You're Mine, I'm Yours

Part 24

Khaotung stood by the pool, leaning against the wall, the dim light reflecting off the water casting shadows across his face. The cigarette between his fingers glowed briefly as he took a drag, eyes fixed on his phone, scrolling mindlessly to distract himself from the gnawing pain inside.

First approached cautiously, his heart pounding in his chest. He could see the tension in Khaotung’s stance, the rigid set of his shoulders, and the hard line of his jaw. Summoning the courage, First spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Khaotung, are you still mad at me?”

Khaotung’s gaze snapped up, his eyes cold and distant. Before First could react, Khaotung slapped his hand away.

“Didn’t I tell you not to touch me?” Khaotung’s voice was low, filled with barely restrained anger.

“I’m sorry, Khaotung,” First pleaded, reaching out again. This time, Khaotung’s response was swift and brutal. His fist connected with First’s stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

“Don’t you dare,” Khaotung warned, his voice a dangerous growl. First doubled over in pain, clutching his stomach, his heart aching more than his body.

“Tung, please,” First begged softly, desperation seeping into his tone.

“What, First? You want me to forgive you for making me feel like shit?” Khaotung’s voice shook, the memories of betrayal and humiliation rising to the surface. His body trembled with the force of his emotions, his heart breaking all over again. “You fucking humiliated me, made me feel like shit like I’ve never felt before.”

Each word hit First like a hammer, the realization of the depth of his actions sinking in. His eyes filled with tears as he saw the pain he had caused, the wound he had inflicted on the person he loved most.

“Khaotung, I never meant to—”

“Save it,” Khaotung cut him off, his eyes blazing with anger and sorrow. “I can’t even look at you without remembering what you did to me.”

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken apologies and shattered trust. Khaotung turned on his heel, walking away with a final, piercing glare. As he disappeared into the shadows, Mix stepped out, a smirk playing on his lips.

“What did you do to get beaten up like that?” Mix mocked, disbelief in his voice. “The untouchable First, reduced to a punching bag.”

“None of your business,” First snapped, still reeling from the pain in his stomach and the deeper, more acute pain in his heart. He sank to the ground, head in his hands, the weight of his actions pressing down on him. He knew he deserved every bit of Khaotung’s wrath, but the knowledge didn’t make the hurt any less.

Mix shook his head, clearly bemused. "You really messed up, huh?" he said, walking away and leaving First to his thoughts.

He sat there for what felt like hours, the memory of Khaotung’s words echoing in his mind. The pool’s still surface mirrored the turmoil inside him, and he realized that the path to forgiveness, if it existed at all, would be long and fraught with pain. For now, all he could do was endure, hoping against hope that one day, he might find a way to mend the trust he had broken.

As Khaotung stormed away from the pool area, his heart racing with a tumult of emotions. His footsteps echoed through the hallways until he reached the training room. The dimly lit space smelled faintly of sweat and leather, and the only sounds were the soft hum of the air conditioning and the distant thump of music from another part of the gym. He grabbed a pair of boxing gloves, his fingers trembling as he slipped them on.