Chapter 44

(Tissues everyone)

Akira was left alone in the dark. Bleeding and fighting between life and death. She's struggling to breath  because of the big hole in her heart. The child decided not to take her heart for the reason that she wanted her alive until the real Mina arrives. She was certain it was her end when her wounds no longer heals.

A person in black suddenly appears. Akira can't clearly see and it seems like the person don't want her to know with the hoodie and black mask. She no longer have strength to fight and whatever this person will do to her she don't care anymore. I'm dying anyway.

"W-who are you?"

The person did not answer. Instead, hoodie helped her to lean on the wall. She guessed it'll be a woman from the delicate hands. It took something out from her pocket. A syringe with a green liquid. Akira let out a sigh. She knew this person is tasked to finish her.

"I'm sorry." The masked person said. Akira squinted her eyes. Why does it sound so familiar?

"W-what-"

Without any more words, the woman injected the unknown substance to her neck. Akira could feel the fluid running in her veins. She smiled realizing who the person is in front of her.

"So it was you all along." She chuckled.

The person took the syringe back on her pocket. Akira stared at her.

"Why are you doing this?" She asked. The lady didn't answer and just stood up.

"Come on. No harm in telling a dying person."

The woman let out a sigh.

"Listen-"

...

Mina and Chaeyoung is on their way back. The night gets deeper as Chaeyoung could feel something different in her gut. She's feeling nervous all of a sudden.

"Hey Minari did we forgot to buy something?"

"Hmm no we don't"

Chaeyoung let out a sigh and nodded. The weird feeling is still there. Like something bad is going to happen.

"Are you okay?" Mina looked at her in worry. Her hand tightening  on Chaeyoung's hold. She looked down on their joined hands and smiled.

"Nothing-"

"Wait." Mina suddenly stops on her track. Chaeyoung raised her brow in confusion.

"Blood. I can smell it in the air" Closing her eyes, she concentrated on where the smell is coming.

Mina's eyes widen. She immediately drag Chaeyoung on the direction her vision sent her. She can sense someone on the dark alley. Using her eyes, she can clearly see who is there. A person in hoodie in front of an injured-

"Akira!" Chaeyoung was first to ran towards the woman. The black person immediately escape. Mina tried to stop her but she suddenly vanished on the thin air. Teleportation?

"No no no please open your eyes." Chaeyoung is already crying seeing her friend in such dire state. Mina squatted in from of her to examine the wound. It's not closing.

"Mina do something please." Her lover begged as she weep in front of her. Mina could feel her heart breaking. Composing herself, she fished out her phone and dialled Momo's number.

"Aki wake up please..." Chaeyoung holds her cold hand. She's shaking from the fear of losing her. Akira grunted and tried to look at the woman in front if her.

"Ch-Chaeyoungie." She smiled realizing it was her friend.

"Yes it's me. What happened? Who did this to you?"

"The f-fake Mina did." She struggled to reply. Her breathing is starting to worsen. She started gasping for more air. Chaeyoung's cries louder.

"Don't die please. I still have many things to say we still-"

"I remember." Akira chuckled besides the struggle, she's smiling. Chaeyoung was stunned for a moment.

"You- how-"

"Hmm they s-said a person d-dying could see flashes of me-mories throughout her life." She laughed but stopped by a cough. She's coughing with blood again.

"No please don't say that. I still have to apologize for what I did." Chaeyoung is crying so much that she's having hiccups.

"I forgave you on that day Chae."

"But it was because of me that's why you-"

"N-No one is at fault. If we ha-ve someone to blame- it's him."

"Still.." Chaeyoung trailed. She knew Akira already forgave her. It's her nature ever since before. Her best friend might be a tease but she always took care of her.

"Ahh I don't want to die." Akira confessed.

"Then don't"

"But I can't do it anymore. I'm tired." A tear escaped in her eyes. It wasn't in red but the same eyes Chaeyoung remembered before. Those innocent and bright eyes of her best friend.

"Please don't leave us."

"They're coming in five minutes." Mina returned to them after calling the group. She squatted on Akira's right side.

"nee-sama." Akira called to her. Mina looked at her in confusion. Is she delirious and mistaking me for someone? She turned to Chaeyoung and her girlfriend nodded to her with tears in her eyes. Mina played along.

"yes?"

"Aki is sorry for- leaving you all- alone." The dying girl is struggling to speak but she's still doing it. Mina could feel something in her heart. Something she didn't know. A familiar one. It's like the first time she cried in front of Chaeyoung.

"It's okay." She didn't know why she said that but it feels like she should. Aki smiled warmly hearing her voice.

"and nee I forgave you." Her words struck something inside Mina. She felt her heart being gripped tightly by some invincible force.

"I'm happy." She beamed and tears started to fall one after another. "At least before I leave I have you two by my side."

Chaeyoung shook her head immediately.

"No don't say that please. Aki you said we will build the biggest sand castle for Mina and I." Chaeyoung weep, she didn't even bother wiping her tears and snots away. She only holds her friend's hand tightly, not wanting to let go. Hearing her words, Akira chuckled.

"Oh that yeah I suppose you have to do it alone."

"But you said you don't break promises!"

"Sorry." Akira smiled to her sadly. Chaeyoung can't say anything back anymore. Mina felt it too. she felt sad and she realized it when the girl started crying. Why am I feeling sad for her? We're not even close. Then a hot tear rolled down from her eyes. She didn't even notice that she was crying too.

"Hey Chaengie-" She cough another blood again. Chaeyoung watched her in pain. "you promised you will play that right?" She continued. Chaeyoung shook her head in refusal.

"Come on. A promise is a promise." She chuckled. Chaeyoung lowered her head, she can't clearly see from the tears occupying her eyes. Sniffing, she took out her phone and look for the song. She tried to wipe the tears away to clearly see the screen. She finally found it but just in time for the girls to arrive. All nine of them are there panting from the running.

"Aki!" Chaeyeon rushed to the younger woman's side. Momo followed to check the girl. Her eyes widen from the wound.

"This..." Momo trailed.

"Can you help her unnie?" Chaeyoung hoped that the woman would say yes but it seems like the odds is on them. Momo slowly shook her head.

"She was injected with a powerful chemical that I did not know. I don't have the antidote for this, even if I make one it'll be too late." She closed her eyes feeling helpless for the first time.

"No.." Sakura started crying too.

"Didn't I told you to be carefull?!" Chaeyeon hissed on the dying woman in front of her. Akira managed to smile.

"Sorry unnie for not listening to you." Akira sincerely looked at her with those hazy eyes. Chaeyeon burst into tears. Akira never calls her unnie, it was the first the she heard the younger woman call her with such familiarity.

"Stupid! why did you have to say that now." Chaeyeon gritted her teeth to avoid crying so loud.

"Sakura unnie thank you- and please take care of her." Akira coughs again. Sakura nodded silently. She treated the girl as her own sister and seeing her on such state makes her blame the world.

"Jeongie." She called.

"Yes?" Jeong is crying silently too.

"Don't fight."

Jeong turned around to hide her tears that won't stop. Why must it be her?

"I know." She replied with a hoarse voice. Akira looked around. She smiled seeing everyone. Ahh I thought I would die alone. This is better.

"Chae I'm tired." She looked at her friend to the right. Chaeyoung smiled warmly at her. She positioned herself beside her and took her friend's head to lean on her shoulder. She played the song and everyone watched them with tears in their eyes. Mina let them be, she was holding the right hand of the girl without even noticing it. Somehow, she felt familiarity in those cold hands even if it was her first time holding it.

Akira smiled and closes her eyes. Memories of the old days played, those days without violence. She remembered the promise she made with Chaeyoung. I finally fulfilled it. She remembered those times when she's bickering with Chaeyeon and Sakura pacifying them. She remembered those weeks happily celebrating and chatting with the group. This is nice. Dying with those happy memories. Until we see each other again.

Akira finally took her final breath. The song continued to play. Chaeyoung cried, everyone did except Sana since she can't cry. Even Dahyun, Tzuyu and Jihyo is crying. The short time with the girl is enough for them to shed tears for such beautiful person.

The day ended with sorrow and lost.

...

Author's Note:

A short update for the continuation. I don't like the idea of leaving it hanging for a long time so yeah hehe sorry. Akira is the character I created randomly with my own imagination. I really do love her too but the plot has been decided long before.

Ps. You can look for the translation of the song. It's one of my fav :)