Focus-Cracks in Control
The next few days settled into an uneasy rhythm.
Eric moved faster than before.
Meetings. Research. Cross-checking names from the old project. Following every lead with a kind of intensity that left others struggling to keep up.
He didn't slow down.
He didn't wait.
Because slowing down meant thinking.
And thinking meant remembering.
---
John, on the other hand, stayed consistent—but distant.
He showed up for work.
He contributed.
He responded when needed.
But only when needed.
Nothing more.
Nothing personal.
---
Eric noticed that too.
Of course he did.
---
"John."
Eric's voice cut through the quiet of the workshop.
John looked up from the documents in front of him.
"Yes?"
---
"You reviewed the structural reports?"
"Yes."
---
"Anything useful?"
John paused briefly.
"…Not yet."
---
Eric exhaled through his nose.
"Then we move to the next lead."
---
Rayan sat nearby, observing both of them.
He didn't interrupt.
But he noticed everything.
The distance.
The tension.
The things left unsaid.
---
John closed the file.
"I'll check the contractor logs," he said.
---
Eric nodded.
"Good."
---
Simple.
Efficient.
Detached.
---
But something about it felt… wrong.
---
Eric caught himself staring at John more often than necessary.
Not in anger.
Not in rivalry.
Just… watching.
---
And every time John avoided his gaze—
That same unfamiliar feeling returned.
---
Frustration.
Discomfort.
Something else he couldn't name.
---
"…You've been quiet," Rayan said suddenly.
Eric glanced at him.
"Busy."
Rayan smirked slightly.
"No. Not like that."
A pause.
"You're thinking too much."
---
Eric scoffed lightly.
"I don't think."
---
Rayan raised an eyebrow.
"Everyone thinks."
---
Eric didn't respond.
Because he didn't want to admit that Rayan might be right.
---
Across the room—
John was writing notes.
Focused.
Controlled.
But his grip on the pen tightened slightly.
---
He could feel it.
Eric's presence.
Even without looking.
---
And that was the problem.
---
John hadn't felt comfortable around Eric lately.
Not like before.
Not even close.
---
Not after what Eric said.
Not after the distance he created.
Not after the way he started acting… indifferent.
---
John told himself it was better this way.
Cleaner.
Safer.
---
But it didn't feel that way.
---
It felt… incomplete.
---
Still—
He didn't look up.
Didn't acknowledge it.
Stayed focused on the work.
---
Because that's what they agreed on.
Nothing more.
---
Hours passed.
---
By evening, Rayan stretched slightly.
"We should take a break," he said.
---
John nodded.
"Agreed."
---
Eric leaned back in his chair.
"Finally."
---
A brief pause.
---
Then—
Rayan turned to John.
"You're still not fully recovered."
---
John replied calmly.
"I'm fine."
---
Eric's eyes flicked toward him again.
Just for a second.
---
"Yeah," Eric said.
"Clearly."
---
John didn't react.
But the atmosphere shifted.
Subtle.
Uncomfortable.
---
Rayan stepped closer to John.
"You should rest properly today."
---
John hesitated.
"…I will."
---
Eric looked away.
---
*Good,* he told himself.
*He should rest.*
---
But the thought didn't feel as clean as it should have.
---
Because watching Rayan take responsibility…
Watching John allow it…
---
It created something Eric couldn't ignore anymore.
---
Not anger.
Not rivalry.
---
Something quieter.
---
Something that lingered.
---
Something that made him question why he even noticed it in the first place.
---
And instead of confronting it—
Eric did what he had been doing all along.
---
He pushed it aside.
---
Convinced himself it didn't matter.
---
Convinced himself he didn't care.
---
But this time—
The feeling didn't leave as easily.
---
It stayed.
---
Waiting.
---
End of Chapter 13...