Focus-Old Habits, New Hands
The evening had started to slow down.
Work at the workshop was wrapping up, papers scattered, notes aligned, leads partially connected—but not yet complete.
John was still there.
As always.
---
Rayan, however, wasn't acting like himself.
At first, it was subtle.
A pause between sentences.
A slower response.
Then—
A faint exhale.
---
John noticed.
Of course he did.
---
"Rayan," John said, looking up from the file. "You've been quiet for a while."
Rayan waved it off lightly. "Just tired."
---
John studied him for a moment.
Then stood up.
"Sit."
---
Rayan blinked. "What?"
"You're not focused."
Rayan smirked slightly. "Bossy."
John didn't react.
"Sit."
---
Rayan chuckled, but obeyed, dropping into the chair nearby.
John walked over, placing a hand briefly on Rayan's shoulder.
"Stay here."
---
Then he turned—
And went to fetch a bottle of water from the corner shelf.
---
It was small.
Natural.
But something about the way John moved—
Felt different.
---
Not forced.
Not calculated.
Just… familiar.
---
Rayan watched him quietly.
A faint smile forming.
---
When John returned, he handed him the bottle.
"Drink."
---
Rayan took it, looking up at him.
"You're acting like a caretaker."
John shrugged slightly. "You're unwell."
---
For a second—
Rayan didn't drink.
He just looked at John.
Observing.
---
"Interesting," Rayan said softly.
---
John frowned slightly. "What is?"
---
Rayan leaned back in the chair.
"You don't do this for everyone."
---
John didn't respond.
Because he knew that was true.
---
But for a brief moment—
A memory surfaced.
---
Years ago.
Another boy.
Same rooftop.
Same quiet concern.
Eric.
---
"You haven't eaten, have you?" young John had asked.
Eric had laughed. "I'm fine."
John had already handed him food anyway.
"Eat."
---
Eric had taken it without arguing.
That was their dynamic back then.
---
Back to the present—
John blinked once.
The memory faded.
---
Rayan stretched slightly.
"You're still the same," he said.
John looked at him.
"…What do you mean?"
---
"Careful," Rayan replied. "Observant. You notice when someone's off."
A pause.
"And you act on it."
---
John didn't deny it.
---
Instead, he sat back down and resumed work.
---
Rayan leaned forward slightly.
"Hold on."
---
John glanced up.
"Yes?"
---
Rayan pointed at a document.
"Here—this part doesn't align with the earlier report."
As John leaned in to look—
Rayan's hand moved.
---
Light.
Unintentional-looking.
But deliberate.
His fingers brushed against John's wrist.
---
John paused.
Just for a second.
---
Rayan didn't move away.
Instead, he kept his hand there briefly while explaining.
"This section contradicts the timeline."
---
John didn't react outwardly.
But something inside him noticed.
---
Not discomfort.
Not irritation.
Just… awareness.
---
A shift.
---
He gently pulled his hand back after a moment.
"Then we cross-check the contractor logs again."
---
Rayan nodded.
"Yeah."
---
But the brief contact lingered.
Not in a loud way.
Not obvious.
Just present.
---
Across the room—
Eric had been standing near the entrance.
Silent.
Unnoticed.
Watching.
---
His eyes had landed on the same moment.
The touch.
The proximity.
The ease.
---
His expression didn't change.
Not outwardly.
---
But his fingers curled slightly at his side.
---
He turned away.
Before anyone could notice.
---
And walked out.
---
Outside, Eric stopped.
Exhaled slowly.
---
"…It's nothing," he muttered under his breath.
---
But the words didn't feel convincing.
---
Not anymore.
---
Because something about that scene—
Felt different.
---
Not wrong.
Not right.
---
Just… something he couldn't ignore.
---
And that was starting to bother him.
More than he expected.
---
End of Chapter 14🤷....
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