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Tsurai loved his boyfriend. That much he knew.
He knew his dad wouldn't accept, though. So, he just didn't tell him. That way he got the best of both worlds. He could see his sisters, and he got to be gay. What luck!
Yeah, if only that luck had lasted...
Tsurai shoved his key into the ignition of his truck. It took a couple minutes of the engine stalling before it finally started with a roaring so loud he couldn't hear his own thoughts. Mint insisted on getting him a new truck, but that didn't matter to him. As long as it was still running it was good! ...Right?
He pulled out of the parking lot of the dorm complex, driving onto the freeway. He was still a little scared of them, considering the state of his truck, but he really wanted to see Mint today.
He had a gift for his boyfriend in the backseat. Mint was always buying things for him, so why not return the favor? Said gift was a kitten. He'd put it in a box with airholes at the top, and Lottie helped him wrap it with a blue bow. Tsurai saw how well Mint got along with Garbo, Julius' cat, and, well...he thought his boyfriend might like it.
Of course, all the while being unaware of the fact that most apartments don't allow pets. He also didn't take into account how Malcolm would react.
Eh, that didn't really matter to him right now.
He stopped at a traffic light, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel to the beat of the song on the radio. Recently, he tried to listen to My Chemical Romance, William's favorite band. He thought it was okay, though the only song he could actually remember was Helena.
The traffic light turned green again, and Tsurai pressed down on the gas pedal...only for the truck to not move.
"...Huh?"
The engine died with a soft click, breaking down in the middle of the freeway. Tsurai groaned, taking a hand through his hair. No, no, this could not be happening to him! Why now of all times?
A few horns honked behind him, and he slammed his head against the steering wheel. God, he had the worst luck ever.
He looked up suddenly, his eyes widening. His life flashed before his eyes. Birthdays, friends, family, Mint...all that felt so pointless now that he actually saw it.
Saw death.
And it was in the form of a car ramming into his windshield.
..............................................................................................
Mint chewed on his nails anxiously in the backseat of Malcom's car, his other hand fidgeting with the red bracelet around his wrist. "Dammit, Mal! Can't we go any faster?" He nearly begged, leaning forward to ensure his roommate could hear him. Lottie glanced back at Mint from the passenger seat, just as anxious as he was.
"I'm trying, Mint!" Malcom hissed through gritted teeth, his shoulders tensed up to his ears. He kicked on the gas pedal suddenly as the traffic light turned green, heading straight for the hospital.
As soon as they pulled into the parking lot, Mint jumped out of the car, running into the Emergency Room. "Where's Tsurai? Please, please, I need to see him!" He begged the receptionist.
"Sir, HIPAA disallows me from giving out patient information—"
"I'm his boyfriend, please! He got into a car wreck, I—I need to see him!" He nearly cried.
The receptionist looked torn, chewing on her lip, before typing the name Tsurai into her computer. "He's in room 182." She finally said, looking away in shame at how quickly she gave in.
Mint gasped in relief, running up the stairs as fast as he could to get to the room.
He ran down the hall, nearly getting whiplash at how fast he turned when he saw the doorplate 182.
He opened the door, freezing in shock at what he saw. A few nurses were holding Tsurai down to his hospital bed, trying to get him to calm down as he screamed and cried for Mint.
As he screamed for Mint.
"Sir, you can't be in here—" One of the nurses started, heading toward him, only for Mint to shove her away by the shoulder.
He knelt to Tsurai's side, holding his boyfriend's face in his hands and turning his head to look at him.
It wasn't a pretty sight.
"...Mint..?" Tsurai whispered, his voice hoarse from yelling.
"Shh, shh, I'm here now, Tsurai. Save—save your energy." Mint pressed his thumb gently against Tsurai's bottom lip, running it across the bandages there. "God, what happened to you?" He muttered under his breath, to no one in particular.
"I...I got you a gift. You probably don't want it now, though. I think it's too late." Tsurai ignored Mint's words, his voice choked with tears.
Was his time finally up? No, that couldn't be right. There was still so much he wanted to do. So much he wanted to experience. He couldn't die yet!
"Save your energy."
Those words repeated in his head.
He couldn't die yet.
He tried to speak again, but all that came out was a shaky gurgling sound.
And then the beep of his heart monitor flat-lining.
..............................................................................................
Mint stood over his boyfriend's grave, rain pouring down around him. Lottie and Malcom had long since left—they didn't want to linger in the grief like Mint was currently doing.
The cat that Tsurai had got him pressed against his ankle, before strutting over to Tsurai's grave and nuzzling against the cold tombstone. Mint had named her "Mai", a mixture of him and Tsurai's name. It shivered from the cold of the rain, but nonetheless remained curled against the tombstone.
Mint felt like it was impossible for him to cry any more tears. His eyes were sore from the action, red and puffy and all wrong.
This wasn't how it was supposed to happen.
This wasn't how any of it was supposed to happen.
And yet...
Mai pressed her cheek against Mint's ankle, looking up at him.
It was time to go.