Heavy rain poured down on the city, blurring the glow of the streetlights as they faintly illuminated the inside of the car. Kang Jiho sat in the driver’s seat, one hand gripping the steering wheel tightly while the other pressed against his throbbing temple.

Exhausted. Frustrated. Angry.

"I want broke up."

Jiho slowly turned his head, his gaze darkening as he looked at the girl beside him. "What?"

"I want to end this, Jiho,"

Jiho let out a short, bitter laugh. "You’re joking, right?"

No response. She just sat there in silence, head lowered like a coward.

Jiho exhaled sharply, then turned on the car’s interior light. "Look at me," he demanded.

She didn’t move.

"I said, look at me!" Jiho snapped, his voice echoing in the small space of the car.

Jiho scoffed, running a rough hand down his face before glaring at her with burning frustration. "I work myself to the bone. I fly from one country to another, train until my body nearly collapses, smile in front of cameras even when I feel like passing out—and the only reason I keep going is because I know I have a place to return to. You."

"But now, you want to end it? Why? Because I can’t always be here?" Jiho laughed again, this time more bitterly. "God, am I your boyfriend or what? A pet you need to keep by your side all the time?"

She shook her head quickly. "It's not like that—"

"If not, then what?" Jiho cut her off, his gaze darkening even further. "I’ve done everything I can! I make time, even if it’s just for a few minutes. I sacrifice my sleep just to hear your voice! And now you want to walk away just like that?!"

"Shit" he muttered under his breath, voice laced with anger. "You’re giving up so easily. You're abandoning me when I need you the most."

Her eyes turning red, but Jiho didn’t care.

"I can take the world's hatred. I can take the lies from the media, the criticism, the scandals—everything. But I was never prepared to lose you." Jiho shook his head, his jaw tightening.