Chapter 32: CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

Thame stood frozen, the words Po had just uttered—

“We have to break up”

—echoing in his mind. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

“What are you saying? Why?” he asked, his voice trembling.

“Thame, Mars can’t move forward, knowing about us. Not like this,” Po said firmly.

So Po already knew that the company was aware of their relationship.

“Did they tell you that? Let me go talk to them—” Thame began, stepping forward, but Po grabbed his arm, stopping him.

“Thame, it’s no use. You know as well as I do that what’s happening with Pepper is because of us. I’ve already caused too much damage. This is your fight, your success, and I can’t keep holding you back anymore.”

“But I already told you it has nothing to do with this,” Thame insisted, his voice filled with desperation.

“Doesn’t it really, Thame?” Po asked, his tone steady. “Ask yourself—when the news broke, what happened to the charts? Being an idol means you can only choose one path if you want success. And everything you’ve done so far, it’s been for your members, not for me.”

“But throughout this journey, you’ve been with me the whole time,” Thame said, reaching for Po’s hand.

“I know you want everything to work out together, but reality is showing us it’s impossible,” Po said, his voice wavering.

The charts, the billboards, the glowing lights of Mars’ success—they all screamed the same truth: their victory was built on sacrifice. Thame knew this deep down but still cried out, “Can’t we just say ‘screw it’?”

“And how can you do that, Thame, when this is your future? Your members’ futures?” Po’s voice was filled with emotion. “I’ve been with you since the day you decided to reunite the group. I’ve seen the dreams of Jun, Dylan, Nano, and Pepper. Those dreams belong to the five of you together.”

Po’s voice cracked as tears welled up. “Even if I was part of the journey, it’s not my place. The world only wants the five of you.”

“Phi Po…”

“Thame, the band is what matters to you,” Po said, forcing every word through the lump in his throat. “This deal is important for all of you. I can’t let myself be the obstacle that stops you.”

Thame had no argument. “Don’t do this. Don’t make this decision for me. I won’t accept it.”

“How can you not, Thame? The world is shouting at us that this isn’t possible.”

Thame was cornered, but he refused to give up Po. “Phi Po…” Tears filled his eyes. “Stop thinking about me. Stop thinking about the band. Just think about yourself. Just for once, please. Ask yourself—do you still want to be with me?”

There was nothing left to hold onto but the connection they shared—the love they had for one another.

“If you still want me, let me be the one to handle everything you’re worried about,” Thame pleaded.

“Thame…” Po looked at him, his voice soft but full of doubt. “Aren’t you tired?”

“Not at all,” Thame answered immediately.

“Phi, just tell me if you want to stay with me. Do you still want to walk together like we always have? Do you still want me to memorize every digit of your phone number? Do you still want us to linger every day, even when we’ve run out of things to talk about? If you do, then I’ll do whatever it takes to make it work. No matter how hard it gets.”

It had to be possible. Thame clung to that hope—it had to be possible.

“Phi Po…” He gently cupped Po’s face, his voice trembling. “You still want this with me, don’t you?”

Tears rolled down Po’s cheeks. Thame could see it in his eyes—they both wanted to hold on to this. They weren’t ready to let each other go.

“If you want this, then let me fight for you one more time,” Thame begged, his gaze pleading with Po to say he wanted the same.

But Po, through his tears, whispered the words that shattered Thame’s heart.

“I’m sorry… I don’t want this anymore.”

And with that, Po walked away, tears streaming down his face.

—

Thame stood there, unable to comprehend what had just happened. He couldn’t understand how it had come to this. Where had he gone wrong? He couldn’t even accept that this was real.

Was this really all an idol’s life could offer? To choose one thing and forsake another? Could they truly never carry both love and dreams together?

Tears streamed down Thame’s face. Po was no longer by his side. All that was left was the band—Mars and his friends. Was that really all?

Thame returned to the band’s house, his heart shattered. The remaining members heard the door and saw him standing there, tears streaked across his face. Without a word, they enveloped him in a group hug. They didn’t know exactly what had happened, but they had their suspicions.

—

The light in Po’s apartment flicked on. He moved slowly, asking himself if he had done the right thing. Was this truly the best he could give Thame and Mars?

Kaem had once told him she believed that Thame and Po could do better than she had for Pepper. But in the end, Po had done exactly the same as Kaem. Was this their destiny? That love and being an idol could never coexist?

Po stared at the mugs with his and Thame’s names written on them, sitting side by side.

Thame had just used his mug a few days ago. But now, Po wondered if he should put it away—hide it where he wouldn’t see it.

Po picked up Thame’s mug but found it too heavy to lift. The thought of putting it away felt impossible. Instead, he tried to turn it so that Thame’s name wasn’t visible. But even that was too much. His strength gave out, and Po collapsed onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

This, he thought, was all he could do—the most he could offer. It was the right thing to do, the only thing.

And it was the punishment for falling in love with an idol.

The pain in Po’s chest wasn’t from the love between him and Thame disappearing. It was because their love had grown so beautifully, so strongly, that it had to end this way.

TO BE CONTINUED.