Chapter Two

After breakfast, Yoon and Peach went to the lakeside for a picnic. 

 

"Babe, how long do I need to sit here?" Peach asked. He was sitting on the bench under the big oak tree with the rays of the sun shining on him while Yoon stroked his paintbrush onto the canvas.

 

"A little more, babe, it's almost done," replied Yoon.

 

"Forgive me, my love. I know my time here is nearly over. I hope one day you will be able to forget me and move on from the pain caused by me. 

If ever your heart beats for someone else again, I'm more than happy. I promise I won't be mad. Babe, I'm sorry for being so weak, and I thank you for staying by my side. I know it's going to be very, very hard for you once I'm gone. It's okay to cry, babe, but don't cry too long. I won't go anywhere; even if you can't see me or touch me, just close your eyes and feel me in your heart." Yoon thought while completing the portrait. 

 

"It's done, babe; come here and take a look." Peach walked over to him under the parasol.

 

"Woahh! Am I this handsome, babe?" Peach's astonishment was evident on his face.

 

"Yup! Babe, didn't you know that?" Yoon's brows furrowed.

"Of course, I know, babe, it's just that you've always surprised me with your painting skills. You're the best, babe." Peach kisses him on the cheek.

 

"I love you, babe."

"I love you too, babe." Replied Yoon

"No, I love you more, babe," Peach shot back.

"Ah, no! I love you more, more, more, and more, babe." Peach insisted 

"I love you more to infinity and beyond, babe." Peach didn't want to lose the "I love you more" battle. 

 

"Geez! Fine, you love me more; what a childish attitude." Yoon squeezed his beloved husband's cheeks.

"You know I love you more than anything in this world, right?" "You are my everything, babe." Peach snuggles into Yoon's chest.

The two stayed at the lakeside underneath the big oak tree, hugging and kissing from time to time while enjoying the beautiful lake scenery.

 

It's their favorite place to sit underneath the big oak tree while watching the quiet lake and listening to the chirping birds. 

 

The green grasses, plants, and trees were reflecting in the lake water, making it look more majestic and amusingly soothing to the eyes. The clean and fresh breeze coming from nature is just too perfect, telling you to forget the world outside. 

 

"I truly love this place, babe," said Yoon. He was lying on Peach's lap.

"We can buy this place if you want," Peach replied while stroking Yoon's hair.

 

"I would like to, but—" Yoon halts; he didn't want to remind his beloved Peach that his days in this world were already numbered. 

 

"Silence engulfed them. Peach understood his beloved husband's silence. If only he could take away Yoon's pain. He will gladly do it without an ounce of hesitation.

 

**

 

Days and weeks passed by, just like every day, taking pictures using the Polaroid instant photograph camera. 

 

Walking along the lakeside hand in hand, doing picnics beneath the silhouette of the tree, and cuddling with each other while watching the lake and the greenery, as well as listening to the chirping birds and humming along with them.

 

However, Yoon's body is deteriorating with each passing day. losing appetite, weight loss, sleeping more every day, involuntary body movements, difficulty breathing, and so on.

Peach endured all of those heart-wrenching and awful emotions, not showing any weakness in front of his beloved husband. He wished that it was him instead of Yoon.

 

His heart broke into a million pieces every time Yoon showed symptoms that it was nearly the end of his life.

Peach never cried again in front of Yoon. He wanted to show his husband that he was strong. So if the time comes, Yoon could depart at ease without worrying about him. 

But when Yoon is sleeping and he is alone, Peach can't hold back and just lets his tears stream freely like a river gushing down his cheeks, hoping the pain in his heart will go along and the pain will subside even just a little bit.

 

**

"Babe, say ah." Peach is feeding Yoon on the bed with vegetable soup. 

 

"Ah!" Yoon slowly opened his mouth. He was thinner and weaker than yesterday.

 

Peach was having a hard time quelling his emotions, seeing his husband in that state. It was unbearable. He bites his lip until it bleeds without him realizing it, just not to burst into tears in front of Yoon.

 

"B-Babe," Yoon whispered to him, and Peach lifted his head. With all his strength, Yoon lifts his hand and caresses Peach's bleeding lips.

 

"I know it's hard; I'm sorry for making you suffer like this. I'm so sorry, babe." Yoon thought while brushing away the blood oozing from Peach's lower lip.

 

Yoon couldn't hold his tears any longer, seeing his beloved husband suffer with him. Nevertheless, he was very, very thankful that Peach never leaves him alone.

 

Peach put down the bowl of soup. He held Yoon's hand and pressed it against his cheek, nuzzling against it. He kissed it gently and then wiped Yoon's tears with his thumbs. 

 

"I love you, babe. I love you very, very much." Peach said and placed gentle kisses on top of Yoon's head, forehead, left and right eyes, down to his nose and lips. 

 

"I love you more, babe," Yoon replied in a hushed voice. 

 

Peach closed his eyes and lay down beside Yoon, hugging him. 

 

**

 

The next day, they were sitting on the mattress under the big oak tree, facing the beautiful lake. Peach is leaning his back against the tree, and while Yoon was leaning his back against Peach, he was confined in between Peach's thighs. 

 

Their hands were intertwined while Peach's free hand softly caressed Yoon's thin hair.

 

"B-babe, could... you...sing a song...for me?" Yoon asked in a hoarse voice with slightly heavy breathing.

 

Peach silently bit his lip; he was restless. Gulping down the bitter lump built in his throat and stifling back the clouds in his eyes, he replied. 

 

"Sure babe." He managed to respond calmly; he doesn't want to burst out again.

 

Peach began to sing “You Are So Beautiful” by one of the most famous singers in the world. Also, their favorite love song while suppressing his tears.

 

While Peach was singing, Yoon couldn't help but recall their memories together. from the moment of their first encounter and all their happy memories together. Yoon hopelessly let his mind drift into his memories.

 

Yoon fell in love with Peach the moment his eyes caught the first glimpse of him. He doesn't want to leave Peach either, but what could he do? The only thing Yoon could do right now is pray for all the deities out there and for the Almighty to let him be together with his beloved Peach in another life. He prayed with utmost earnestness.

 

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, my love, I'm sorry for hurting you, I'm sorry for letting you suffer with me. If we are granted a second life, I will find you and be with you and then we will live for a very...very long….long time. I'm so...so...sorry… I can't keep going anymore... Until then, my beloved husband, my beloved Peach. I love you, and I'm sorry…" Yoon breathed his last breath and shed his final tears. 

Peach stopped singing and let his tears flow freely. He knows his beloved husband has already departed. 

 

"Babe," Peach mumbles as he feels the heaviness in his heart.

"Yoon... Babe…"

 

"Babe... babe... babe." He chants repeatedly, but no one can answer him anymore. 

 

He embraced Yoon tightly while his tears continued to pour freely. But no matter how many tears he sheds, it won't lessen the pain of longing in his heart. 

 

Peach couldn't utter a proper word; his throat was numb, and his head was dizzy. His eyes were clouded with tears, blinding his vision, and he could only whimper silently, suffering the unbearable pain while hugging his husband's lifeless remains. 

"Yoon...babe...babe... I will follow you soon.... so...so...so you won't be alone there. Babe, I love you so much, babe... could you take me with you? I-I... I won't be able to live without you, babe...babe... Wait for me there, babe…" He muttered nonstop.

 

Peach already knew this day would eventually come, but he never once prepared for it. The pain is too much to bear. It's so heavy that he could feel like dying as well.

They stayed under the tree, Peach hugging Yoon's cold and lifeless body until the staff arrived with the people who would help them take care of Yoon's remains. 

____

 

After Yoon was cremated, Peach scattered Yoon's ashes into the lake to fulfill Yoon's wishes before he died.

"Babe, wait for me there." Peach then let go of the last ashes on his hand.

 

"We will meet again, my love. I will find you wherever you are. My dear Yoon, I will find you and we will be together again. I pledged to find you again. I will find you, my love." 

 

**

A few weeks later

 

"Sir, here are all the documents you asked me to settle." It was attorney Terrence Forter, their legal attorney.

 

"But are you sure about your decision?" He asked again to confirm.

 

"Yes, I don't have any plans on taking it. I won't stay here for long anyway. If possible, I want to donate all of these to the orphanage. Yoon doesn't have any relatives to replace me or take over my husband's wealth. He will be happy and agree to it."

 

"Is that what you truly want?" Attorney Terrance asked once more.

 

"Yes, attorney, but I have a favor." 

 

"Tell me, what is it?"

 

"I want to purchase the land and the lake where I and Yoon have stayed. and make it private property. No one's allowed to enter there. Put a high fence around and reserve the cabin; I want the place to remain as it is." Peach stated 

 

"I'll do my best; I think it's negotiable. Don't worry." Replied Terrence

 

"Thank you, attorney." I want the place even if we have to pay 10 times or even a hundred times the price," Peach added. Terrence nodded