LOVE WINS ALL
Saint POV
As I stood there, my hand tightly entwined with Shin's, everything around us seemed to fade into a hazy blur—the crowd, the cheers, the chaos of the gym. None of it mattered. What mattered was this moment, raw and real, where Shin had laid his heart bare without hesitation.
This was the same Shin who used to scold me for PDA, who once acted like even holding hands was a crime punishable by death. And now? He was standing in the middle of the court, having just declared his love for me in front of the entire school.
I glanced at our friends in the stands—Chadjen still gawking in disbelief, Cable grinning like a madman and Peeta practically glowing with pride. Peeta would definitely brag about predicting this day for weeks.
But most of all, there was Shin. His face was flushed, his lips slightly swollen from our kiss and his eyes shining with fierce determination. He had fought his fears, pushed past his pride and claimed me unapologetically.
And damn it, if that wasn't the boldest, most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.
A laugh bubbled out of me as I tugged him closer. "You're really something, Shin ," I murmured, my voice low enough for only him to hear.
"Yeah?" he asked, his smirk faltering into something softer. "You love it, don't you?"
I smiled, feeling that familiar warmth bloom in my chest. "Yeah... I really do."
The thought hit me then, sharp and clear—I was home. Not in a place or a routine, but in a person. Shin is my home, my chaos, my everything.
The past few days had been rough, filled with misunderstandings and frustration, but none of that mattered anymore. Because at the end of it all, we had found our way back to each other. And this time, I wasn't letting go.
I held onto his hand a little tighter, my heart soaring with the certainty that we were exactly where we were meant to be. I knew life would throw more challenges our way, but we'd face them together.
Because Shin was mine. And I was his. And nothing—absolutely nothing—could change that.
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Shin POV
The roar of the crowd was still echoing in my ears as Saint's hand stayed firmly entwined with mine. The celebrations came to an end and the crowd slowly dispersed. My heart hadn't quite settled after everything that had just happened. But the sound of rapid footsteps quickly pulled me back to reality.
"Holy crap, Shin Krab! That was insane!" Chadjen yelled as he reached us, grinning like a madman. "Never thought I'd see you pull off something this dramatic. Thought you were all about rules and quiet vibes."
"Guess love makes you wild," Cable added, nudging Chadjen with a smirk.
I rolled my eyes, feeling my cheeks heat up. "I wasn't trying to be dramatic," I grumbled, though my voice wavered.
Saint chuckled beside me. "Oh no, Shin—you're definitely a drama king."
Before I could respond, AJ and JJ came barreling through, their expressions filled with mischief.
"Yo, Bro..!! That was straight out of a romance drama, man!" AJ exclaimed, mockingly wiping a tear from his eye. "Truly heartwarming!"
"I was moved. Honestly," JJ added, faking a sniffle. "Someone please call the press; this love story deserves national coverage."
Kay was the next to join, casually slinging an arm around Saint shoulder. "Never thought I'd see the day, Shin. You actually landed a boyfriend who's as dramatic as you." He grinned at Saint. "You've got your hands full, man."
Saint smiled, his grip on my hand tightening. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
The playful teasing escalated, and I couldn't help but laugh, my earlier nerves dissolving in the warmth of their banter. It was chaotic, loud and ridiculous—but it was also perfect. I felt surrounded by love and acceptance, a stark contrast to the turmoil I had been through.
"Alright, enough with the teasing," Saint declared, though amusement danced in his eyes. "We get it—we're cute."
"Oh, Saint said cute," AJ gasped, pretending to faint. "The world must be ending."
I groaned. "Can we focus on something other than us for a second?"
Kay snorted. "Nope. You're stuck with us."
The chaos only grew from there.
"Honestly, Shin, you've been hiding this romance arc for how long?" Tew grinned, dramatically waving his arms. "All these years of thinking you were a lone wolf—when in reality, you're out here scoring a whole boyfriend in front of a crowd."
"I wouldn't call it scoring," I muttered under my breath, trying to downplay the whole situation.
"Uh-huh, smooching on the court while the entire school watches says otherwise," Kay teased, winking.
"Not to mention that declaration of love," AJ cut in, pretending to mimic Saint's voice. “"He's mine, and I'm not letting him go." I swear I almost cried.” He clutched his chest in mock agony.
"Five stars for the performance," JJ added, flashing a thumbs-up.
"Saint really knew how to steal the spotlight."
Saint only chucked at remark as I groaned, feeling my face heat up. "Can we not relive that guys? Please?"
"Too late." Kay grinned, slinging an arm around Saint. "It's already etched into history."
"You guys are impossible," I grumbled, trying to sidestep the teasing circle.
But of course, Saint was not on my side. In fact, he was thriving in the attention. He stood there, grinning like he had just won an award, his fingers still laced with mine.
"You're enjoying this way too much," I hissed at him, narrowing my eyes.
"Why wouldn't I? You look adorable when you're flustered," he whispered, his tone smug.
"Saint!" I growled, but he just chuckled.
"Oh, don't be mad at your boyfriend, Shin," AJ teased. "Saint deserves an award for dealing with your grumpy ass all this time."
I shot a glare at Saint, hoping he'd at least try to defend me.
But no. He was having the time of his life. This idiot... "I mean, they've got a point,” he said, grinning. "It's a full-time job keeping up with Shin."
"That's it. I'm done with all of you," I declared, crossing my arms and turning away dramatically giving death glare to Saint.
"Aww, come on, Shin," Kay teased. "Don't be mad. You just gave us all the best entertainment of the year."
Saint tugged me back gently, his grin softening into something more tender. "Hey, Shin" he murmured in his puppy voice giving his adorable puppy eyes, brushing his thumb over my knuckles. "You know I love you, right?"
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, trying to fight the smile threatening to break through.
"And I'm really proud of you—for being brave out there, My love" he added, his voice quieter now.
I sighed, my fake anger crumbling. "You're impossible."
"But you love it."
"Unfortunately."
As the teasing continued, I tried my best to stay composed, but Saint was still clearly thriving. His smug grin grew with next joke thrown my way.
"I swear, Shin's face could set off a whole fireworks show right now," AJ quipped, doubling over with laughter.
"Stop it idiots" I huffed, attempting to walk away this time for real, but Saint's grip on my hand only tightened, pulling me back to his side.
"You're not getting away that easily, tee-rak" Saint said, his voice low and teasing.
"Oh, I think he's trying to escape the PDA we all witnessed," JJ added with a dramatic sigh.
"Well, too bad!" Chadjen grinned. "We're here for a replay."
Before I could fire back, Saint did the unexpected—he spun me around with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
"What are you—" I barely got the words out before he dipped me right there in the middle of the court, one arm securely around my back.
Gasps and whistles erupted from our friends, and even the lingering crowd that hadn't yet dispersed.
"Holy crap! Are they filming a rom-com?" Cable hollered.
"Smooooth, Saint," Kay cheered, clapping enthusiastically.
"You better kiss him now, or I'm refunding my ticket!" AJ yelled, clearly having way too much fun.
Heat flared in my cheeks, but Saint was completely unfazed. He held my gaze, his expression softening. "You're mine, Shin. I don't care how much they tease us—I'm not letting you go."
The world blurred again as he leaned down, pressing his lips to mine. The teasing faded into the background, replaced by the warmth of his touch and the steady beat of his heart against mine.
The moment lingered, soft yet electrifying, until a loud chorus of claps and whistles shattered the spell.
"Woohoo! That's what I'm talking about!" JJ hollered.
"Someone get a slow-motion replay on that," Tew added dramatically.
Flustered, I pulled back, glaring at our rowdy friends. "You guys are the worst."
Saint laughed, pulling me close. "Nah, they're just jealous."
"Of what?" I huffed.
"This." He grinned, brushing his nose against mine.
"Ugh, get a room!" Kay groaned.
Despite my embarrassment, I couldn't stop the grin tugging at my lips. The teasing might never end, but I didn't care—not as long as I had Saint by my side.
.
The laughter and teasing from our friends were still echoing in the court when the atmosphere suddenly shifted.
"Well, isn't this a heartwarming display of… whatever that is.." a familiar sneer broke through the air.
I turned to see Jom swaggering toward us, flanked by his usual group of lackeys. His face was twisted with a smirk that sent a chill down my spine.
"Didn't know this court turned into a love fest for freaks, eww... Disgusting" he spat, his tone dripping with contempt. His friends chuckled, feeding off his toxic energy.
The words hit harder than I expected, and I stiffened instinctively. Beside me, Saint's demeanor changed in an instant. His playful smile vanished, Saint's grip on my hand tightened as if he were barely holding himself back and when I glanced at him, his expression had darkened into something dangerous. His jaw clenched and I could practically feel the rage simmering beneath his skin.
"Saint," I whispered, trying to ground him. "Don't—"
But he was already stepping forward, his eyes blazing. "Say that again, you fucking bastard" he challenged, his voice low and deadly.
"No..," I whispered, tugging at his arm.
Saint didn't move. His jaw clenched and I could feel the tension radiating off him.
"What's the matter?" Jom taunted. "Too busy playing house to throw a punch today, Saint? Oh wait—your boyfriend probably doesn't let you do that anymore." His friends burst into laughter, feeding off the toxic energy.
Saint snapped. He let go of my hand and took a threatening step forward. His eyes blazed with fury and I knew he was seconds away from throwing the first punch.
"Saint, no!" I stepped in front of him, placing both hands on his chest. "He's not worth it."
Jom's grin widened, clearly enjoying the provocation. "What? Just stating the obvious. This isn't some fairytale where everyone claps for the happy couple. Some things just aren't normal, like you guys,you know?"
Saint's body tensed, his fist curling at his side. I knew that look—it was the same one he had when he was seconds away from losing control.
Before things could escalate, Kay stepped between them, his expression icy. "You wanna say that louder, Jom? So the whole court can hear what a pathetic, low-class bigot you are?"
"Seriously," AJ added, crossing his arms. "What year are you living in? You sound like a fossil."
"Pretty sure people like you are an endangered species," JJ quipped. "And not in a cute way."
Tew scoffed. "It's giving insecure loser vibes, bro. Maybe focus on fixing your personality instead of commenting on other people's lives."
Jom faltered, his smirk wavering as the weight of their words settled around him. His friends, who had been laughing moments ago, now looked visibly uncomfortable.
"You done?" Kay asked, his voice cold. "Because no one here cares about your outdated opinions. So why don't you take your trash talk and back away before we really embarrass you?"
Jom's face flushed with anger and humiliation. He opened his mouth to retort but seemed to think better of it.
But Jom wasn't done as he scanned our friends. "No wonder you all hang around Saint. His circus act comes with a free pass to be a bunch of nobodies." He sneered at Kay, AJ, and JJ. "Didn't think guys like you were desperate enough to be lapdogs for a hot-headed failure gay."
My chest tightened. I saw Saint's face darken, the flicker of rage in his eyes turning into a storm. He let go of my hand, his fists clenching at his sides.
"Move, Shin," Saint growled, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm going to teach that piece of trash a lesson."
"I said no," I insisted, glaring up at him. "You think I want to spend tonight bailing you out of jail? Or worse, seeing you get suspended ?"
His breathing was ragged but my words seemed to reach him, if only barely.
"He just insulted our friends,Shin" Saint gritted out. "You think I'm going to let that slide?"
"I know you want to, me too " I said firmly. "But he's trying to get under your skin. Don't give him the satisfaction."
Jom chuckled darkly, clearly enjoying the show."Aw, how sweet," Jom mocked. "Your little boyfriend protecting you now? That's cute. Now our Little Shin playing the voice of reason. Must be exhausting, always cleaning up Saint's mess."
I whipped around, my patience snapping. "Funny coming from you, Jom. You spend so much time badmouthing everyone else because you can't stand how pathetic your life is. How does it feel knowing nobody actually respects you? My patience snapping each passing second. "And you know what, you're still the same sad excuse for a human being, Jom. Picking fights to make yourself feel big? Newsflash—it just makes you look pathetic loser."
Jom's smirk faltered, but I wasn't done. "And for the record, our friends aren't lapdogs—they're loyal and real friends. Something you wouldn't understand because your so-called 'friends' only stick around because they're too scared to ditch you."
AJ let out a low whistle. "Damn, Shin went for the jugular."
"Absolutely savage," JJ agreed. "Remind me never to piss him off."
Chadjen laughed. "Jom looks like he just got hit by a bus."
Jom's face turned red with humiliation, but Saint's rage still simmered beneath the surface.
"Careful, Shin," Jom sneered. "I'm not scared of—"
"Maybe you should be," I cut him off, before Saint take over I spoke, my voice sharp. "Because the next time you run your shitty mouth, I won't stop Saint from knocking your teeth in."
Jom blinked, clearly not expecting that level of heat from me. His bravado faltered.
"Damn, Shin," AJ whistled from the sidelines. "You've got claws."
"Honestly, that was hot, Man" Kay added with a grin.
"Totally," JJ agreed. "Jom looks like he just saw his GPA drop. Loser...!!"
The laughter and teasing only fueled Jom's embarrassment. His friends were already inching away, clearly not wanting to get caught up in his mess.
"You got what you wanted," I told Jom sharply. "Now get lost before Saint changes his mind about not breaking your nose."
"It's not over." Jom muttered, trying to save face, but Kay stepped forward with a cold glare. "You heard him. Get out of here before we really embarrass you."
With his confidence shattered and his friends looking awkward, Jom muttered something under his breath again and stormed off.
As the tension dissolved, Saint exhaled heavily, though his body was still taut with frustration. I placed a hand on his chest, feeling the rapid thud of his heart.
"You okay?" I asked, searching his face.
"Yeah," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "I just hate people like him. You almost had to bail me out again."
"I always do," I teased, hoping to lighten the mood.
Aj clapped Saint on the back. "Man, you were seconds away from unleashing the apocalypse. Glad Shin reeled you in."
"Not gonna lie, though," JJ grinned. "Shin's smackdown was legendary."
"Certified savage," Kay added with a thumbs-up.
Saint finally cracked a small smile, the tension easing from his shoulders. "You really are dangerous, huh?"
"Only when I need to be," I quipped.
"Remind me to never be on your bad side," he said, his voice softer now.
"As long as you don't fight every idiot who runs their mouth, we're good," I teased.
Saint chuckled, pulling me close. "Deal."
"Someone has to keep you out of trouble," I quipped.
Kay clapped Saint on the back. "Damn right. Anyway just remember We've got your back, always."
"Now, can we get back to the cute couple vibes without interruptions?" AJ grinned, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
Saint's lips curved into a faint smile. "Thanks, guys. Seriously."
I leaned closer, whispering so only he could hear, "You handled that way better than I expected. Even if you looked like you were about to murder him."
He chuckled softly kissing my cheek. "Well, I had you and our annoying squad keeping me in check."
As the banter resumed, Saint pulled me closer, his hand resting on my back.The mood shifted back to something lighter, and as our friends continued their playful banter. Despite the chaos, the warmth between us remained unshaken.
Our love was stronger than jom's bitterness—and our friends stood by that love
with unwavering loyalty.
I know Love wasn't just about the romantic moments—it was about standing strong together, even when the world tried to knock you down. And in that moment, I knew one thing—no matter the challenges, we'd always have each other's backs.
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To Be Continued........