Sweet Rivalry : From Bitter Enemies To Sweet Lovers (BXB)

25- Lovesick

As the days passed, My life seemed to be flowing smoothly, with me intentionally avoiding any encounters with Tim. Avoiding his calls, texts and meeting him one on one. Every spare moment of mine was spent in the company of Rei, seeking solace and refuge from the looming presence of Tim even in school.

But just when Neo began to feel a sense of calm, the tranquility shattered like fragile glass.

It had been exactly one week since I had last seen Tim, and I had started to let my guard down, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.

Little did I know, Tim had been silently plotting his return, fueled by a mixture of anger and desperation. Determined to confront me, he devised a plan to meet me forcefully, refusing to let our connection fade away.

During the lunch break, I was clutching my painting tightly in my hand, eagerly waiting for Rei to return from the washroom.

The vibrant colors and intricate brushstrokes on the canvas seemed to come alive, reflecting my emotions and aspirations. I was proud of myself as it was my first painting and it turned out pretty good.

As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, I  felt a presence approaching. I turned around to find Tim standing before me, his expression seemingly calm. My heart skipped a beat, unsure of what Tim wanted to discuss.

He began the conversation with measured words. I tried to keep his composure, hoping to avoid any confrontation. But as we delved deeper into the discussion, the tension between us escalated, like a smoldering fire ready to ignite.

Tim: So, how have you been?

Neo: Mmm.. well.

Tim: You been well without talking to me?

Neo: I- I mean-

Tim: Why are you avoiding me? You know how much I tried to call you? After all that shit you did to me it's me who was trying to communicate with you! Who should take responsibility for that day?

Words that were once calm and measured became laced with anger and frustration. Tim's voice grew louder, his face contorting with fury.

Tim: YOU KNOW HOW MUCH EMBARASSING IT WAS FOR ME!?!
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOURSELF!?

I could feel the intensity of exchange, the air around us crackling with pent-up emotions.

Amidst the chaos of the conversation, My grip on the painting tightened, my knuckles started turning white. The artwork, once a source of solace, now served as a reminder of the turmoil that surrounded me. The colors on the canvas seemed to blur, mirroring the confusion and turmoil within my own mind.

As their conversation reached its boiling point, I could no longer contain my own emotions within me. My voice rose in defiance, matching Tim's anger with my own resolve.

Neo: STOP IT ALREADY!! I DON'T THINK YOU DO THINGS OUT OF LOVE!! You are being selfish here. I can see you are using me!! I don't want to take things further!

The lunch break seemed to stretch on endlessly. 

Tim's anger boiled over as he snatched the painting from My hand and sent it crashing to the ground.

The sound of the impact echoed through the room, drawing the attention of everyone present and I didn't even have a chance to react before I saw my beloved painting in ruins, shattered and scattered across the floor.

The vibrant colors that once danced on the canvas now lay in ruins, scattered like broken dreams....

My heart sank as I knelt down, my trembling hands reaching out to collect the fragments of my shattered happiness. Each broken piece seemed to mirror the pain I felt inside.

Neo: It.. took me 5 whole days to complete it.. I thought I found my comfort...

Amidst the tense atmosphere, Rei emerged from the shadows, her eyes burning with fury.

Rei: THIS SON OF A- What do you think of yourself!?!!! HOW CAN YOU BEHAVE YOU LIKE THIS?? ARE YOU NUTS?!?

Tim: Oh shut up! You have changed this idiot. He acts like a totally different person now. Who knows what you did to him!! This slut.

Tim rolled his eyes and Neo stopped Rei to slap Tim on the face. Neo struggled to speak,

Neo: It's all meaningless Rei. Nothing is gonna change.

Rei: But this idiot literally did the-

Neo: Leave it Rei. It's all hopeless. I was stupid that I started finding happiness in the paints and brushes. I should've know that it's not meant for me.

Tim: How dramatic.

After Tim's dramatic outburst, he rolled his eyes in a dismissive manner and stormed off, leaving the chaotic scene behind.

Meanwhile, Rei, with a compassionate heart, took a seat beside Neo to offer him some much-needed solace.

Rei: There is still time to save yourself from this shit. Remember you deserve much more than this asshole. Don't curse yourself because of him. When a person starts showing their red signals it's time for you to escape from that relationship. Burn the feelings you have for that bastard.

As My tear-filled eyes met Rei's comforting gaze, a wave of emotions washed over me.

Neo: To be honest. I don't feel the same for him anymore. After that hickey incident, when I slit my wrist for the first time, my feelings for him started disappearing. I realised it was not love when all these physical and mental abuse are involved. I really want throw him out of my life. But I'm - I'm afraid.. that I'm not that strong. What if he do anything more worse!?! I'm scared... I'm scared Rei.

My heartache was palpable, and the weight of my shattered dreams for a perfect relationship, reliable partner seemed almost unbearable. But in that moment, Rei's presence brought a glimmer of hope, a ray of light amidst the darkness.

At that time I was lucky to have her by my side. Nathan, zen and others didn't even come to see me. They heard the whole drama from afar. But Rei, She listened attentively, her undivided attention solely focused on my pain. With each word, Rei's voice became a source of comfort, a balm to my wounded spirit.

Authors Note

No one deserves a toxic relationship where your partner manipulates you to hurt you by yourself or when they try to isolate you from the whole world so you'll not be able to seek help. If you are in a relationship like this or if you know someone who is in....

Please runaway. Be brave! Bcs you deserve much more than this! You can do it! It was hard for me to escape too but I was able to do that in the end and ik you can too!!

Relationship where physical or mental abuse is involved, or where other party is dominating isn't a healthy relationship. Help yourself, love yourself.