Chapter 34~OBSESSION ISN'T LOVE

Chapter 34~OBSESSION ISN'T LOVE
Nathan’s POV

I knew I was being ridiculously selfish, but I couldn’t stop kissing Cherry. I kissed her so hard, my lips refusing to let her go, like my whole life depended on that kiss because it did! At this moment I knew I could never let Cherry go. I wanted to be selfish for once. Selfish for the woman I loved more than anything in this universe—CHERRY!

“You must be out of your damn mind!” she shouted, shoving me away after a whole minute of kissing.

“I’m sorry, Cherry!” I said quickly, holding her hand.

“Why are you doing this, Nathan?” she demanded, her eyes blazing.

“Tell me what I can do! I’ll do everything to be with you!” I blurted out recklessly.

“You have no idea what you’re doing! Nathan, wake up! People won’t like this!” she cried, letting go of my hand.

“I don’t care about people, Cherry!” I shot back.

“Then what about your career?” she yelled bitterly.

“I can give up everything just to be with you! Nothing compares to how much I love you! Without you, everything is meaningless!” I declared, my voice shaking.

Her anger deepened. “Do you think that will make me happy? To ruin your career because of me? You don’t understand! This is not love, Nathan! This is obsession!”

“Yes, Cherry, I’m obsessed with you,” I confessed, trying to hold her hand again. But she shoved me away.

“Don’t touch me! We’re completely done here.” She turned and walked away.

My heart shattered into a thousand pieces, yet I couldn’t chase after her. I collapsed onto the couch, trying to calm the storm inside me. My chest was heaving, I was panting helplessly, tears burned my eyes but I was smiling like a lunatic. Cherry must be out of her mind to walk away like this. No, she couldn’t be out of love with me. No way.

I locked myself in my room for two days. Phone off. Security ordered not to let anyone in. My entire body ached with agony. I had no appetite, only drowning myself in alcohol. I knew I was being ridiculously childish or maybe I was simply reverting to my old self.

When I finally switched on my phone, I hoped desperately for Cherry’s missed calls or texts. But there was nothing. Nothing at all. My inbox was filled only with Samuel’s and Dad’s missed calls, and endless notifications.

Then I saw it.

A viral video. Someone had filmed the fight between Jason and me over Cherry. “Nathan and Jason Become Enemies Because of Cherry Again.” The headline mocked me like poison.

I cursed under my breath and immediately called Jason.

“So, you finally called,” he said smugly.

“What the hell is going on?” I demanded.

“You don’t need to worry about Cherry. You should be worrying about yourself. Your dad is furious,” Jason said casually.

“Why shouldn’t I worry about Cherry? What did you do this time?” I snapped.

He laughed. “Do what you did before to make up some excuse for your fans. They’ll believe you. Meanwhile, I’ve already told everyone that I’m in love with Cherry.”

“You’re completely out of your damn mind!” I shouted, slamming the call down and throwing my phone against the wall.

Samuel came later to drag me to SG Company. The car ride was silent; he knew better than to speak.

My father was waiting, fury burning in his eyes.

“What the hell happened to you, Nathan? You’re not the type to make such a mistake! You’re not the type to destroy your career over love over a fan? Do you even realize how absurd that is?” he exploded the moment I entered.

I looked at him, exhausted. “What do you want me to do?”

“What do I want?” he thundered. “I want you to get your sense back! If you don’t want your career ruined, you will go out there, tell the media it was a misunderstanding, and end this childish love game immediately!”

“Alright, Mr. Jones. I’ll do it,” I said coldly and turned to leave.

As soon as I stepped outside, a flood of reporters ambushed me. Their questions were knives, stabbing relentlessly.

“Why Cherry? Who is she to you?” one shouted.

I let out a bitter laugh. “Who is she to me? She’s nothing. How could a mere fan mean anything to me?” The words came out like venom, slicing my own soul apart.

“But you’ve been spotted with her twice. How do you explain that?”

“It’s a misunderstanding! You all know I have a fiancée. Stop dragging me into this nonsense!” I snapped, though my heart was crumbling.

“But Jason confessed his love for her. Doesn’t that matter to you?”

“What does that have to do with me?” I shot back angrily.

“So, do you wish them happiness?”

My throat closed up. My chest clenched as though my heart was about to stop. I thought I might collapse right there. But I forced myself to speak.

“Ever after,” I muttered, my voice breaking.

“You don’t look well, Nathan,” another reporter observed.

“I’m fine. We’re done here.” I stumbled toward my car, my legs trembling violently.

Inside, I looked into the mirror and almost laughed. Pathetic that was all I saw.

“I’m sorry, Cherry,” I whispered, as Samuel drove silently.

“You didn’t mean any of that, did you?” Samuel finally asked.

“Obvious?.”

“Very obvious. Especially to me. I know you like the palm of my hand,” he said with a faint chuckle.

“But Cherry will believe it,” I muttered bitterly.

“Then why did you say it?” Samuel asked quietly.

“I don’t know! I love her so much I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore! I’m losing myself!” I shouted, burying my head in my hands.

“It’s time to let her go, Nathan,” Samuel said softly.

“You’re right,” I whispered with a twisted smile one so dark and empty it would scare even a child.