Chapter 11: A Decision to Make
[POV. Kilin]
The silence in my apartment was suffocating. The constant buzzing in my mind, the weight of the decision I had to make—it felt like the walls were closing in on me.
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My usual persona stared back at me—Kilin, the idol, the perfect image of fame and success. But deep inside, I knew that wasn't the whole story.
The last few days had been hell. I couldn't stop thinking about Naina. Her smile, the way she'd laugh at my stupid jokes, the way she'd listen to me when I was too tired to speak. She had become my escape, the one thing that made the chaos of my life bearable.
But now...
The message from my agency still echoed in my mind, the weight of their demands sinking in with each passing second. They had made it clear—no more contact with her. It was too dangerous. Too risky.
It wasn't just about Naina anymore. It was about my career.
My phone buzzed again, pulling me from my thoughts. Another message.
Manager: You're still seeing her. You know the rules. One more mistake and you'll be pulled from the upcoming promotions.
I read it again. The threat was clear.
I had to make a choice.
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[POV. Naina]
The last few days had been a blur of confusion and pain. Kilin hadn't contacted me. Not a single message. Not even a call.
It was like he had disappeared completely.
I didn't want to be angry at him. I knew this wasn't his fault. The pressure he was under—his career, his agency—it was all too much.
But that didn't make the silence any easier to bear.
I'd spent hours staring at my phone, waiting for a message that would never come. Waiting for him to tell me it was all a mistake, that we could go back to the way things were.
But deep down, I knew. I knew what had to be done.
Kilin was stuck between his dreams and me. And I wasn't going to be the reason he lost everything.
But what if he still wanted to see me? What if he was just as lost as I was?
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.
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[POV. Kilin]
The decision gnawed at me as the hours dragged on.
On one hand, I had everything I ever wanted—fame, fortune, recognition. I was living the dream. But it came with a price. It came with loneliness, with pressure, with the constant fear of losing it all.
And then there was Naina.
She had come into my life like a breath of fresh air. With her, I was just a normal guy. She didn't care about my fame, didn't care about the millions of eyes that followed my every move. She saw me, Kilin. The person I had almost forgotten was still there.
But my agency's demands were clear.
I had to choose.
I sat down on the couch, my head in my hands, trying to think. What did I want? What did I need?
Naina had always been the one thing in my life that felt real. She wasn't some fan, she wasn't part of the superficial world I lived in. She was just... her.
But I knew the consequences. I knew the risks.
If I continued seeing her, if I defied the agency's rules, it would cost me everything. Promotions, public image, my fans...
But then again, what was the point of all this if I didn't have something real? If I couldn't have one piece of happiness that was mine to keep?
I needed to talk to her.
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[POV. Naina]
I was sitting at the park, the spot where Kilin and I had spent so many quiet afternoons together. The city was busy around me, the noise of the world moving on without a care. But all I could do was think about him.
I had sent him one last message, telling him that I understood if he couldn't continue this, if he needed to focus on his career. I had to let him go, no matter how much it hurt.
The sound of footsteps approaching broke my thoughts, and I looked up to find him standing there.
Kilin.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The air between us was heavy with everything unsaid.
He was wearing a hoodie, his face partially hidden by the mask, but I could see the tension in his posture. He was nervous, and that made my heart ache.
Kilin: I didn't want to hurt you, Naina.
I shook my head, a small, sad smile tugging at my lips.
Naina: I know.
Kilin: I... I can't keep doing this. I can't keep pretending that everything is okay when it's not. My agency is on my back. They want me to stay away from you. They said... if I don't, I'll lose everything.
I swallowed hard, the words slicing through me like a knife.
Naina: I don't want you to lose everything, Kilin. I never wanted that.
Kilin: But I don't want to lose you either.
The words hung in the air, both of us knowing the truth. He was stuck. I was stuck.
I stood up slowly, stepping closer to him.
Naina: What are you going to do?
For a long moment, he didn't say anything. He just looked at me, his dark eyes filled with confusion and pain.
Kilin: I don't know.
I reached out, placing a hand on his arm gently.
Naina: Then… take your time. Just think about it. Do what's best for you. Because I care about you, Kilin. I always will.
I could see the conflict in his eyes, the way he was torn between the person he had to be and the person he wanted to be.
Kilin: I wish I could be both.
I nodded slowly, my heart breaking with every word he spoke.
Naina: I know. But sometimes, you can't have both. Sometimes, we have to let go of something to hold on to something else.
His hand reached for mine, his fingers brushing against my skin.
Kilin: I don't know if I can let you go, Naina.
I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. The truth was, neither of us knew how this was going to end.
But we couldn't keep pretending that everything was fine.
The world was watching.
And sometimes, the price of being seen was higher than you could ever imagine.
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