Collision

Shattered

Chapter 8

With trembling legs, Han attempted to stand up, a desperate yearning etched on his face, but Chan's firm grip halted him. Holding Han's arm, Chan shook his head, whispering, "Not now. I know you want to go to her, but it's not the right time. Look at that," he pointed towards Maxine, seemingly surrounded by her company team members. "Approaching her publicly wouldn't be the best move right now."

Accepting the reasoning, Han slumped back into his seat, defeat etched across his features. "You're right, Hyung," he admitted, the weight of the situation settling in.

Maxine, on the other hand, struggled to contain her emotions. Her hands trembled, and unshed tears threatened to spill. "He lost so much weight," she mumbled, her heart heavy with concern.

Patricia, ever the comforting friend, tried to ease Maxine's worries. "It's probably just a diet. You know how it is before comebacks. Don't stress too much. They might be shooting something here in Jeju, like SKZ-CODE, perhaps?" she suggested.

Maxine considered Patricia's words, willing herself to believe that this encounter was merely a coincidence orchestrated by fate.

"Let's not dwell on Han too much and just enjoy this trip, okay? We're here to unwind, remember?" Patricia encouraged, trying to shift Maxine's focus.

"Yeah, you're right," Maxine replied, though the heaviness lingered. "You guys enjoy your time here; I'll be taking a nap in the bus." She sought permission from their supervisor, swiftly retreating to the company bus once granted.

Meanwhile, Patricia discreetly messaged someone.

"She saw him. Step 1 is done."

A reply followed shortly.

"Yeah, he saw her too. But where did Max go?"

"Probably couldn't handle the emotional burst when she saw Jisung. She asked our supervisor to nap in the company bus," Patricia explained.

"Okay. We won't be too long here and will be on our way out. You can call Maxine back out as soon as we leave," came the response.

"Okay, gotcha," Patricia confirmed.

Chan rose from his seat, sensing the need to intervene. "Yo, let's go now. I think Han might have a sudden breakdown if we stay longer," he suggested. Patterning Han's shoulder, he added, "Don't think too much about it. We're here to enjoy, okay? Take this time to breathe and not think about her."

"Yeah, you're right, Hyung. Sorry, guys, for ruining the mood. I promise I'll be better and not ruin this trip for us," Han assured, a genuine apology in his eyes.

"Nah, you're good, man. We understand," Felix reassured, tapping Han's shoulder comfortingly.

"How about a round of beer in our hotel? Call?" Changbin proposed.

"Call!" Stray Kids agreed, eager to shift the atmosphere and focus on the camaraderie they had always cherished. The promise of laughter and shared moments became a lifeline, momentarily drowning out the echoes of a past that lingered in the air.

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Maxine, confined within the solitude of the company's bus, found herself lost in a sea of conflicting emotions.

"Why do I still miss you?" she murmured, grappling with the turmoil within. "This is what I wanted, right? To let you go? But why does my heart always betray me?" She wiped away a solitary tear that traversed her cheek.

In the midst of her internal monologue, her gaze wandered to the figures outside the window – it was them. Laughter echoed as 8 men departed the cafe, and a certain someone was wearing a smile she undeniably missed.

"I'm glad you're happy," she whispered, a bittersweet acknowledgment of the joy that seemed to elude her.

As she fixated on their diminishing figures, drawn into the distance by their departing cars, Patricia's voice broke through her reverie.

"Hey, Max," Patricia called, concern etched on her face. "You okay? The supervisor is worried."

"Yeah, it's just... I didn't expect to see him here," Maxine admitted.

Patricia probed further, "You know, Max, I'm in no position to tell you what to do. But as a sister and a friend, I hate to see you like this. If you still have feelings for him, why not go back to him? Do you really have to torture yourself like this?" Patricia scolded, concern evident in her eyes.

Maxine, agitated by the internal turmoil, erupted, "Okay, let's say that I want to get back with him. Does it mean that he also wants to get back with me? Huh?! I hurt him, Pat! Even I can't forgive myself for what I did. But for his dreams and his career, I sacrificed myself. That's how much I love him."

Tears, which Maxine had struggled to restrain, burst forth in an uncontrollable stream. The painful recollection of a past incident resurfaced, revealing the depth of her love for Jisung. She had been willing to endure the torment of self-sacrifice, relinquishing her own happiness to protect him and his dreams. The anguish she felt now was both a penance and a testament to the unwavering love she held for him.

Patricia, startled by Maxine's outburst, instinctively enveloped her in a comforting hug as tears streamed down her face.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Patricia apologized repeatedly. "I didn't mean for it to be this way. I just hate seeing you always in pain. I hate seeing you torture yourself and sacrifice yourself."

Amidst sobs, Maxine admitted, "I love him, Pat. I love him beyond words, and fuck knows how much I wanna run to his arms again. But it's just, we cannot be together. It's what's best for him."

Patricia continued to lend her support, allowing Maxine to release the pent-up emotions.

Once the torrent of tears subsided, Patricia gently spoke, "Can I ask why you did what you did? I kept myself from asking you before, but I want to understand your situation, Max. You don't have to answer me right now if you don't want to. But I hope one day you can share it with me. I want to share the burden with you."

"What you had with Jisung was something wonderful, and I just can't wrap my head around why you suddenly decided to end it," Patricia added.

Gathering her voice and courage, Maxine finally chose to unburden herself to her friend. It was a secret she had carried alone for months.

"It was something that happened months ago. Not even Han knows about it," Maxine began, unlocking the door to a chapter of her life she had kept hidden for far too long.