the boundary

Breaking Point

The morning after the concert was a special kind of hell for Ishan Kishan. His brain swam in the murky waters of a hangover, but that wasn't the worst of it. It was the kiss—the one with Shubman. He couldn't stop replaying it, feeling Shubman's lips on his, the way they'd pressed into each other, the world falling away around them. He had no idea what it all meant. Did Shubman think this was something? Did he think this was something? The questions nagged at him, pulling him under.

Ishan had never been so unsure of anything in his life.

The scalding hot shower did nothing to cleanse him of the confusion tangled in his mind. It was just the alcohol, right? He tried to convince himself, scrubbing at his skin like it could make him forget. Guys don't kiss guys unless they're...into guys. The idea jolted him. He was straight—he'd always been into girls. So why couldn't he stop thinking about Shubman?He skipped breakfast to avoid the awkwardness of seeing anyone. More specifically, Shubman. The city streets outside the hotel were a blur as he wandered aimlessly, blending into the bustling anonymity of Mumbai. But the storm inside him didn't settle. I need to figure this out.

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Shubman Gill had been an emotional wreck since the kiss. After Ishan had stormed off, leaving him in the hotel hallway with his heart still hammering in his chest, Shubman couldn't stop thinking about it. The softness of Ishan's lips, the way he had kissed him back, if only for a brief moment before pulling away. It had felt real. Natural, even. Not a mistake—not to him, at least.But now, he was spiraling. Ishan was avoiding him, and it felt like a knife twisting deeper into his chest every time he realized it. He spent all morning looking for Ishan around the hotel, the practice facility, even their usual haunts where they grabbed coffee before a session. Ishan was nowhere to be found. Every unanswered text gnawed at Shubman, a pit of dread growing in his stomach.

By lunchtime, Shubman was sitting alone, staring blankly at his plate, his appetite long gone. His mind was consumed by Ishan's absence, replaying the events of the previous night on a torturous loop. Did he regret it? Does he hate me now? The uncertainty was killing him.Rohit Sharma noticed immediately. He had a knack for reading people, especially his teammates. As captain, it was practically part of his job. But this—this wasn't just a minor slump or an off day. Shubman looked like he hadn't slept, his face etched with worry and something Rohit couldn't quite place. The only person missing from the usual group was Ishan, which made Rohit's radar ping even louder.

Rohit nudged Shubman, pulling him out of his daze. "Where's Ishan? Haven't seen him since this morning."

Shubman hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "Uh... I don't know. He's been... missing."Rohit raised an eyebrow, his expression softening with concern. "You've been off all day. This because of Ishan?"

Shubman's face flushed, and he quickly looked away, fidgeting with his fork. "It's nothing. He's probably just... doing his own thing."

Rohit wasn't convinced. He'd seen that look before, on his own face, when he couldn't get ahold of Ritika. It was the same blend of worry, frustration, and longing, though Shubman was trying to hide it behind his usual quiet demeanor. "Shub, listen to me." Rohit leaned in slightly. "I don't know what's going on between you two, but whatever it is, talk to him. The longer you let this hang over you, the worse it's gonna get."

Shubman looked up, startled by how accurately Rohit had read him. He nodded but didn't say anything. Rohit gave him a knowing look, patting his shoulder before walking away. "Sort it out, Gill. Otherwise, you're gonna be useless to me in the next match."Shubman's mind raced. He had to talk to someone, and there was only one person he trusted enough to get advice from: Virat.