Focus--: Something Unfamiliar
The investigation began quietly.
Too quietly.
No more open fights. No more chaos.
Just silence… and secrets.
Eric wasn't used to this.
Sneaking around. Observing. Thinking before acting.
It irritated him.
But what irritated him more—
Was John.
They had started meeting regularly now.
Library. Workshop. Rooftop.
Always at a distance.
Always focused.
But something had changed.
That afternoon—
Eric walked toward the Architecture block.
He wasn't supposed to be there.
Didn't care.
The moment he stepped in, eyes turned.
Whispers followed.
But he ignored all of it.
Because ahead—
John stood with his group.
Explaining something.
Calm. Precise. Perfect.
And next to him—
A boy.
Standing a little too close.
Smiling like he belonged there.
"…You always make it look easy," the boy said, leaning casually against the table.
John shook his head slightly. "It's not easy. It just needs patience."
The boy laughed. "Still… you're different."
Eric's steps slowed.
His gaze hardened.
Who is he…
The way he stood.
The way he talked.
Too comfortable.
Too familiar.
Eric didn't like it.
John looked up—
And saw him.
For a second—
He paused.
Just a second.
But Eric caught it.
"I'll finish this later," John said, closing his file.
The boy glanced at Eric.
Curious.
Almost amused.
Eric didn't look away.
John walked toward him.
Same calm face.
Same distance.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Came to find you," Eric replied.
His tone was flat.
But his eyes flicked back—
Just once.
Toward the boy.
John noticed.
"Do you need something?" John asked.
"…Yeah," Eric said. "I found a lead."
John's attention sharpened instantly.
"What kind?"
"One of the engineers from that project," Eric replied. "Name came up."
John nodded. "We should check it—"
"That guy," Eric interrupted.
John blinked.
"…What?"
Eric's jaw tightened slightly.
"The one you were with."
A pause.
Then—
"He's part of my team," John said simply.
"That's it?"
John frowned.
"Yes."
Eric looked back again.
The boy was still there.
Watching.
Like he was trying to figure something out.
Eric looked away.
"…Right."
They started walking out together.
But something felt off.
Unbalanced.
After a few steps—
John stopped.
Eric turned slightly. "What?"
John looked at him.
Carefully.
"You're acting strange."
Eric scoffed lightly. "I always act like this."
"No," John said quietly. "Not like this."
That made Eric pause.
Just for a second.
"…Why does it matter?" John asked.
The question was direct.
Too direct.
Eric held his gaze—
Then looked away.
"It doesn't."
But his voice wasn't convincing.
John didn't push further.
But he understood something.
Not clearly.
Not fully.
But enough.
As they walked—
Silence followed again.
But this time—
It wasn't about the case.
Or the past.
It was something new.
Something neither of them had expected.
Something neither of them was ready to name.
Behind them—
The boy watched quietly.
A small, knowing smile on his face.
As if—
He had already figured it out.
End of Chapter 7.
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