Interesting addition to my previous theory. In this regard, if what you are talking about now finally happened, I think there would be no real breakup.
For example, if I remember correctly, there is a WIP screenshot where MC and Nicole appeared fallen to the ground while the image was centered on a woman and a child. What if finally the beatings caused by Beeman have caused MC to faint when he was with her and he is admitted to the hospital to find out if they have caused side effects on his health?
I think it would be a credible excuse to cause an impasse without needing to break the coherence of MC and Nicole. After all, since he saw her masturbating in that bathroom, he hasn't stopped looking for her for a single moment, even if he just watches her.
Another possibility is that MC's parents confess to him that they know about his affair and completely disagree with it, so they send him to stay with his aunt for a while, believing that this way he will mature and forget about his infatuation with Nicole. without realizing that what they both feel for each other is really love.
