The Breaking Point (Unsaid Feelings)

The evening felt heavy with unspoken words, as Shen Shen waited for Wei Chen at the upscale restaurant. She had sensed that something was off earlier, a strange distance in his usual calm demeanor. Still, she hadn't expected the conversation to take such a turn.

Wei Chen entered with his usual composed demeanor, but something in the air had shifted. As he sat across from her, the space between them felt more like an ocean, vast and separating them further with each second. She smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes, trying to push past the nervousness that swirled in her chest.

"I didn't think... you'd have time for dinner today,"

Shen Shen said, though her voice quivered under the weight of what she feared might come next.

"I have time," Wei Chen answered simply.

The meal arrived, the clink of silverware and the soft hum of the restaurant's ambience surrounding them in the silence. But this silence felt heavier than ever.

And then, he spoke. His words cut through the stillness like a blade.

"I have something I need to discuss with you." he said, his eyes locked onto hers.

Shen Shen's smile faltered, her heart already sinking, but she fought to keep it hidden. She lifted her glass of wine, taking a slow sip as she tried to steady herself.

"I want to downgrade our relationship, back to how it was before we started dating," Wei Chen said, his words hanging in the air like a bitter wind.

Shen Shen didn't flinch. She didn't want to. But inside, her heart had splintered. She held the wine glass in her hand, the glass trembling ever so slightly. She set it down, not trusting herself to speak right away.

"Why?"

Her voice was steady, yet there was something unspoken beneath it. Fear, Desperation, She wasn't sure.

Wei Chen's gaze softened ever so slightly, but his answer came with brutal honesty.

"Because I don't feel the same anymore," he said plainly, his voice devoid of emotion.

"And... I need to get close to someone for work."

The words hit her like a blow, but Shen Shen didn't let him see her pain. Her smile remained in place, but it was forced, thin, and brittle. She raised her glass again, but the wine tasted like ash on her tongue.

"So, it's just about work? I'm not interfering with anything, am I? I don't see why this has to be downgraded." Shen Shen asked 

Wei Chen fell silent, his gaze shifting, unable to meet her eyes. But when he spoke again, his voice was softer, almost apologetic.

"It's not just that," he said, his words slower, more deliberate.

"My feelings have changed, Shen Shen. It's not fair to you if I keep pretending things are the same when they're not. I don't want you to be stuck in a relationship that isn't real."

Shen Shen's heart clenched painfully at his words, but her exterior remained unbroken. 

"It can stay the same, though. If you need anything, I'll be here. Nothing has to change between us. I'm still here, just like before." she said, almost as if convincing herself. 

The words stung, yet she spoke them with a calm that fooled even her. Wei Chen didn't answer immediately, his face conflicted. He stared at her, his expression faltering for just a moment.

But the silence was more than enough.

"It's not just about the work, Shen Shen... it's about how I've been feeling and I can't keep pretending anymore." He said again, as if trying to make her understand the weight of his decision.

But Shen Shen only smiled, the pain behind her eyes masked by the faintest of grins.

"It's okay, we'll leave it here then." She said.

Standing up slowly, she gathered her purse, her movements calm but deliberate. The air between them felt thick with the unspoken, and as she walked toward the door, she refused to look back at him.

"Shen Shen..." Wei Chen started, but she cut him off before he could say more.

"We'll talk again sometime, if you still want to," she said. And without waiting for him to respond, she turned and walked out of the restaurant, leaving him alone at the table.

Outside, the city's lights glittered in the cool night, but Shen Shen didn't notice. Her thoughts were a chaotic storm of confusion, hurt, and realization. She could feel the pain of his rejection deep in her chest, but she couldn't let herself crumble. Not here. Not now.

As she walked down the street, her footsteps quickened, and with each step, the weight in her chest grew heavier. The breeze tangled with her hair as she crossed the road, stopping by a parked car. The streetlights flickered faintly, casting long shadows on the pavement.

Wei Chen's words echoed in her mind.

"My feelings have changed."

"I don't want you to be in this kind of relationship."

She hadn't expected this. But now, as the reality of the situation sank in, Shen Shen knew one thing for sure: she was still in love with him. And she wouldn't give up. Not yet.

She raised her head to the starry sky. Even though it was dark, the stars still shone brightly. She took a deep breath, calming the storm inside her.

"Downgrading the relationship doesn't mean I'll back down."

"If he doesn't feel the same way anymore, then I'll make him feel it again."

Shen Shen clenched her fist, her resolve hardening. She turned and walked forward, determined to change the course of this story.