Resignation of Bien

Breaking Point

Bien sat at his desk in the bustling office of Bad Egg Productions, scrolling through his phone with a heavy heart. Negative comments about Christian's personal life continued to flood social media. Each one was like a dagger to Bien's chest.

Bien's fingers trembled as he scrolled. The hateful words blurred together, creating a cacophony of negativity that echoed in his mind. His phone buzzed with a message from his mother. His father's condition has worsened and they need more money for his new medications. Things were getting too expensive for his mother.

The weight of the world seemed to press down on Bien's shoulders. He felt Christian's comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, are you okay?" Christian asked softly.

Bien couldn't bring himself to respond. He just stared blankly at his phone, feeling the walls closing in. Of course, he wasn't okay. None of what was going on was okay. Christian was getting cyberbullied every day. Bien's financial problems back home were growing. Another brand was planning to pull back. Nothing was okay.

Bien just smiled and tapped Christian's hand.

Night fell, and Christian continued his attempts to console Bien. They walked through a quiet park, the cool air doing little to lift Bien's spirits. Christian tried everything to make him smile, from buying snacks to cracking jokes, but Bien remained distant.

They found an empty bench under a lamp post and sat down. The stars twinkled above them, but Bien's mind was elsewhere. He could hear Mr. George's ultimatum, the cruel words of the netizens, and the mocking laughter of his classmates from seven years ago. The noise was deafening.

Christian tried again, "Remember that time we got lost in the city and ended up at that cute little café? You couldn't stop laughing."

But Bien's expression didn't change. It felt like something inside him wanted to crawl out so badly that he couldn't hold it in any longer. "We should break up," he said, his voice trembling.

Christian was stunned. He stared at Bien, struggling to process the words. "What? Why?"

Bien repeated, "We should break up."

Christian's eyes widened with shock. "What's going on, Bien?"

Bien took a deep breath and decided to just let it out. "I used you," he said. "I needed this job, and I knew being close to you would secure my position."

"That's a lie," said Christian. "I know you love me."

"How could I? After what happened seven years ago? After I was humiliated in front of everyone? You think I could forget that?"

Christian's face fell. "Bien, you don't mean that. I know you don't."

"I do," Bien lied, feeling his heart shatter with each word. "And look at you now, losing control over your emotions. It's your fault we're in this mess. You're too hot-headed. You'll never change."

Christian pleaded, "Bien, please. Don't do this. We can work it out."

"We can't. You can't."

As the tension escalated, Matthew appeared. "Bien, let's go," he said firmly.

Christian was taken aback. "Matthew? What are you doing here?"

Bien's voice was cold. "I called him. I need to get away from you."

Christian's desperation turned to anger. "You're running away again, Bien. Just like you did seven years ago."

Bien's resolve wavered, but he pushed through. "Yes! I am running away from you! I need to..." Bien lost to his emotions. He breathed slowly and composed himself. "I need to run away from you. I don't need you anymore."

Christian tried to grab Bien but Matthew got in the way. Christian's frustration boiled over. He punched Matthew, his emotions getting the better of him. "Stay out of this!"

Bien rushed to Matthew who was on the floor, blood on the side of his mouth. Bien glared at Christian. "See? This is why we can't be together. You're always losing your temper, and it's only making things worse."

Christian's pleas grew desperate. "Bien, don't leave. Please, I love you."

But Bien stood up and walked away, his final words lingering in the air. "Goodbye, Christian."

As Bien and Matthew walked away, Christian fell to his knees, devastated. The night seemed colder and darker, and the weight of his loss was more than he could bear.

Bien and Matthew got into Matthew's white car, the engine's hum a dull throb in the otherwise silent night. The once-noble steed in Bien's eyes now seemed like a hollow shell, its owner a stranger. The air between them was thick with tension and unspoken words.

Bien stared out the window, his heart heavy with the weight of his decision. He turned to Matthew, his voice barely above a whisper. "Did you get your video?"

Matthew nodded, unable to meet Bien's gaze. The guilt was palpable in the air, thick and suffocating.

Bien's eyes hardened, his voice laced with bitterness. "Good. Make it viral. I broke Christian's heart. I'm the bad guy." Tears swelled up, he finally met Matthew's eyes. "That will make me the target instead of him. He'll garner sympathy and recover from this issue, the company survives, and I leave the country. People will forget about everything eventually. Your problems are solved."

The words hung in the air like a dark cloud. Bien could no longer hold back the tears, and he broke down in Matthew's car, his sobs wracking his body. Matthew remained quiet, his own heart aching for Bien.

As they reached Bien's apartment, Matthew followed him to the doorstep, his voice soft. "If you need someone to talk to—"

Bien closed the door behind him, cutting off Matthew's offer mid-sentence. Bien was just too tired to respond.

Inside his room, Bien collapsed onto his bed, his decision was crashing down on him. He broke down again, his sobs echoing in the empty room. It was a release, but it offered no comfort. The pain was overwhelming, consuming him entirely.

His mind replayed the events of the evening over and over. Christian's pleading eyes, the hurt in his voice, the way he had tried so desperately to hold onto Bien. The memories were a relentless assault, each one sharper than the last.

He buried his face in his pillow, muffling his cries. The sound was raw, filled with a sorrow so deep it felt like it would swallow him whole. He clung to the pillow as if it were a lifeline, his body trembling with the force of his grief.

Bien had thought he was doing the right thing, but now, alone in his room, he wasn't so sure. The guilt, the heartbreak, the overwhelming sense of loss—it was too much.

As the night wore on, Bien's sobs gradually subsided, leaving him feeling hollow and empty. He lay there, staring up at the ceiling. He had sacrificed his happiness for the sake of others, but at what cost?

The room was silent, the only sound was the faint hum of the city outside. Bien felt utterly alone. He had broken Christian's heart, and in doing so, he had shattered his own. Seeing his luggage, he started packing.