Chapter Text
Mischa stared at his phone. She hadn’t responded to any of his messages since the accident. He didn’t know what happened to Talia, but he guessed she’d moved on. Maybe that was a good thing. Now he could move on, focus on the choir, or finally post one of his songs.
Mischa rolled over in bed and put his phone on his desk. He could hear his adoptive parents arguing upstairs. He shut his eyes, but sleep felt too far away. His mind wandered, away from Talia and Ukraine, insead, his thoughts landed on the choir, on how he was brought back. It was at that moment that he coughed up the first petal. He couldn’t see it in the darkness of his room. He stood, flicked on the lights, and looked at it. No blood, not yet, just a soft, red rose petal.
Mischa was unsure of how the universe decided whether his love for Talia was reciprocated or not. Ocean had told him over and over that surely he was being catfished. He alway kept hope, but it was hard to be optimistic like this.
He texted Constance, hoping she’d understand. He’d grown closer to the other choir members, but her and Noel the most. And there was no way he was telling Noel. He coughed up another petal.
Mischa: i think i have flower disease
He quickly typed out:
Mischa: don’t tell noel
It was no surprise that Constance didn’t respond immediately; it was pretty late, and she usually spent Friday nights watching movies with her family. After a few minutes contemplating messaging Ricky, Mischa received a text.
Constance: flower disease?
Constance: like hanahaki?
Mischa: yes that one
Constance: why can’t i tell noel?
Constance: is it for him?
Mischa considered explaining his situation. But he was more worried about the actual fucking plants he’s coughing up. Obviously he couldn’t tell Noel that his Talia had moved on. Noel had only voted for him because of that romance, and without that… without that Mischa was nothing. Mischa coughed and wheezed as two more blood red petals came out of his mouth.
Mischa: just dont
Mischa: what do i do
Constance: does it hurt?
Constance: are there thorns?
Mischa: not yet
Constance: should i come over?
Constance: who’s it for?
Constance: you should tell them
Mischa: dont come over adoptive parents are fighting
Mischa: i cant tell her
Constance: why not?
Mischa: talia will not respond
Constance: theres a lot to unpack here
Constance: why wont she respond
Mischa: do not know
Constance: so you have hanahaki because talia isn’t responding and you think she doesn’t love you anymore?
Mischa: think so
Constance: how long has it been?
Constance: since she’s last texted, i mean
Mischa: before cyclone
Constance: that long?
Constance: its weird that its only starting now
Constance: i mean
Constance: not that i wanted it to start sooner
Constance: i dont want you to die
Mischa: you think i will die
Constance: sorry i have to go
Constance: my parents are telling me to go to bed
Constance: good night
Mischa: wait
Mischa: im going to die
Mischa: constance
Mischa’s last three texts remain unread, as Constance’s icon goes offline. Shit. There was no way he was going to sleep now. Not when his friend just implied that he might be about to die.