Work Text:
“Come on just one more shot.”
“But what if I throw up?”
“Just drink it already.”
Bickering and chatters surrounded the room. The atmosphere was light, just the workers having a day out from their usual routine of paperworks and business meetings. It was tiring actually, they had this big project that lasted for a year, although it's exhausting the pay was good. All that hard work was worth it and now here they are eating to their heart's content.
Gun is currently fixing his things to go home and is about to stand up when his phone rang. It was his cousin and also his neighbour, New. Gun pressed the green button and directed his phone to his ear.
“What is it New?” Gun answered.
“I-i uh- its-” Gun was getting impatient from New's stuttering and it didn't help from the headache he just started to feel because of the alcohol that he just drank. New also seems like he was whimpering in the other line and it stressed him even more.
“Cut the chase New, you know I have to go home quick because Off is alon-”
“Off is dead.” Gun was cut off and he felt his body freeze.
“Stop joking with me. This isn't-” Gun felt like he was falling apart.
“You know I don't joke around Gun” New's voice was serious.
Gun's head was a mess he didn't know what to feel or to do, he didn't even know if he heard that right even though it was stated so clearly to him. He didn't even cry, he was just too shocked to process his emotions.
----------
Off has dementia
He got it unusually early in life but still this occurrence is still unexpected.
The police said that he set something on fire in the kitchen, probably trying to cook for dinner again. He tried to go out of the room but he can't seem to turn the knob of the door and died of suffocation.
He had a hard time doing daily tasks that take common knowledge. Even opening a door is hard for him. He would have screamed and someone would come to him.
Off was a good man.
He always put other's well being first before him, he loves his friend and family. Even after he had dementia he tried to keep things normal as possible.
This is a tragedy.
But why can't Gun cry?
Maybe because Gun already stopped being his lover 6 months ago.
Gun wasn't exactly a bad partner but he wasn't a good one either.
7 months ago a lot of opportunities started to reach out to Gun, and of course as a goal driven man he was ecstatic. He immediately reported it to Off that he got accepted to a big company. Off being as supportive as ever hugged Gun and congratulated him. He gradually became busy and had little time for his partner.
He can't even deny that he didn't put much effort into it.
When Gun thought about the fact that he didn't even have memories with his fiance after he proposed, he realized he just lived to work.
Gun can't even give him memories to forget.
------------
Gun woke up from an alarm.
He looked around his surroundings trying to find someone.
"Honey?"
"Oh" He just remembered what happened yesterday.
He stood up walking to the door and opening it. He saw New setting the table for breakfast along with his husband Tay.
"Goodmorning Gun, how's your sleep?" Asked New.
"Take a seat, we made breakfast." Tay stated.
Gun was wiping the sleep in his eyes when he saw a transparent like figure at the back of New and Tay. Gun shrieked, he just saw the back of his dead fiance in the kitchen. New and Tay was worried so they rushed to Gun and asked him what was wrong.
"A g-ghost, o-ver there." he pointed his finger towards the stove in the kitchen.
"What are you talking about?" Asked Tay
"But O-Off is there." Gun was frantic, his palms were sweating from fear.
"Gun I think you need to rest, I will bring your breakfast into your room." New said, worry evident in his voice.
"But I'm telling the truth!" Gun is on the verge of breaking down.
Tay and New managed to get him back to his room and calm him down.
They thought I was just in shock of losing Off.
The hospital thought of that too.
--------------
Gun took his pills before he went to sleep.
Morning came and he stepped out of his room and looked at the kitchen counter, he sighed in relief when he didn't see Off.
"I thought I was losing my mind." Gun said to himself.
New and Tay weren't with him this morning because they have important matters that need to be finished.
He was getting water from his fridge when he saw a movement in his peripheral view. He whipped his head to that direction and what he saw spooked him that he dropped his glass of water.
It was the ghost of his late lover again. It seems like he was doing something, but he's not quite sure what exactly because there isn't anything in that area.
-----------
Gun had enough and he called in a shaman.
"I can't see him with my spiritual eye, but I can definitely feel an energy coming from there." The shaman said pointing exactly where the figure of Off is standing.
"According to his actions, he looks like he is hanging laundry, that's where the drying rack is always at." Gun explained.
"Also sir sometimes he looks like he does other household chores like washing the dishes or wiping the table…" He continued.
“Hmm doing housework? By any chance is your partner suffering from dementia?" The shaman asked
"Yes…How did you know?" Gun was surprised the shaman guessed that right.
"Similar things have happened before to families of people living with dementia. When dementia patients realize that they have dementia they do everything to keep from losing themselves. Of course this doesn't have any effect, but if their mind is strong their memories can be recorded on the fabric of space and time. Even after the person's death this takes on a physical form and reflects the past. It's just like watching a video recording of their life. He's not a spirit but we call it a "dementia spirit". They have a tendency to only be visible to one person. Naturally they don't harm physically, but it can be very upsetting emotionally. " The shaman explained to him
Gun was having a hard time absorbing the information. The shaman noticed his uneasiness.
“I suggest that you move out.”
---------------
His Off's dementia spirit.
The way Its acting is quite normal, this must be the early stages of his dementia.
These are the memories that Off has left in this world before he died.
At first it was surprising for Gun but he got used to it.
He saw Off walking to the door and Gun was confused.
“Wait where are you going?” Of course he didn't answer.
Gun followed Off out of the door and to the streets. Off stopped in front of a building, it was the hospital. Gun was shocked, and it clicked to him, this was the time when Off was diagnosed with dementia. Off went inside, but this time Gun didn't follow him in. He waited outside the hospital until Off would eventually come out. Off's face doesn't look so good. Gun followed Off home again, when he went in the door of his home, he saw Off slumped on the floor in his knees shaking.
He's crying.
Gun can't bear to look at his face right now because he too was shaking.
On that day 6 months ago, he was diagnosed by dementia and he was alone in our house crying.
Gun would've only found out about his condition 2 weeks after.
The next day Gun went to work and handed in his resignation letter, he wanted to look after Off. He can finance his needs through his online business anyway.
When Gun found out about Off's dementia, he was sad and cried too, but over time he resented him for losing his mind.
In front of Gun is Off's dementia spirit sleeping, He left and only his memories are present today. Gun can finally see whatever he did or even looked, these simple events weren't exactly what you would get excited to but Gun is grateful that he experienced those.
Even though it's too late.
---------
Gun woke up not seeing Off's dementia spirit.
He was nervous, he immediately ran out of the room only to see Off sitting on the couch watching tv.
“You have me worried.” Gun told Off, not really expecting an answer.
Gun observed Off's face, he was wearing a frown, although he was like that from the past weeks when Gun was watching him. He looked at the television, it showed a black screen.
“Of course it's turned off.” Gun muttered to himself. He reached for the remote and switched on the tv. It was showing a news report that Gun was never interested in, only Off, so he went back to observing Off.
For the first time, Off smiled.
Gun was appalled, he immediately searched for the news report dated back 6 months ago.
“Spring season has finally come-” Gun zoned out after he heard spring season.
7 months ago…
Gun can't take it anymore and he wants him and Off to live together in one house. It was their first time to step into the newly bought house. It was spring season and they're in their garden when Gun went down on one knee and proposed to Off. Off was extremely happy and just cried on the spot without even giving the answer to Gun. Gun only laughed at his situation despite being nervous as hell.
“Stop making fun of me, this isn't funny.” Off cried even more, Gun stood up and wiped his tears, he knew Off all too well and he already knew what he would answer because of his reaction but he also wanted to hear it from Off.
“So what is your answer?” Gun asked again, still hugging Off, he was smaller than Off so he can clearly hear Off's heart beating from his chest. That sound alone calmed him. He knew Off was his comfort person.
“Yes, of course!” Gun was smiling so wide and held Off tighter. Off then kissed his forehead.
He remembered.
Off remembered that day when Gun proposed to him.
He may not remember the moments but he remembered that he loves me.
----------------
Today New and Tay visited Gun.
The two of them were smiling when they entered the household. Gun was currently doing the dishes when they came in.
“Gun!” New squealed, running off to Gun and squeezing him into a hug.
“New I can't breathe.” Gun squeaked.
“Oh sorry, I was excited.” New loosened his deathly grip. They both laughed from his silliness.
“So what made you come here? I promise I'm not doing anything bad guys and I'm fine.” Gun defended himself.
“It's not that Gun, we already see that you're doing well, me and Tay have something to tell you.” Gun looked at New then at Tay, judging from their expressions it was going to be good news.
“We're going to adopt a baby soon!” Tay broke the news.
“Really? I'm going to be a godfather soon?” Gun mused.
“YES!” New answered, more like screamed. Gun and Tay joined the screaming too, not minding the noise they're making that would disrupt the neighbours peace and joined themselves in a group hug.
The both of them stayed in for dinner. Tay was talking about how he was nervous to be a dad and there is New who is assuring him that he would be a great dad. It started wholesome but they broke out into an argument when the topic changed to baby names. Gun looked at them, he's happy that they are finally starting a family. Despite the joy that he felt, he can't help but remember Off. If he wasn't always working, he and Off could've been married and soon maybe having a child.
Children.
Ever since they were together, Off always gushed about his undying love for children. He said that when the time comes he wants to have 3 children and spoil them to the fullest.
Time went by and it was time for New and Tay to go home. Gun was alone again, well not really, Off is still kind of there. Gun goes back to their room and he found Off on the right side of the bed sleeping. Gun brushed his teeth and changed to his sleep wear. Gun climbed in the bed and laid on his side, he watched Off's back. He didn't even remember the time when they stopped cuddling. It just happened that they're backs were facing each other and he was fine with that.
It occurred to him that he missed Off. He scoots closer to Off's figure and tries to hover his arm on his side, as if he was back hugging Off. Gun's arm was starting to go numb so he put a pillow in Off's place and hugged that instead.
At least he felt warm during the cold night.
-------------
It was a normal day of watching over Off doing housework, at least that's what Gun thought.
It was around 9 pm when Off went to the kitchen. Gun was just sitting on a stool, his arms on the counter top while his hands were supporting his head. Off went to the cupboard, he looked like he was getting something. He then went to the stove and turned it on. Something clicked in Gun's head, he was alarmed. He checked the calendar and what he saw horrified him.
It was the day that Off died.
6 months have already passed and he will be left alone permanently with no memories from him.
Frantic he went back to Off and he didn't see him, Gun was panicking and searched in their room. There he saw Off in front of their wardrobe.
“Honey, did you turn off the stove?” He didn't know why he was even asking but he was desperate.
Gun called him many times and even tried to touch him, only to grasp air.
“OFF JUMPOL!” Gun shouted.
This time Off looked in his direction.
“Off honey, you heard me?” Gun had that hopeful tone in his voice but it immediately went away when Off walked through him.
He looked back to where Off is headed and that is to the kitchen. He briskly followed him but Off stopped in his tracks. Gun walks in front of Off and he saw the terror that is written in Off's face.
The fire.
Gun also looked back to the stove. Of course he didn't see anything but he was still afraid. He looked back at Off again, his feet still planted to the floor.
"Off save yourself!" Gun was shouting at him, forgetting the fact that Off can't hear him.
It looks like Off regained his senses and he ran to the door but the smoke was becoming too thick that he is having difficulties breathing. He reached to the door but he slumped down to the ground instead.
"No, NO! Off open the door please!" Gun was already crying.
Off stayed kneeling to the floor but his hand reached out to the knob but he can't seem to know how to open it. Gun ran to him and quickly opened the door.
"Get out now! Don't die no no.." At this point Gun was hysterical, he grew attached to Off's memories that he had a hard time letting it go.
Gun quickly dialed 911 out of panic.
"Hello 911! Please help my fiance." Gun was already breaking down and words came out rushed.
"Calm down sir, please say it clearly, we can't take action if I don't understand the situation." The person in the other line tried to be patient.
"My fiance...Off..." He faltered, he remembered his situation again.
"Never mind." He ended the call.
Gun approached Off's body lying lifeless on the ground. He tried to grasp Off's beautiful hands but to no avail he still held air and then all of a sudden he disappeared just like that.
No more dementia spirit.
No more memories of Off to be remembered.
-------------
15 years later...
"Hello Gun, how are you? Pluem is 15 years old now, He said he missed his uncle a lot." New smiled giving the flowers to Gun.
"I also fulfilled your request, I took your ring and Off's ring and buried it in your garden."
New remained in his position and talked to Gun, he updated him about his life with Tay and their child. Sometimes he would vent out the problems that he had with his Husband or with work. It was getting late and New got up, dusted himself off.
"Till next time Gun." New looked at Gun's gravestone and then he left.
A shaman attended Gun's funeral, at first New and Tay was confused on why this person visited in the first place. Then they found out about Gun's situation after Off died.
They didn't believe at first because it seems ridiculous but they thought that at those times when they would visit Gun in his house, he would sometimes look on the other side of the room without reasons and he would zone out a lot.
They had doubts sure but there's no harm in believing right?
The shaman also told them that there was a man who stayed in the in between to wait for someone and that person is Gun.
"Honey?" Gun called to a familiar figure in the distance.
The person turned around and said.
"I've been waiting for you." Off smiled.