THE BREAKING POINT
Shin POV
All I could see was the way Peeta smiled at Saint. The way she leaned just a little too close. The way Saint let her.
It was irrational, I knew that. Saint wasn't doing anything wrong. He loves me the most. I'm his boyfriend already. But the thought of someone else getting so close to him, even for something innocent, made my stomach churn with jealousy.
What if Saint liked her more? What if Peeta could offer something I couldn't?
I swallowed hard, shoving the thoughts down before they could spiral further. I didn't want to doubt Saint. I trusted him. I cared about him. He is my love. My everything.
But damn it, seeing them together was driving me crazy.
I barely noticed when Chadjen stopped talking, his voice fading into the background as my attention stayed locked on Saint's retreating form.
This isn't okay.
Shoving the book under my arm, I turned on my heel, my mind racing as I followed them at a distance. I needed to do something-anything-to pull Saint back to me. Because no matter how much I trusted him, there was one thing I couldn't stand:
The idea of losing him to anyone even for a second.
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They disappeared around the corner, and panic set in. My eyes darted across the hallway, scanning for any sign of them. My heart hammered in my chest as I caught sight of them on the staircase leading to the second floor.
"What the hell are they doing there?" I muttered under my breath.
As I got closer, my heart sank. Peeta was clinging to Saint's arm, her fingers gripping him possessively as if she had any right to touch him like that.
*He is mine*
"Saint is here," Peeta said with a triumphant grin, her voice carrying a smugness that made my blood boil. "I told you he wouldn't say no to my charm,Emi"
Saint just stood there, smiling faintly, not saying anything. He didn't deny it. He didn't push her away.
Not denying?!
The air seemed to thin around me. It felt like a dagger had plunged into my chest, sharp and unrelenting. My mind screamed that this wasn't true, that Saint wouldn't betray me, but the scene before me drowned out every rational thought.
Peeta's friend, Emi, let out an annoyed huff. "Peeta," she snapped, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her away before she could say anything else.
All I could focus on was Saint. Saint chuckled softly, as if the entire thing was amusing. That laugh… it was the same one that used to comfort me on my worst days, but now it felt like a cruel mockery.
He turned, and his eyes met mine.
I stood frozen, unable to mask the tears streaming down my face. The horror on Saint's face was immediate, his smile vanishing in an instant.
"Shin…" His voice cracked, panicked and desperate. "Shin, wait. This isn't what you think—"
But I couldn't stay. I couldn't hear his excuses. Tears blurred my vision as I turned on my heel, rushing down the stairs as fast as my legs could carry me. My breath came in short, shallow gasps, the lump in my throat growing by the second.
"Shin, please stop!" His voice cracked, and it should have made me pause. It should have made me turn around and let him explain.
"Shin! Shin, wait!!"
My legs trembling as I descended the stairs.
"Shin! Shin, please stop! Listen to me!" Saint's voice echoed behind me, growing louder with each step he took.
But his words couldn't reach me. My chest burned, my throat tightening with the weight of unspoken pain, my heart too heavy. The pain was suffocating, consuming every part of me until all I could feel was the fear—the fear of losing him, of not being enough, of Saint slipping through my fingers.
How could he let her touch him like that? How could he laugh? How could he accept it? Doesn't he know how much it hurts me? Doesn't he know he is mine?
My vision blurred further, and I stumbled slightly, gripping the railing to steady myself.
"Shin!" Saint's voice was closer now, filled with anguish, but I didn't turn back.
I couldn't.
Because all I could feel was the fear of losing him—the fear that maybe, just maybe, Peeta could offer him something I couldn't.
All I could do was run, because if I stopped, if I turned back, I wasn't sure I'd survive the look in his eyes. The look that might confirm my worst fears.
.
Saint POV
I blinked, caught off guard. "Help? With what?"
"Just a quick favor Saint. You're the only one I can count on right now," she added with a laugh. Before I could respond, she reached out and grabbed my wrist lightly, tugging me toward the hallway with her.
"Peeta, tell me what's going on," I asked, already feeling uneasy.
She sighed dramatically. "You know Emi,My bestie? When I confessed my feelings to her, I also told her I planned to confess to you . From that day, she stopped talking to me. Now, after seeing you and Shin together, I finally understand. Emi might have feelings for me too. She's jealous."
"What? Are you sure?"
"Yeah.. Saint... I know-she's in love with me too. She just doesn't want to admit it. And seeing you and Shin together now... I realized what I need to do."
"Wait, Hold on sec... what do you mean 'me and Shin'? We're just-" I stuttered,
"Oh, please, Saint." She rolled her eyes, smirking. "The way you look at Shin, and the way Shin looks at you? It's like you two are the leads in some cheesy romance movie. Don't even try denying it. I saw how you dragged him upstairs today and returned all flushed. You're not exactly subtle, you know."
"Peeta, that's not-"
"Oi, oi, I don't need the details, Actually You two are terrible at hiding things for real... " she interrupted with a grin. "But you owe me this favor. If I hadn't been a catalyst, you two idiots would still be dancing around each other. So now, you help me."
I sighed, rubbing my temples "Alright, alright. What do you need me to do?"
She leaned in closer, whispering conspiratorially. "Act like you're into me for a bit. I need to make Emi jealous enough to admit her feelings and propose to me. She needs a push, and you're perfect for the job."
"This is such a bad idea..." I muttered, shaking my head.
"Come on, Saint. Just trust me. I know what I'm doing," she said, pulling me along with her.
I hesitated but nodded. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
.
Peeta's plan was in full swing. She clung to my arm, laughing louder than necessary, her body language practically screaming, Look at us, we're a couple!
"Saint is here," she said with a triumphant grin, her voice echoing in the hall. I bit my cheek to keep from reacting, trying to act normal.
Emi's eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening. Without missing a beat, she stormed over, grabbed Peeta by the arm, and dragged her away.
I couldn't help but chuckle, relieved it was over. If Shin saw Peeta with me he'll bite my head off... phew.. As Emi dragged her away, Peeta shot me a thumbs-up behind Emi's back, her plan apparently working. Now I need to find Shin and told him about this all.
As soon as they were out of sight, I exhaled in relief. "Finally," I muttered. "Now I need to find Shin and explain everything before he-"
I froze, turning around to see Shin standing behind me, his face streaked with tears. My heart dropped.
"Shin..." I stepped forward, my voice cracking. "Shin, wait. This isn't what you think-"
But he turned and started down the stairs, his movements quick and frantic.
"Shin, please stop!" I called after him, my voice rising in desperation.
He didn't listen. His silence, combined with the sight of his trembling shoulders, hurt more than I could put into words.
I broke into a run, taking the steps two at a time. "Shin! Shin, wait! Listen to me!"
Oh God… why is my luck so bad these days? Please, Shin, just listen to me. Why is he being so stubborn lately? Ugh… this is such a mess. He kept moving, almost colliding with Jom at the bottom of the stairs.
"Where the hell are you going?" Jom snapped, grabbing Shin's arm.
I shoved Jom aside before Shin could respond. "Back off," I growled.
Jom smirked, his mocking gaze bouncing between Shin and me, "Oho, my favorite duo," Jom sneered. "The brat and his guard dog. What's the matter? Did Shin finally realize you're not worth his time?"
"Shut the fuck up, Jom," I growled, barely holding myself back, fists clenching.
"Oh, looks like there's trouble in paradise. Is Shin crying?"
Shin's face twisted with anger as he wiped his tears harshly, glaring at Jom. "What did you just say, you asshole?"
"Oh, look at cute Shin getting mad. Did I hit a nerve?" Jom laughed, taking a step closer. "Touchy, aren't we? Or Is it because I said something about your boyfriend?"
"Fuck off, Jom, or I'll break your jaw," Shin snapped, his voice shaking.
Jom smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh, now you're mad because I said something about your boyfriend? Right ? What's the matter, Saint? Did he finally dump you?"
Shin turned to me, his eyes blazing with anger and hurt. "Who's whose boyfriend, huh? I'm not anyone's boyfriend!"
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. He denied it so easily, as if what we had meant nothing. I opened my mouth to respond, but he slapped my hand away when I reached for him.
"Fuck off, Saint. I don't want to hear from you anymore."
"Shin, wait-"
"Saint, just fuck off!"
His words hit me like a punch to the gut.
But Jom stepped between us again, flanked by two of his friends.
"Where do you think you're going, lover boy?"
"Move," I growled.
Jom sneered. "Make me.", shoving me and that was the last straw. I snapped. My fist connected with his jaw before I could stop myself, the sound of the impact echoing through the hallway. He stumbled back, clutching his face.
"You son of a bitch," he growled, lunging at me.
The fight was chaotic. I dodged his wild swings, landing blows of my own, but his friends jumped in, making it a three-on-one.The hallway erupted into chaos. Fists flew, bodies collided, and I fought like hell, fueled by frustration and desperation. All I could think about was getting to Shin. I fought hard, adrenaline fueling me as I took them down one by one. By the time it was over, my knuckles were bloody, and my body ached.
But when I turned to look for Shin, he was gone. He never left me before... We always get each other back.... Right? But now..... What happened to us? Why Shin??
I searched everywhere, my chest tightening with every empty hallway I passed. Finally, I spotted him under our usual tree, his knees drawn to his chest, his face buried in his arms.
"Shin..." I approached cautiously, my voice trembling.
He didn't look up. "Don't, Saint. Just don't."
"Please, let me explain. It wasn't what it looked like. Peeta-"
"I don't care," he interrupted, his voice cold. "It doesn't matter, Saint."
"It does matter! I would never hurt you. But Why are you acting like this?You mean everything to me-"
"No!" he shouted, his voice breaking. "I don't want to hear your excuses. I can't... I can't do this right now. I don't care, Saint!" he snapped, finally looking at me. His eyes were red and puffy, his expression a mix of anger and pain. "I don't want to hear it. Just leave me alone."
His words cut deeper than any punch I'd taken from Jom. I reached out, but he flinched away, the distance between us growing in more ways than one.
The distance between us was unbearable, and just when I thought I couldn't feel any lower, I heard hurried footsteps approaching. Before I could respond, Peeta and Emi came running up, their expressions a mix of concern and urgency.
"Saint, are you okay?" Peeta exclaimed, rushing up to me. Her eyes widened as she took in my bruised face and the blood staining my knuckles. "Oh my god, are you okay? What happened? I saw you fighting—"
Before she could finish, Shin snapped.
"Great timing," Shin spat bitterly. "Your girlfriend is here. Go ahead, Saint. Go to her." he spat venomously, glaring at Peeta. His voice was sharp, his anger and hurt boiling over. "Go on, Saint. She's here now, right? Cheater."
"Shin!" Peeta looked startled, blinking rapidly. "What are you talking about? I'm not—"
"Don't play dumb!" Shin interrupted, his voice rising. "I saw you two together. Acting all cozy. Laughing. What the hell do you think I'm supposed to think?"
Peeta straightened, her initial surprise fading as her expression turned firm. "Okay, Shin, I think you need to calm down and listen for a second."
"Why should I?" Shin shot back, his voice trembling. "So you can cover for him? Don't try... He is just my friend now. I'm done—”
"Shut up!" Peeta shouted, her voice cutting through Shin's tirade. "God, you're being such an idiot right now! If you're not Saint's boyfriend I'm already punching you. "
Shin froze, startled by her outburst.
Peeta took a deep breath, her tone firm but more measured. "You've got it all wrong. Saint isn't my boyfriend. He never was, okay? The whole thing was my stupid plan to make Emi jealous. And for the record, Emi and I are together. Saint was only helping me with my stupid plan to get Emi to confess her feelings."
"What?" Shin blinked, his anger momentarily giving way to confusion.
Emi stepped forward, her arms crossed. "Yeah. I've been in love with her for a long. And she was too stubborn to admit I felt the same, so she roped Saint into her ridiculous scheme to push me into confessing. And we just got together . That's it, Shin. No one's trying to take Saint from you."
"Exactly," Peeta said, her gaze steady. "Saint's been head over heels for you since who knows how long? . Do you think I'd seriously try to get in the way of that? Get real. I knew the moment I asked him , I didn't even stand a chance."
Shin looked at her, still defensive but clearly wavering. "Then why did he let you cling to him like that? Why didn't he stop you?"
"Because he was helping me, dumbass," Peeta said bluntly. "And you shouldn't be so insecure. Did you even notice how he was looking at you the entire time, even when I was hanging on his arm ? He doesn't even look at me even for the act. His eyes are always searching for you, Shin. Always."
Emi nodded in agreement. "Saint never looked at you the way he looks at anyone else. And trust me, it's not subtle."
Peeta stepped closer, her tone softening. "You've got something most people would kill for, Shin. A love that doesn't waver. You should think about that before jumping to conclusions."
Emi added, "And Shin, you really shouldn't be insecure. Saint's eyes never wander. He's so fixated on you,"
Shin turned to me, his guilt evident, but I couldn't bear to look at him anymore. My heart is heavy with pain.
"Saint, I-"
"It's okay," I interrupted, my voice hollow. "Don't. You'll never believe in me, Shin. Not as your boyfriend. Not even as your best friend. Not even after everything we've been through. Even when we've been best friends all our lives, you still don't trust me."
.
Shin's POV
Their words hit me like a freight train. I stood there, unable to speak, as guilt clawed at my chest. The truth was so obvious now, yet I had let my insecurities blind me.
I glanced at Saint, my gaze falling on his bruised face and bloodied hands. He looked utterly defeated, his usual spark dulled by exhaustion and hurt. The sight of him like that—because of me—made my stomach twist painfully.
How could I have doubted him? He had always been there for me, through everything, and this was how I repaid him? Shin.. you idiot...shit.. what I've done?
"Saint,I —"
I took a hesitant step forward, my lips parting to apologize, but Saint's voice stopped me cold.
"It's okay he said quietly, his tone flat and void of the warmth it usually carried.
"Don't!! You'll never believe in me anyway, Shin," he interrupted, his eyes meeting mine. They weren't angry—they were sad, heartbreakingly so. " Not as your boyfriend, Not even as your best friend. Not even after everything we've been through. Even when we've been best friends all our lives, you still don't trust me."
"Saint…"
He shook his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "We've been best friends for most of our lives, but I guess that doesn't mean much when it comes to you believing in me. I guess this will not work between us anymore..."
His words cut deeper than anything else could have. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, to make it right, but no sound came out. Only tears....
Saint turned and walked away, leaving me standing there under the tree, broken and ashamed.
The weight of my actions pressed down on me, suffocating and relentless. I wanted to run after him, to beg for his forgiveness, but my feet refused to move.
Why I was so insecure?
I had hurt him in a way I wasn't sure I could ever fix.
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To Be Continued......