Chapter:10 The Distance Between Us

When Jay's company needed someone to oversee a major project in a remote village, Mark was the obvious choice. It was a chance to prove himself, and he was determined to go. But Jay? He hated the idea.

"Why does it have to be you?" Jay asked, arms crossed, his frustration clear. "Can't someone else handle it?"

Mark sighed, running a hand through Jay's hair to calm him. "I'm your assistant, remember? This is my job. Besides, it's only for a month."

"A month is too long," Jay muttered. He pulled Mark into a hug, resting his chin on his shoulder. "I don't like the idea of you being away from me."

Mark smiled, though his heart ached a little. "I'll miss you too, but I have to do this."

Mark zipped his suitcase, his hands lingering on the edges for a moment longer than necessary. The room felt eerily silent, the kind of silence that crept into spaces meant to be filled with laughter and warmth. He exhaled, stealing a glance at Jay, who stood by the window with his arms crossed, his jaw tight.

"You don't have to go," Jay muttered, his voice low, almost hesitant.

Mark chuckled, but the sound lacked its usual playfulness. "Jay, it's just a month. It's a work trip, and you know I have to go."

Jay turned to face him, his dark eyes stormy with emotions he refused to voice. He walked over, stopping just inches away, his fingers grazing Mark's wrist, then curling into a firm grip. "I don't like this."

Mark placed his free hand over Jay's, squeezing gently. "I know. But it's important for the company. You, of all people, understand that."

Jay exhaled sharply. "I do. That's the problem." He let go of Mark's wrist, running a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every movement. "You're going to a remote village where even a decent phone signal is a luxury. What if something happens? What if you need me and can't reach me?"

Mark softened, stepping closer until their foreheads nearly touched. "Then I'll count the days until I see you again. And so will you."

Jay scoffed, but the sadness in his expression betrayed him. "I already am."

Jay grumbled but eventually let him go. For the company's sake

The journey to the village was long, stretching across highways and winding roads before spilling into dirt paths lined with towering trees. Mark sat by the bus window, staring at the changing landscapes. Cities faded into towns, towns melted into quiet farmlands, and soon, he was surrounded by nothing but open fields and scattered wooden houses.

Mark arrived in the small village, completely cut off from everything he knew.

The village, Green Hollow, was small—almost too small. A handful of houses surrounded a central marketplace, where vendors sold fresh produce and handmade crafts. The air smelled of damp soil and burning firewood, a stark contrast to the city's crisp, manufactured scent. There was no stable network service, no familiar faces—just work, work, and more work.

Mark adjusted the strap of his bag and made his way to the office—a modest brick building with peeling paint and a sign that read Regional Development Office. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of old paper and ink. A single ceiling fan groaned as it spun, doing little to battle the afternoon heat.

A man in his fifties, wearing glasses perched low on his nose, greeted him with a nod. "You must be Mark. I'm Mr. Wilson. Welcome to Green Hollow. We don't get many visitors."

Mark smiled politely. "Thank you. I'm here for the infrastructure project."

Wilson adjusted his glasses and gestured toward a desk covered in blueprints and reports. "Then you'll be working with Daniel and Elise. They're out on site right now, but they'll be back soon."

Mark settled into his chair, but the moment his eyes drifted to his phone, disappointment sank in. No signal.

The days dragged on. Without Jay's teasing, without their late-night talks, Mark felt strangely empty. He tried to focus on his tasks, but every little thing reminded him of Jay. The way Jay pouted when annoyed, how he always stole Mark's food, the warmth of his presence... God, he missed him.

The days stretched long. Work occupied his hands but not his mind. He found himself staring at his phone too often, hoping, willing, praying for a bar of service. At night, he lay on a stiff mattress in the guesthouse, staring at the ceiling, his fingers itching to text Jay, to call him, to hear his voice.

But silence answered him.

Back in the city, Jay sat in his office, his chin resting on his palm, staring blankly at a stack of untouched documents. The once-lively workplace felt unbearably dull, as if someone had drained the color from the walls.

The office felt dull, his penthouse felt too big and cold, and everything seemed… boring. Work was no fun without Mark.

He found himself staring at his phone too often, hoping for a message that wouldn't come.

Sarah, his assistant, knocked on the open door before stepping inside. "Sir, the finance report is ready for review."

Jay barely glanced at her. "Leave it on the desk."

She hesitated. "You haven't been yourself lately."

Jay exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. "I'm fine."

Sarah tilted her head, unimpressed. "You're brooding. More than usual."

Jay rubbed his temples. "It's nothing."

Sarah sighed, placing the report on the desk. "If you say so. But just so you know, staring at your phone like it owes you an explanation isn't going to make him call any faster."

Jay didn't respond. He just picked up his phone again, opening the last text from Mark. "Made it safely. No signal. Miss you."

Nothing since.

At night, he lay awake, restless. He had never realized just how much he relied on Mark being there.

The rest of the days is even worst for jay.

Jay sat at his desk, staring blankly at the stack of papers in front of him. He rubbed his temples, trying to massage away the tension that had been building all day. The office was quiet, the only sound the hum of the fluorescent lights overhead.

He glanced around the room, his eyes lingering on the empty chair across from his desk. Mark's chair. Jay's gaze drifted to the photo on his desk, a picture of the two of them taken on a sunny afternoon. He smiled, remembering the way Mark's eyes crinkled at the corners when he laughed.

Jay's attention returned to the papers in front of him, but he couldn't focus. He kept thinking about Mark, wondering what he was doing at that moment, if he was thinking about him too. He pushed his chair back and stood up, pacing over to the window.

The city skyline stretched out before him, a sea of steel and glass towers. Jay's eyes wandered, his mind elsewhere. He thought about the way Mark always made him coffee in the morning, the way he always knew exactly how to make him feel better when he was down.

As he stood there, lost in thought, Jay's fingers began to drum a staccato beat on the windowsill. He stopped abruptly, realizing what he was doing. It was a habit Mark had always teased him about, a sign of his nervous energy.

Jay's eyes dropped, and he felt a pang in his chest. He missed Mark dearly, more than he had realized. The office felt empty without him, the silence oppressive. He turned away from the window and walked back to his desk, his footsteps echoing through the quiet room.

After four weeks of unbearable loneliness, Jay snapped.

Jay clenched his jaw. He wasn't the type to sit around and wallow. If Mark couldn't come to him, then—

"That's it," he declared,

He stood abruptly, grabbing his coat. Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Where are you going?"

Jay's voice was steady, but his heart raced. "I'm going to get him."

He didn't care about the workload, the distance, or the inconvenience. He just couldn't take it anymore.

Mark stood at the construction site, watching workers unload supplies. Sweat trickled down his forehead, and he wiped it away with the back of his hand. He missed the air-conditioned office, the comfortable chair, but more than anything—he missed Jay.

The past weeks had been unbearable. Each morning, he woke up reaching for his phone, only to be met with disappointment. At night, he lay awake, whispering Jay's name into the darkness, as if saying it would bring him closer.

When Jay finally arrived in the village, he didn't even call ahead—not that he could, since the service was terrible.

He stopped dead in his tracks.

Jay stood there, a suitcase in one hand, the other buried in his pocket. His hair was slightly messy from the journey, his shirt wrinkled, but his gaze—his gaze burned straight through Mark.

He found Mark outside a small guesthouse, working through some reports. Mark looked tired, sun-kissed, and absolutely beautiful.

Jay walked straight up to him.

Mark's breath hitched. He felt rooted to the ground, his mind struggling to process reality.

"Jay?!" Mark nearly dropped his papers. "What—what are you doing here?!"

Mark was moving. Running. Sprinting. His feet barely touched the ground before he crashed into Jay's chest, arms locking around him, breath shaky.

Jay's lips parted, as if trying to form words, but then— He just pulled Mark into the tightest hug imaginable.

Jay staggered slightly, but his hands found Mark's waist, gripping him tightly. "You—" His voice faltered. He pulled back just enough to look at Mark, fingers brushing his face, tracing the curve of his jaw. "You look awful."

Mark laughed, but it came out strangled. "You look worse."

"You're an idiot," Jay mumbled into Mark's neck. "Why didn't you tell me it was this hard? Why didn't you complain even once?"

Jay huffed, but his hands didn't move. "I couldn't take it anymore," he admitted, voice raw. "I needed to see you."

Mark felt a lump in his throat. He had missed Jay so much, and now he was here.

"Because I wanted to do my job," Mark admitted, hugging Jay back just as fiercely. "But I missed you too. So much."

Jay pulled away slightly, cupping Mark's face. "Well, I'm here now. I'm not leaving without you."

Mark blinked in surprise. "But the project—"

Jay's gaze softened, and he leaned in, forehead against Mark's.

"Then I'll help you finish it," Jay interrupted. "So we can go home faster."

Mark laughed, his heart swelling with love. "You're unbelievable."

Jay smirked. "You love me for it."

And just like that, Jay rolled up his sleeves, ready to help Mark complete the project so they could go home—together.

And then—

The villagers watched with curiosity, but neither of them cared. In that moment, in the heart of a small village where the world had felt impossibly big and lonely—Mark was home.

The following days passed in a blur. With Jay's arrival, work seemed lighter, conversations livelier. Even Mr. Wilson, usually stern, found himself amused by their dynamic.

"He's much more efficient now that you're here," Wilson observed one afternoon.

Jay smirked. "Of course he is. I keep him on his toes."

Mark rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress his smile.

But their time apart had changed something—their love had deepened, their bond strengthened.

With Jay's help, the project wrapped up faster than expected.

When the project finally wrapped up, and it was time to leave, Mark stood by the village entrance, looking at the fields one last time.

"Ready?" Jay asked, standing beside him.

Mark nodded, but something in his chest tightened. "I'll miss it here. The people. The quiet."

Jay slipped his fingers between Mark's. "Then we'll come back."

Mark turned to him, surprised. "Really?"

Jay shrugged. "If it makes you happy, then yes."

Mark squeezed his hand. "You make me happy."

Jay smirked. "I know."

They boarded the bus together, the village disappearing into the horizon. But this time, there was no loneliness, no longing.

Because home wasn't a place.

It was Jay.

And Jay was right there.

- "Home is where the heart is, and for Mark and Jay, their hearts are in each other's hands."

- "So, let's make our own homes, wherever we are, with the people who make our lives richer, fuller, and more meaningful."