Focus-: A Feeling Without a Name
The next few days—
Something was off.
Not in the campus.
Not in the investigation.
But in Eric.
He noticed it in small moments.
Annoying ones.
Unnecessary ones.
Like right now—
Standing outside the Architecture studio again.
For no reason.
Or at least… no reason he wanted to admit.
Inside—
John stood beside someone.
Again.
The same guy.
"Good work, Rayan," John said calmly, looking at the design sheet.
Rayan.
So that was his name.
Eric's jaw tightened slightly.
Rayan smiled, leaning closer to look at the sketch.
"You fixed it so quickly," he said. "I would've taken hours."
John shook his head. "It just needed a better structure."
Rayan laughed softly. "Or a better mind."
Eric looked away.
What's so funny…
He didn't even realize when his fists clenched.
Or why.
Before he could stop himself—
He stepped inside.
Again.
Eyes turned.
Again.
But this time—
John noticed immediately.
And so did Rayan.
"Eric," John said.
Calm.
But there was a slight pause before his name.
Eric caught that.
Of course he did.
"Interrupting?" Eric asked.
His tone was casual.
Too casual.
John frowned slightly. "We're working."
"Clearly."
Eric's gaze shifted to Rayan.
Slow. Measuring.
Rayan didn't look away.
Instead, he smiled.
"Hi," he said. "You're Eric, right?"
Eric didn't respond immediately.
"…Yeah."
"I've heard about you," Rayan added.
"That makes one of us."
A small silence.
Sharp.
Uncomfortable.
John stepped in.
"We were in the middle of something," he said.
Eric let out a short breath.
"…Right. Didn't mean to disturb."
But he didn't leave.
John noticed.
"…You said you had something?" he asked.
Eric blinked.
For a moment—
He forgot.
Again.
"…Later," he muttered.
Rayan glanced between them.
Observing.
Understanding more than he should.
"Should I give you two a moment?" he asked lightly.
"No," Eric said instantly.
"Yes," John said at the same time.
They both paused.
Rayan chuckled softly.
"I'll step out," he said anyway.
And just like that—
He left.
Silence.
Heavy.
"What was that?" John asked.
Eric frowned. "What?"
"You've been doing this for days."
"Doing what?"
John's voice stayed calm—
But sharper now.
"Showing up. Saying nothing. Acting like—"
"Like what?" Eric cut in.
John stopped.
Because he didn't have the word for it.
Eric looked away.
Running a hand through his hair.
Frustrated.
"…Forget it."
"No," John said. "Explain."
"I don't have to explain anything."
"Then stop acting like this."
That hit.
Eric looked at him.
Something restless in his eyes.
"I don't even know what this is," he said.
And for once—
That wasn't anger.
That was truth.
A pause.
Then Eric spoke again.
Lower this time.
"…Why does it feel so annoying?"
John blinked slightly.
"What?"
Eric shook his head.
"I don't know," he admitted. "Every time I see you with him… it just—"
He stopped.
Frustrated.
Unable to finish.
John watched him.
Carefully.
"…It just what?" he asked quietly.
Eric clenched his jaw.
"…Nothing."
But it wasn't nothing.
It was something heavy.
Something unfamiliar.
Something that made no sense to him.
"…We should focus on the case," John said after a moment.
Back to calm.
Back to distance.
Eric nodded.
"Yeah."
But as he walked out—
His chest felt tight.
Uncomfortable.
Like something was missing.
Or slipping.
And he didn't know why.
Outside—
Rayan leaned against the wall.
Waiting.
He looked at Eric—
And smiled slightly.
"Rough day?"
Eric didn't respond.
But Rayan's voice followed—
Soft.
Knowing.
"You don't like sharing him, do you?"
Eric stopped.
His back still turned.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
"…You're overthinking," Eric said coldly.
Rayan chuckled.
"Am I?"
Eric walked away.
Faster this time.
Like he was trying to escape something.
But the truth was—
He wasn't running from Rayan.
Or John.
He was running from a feeling—
He couldn't understand.
Couldn't control.
And definitely—
Couldn't name.
Behind him—
Rayan watched quietly.
That same small smile on his face.
As if—
He already knew what Eric was too afraid to realize.
End of Chapter 8 💔
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