throaty and inadvertently alluring. He smiled, "I think it smell nice too."

He leaned over, very close to Taehyung; tiny water droplets pattered on his face.

The elder thought Seokjin was teasing him because he was in a good mood but before he said anything, a mild kiss lay on his forehead. "Smell it."

"Knock it off," Taehyung's expression suddenly changed, "Go to sleep." He patted on the bed next to him, "We gotta get up early tomorrow. It's your birthday."

The bed light was on, the evasiveness of Tae's was very obvious. He was struggling, panic and uneasy.

Seokjin's next kiss was on Taehyung's lips. His eyes were gentle, his black pupils reflected a little brightness of the light but that was like the most shining star in the universe. "Am I not good enough for you? Apart from Jeon Jungkook... I've never been with anyone else."

"Seokjin, you know that I don't..." Taehyung was very agitated, he couldn't organize his words, he couldn't handle the heartache. He loved Seokjin to death. He wanted to touch him, he wanted to have him, but he wanted more to be the very person that wouldn't take something from him in his life.

He just wanted to be good to him. He dared not to think about the rest.

Seokjin sighed lightly. He kissed down little by little from his jaw and tried to unbutton Taehyung's pajama.

Tae couldn't resist his gentleness, his warm breath on his sensitive neck, and his fragrance. He rolled over to press Seokjin under him. His intense kisses fell on Seokjin's eyes and brows and cheeks. "Seokjin... Jinnie... my baby..."

Taehyung didn't even know why he cried, his tears were all over Seokjin's face. He muttered countless times "I love you" near the younger's ears.

It was Tae's nature to be gentle and careful. When he got inside Seokjin, the younger didn't feel too much pain but still, he subconsciously clenched the bed-sheet hard.

"Jinnie..." Taehyung licked and kissed Seokjin's Adam's apple. Strong breaths were mixed with the doctor's confession of love, he kept saying it and didn't change his words all night long. "I love you..."

Seokjin mind drifted between clear and blurred, he watched the older face in the pale yellow light, involuntarily panted and moaned quietly and got himself ready to be overwhelmed by strong passion.

"T-Taehyung-ah." Seokjin loosened his grips, on the wrinkled sheet, his arms encircled Taehyung's neck, smiled at him in a trance.