~~Chiyeonn~~{Book 7}

Breaking Point

The evening sun cast long shadows through the sprawling mansion that was both a home and a prison for Chiquita. Inside, the air was thick with tension as she paced back and forth in the living room, her heart racing with anger and frustration. Lisa stood across from her, arms crossed, her expression a mix of defiance and concern.

"I can't believe you went through my things!" Chiquita shouted, her voice trembling with emotion. "You have no right to invade my privacy like that!"

"I was worried about you, Chiquita!" Lisa shot back, her tone sharp. "You've been acting out for months, and I just wanted to understand what was going on with you!"

"Understand?" Chiquita scoffed, shaking her head. "You think going through my diary is going to help you understand me? All you ever do is criticize and control me! You don't even see me for who I am!"

"Don't you dare talk to me like that!" Lisa snapped, stepping closer. "I've sacrificed so much for you, and all I ask is that you be honest with me!"

"Sacrificed? Is that what you call it?" Chiquita's voice rose to a near scream. "You've never been there for me when I needed you! You were too busy trying to make me into some perfect daughter who fits your mold! You don't even know what I'm going through!"

Lisa's expression faltered, pain flashing across her face. "I'm trying to be a better mother! But you make it so difficult! You never let me in!"

Chiquita clenched her fists, tears brimming in her eyes. "Maybe that's because every time I try to open up, you shut me down! You make me feel like I'm not good enough—like I'm a disappointment!"

"Chiquita, I—" Lisa began, but Chiquita cut her off.

"Save it! You want to know why I act the way I do? Because I feel like I don't belong anywhere! My body is a constant reminder of that. I hate feeling like I have to hide who I am! I hate that I'm intersex and that you can't accept that!"

The room fell silent, the air heavy with the weight of Chiquita's words. Lisa's expression shifted from anger to shock, and her eyes softened as she began to grasp the depth of her daughter's pain.

"Chiquita, I never wanted you to feel that way," Lisa said quietly, her voice trembling. "I love you, and I'm sorry if I made you feel unworthy. I never wanted to hurt you."

"Then maybe you should have thought about that before trying to control my life!" Chiquita replied, her voice cracking as the floodgates opened. She turned away, unable to hold back the tears any longer. "I can't do this anymore. I just... I just want to be me."

---

**Eavesdropping Truths**

In the hallway, Ahyeon had been standing frozen, her heart aching as she overheard the heated argument. Each word cut through her, revealing the hidden layers of Chiquita's struggles that she had only begun to understand.

"Why didn't she tell me?" Ahyeon whispered to herself, feeling a deep sense of helplessness wash over her. She leaned against the wall, tears pooling in her eyes. "I wish I could help her."

As the shouting quieted down, she could hear Chiquita's muffled sobs echoing through the hallway. Ahyeon's heart broke for her; the girl she had fallen in love with was hurting in ways she had never realized.

---

**Isolation and Despair**

Chiquita stumbled to her room, collapsing onto her bed in a heap of anguish. She pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face in her arms, sobs wracking her body. The pain was overwhelming, a mix of anger, sadness, and deep-seated feelings of unworthiness.

"What's wrong with me?" she choked out, tears soaking her sleeves. "Why can't I just be normal? Why can't I just be what everyone wants?"

In the silence of her room, her thoughts spiraled into darker territories, memories of her childhood flooding back—moments of feeling different, moments of feeling like a burden. The intersex body that had once been a source of confusion now felt like an anchor, dragging her deeper into despair.

---

**A Mother's Regret**

Meanwhile, Lisa paced in the living room, her heart heavy with regret. She felt the weight of her own mistakes pressing down on her as she thought of Chiquita's words.

"Why didn't I see it sooner?" she muttered, frustration and sadness intertwining. "I've been so focused on what I wanted for her that I completely missed how she felt."

Encouraged by Jennie's gentle nudges, Lisa picked up her phone and dialed her best friend. When Jennie answered, her voice was calm and soothing.

"Hey, Lisa. How are you holding up?"

"I just had the worst argument with Chiquita," Lisa admitted, her voice shaky. "I don't know how to fix this. She's hurting, and I don't know how to reach her."

"Have you considered giving her space for now?" Jennie suggested. "Sometimes, letting them process their feelings can be the best way to show you care."

Lisa sighed, feeling the weight of her responsibilities. "I just want her to forgive me. I don't want to lose her."

"You won't lose her, Lisa. Just be there when she's ready. It's going to take time, but she needs to know you're willing to listen and understand her."

---

**The Path Forward**

Later that evening, Ahyeon found herself at her window, gazing out at the stars. She couldn't shake the image of Chiquita's tear-streaked face from her mind. The hurt that radiated from her made Ahyeon's heart ache with a mix of sympathy and determination.

"I need to talk to her," Ahyeon whispered to herself, steeling her resolve. "She deserves to know she's not alone."

As she took a deep breath, she felt the familiar spark of love for Chiquita ignite within her, stronger than before. No matter the obstacles, she was ready to stand by Chiquita, to help her face the darkness that had overwhelmed her.

But first, she needed to respect the space Chiquita required to heal. It was a fragile time, and Ahyeon knew she had to tread carefully.

With a renewed sense of purpose, she decided to reach out to Asa, hoping to gather her friends for support. Together, they could help Chiquita find her way back from the edge of despair.

And somewhere in the depths of her heart, Ahyeon held onto the belief that love could break through even the darkest of storms.