happily N(ever) after

Slipping away

Phayu’s desperation reached a boiling point, and in a moment of reckless impulse, he surged forward, capturing

Rain’s lips in a forceful kiss. It was a kiss filled with urgency, a desperate attempt to reclaim what he felt was slipping away.

Rain’s eyes widened in shock, his body tensing as he tried to push Phayu away.

“Phayu, stop!” Rain gasped, breaking the kiss and stepping back, his heart racing with a mix of fear and confusion.

“This isn’t how you show love!”

But Phayu’s expression was wild, a storm of emotions swirling in his eyes.

“I can’t lose you, Rain! I won’t let you go!” His voice was raw, filled with a desperation that made Rain’s heart ache.

“Phayu, this isn’t love! This is control!” Rain shouted, his voice trembling. “You can’t just force me to stay with you. You need to understand that this isn’t healthy!”

Phayu’s grip on Rain’s arms tightened, his eyes pleading. “I’ll do anything, Rain. Just don’t leave me. I can change. I promise I can change.”

Rain felt a wave of despair wash over him.

He had fought so hard to break free, to reclaim his own happiness, but Phayu’s intensity was overwhelming.

The boy he had once loved was still there, buried beneath layers of fear and possessiveness, and it broke Rain’s heart to see him like this.

“Phayu, please,” Rain said, his voice softening. “You need to let me go. I can’t be the person you want me to be. I need to be myself.”

But Phayu’s desperation only deepened. “I can’t let you go. I won’t let you choose him over me. I’ll do anything to keep you here.”

Rain’s resolve began to waver as he looked into Phayu’s eyes, seeing the pain and fear reflected back at him.

He felt the weight of their shared memories, the moments of joy that had once filled their relationship.

But those memories were overshadowed by the darkness that had crept in, suffocating him.

“Phayu, I can’t keep fighting for us when you’re not willing to fight for yourself,” Rain said, his voice breaking. “I can’t keep living in this cycle of pain. I deserve to be happy, and so do you.”

Phayu’s expression shifted, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. “But I love you, Rain. I can’t just let you walk away.”

Tears welled in Rain’s eyes as he realized the depth of Phayu’s turmoil. “I know you love me, but love shouldn’t feel like this. It shouldn’t feel like a prison.”

In that moment, Rain felt a crushing weight on his chest, the realization that he might have to give up on the boy he once loved.

He had fought so hard to break free, but Phayu’s desperation was like a tidal wave, threatening to pull him back under.

“Maybe I’m just tired of fighting,” Rain whispered, his voice barely audible. “Maybe I’m just tired of feeling trapped.”

Phayu’s eyes widened in horror, and he stepped closer, his voice trembling. “No, Rain. Don’t say that. I can change. I’ll do better. Just give me another chance.”

But Rain felt the last remnants of his resolve slipping away. “I can’t keep waiting for you to figure things out. I need to take care of myself now.”

As the weight of his decision settled over him, Rain felt a sense of defeat wash over him.

He had tried so hard to make things work, to hold on to the love they once shared, but it was clear that Phayu’s fear had consumed him.

“Please, just let me go,” Rain pleaded, tears streaming down his cheeks. “I can’t be your safety net anymore.”

Phayu’s expression twisted in pain, and for a moment, Rain thought he might finally understand.

But then the darkness returned, and Phayu’s eyes hardened once more. “No. I won’t let you walk away. Not now.”

In that moment, Rain felt a deep sense of resignation.

He had fought for so long, but now he was simply too exhausted to continue. “If you can’t let me go, then I guess I have to give up,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Phayu’s face fell, the realization of what Rain was saying hitting him like a punch to the gut. “You can’t mean that,” he said, his voice trembling. “You can’t just give up on us.”

But Rain had already made his choice. “I have to take care of myself, Phayu. I can’t keep living in fear. I deserve to be free.”

As he turned to leave, Rain felt a heavy weight lift from his shoulders, but it was accompanied by a deep sense of loss. He had given everything.