happily N(ever) after

confrontation

Phayu paced back and forth in his dimly lit apartment, his heart racing with a mix of anger and desperation. He had heard the whispers, the rumors that Rain was seeing someone else. The thought of Rain with someone like Leo twisted in his gut, igniting a fire of jealousy he couldn’t ignore. He had been too late, too wrapped up in his own fears to realize what he was losing.

When Rain finally returned home that evening, he was still buzzing from the art festival and the laughter he had shared with Leo. He opened the door, expecting the familiar comfort of his secret home, but instead, he was met with an unsettling silence.

“Rain,” a voice called out from the shadows, sending a chill down his spine.

“Phayu?” Rain’s heart dropped as he stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind him. “What are you doing here?”

Phayu emerged from the darkness, his expression a mix of hurt and anger. “I came to talk. We need to discuss what’s been happening between us.”

Rain’s stomach twisted. “I don’t think there’s anything to discuss. I’m trying to move on, Phayu.”

“Move on?” Phayu’s voice rose, filled with disbelief. “You think you can just replace me? After everything we’ve been through?”

“It’s not about replacing you! I’m just trying to find happiness,” Rain replied, his voice steady despite the fear creeping in. “You made your choices, Phayu. You pushed me away.”

Phayu stepped closer, his eyes darkening. “And you think you can just kiss someone else and act like it doesn’t matter? Like I don’t matter?”

Rain felt a surge of defiance. “I didn’t kiss Leo to hurt you. I’m trying to live my life, Phayu. You can’t keep holding me back.”

In a sudden movement, Phayu grabbed Rain’s arm, his grip firm and unyielding. “You don’t understand. I can’t let you go. Not like this.”

“Phayu, let me go!” Rain shouted, trying to pull away, but Phayu’s hold only tightened.

“Not until you understand what you’re doing to me,” Phayu said, his voice low and intense. “You think you can just walk away and be happy with someone else? I won’t allow it.”

Rain’s heart raced as he realized the depth of Phayu’s desperation. “This isn’t love, Phayu. This is control. You can’t just kidnap me because you’re scared of losing me.”

Phayu’s expression softened for a moment, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through the anger. “I’m scared, Rain. I’m scared of losing you forever. I thought we had something special.”

“We did,” Rain replied, his voice trembling. “But you pushed me away. You made me feel like I wasn’t enough. I can’t keep waiting for you to figure things out.”

Phayu’s grip loosened slightly, and Rain seized the opportunity to step back, creating distance between them. “You need to let me go, Phayu. I can’t be your safety net anymore.”

Phayu’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, and for a moment, Rain saw the boy he had fallen in love with—the boy who had once made him feel cherished and valued. But that boy was buried beneath layers of fear and possessiveness.

“Please, Rain,” Phayu pleaded, his voice cracking. “Don’t do this. I can change. I’ll do better. Just give me another chance.”

Rain shook his head, his heart breaking for the boy he once knew. “I can’t. I need to take care of myself now. I deserve to be happy, and I can’t do that if I’m constantly looking over my shoulder, wondering if you’ll come back to claim me.”