Focus: Distance That Hurts
The next few days—
Something changed.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
But enough for Eric to notice.
John stopped coming to the rooftop.
At first, Eric thought it was intentional.
Avoidance.
Maybe because of what he said.
Good, he told himself. That's what I wanted.
But then—
He didn't see John anywhere else either.
No library.
No usual studio hours.
No quiet corners.
Nothing.
Until—
One afternoon.
Eric walked into the Architecture block again.
This time, not with anger.
Not even with purpose.
Just… looking.
And then he saw him.
John.
Sitting at his desk.
Head slightly lowered.
Sketchbook open—but untouched.
Something was off.
Eric's steps slowed.
For a moment—
He just stood there.
Watching.
John looked… pale.
Too pale.
His movements slower than usual.
Even the way he held his pencil—
Unsteady.
Before Eric could think—
He stepped forward.
"John."
John looked up.
And immediately—
Something closed in his eyes.
A wall.
"Yes?" he said.
Formal.
Distant.
Eric frowned slightly.
"…You okay?"
A simple question.
But it lingered.
"I'm fine," John replied.
Too quickly.
Eric didn't buy it.
"You don't look fine."
"I said I am."
Silence.
Tense.
Eric stepped closer.
"Did you even sleep?"
"That's not your concern."
That hit.
But Eric didn't back off.
"Since when?"
John closed his sketchbook.
Carefully.
Controlled.
"As of now."
A pause.
Eric clenched his jaw.
"…You're avoiding me."
"No," John said calmly. "I'm prioritizing."
"Prioritizing what?"
"Work."
Another silence.
Eric exhaled sharply.
"Right."
Before he could say anything else—
A voice cut in.
"Hey, John."
Rayan.
He walked in casually, but the moment he saw John—
His expression changed.
Concern.
Immediate.
"You look worse today," Rayan said, stepping closer.
John shook his head slightly. "I'm fine."
"You said that yesterday too."
Eric's gaze shifted between them.
Something tightened in his chest again.
Rayan reached out—
Placing a hand lightly on John's wrist.
"You're burning," he said.
Eric froze.
"…What?"
John pulled his hand back.
"It's just a mild fever."
"Mild?" Rayan frowned. "You can barely sit straight."
Eric stepped forward again.
"You're sick?"
John didn't even look at him.
"It's nothing serious."
That—
That annoyed Eric.
More than it should have.
"Then why didn't you say anything?" Eric asked.
John finally looked at him.
But not the same way as before.
Colder.
More distant.
"Because I didn't need to."
Silence.
Rayan sighed.
"That's it. You're not staying here."
"I have work—"
"No," Rayan interrupted. "You're going to rest."
John hesitated.
Just slightly.
Then—
"…Fine."
Eric blinked.
He agreed?
Just like that?
Rayan helped him stand.
Carefully.
Supportively.
And John let him.
That was the part that hit hardest.
Eric stood there—
Watching.
As Rayan placed a steady hand on John's shoulder.
As John didn't pull away.
Didn't argue.
Didn't resist.
Something twisted inside Eric.
Sharp.
Uncomfortable.
"…We still have to check that lead," Eric said suddenly.
John paused.
But didn't turn fully.
"I'll handle it later," he said.
"We should go together."
A beat.
Then—
"No."
The word was quiet.
But final.
Eric's expression hardened.
"…Why?"
John turned slightly.
Just enough to meet his eyes.
"For work, we'll talk," he said.
His voice calm.
Controlled.
"But that's all."
Something cracked.
Right there.
Eric didn't respond.
Couldn't.
John looked away first.
"…Rayan," he said softly.
"I've got you," Rayan replied.
And just like that—
They walked past Eric.
Together.
Eric didn't move.
Didn't speak.
He just stood there.
Watching them leave.
And for the first time—
That feeling inside him—
Wasn't just confusing.
It hurt.
A lot.
Later that evening—
The rooftop was empty.
Eric stood alone.
Hands clenched.
Mind restless.
"…It's better this way," he muttered.
No answer.
Of course not.
But the silence—
Didn't feel peaceful anymore.
It felt wrong.
Because no matter how much he tried to convince himself—
Seeing John walk away…
With someone else beside him—
Didn't feel like nothing.
It felt like loss.
And Eric still didn't understand why.
End of Chapter 11 💔
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