Chapter 27~SHATTERED OBSESSION

Chapter 27~SHATTERED OBSESSION
~Nathan’s POV

It’s been a week since I last saw Cherry, and my heart was a mess. I was a mess. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t breathe without thinking of her. The thing that hurt the most was Jason. His closeness with her. The way he bragged about their dates, about how happy she looked. He made it sound like she was fine without me. Like I was nothing.
And the worst part? He said it all just to make me give up on her. But how could I? When every part of me still yearned for her.

That day we were headed to a fan meeting, and deep inside, I was praying to see her there. She had no idea how obsessed I’d become with her.

The fans were screaming, excited as always. I smiled, waved, but my eyes were searching scanning every corner of the venue desperate to spot her. Nothing. No Cherry. We performed, we took photos, we signed autographs… and then it happened.

I saw her!

At first I thought it was my imagination, but no. The way she stared at me those eyes! I knew instantly. It was her. My heart went wild, my hands trembled, my chest tightened. I couldn’t look away.

“Nathan!” the fan in front of me snapped me back.
“Oh, uh… should we take the selfie?” I asked awkwardly.
“OMG! Serious, Nathan? Of course!” she squealed, jumping in excitement.

But my eyes? They weren’t on her. They were on Cherry. On Cherry, who was smiling and chatting with Jason, like they were already a couple. Like I didn’t exist.

She didn’t even glance at me. Not once.

Tom noticed how pathetic I looked and whispered, “Keep it low.” But how could I? I tried everything every little move, every excuse—to make her look at me, but she wouldn’t. And then… just like that, she left.

My heart cracked open. Watching her walk away without looking at me once was pure torture. It was like she enjoyed it. Like she wanted to see me suffer.

After the fan meeting, Tasha was waiting at our house
“Are you okay?” she asked, eyes studying me. Tom and Jason were already gone to their rooms.
“Yes. Why are you here?” I muttered, not even meeting her eyes.
“Well, I missed you.” She reached for my hands.
“You did?”
“Yes,” she giggled softly. “I’m just glad you’re not with that girl anymore. She was such a bother. Honestly, I think Cherry is more Jason’s type.” She smiled, but I wasn’t.

“Do you think so?” I said flatly, pretending to be focused on the game.
“Yes. To be honest, when those photos came out, I was shocked. But I knew they weren’t real. You wouldn’t kiss someone like her, right?”

Her words stabbed me. She didn’t know how fast they lit a fire in me.
“Why not? Why wouldn’t I kiss her?” I blurted, anger spilling out.

“I just mean… she’s not your style. I’m your girlfriend.” Her voice cracked.
“Why are you saying she’s not my style?” I barked.
“Is Cherry your style then? Or…” her lips trembled, “did you actually kiss her?”

I glared at her. “What I remember from that night is that you were the only one who could’ve taken those photos.”

Her eyes went wide. “What?!”
“So it was you,” I whispered, my voice heavy with betrayal.

She froze, unable to lie. My heart shattered into pieces. All this pain, all this mess… Cherry suffered because of her. Because of Tasha.

“Well…” she swallowed hard, “I wanted to cut her out of your life completely. Do you know how much it hurt, watching you kiss her that night? My heart broke, Nathan. But I still did it, even knowing you’d hate me. I did it because I love you too much.”

“You’re not the Tasha I knew anymore. This isn’t you. This isn’t the girl I loved,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

“You made me like this!” she cried. “Do you know how pathetic I feel? Fighting with Cherry over you? And the worst part? She doesn’t even fight back. She doesn’t care. She just pities me while you keep thinking about her. You keep taking her side. You’re obsessed with her! I hate myself, Nathan…”

Her tears fell, but I couldn’t comfort her. Not this time.
“Let’s stop this, Tasha.” My voice cracked as I clenched my teeth.

“Nathan…” she sobbed.
“This way, I won’t hurt you anymore. And I hate hurting you.” I stood, grabbing my coat.

“Are you going to her?” she asked, desperate.
“Yes. I’m going to beg her to take me back. Pathetic, right?” I laughed bitterly, almost maniacally.

“You have no idea what you’re doing—”

But I didn’t hear the rest. I was already gone.

I drove straight to Cherry’s place, my hands shaking on the wheel. When I arrived, I called her. My voice cracked, weak, broken.
“I’m outside, Cherry.”
“What? Why?” she asked, shocked.
“I missed you,” I whispered, my breath uneven.

Silence. Then finally, her soft voice:
“Mom is here right now…”
“I don’t care! Either you come out, or I’ll meet you and your mom inside. I just… I can’t take this anymore.”

She sighed, defeated. “Okay. I’ll come.”

The line went dead, but my heart was already racing.