Chapter 18: The Trap

The morning after was a blur of confusion and regret for Xander. He avoided Shin, unable to face the reality of what had happened, the weight of his drunken mistake pressing down on him.

Shin, on the other hand, was consumed by a different kind of fear. He watched Xander withdraw, the distance between them growing wider with every passing hour. The guilt gnawed at him, but it was overshadowed by a more primal fear: the fear of losing Xander. What if he goes back to Kenji? The thought was a poison, seeping into his every waking moment.

His obsession, already a raging fire, intensified, twisting into something dark and dangerous. He couldn't let Xander go. He wouldn't. He had to find a way to keep him, to bind him to him, no matter the cost.

And so, he hatched a plan. A cruel, manipulative plan born of desperation and fueled by his all-consuming jealousy. He would eliminate Kenji from the equation, once and for all.

He started by subtly threatening Kenji, reminding him of the consequences of getting too close to Xander. He'd "accidentally" bump into him in the hallways, his voice low and menacing. He'd leave cryptic messages on Kenji's locker, hinting at darker intentions. He'd make sure Kenji knew that he was being watched, that he was in danger.

Then, he set the stage for his final act. He orchestrated a situation where it would appear that Kenji was trying to take advantage of him, to force himself on him. He lured Kenji to a secluded classroom, feigning a need to talk, to apologize for his past behavior. He played the victim, his voice trembling, his eyes filled with manufactured tears. He let Kenji get close, let him believe that he had a chance.

And then, he struck.

He pushed Kenji away, his voice rising in a carefully orchestrated display of anger and fear. He accused Kenji of trying to take advantage of him, of using him, of betraying Xander's trust. He made sure that Xander, who had been drawn by the commotion, heard every word.

Xander stood frozen in the doorway, his heart pounding in his chest. He'd heard everything. He'd seen the way Kenji had looked at Shin, the way he'd touched him, the way he'd tried to kiss him. He felt a wave of nausea wash over him. He'd been wrong. He'd been so wrong. About Kenji

Shin, seeing Xander in the doorway, a flicker of triumph in his eyes, turned to him, his voice filled with mock despair. "Xander," he cried, his voice breaking. "He… he tried to…"

He didn't need to finish the sentence. Xander understood. He saw the truth in Shin's eyes, the pain, the betrayal. He felt a surge of anger towards Kenji, towards himself, towards the whole messed-up situation.

Shin, his plan working perfectly, turned back to Kenji, his voice dripping with venom. "Don't you dare touch him again," he snarled. "He's mine. Or he will be soon. Goodbye, Kenji. Fuck off. Don't you come here again."

he whispered, his voice soft, filled with a love that was both genuine and terrifying. "I love him. You don't know how much." "His is mine now, he whispered. "And I'll never let him go."

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