Kan's footsteps
grew farther away.
Slow—
but clear.
Each step
felt like it was pressing down on Phat's heart.
She stood where she was,
at the doorway.
Not moving.
Even though she knew—
if she ran now,
it wasn't too late.
She could still call him back.
She could still change everything.
But she
didn't move.
Her hands clenched tightly
until her nails dug into her skin.
Tears fell
before she even realized.
"Stop him…"
a voice screamed in her head.
"If he leaves…"
"there won't be anything left."
Her breath trembled.
She took a step forward.
One step.
Then stopped.
Panop's face
flashed in her mind.
His words
still clear.
"You're already broken."
"End it."
And then—her family.
The house.
Everything
she had.
"If you choose him…"
the voice whispered,
"you'll lose it all."
Her tears fell harder.
"But if you let him go…"
another voice answered,
"you'll lose him too."
Silence.
Heavy—
until she could barely breathe.
Kan walked farther away.
Almost out of sight.
Phat bit her lip
hard.
"…Kan."
Her voice slipped out,
soft.
He stopped.
But didn't turn back.
As if waiting—
for the next words
that would change everything.
Phat stared at his back.
The image trembled—
through her tears.
Her heart
felt like it was being torn apart.
"…Don't come anymore."
The words came out.
Slowly.
Heavily.
Kan froze.
His whole body
stilled.
As if time
had stopped with him.
No reply.
Only silence—
loud enough to hurt.
Phat closed her eyes.
Her tears wouldn't stop.
"Don't come back again."
she said it again.
As if she had to repeat it.
Even though every word
was hurting herself.
Kan still didn't turn back.
But his shoulders
tightened.
As if he was trying
not to look back.
"…I understand."
His voice was soft.
Almost carried away by the wind.
But clear.
Too clear.
Phat's heart dropped.
She stepped back—
as if trying to escape
her own words.
Kan walked forward again.
This time,
without stopping.
No hesitation.
No turning back.
And that—
was when everything
truly ended.
The door closed.
A soft sound.
But it felt like
it shut everything.
Phat collapsed to the floor
instantly.
Her tears poured out.
Uncontrollably.
No strength left to hold them back.
A broken sob escaped.
She hugged herself tightly,
as if trying
to hold onto something.
But there was nothing left.
"I…"
Her voice broke.
"I made my choice…"
The words were soft—
but cruel.
She chose.
She chose her family.
She chose safety.
She chose everything—
except
him.
And that
was what hurt the most.
Because she knew—
the one she truly wanted to choose
was him.
Her tears fell onto the floor
without stopping.
The quiet night
returned once again.
But this time,
it wasn't just quiet.
It was empty.
Because she
was the one
who pushed him away.