Takumi felt like both the ceiling and the walls were closing in. His heart was broken, shattered into thousands of pieces, as many as the days Min-Jun had been in his life. Seven years. Seven years they had known each other. Seven years since Min-Jun had become his family. Three years as his lover. Three years! As the memories flooded Takumi's thoughts, his pulse raced and his body froze. If only Min-Jun could keep those words to himself.
Min-Jun's steps could be heard. One step, two steps, three. The jarring sound of the sleek, black entrance door abruptly snapped him out of his reverie and back into reality. Takumi put all of his strength and energy into disciplining his mind and controlling his body. The endeavour was unsuccessful. No matter how much he wanted to run after Min-Jun, the burden of his lover’s words pinned him to the floor. The numbness in his body, evidence of the pain, made him unable to stand up. Tears were running on his face, a trail more intense than lava itself. His hands trembled as his boyfriend's words echoed in his mind.
"He broke up with me," Takumi whispered to himself, the words feeling foreign on his lips. He had replayed the conversation a hundred times in his mind, searching for answers, but all he found was a bottomless pit of despair.
"Min-Jun, why? Why did you betray me? Why did you do it after all the things I have endured and sacrificed to be with you? ", Takumi asked himself. Gut-wrenching sobs wracked his body, feeling as though his entire world had been torn apart.
His sorrow was gradually replaced by resentment. The taste of betrayal was bitter in his mouth, as his heart was blackening. "Is this your forever, Min-Jun? Is this how much you loved me? I came out for you! Was thrown out of home for you! Gave up my family for you!". The path of tears was spreading to his narrow neck and pronounced collarbones as the white cardigan he was wearing became soaked. Steadily, he gained the strength to stand up. His mind was telling him to breath and ease himself, but his heart was too hurt to listen. Takumi's fury was directed first at the glass in which Min-Jun held his whisky. Everything that caught Takumi’s eye was a victim of his anger: the coffee table decorations, the sofa pillows, some plates and glasses. "I am only 17 years old! I have no place to live, no money, my school fees have not been paid, how am I going to survive? Why did you abandon me like this? Don’t you love me anymore? ".
Takumi sat down briefly and kept thinking about the events that had just taken place. If you asked him before, he would swear on his own life that he and Min-Jun would grow old together. He was certain that their love would be everlasting. But now everything has changed. Now Min-Jun has thrown him away. From then on, there would be no Min-Jun. Takumi would be alone from that moment onwards. Takumi's chest tightened with every breath, his heart aching with a pain so profound it felt physical. He felt lost, drifting in a sea of pain with no land in sight. How could he face another day knowing that the person who had once been his everything was now gone?
"What will happen to my life now that you are gone? For the past seven years, we have woken up next to each other, slept in the same room, eaten together, gone to school together, partied together, and misbehaved together. For the last three years, we've kissed, made out, and had sex. How can I change my life and myself so that I no longer love or need you? Was it the circumstances with your mother or my father that caused you to be so distant? Or was it just me? Maybe I am uninteresting. But you should have known this before starting a relationship with me, right? Regardless, Min-Jun, what you did was inexcusable. Your betrayal has left me broken. If all you wanted was for me to despise you and go on with my life, you succeeded".
Once Takumi calmed down, his determination came back. He thought to himself that he would not only survive but also thrive without Min-Jun. Even if he wanted his lover back, Min-Jun made it very clear to him that their relationship was over. Not that he would ever beg, but after his lover’s betrayal he would never. Fate was both cruel and kind at the same time. He had won many beautiful memories with Min-Jun, yet he had lost so much because of him. Now, he would roam the world, go through life alone. Thankfully, life had shown him the way that same morning.
Feeling more optimistic, he packed his belongings and cleaned up the mess he had previously created. He would never give Min-Jun the chance to see how much he was affecting him. He left one thing behind: anything that reminded him of Min-Jun. He threw away every gift he received, every photo they had taken together, and every piece of clothing they had shared. He did, however, take a single photograph of himself, his father, his brother, Min-Jun, and Min-Jun's mother. The shot was taken on their first Christmas together as a family after their parents married each other. He felt compelled to maintain a memory of their betrayal. A reminder that family can be cruel. He wept one final tear for them. Was it harsh to suggest that he never wanted to see them again? Takumi realised he was mourning more than simply the end of his relationship with them; he was lamenting the loss of a part of himself. And in that moment, he realised that healing would take time, but he also understood that he would emerge from this darkness stronger than before.
Upon closing the door behind him, Takumi felt like a huge chapter of his life was closing. The sadness, fury, and bitterness Min-Jun’s actions created, were accompanied with a strong sense of determination to show them what they had lost by abandoning him and excitement for any surprises the future may hold.
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Super. I like Takumi very much!
Me too! He is such a sweetheart! ❤️ Glad you are enjoying the story!
I voted for Takumi to have a breakdown, so glad I got to read it happen.
This is the essence of my interactive stories: you get to decide what happens next in the story. Thank you for pointing this out!