Takes And Heartaches | Sukuna x Reader |

Chapter 11

The old photo album sat on the coffee table, its leather cover worn and slightly faded. Y/N's fingers traced the edges of the album, a relic from a time when her life felt simpler and more hopeful. She was sitting alone in her dimly lit flat, the silence only broken by the occasional hum of the city outside her window.

It was late evening, and the sky outside had deepened into a dark, velvety blue. The flat was eerily quiet, save for the soft rustling of the album pages as Y/N opened it. The photos inside were snapshots of a happier past—pictures of her and Sukuna together, their smiles genuine and their eyes filled with affection. Each image was a painful reminder of what they once had and what had been lost.

Y/N paused at one particular photo—a candid shot of her and Sukuna at a film premiere. They were standing close together, their arms wrapped around each other as they posed for the camera. The photo captured a moment of pure joy and love, but now it felt like a cruel reminder of the heartache that had followed.

The scene shifted, and the flashback unfolded in Y/N's mind, replaying the events leading up to their breakup with painful clarity.

One year earlier...

The flat was bustling with the energy of preparation. Y/N was bustling around, her hands full of wrapping paper and decorations, as she prepared for a special evening. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration—a milestone in both her and Sukuna's careers, and she wanted to make it memorable.

She had been looking forward to this evening for weeks. It was their anniversary, a time to reflect on their journey together and celebrate their successes. She had meticulously planned the evening, from the romantic dinner to the surprise gifts. Everything was set for a perfect night.

As she finished setting the table, her phone buzzed with a message. She glanced at the screen and saw Sukuna's name. Her heart skipped a beat with anticipation as she read the message: "I'll be a bit late. Something came up."

Y/N's heart sank. She had hoped he would be early, eager to celebrate with her. She tried to push away the disappointment, reminding herself that Sukuna's career demands were intense, and he was likely caught up in something important.

Hours passed, and Y/N's excitement began to wane. The carefully prepared dinner grew cold, and the romantic candles flickered dimly. Each minute that ticked by felt like an eternity, and her hopeful anticipation was replaced by growing anxiety.

Finally, Sukuna arrived, his demeanour tense and his expression distant. Y/N greeted him with a warm smile, trying to mask her worry. "You're late. I was starting to get worried."

Sukuna gave her a distracted smile. "I'm sorry. Work ran longer than I expected."

They sat down to dinner, but the evening felt strained. Sukuna was preoccupied, his mind clearly elsewhere. The conversation was stilted, and the joyful atmosphere Y/N had envisioned was replaced by a heavy silence.

After dinner, Y/N decided it was time to give Sukuna his anniversary gift. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small, carefully wrapped box. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she handed it to him. "I've been saving this for tonight. I hope you like it."

Sukuna took the box with a faint smile and began unwrapping it. Inside was a beautiful watch, a symbol of their time together and a gesture of her appreciation for him. His reaction, however, was not what Y/N had expected. He seemed distracted, barely registering the gift before setting it aside.

"Thanks," Sukuna said, his voice lacking its usual warmth. "It's nice."

Y/N's heart sank at his lacklustre response. She tried to ignore it and focused on the rest of the evening. But as the night wore on, the tension between them grew more palpable.