Chapter 98 - Deep Breaths

Shun was sitting in an apartment he never been in, sitting beside his enemy, feeling lonelier than he had ever been in this world. He stared at his phone, looking through his gallery filled with his friends and… his lover.

‘Lover… heh… he hates me now. He probably is so mad he wishes we never got together…’

The look on the pinkette’s face was… It took everything in him to lie in front of Suu Jin. He hated it. He hated him. He could not believe he was breaking the idol prince’s heart. It wasn’t fair. This wasn’t right! All because stupid Gina wanted to get popular again! He fisted his hands so he didn’t turn and punched the female in the face.

He imagined strangling her, punching and kicking her, walking out without a worry, break her phone, anything he could do to leave this situation had passed through his mind. However, he was not that type of man. He did not like confrontation, hence why he ran away to be alone. Trying to calm himself, he thought of home, of his parents, of how upset his father would be knowing his situation.

Of course, he could just let everyone know about him.

That wasn’t the problem. He could careless anymore. Yet, if the world knew Suu Jin was…

He inwardly shook his head and exhaled deeply through his nose like his big brother would tell him.

[“There you go, deep breaths,” his brother’s kind voice said rubbing his back soothingly, “Everything is alright. I am here, little brother, I am here.”

His hiccups slowed and he held his brother just a bit tighter, before pulling away. Wiping his eyes and the boogers from his nose, he sniffled and looked away from his brother’s kind eyes. Pats to his head and then he was pulled against the elder.

“Neh, crying so hard. Reminds me of when you were stuck in the cupboard. A child then and a child now,” he felt the rumbling of laughter, “Ah Shun,” the older man sighed, “Did something happen when you ran away from mother? A scolding?”

“It is nothing,” Shun sighed as he remembered what he saw.

Prince Peter and a princess… at their secret spot…

“I’m just sad. I could be sad, can’t I?” He pouted and his brother sighed, wiping his face.

“Of course, baby brother,” His eldest brother smiled and patted his cheek, “Whatever happened, be strong, Ah Shun. You are a young adult.”

“But…” his lips wavered and he bit it to stop himself from crying again.

“To cry this much,” his brother sighed and cupped his face, “Your heart will heal, baby brother. Things happens for a reason. One day, you will understand.”]

His brother’s voice echoed in his mind and he steeled his heart, pulled in the emotions he felt, and looked over at the manager who just walked in. He stared at him then at Gina, then repeated his movements.

“What is going on? Gina. I told you to let me know what you plan before doing so,” the man sat before them rubbing his forehead.

“Fine, I will tell you,” Gina smiled coldly, “I will date Xiong Shun, get to the top female idol again, and…”

The female pursed her lips and Shun blinked blankly at her.

‘Why did she stop talking? Shouldn’t she be bragging about how easy it was to use me, use Jin. Fuck her! I hate her even more than the witch!’ Shun growled inwardly.

“Alright,” the manager looked at him and sighed, “You agreeing to her plot?”

‘No! Hell no! This bitch is crazy! I hate her! I hate her!’ His inner self was screaming at the top of his lungs.

“Yes.”

‘For Suu Jin, for my friends, for… everyone. I just have to stay until she is done with me. Then I can go back to Ah Jin… I hope.’

“Hm, alright then,” Gina’s manager nodded, “I’ll start making calls. Also, going to pick up some food. What do you want?”

Gina asked for some rice porridge and Shun didn’t answer, so she asked for two. Once the manager left, Shun glared at the female beside him.

“I’m tired. You should go to your room so I can have peace,” he stated. He had been sleeping on the couch since he left his lover alone.

“Hm,” Gina dragged her eyes up and down his body, “Sleep in my room with me. There will be people coming and going. They would need to know we sleep together.”

“What?! You want people to peek and-”

“Of course,” Gina smiled that warped ugly smile, “This was how Jin and I got so popular, didn’t he tell you?”

“Fuck you!” Shun scowled, “No wonder he was a mess! You are a conniving witch using your poison to ruin everything. It’s no wonder people don’t want to be around you. You bring nothing but the stench of death.”

A hard smack against his cheek caused him to stumble, but he quickly recovered and grabbed the female’s wrists. He gripped them tightly as he panted hot breath, anger prickled all over his skin. He dropped his hold and got up to sit where the manager sat. Shun turned away and stared at his phone, ignoring the way his cheek was burning.

Another notification.

He had silenced his phone since he left Suu Jin. Two days. Two whole day being forced into this relationship. Two whole days not sleeping beside the handsome pinkette. Two whole days since he felt so lonely. Each day was just worse and worse.

He had read the texts from Suu Jin, listened to the voicemails. Each time, he cried himself to sleep as his heart clenched with emotional pain. Not only was the idol prince contacting him but his dear friends were too. He only texted simple replies. No calls. He could not bare to hear their voices, it would only kill him more.

Ping Ping hated Gina and here he was pretending to date her. Wen Dong… He was sure his childhood friend would look at him differently. He couldn’t bare to hear their tone, their judgements, or their anger. So, he opened the text message and read it to himself.

“Where are you? Tell me Shun. I know there is something going on.”

Wen Dong… Still trying to look out for him.

“Gege! Hello?! I saw you and Gina kissing! Why? What is going on? Gege!”

Ping Ping’s strings of messages felt like gut punches to his stomach. Shun glanced up toward the brunette who was walking to her room. Shun narrowed his eyes and truly hated her. Gina, the one everyone warned and he ignored them. Now he was stuck here, hurting Suu Jin, and hurting himself.

He hated this. He hated her.

“Prince Shun,” Prince Peter’s voice was soft and worried, “Deep breaths.”