His Addictive ARCHNEMESIS ~ Ishman

Ch: 14 ~ Resonating Hurt

Ishan was fed up and filled with more guilt  with Shubman's cold indifference, his quiet compliance, and his refusal to acknowledge the hurt and confusion they both felt.

Each practice was agonizing, with Shubman avoiding his gaze, only offering robotic responses.

The following evening after practice, Ishan waited until the others left, lingering near the lockers, knowing Shubman would have to come through eventually.

Sure enough, Shubman entered, his expression unreadable as he avoided Ishan's eyes and moved toward his locker.

"Are you just gonna keep this up forever?" Ishan's voice came out rough, a mixture of bitterness and pain lacing his words.

Shubman didn't look up. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Ishan clenched his jaw, the silence and the coldness in Shubman's tone making his blood boil, yes he was there to apologize but his own bitter had made him more rigid and easy to temper.

"This! The silent treatment, the ignoring, the acting like I don't exist. I know you're mad at me, so why don't you just say it?"

For a moment, Shubman paused, his shoulders tensing. "Say what, Ishan? What exactly do you want me to say?"

"Anything! Yell at me, tell me I messed up, whatever! But stop pretending like you're some kind of robot with no emotions."

Ishan stepped closer, his voice rising. "You're hurting, and I get it, okay? I know I messed things up, but at least give me the chance to apologize."

Shubman's patience, worn thin from days of holding everything inside, finally snapped.

He turned, his eyes blazing with anger he'd kept buried. "Apologize?" he scoffed bitterly, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What are you apologizing for, Ishan? For manipulating me? For playing with my feelings just to take what you wanted? For treating me like a fool?"

Ishan took a step back, momentarily stunned by the harsh implications in Shubman's words. "That's not what I-"

Shubman interrupted, his fists clenching as the dam of patience finally broke.

"You don't get it, do you? You don't understand what it feels like to be hurt, to have someone play with your feelings! If you played me just for the Captaincy, i stilled would have not felt that bad, but you played my feelings. Can't belive someone could be so unbelievably cunning."

Ishan's anger flared, his patience wearing thin as Shubman's accusations hit too close to home.

"Oh, really? I'm Cunning ?" he retorted, voice icy. "Like you didn't do the same to me? Or have you conveniently forgotten how you used my weakness against me in the gym competition? You are no saint either."

"That was different!" Shubman yelled, his face flushed with anger. "I never made a fool of your feelings. I never pretended to be involved with—— just to tear you down!"

Ishan's voice rose, harsh and cold. "Oh, so you're the victim now? You think I'm the only one at fault here? I came here to apologize, but I guess I was wasting my time. I regret this whole damn thing. I regret feeling anything remotely for you."

Shubman's jaw clenched as he met Ishan's gaze, his voice breaking with a mix of anger and hurt. "And I regret ever letting you in. I regret believing you were different."

"Remember Shubman, just because you are hurt, doesn't mean the other’s around you aren't. Everyone have their own demons, you being hurt doesn't give to wright to question other, when you too have fault lieing on your side".