SUNSHINE IN THE DARKNESS ⭐🌻

chapter-41(part one)

As the director calls, “That’s a wrap,” applause breaks out across the set. Crew members begin packing up equipment while actors, still in costume, exchange smiles and hugs. The once-bustling set falls quiet as cameras are powered down and lights dim. The director gathers everyone for a brief thank you, celebrating the hard work that brought the project to life. With a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction, the team begins to wind down, already reminiscing as they prepare for the final celebration.

"Let's go partyyyyyy!!!!", tong said excitedly.

Everyone was exhausted but finally breathing the air of freedom.

"Yeah, let's do it. ", apo said.

"No... You're not going for drinking", mile said seriously.

"Oh come on. Few drink won't hurt", apo said sulking.

"Yes, it would. Let's do it later. ", mile said rejecting the offer.

Tong looked at them disappointed. Then he looked at barcode who was lost in his own thoughts.

"What about you baby ?? Won't you join your phi ??", he asked pouting.

Barcode laughed at his silliness.

"Phi... I can't drink. What will i do in there ?? Why don't you take others??", barcode said cutely hugging tong.

"Yeah. I guess i don't have any choice ", he said rolling his eyes.

Jeff was standing away from the cast. He never got close to them whenever barcode was around. He didn't want to break him even more.

He listened to everyone but didn't say anything. He was present in the place but his soul was lost. He was so lost in his darkness that even after trying to come out he couldn't. And he didn't want to drown barcode into his darkness anymore.

Tong slowly approached him as everyone started to leave. Jeff was looking at barcode who was finally laughing like a normal person.

"He seems to doing better ", tong said standing beside him.

Jeff nodded , "I was the only obstacle in his happiness. Now that I'm gone. I'm sure he will find his happiness again", he said.

Tong looked at him. He saw the pain in jeff's eyes. He knew that jeff won't say anything but he was hurting himself everyday. He knew how jeff cried and hurt himself whenever barcode locked himself in or had a panic attack.

How jeff tried his best to not let his emotion took over him. How he waited everytime for barcode to be normal again. Everything was ignored by other except tong.

Everyone blamed jeff which was right but they didn't realize how much jeff was also suffering.

"You're going to leave, today. Right?", tong asked.

Jeff nodded.

"If you need any help I'm here ", tong said assuring him.

Jeff didn't look at him. He stared at barcode who was happily talking to ta. "Just take care of him for me ", he said and he turns away, fists clenched, hiding the tears threatening to fall. His steps are heavy, each one pulling him further from barcode. But he keeps walking, wiping a tear quickly before it shows. He hides his face, carrying the pain in silence as he leaves his love behind.

(BARCODE POV)
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I watch him walk away, my chest tight with the urge to call out, but I can't. My hand twitches, wanting to reach for him, but the weight of our past keeps me still. Each step he takes feels like a punch, but I’m frozen, trapped in the memories of everything that went wrong between us. I could stop him, but I don’t. The pain we shared lingers, heavy and unspoken, and I know—deep down—that’s why I let him go.