You never thought that unrequited love could literally end your life. You always saw romantic receptions as something common—"that shit happens," you said. Until you feel rejected.

You started to fall in love with Minji, your friend. You didn't take it too seriously, at least you were trying. Telling yourself that "this will pass, It's just a crush, I don't even want a relationship right now."

She didn't reject you, you rejected yourself. You rejected the idea of being with Minji because it seemed too dangerous to risk your friendship.

It started with a discomfort, something you couldn't explain. Then the coughs, and it wasn't long before... Petals started coming out. Hanahaki disease. This is the plot of a fanfic, there is no way this is actually happening.

But it was. Minji noticed you were acting strange. And honestly, you weren't the best at hiding it.

You were coughing, there was some blood along with the white lily petals. More blood than before. It wasn't a real illness, you didn't know if telling the truth would get rid of this illness, and oddly enough, you preferred not to risk it.

You were in the bathroom in your room, so you didn't bother to close the bathroom door. Too bad for you, because your mom let Minji in, as usual (she didn't always tell you she was going to see you). Minji knocked twice on the door before entering.

"Are you naked? I'm coming in, get dressed... or not."

She joked as she Come in the room. You tried to close the bathroom door with your foot, but Minji had already seen the blood in the sink, and the petals.

It had been 5 minutes since you two had been staring at each other in silence. You were sitting on the edge of the bed, and Minji was sitting on the beanbag chair in front of you. You just didn't know what to say. It seemed too absurd.

"I've heard about it... But I thought it was fiction."

Minji doesn't even know that she is the cause of this.