Unannounced Departure

The next day, Milo arrived at his studio early, hoping to immerse himself in his work, to find solace in the colors and canvases. But even as he tried to focus, a lingering ache kept him distracted. He hadn't slept well since his conversation with Victor the night before, and every thought seemed to circle back to him.

After a few hours of painting, Milo set down his brush and took a deep breath. The weight of his feelings had become too much to bear, and he realized that he needed a break—some space to clear his mind and heart.

With a sense of resolve, he headed toward Mr. Henry's office. When he reached the chairman's door, he knocked gently, and Mr. Henry looked up with a welcoming smile.

"Milo! Good morning. What brings you here?" Mr. Henry greeted warmly, setting aside the paperwork in front of him.

"Good morning, Mr. Henry," Milo replied with a small, polite smile. "Actually, I wanted to ask if I could take a few days off… I need to visit my hometown."

Mr. Henry's smile softened, his eyes full of understanding. "Of course, Milo. You've been working hard, and everyone needs a break now and then. Family is important."

"Thank you, Mr. Henry," Milo said, relieved but also anxious about leaving without saying anything to Victor. But he knew that this time away was necessary, even if it would make things awkward later.

Mr. Henry gave a reassuring nod, unaware of the deeper reason behind Milo's request. "Take the time you need. And if there's anything I can help with, don't hesitate to ask."

Milo offered a grateful smile and thanked Mr. Henry again. Then, after returning to his studio to gather a few belongings, he slipped out of the office quietly, avoiding Victor's floor entirely. He didn't trust himself to say goodbye, afraid that his emotions would betray him.

As Milo left the building, he glanced back one last time, feeling a pang in his chest. But he shook off the hesitation and continued on his way. He needed this—time to sort out his feelings, to make sense of everything swirling inside him.

***

Victor had been tied up in meetings all morning, too busy to notice Milo's absence. When he finally made his way to the studio later in the afternoon, he was surprised to find it empty. The faint smell of paint and turpentine lingered in the air, but Milo's usual energy was missing.

He frowned, glancing around the room as if expecting Milo to pop out from behind a canvas. But after a few moments, it became clear that Milo wasn't there. Confused, Victor pulled out his phone to text him but hesitated. He wasn't sure why, but something about the silence of the studio unsettled him.

Shrugging off the feeling, he decided that Milo must have stepped out for a break. But as the day wore on and there was still no sign of him, a strange worry began to creep in.

By evening, Victor's curiosity got the better of him. He made his way to his father's office, where he found Mr. Henry wrapping up for the day.

"Hey, Dad," Victor greeted casually, though his tone held a hint of unease.

"Victor," Mr. Henry responded with a smile. "Long day, huh?"

"Yeah. I actually stopped by Milo's studio earlier, but he wasn't there. Do you know where he went?" Victor tried to sound nonchalant, but the question was tinged with an underlying concern.

Mr. Henry looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded as if remembering. "Oh, right. Milo came by this morning and asked for a few days off to visit his hometown. He left right after I approved it."

Victor's heart sank slightly at the news. "He… didn't mention anything to me," he muttered, a flicker of confusion passing over his face.

Mr. Henry gave him an amused look. "Well, he probably didn't want to bother you. Besides, everyone needs a break now and then."

Victor managed a small smile, but the uneasy feeling in his chest lingered. He hadn't expected Milo to leave so abruptly, and the fact that he hadn't mentioned it to him felt strangely personal.

As Victor made his way back to his own office, he tried to brush off the feeling, telling himself it was just a short trip and that Milo would be back soon. But that night, as he sat alone in his room, he couldn't shake the sense that something had shifted.

Every time he closed his eyes, memories of the quiet moments he'd shared with Milo surfaced—moments he hadn't realized held so much meaning until now. There was an emptiness without him, a hollow space that Victor couldn't quite fill.

And as the days passed with no word from Milo, Victor found himself waiting, counting down the hours until he would return, even though he didn't fully understand why.

***