THE THINGS WE NEVER SAID

Chapter 1 – The Beginning of a Goodbye Ace had already submitted his resignation. Sixty days was all he had left before leaving the office that had been his second home for years. Everyone congratulated him on the new opportunity, but each passing day felt heavier—until Morick arrived. Quiet, observant, and polite, Morick was the new engineer. Their first real connection began at the company’s beach team-building retreat. During a trust activity, Morick was blindfolded, and Ace guided him through the course step by step. When it ended, Morick smiled and said simply, “I trust you.” Those three words stayed with Ace long after. That night, while others partied around the bonfire, the two sat apart, listening to the waves. A gentle breeze brought them closer, and their arms brushed lightly. Both felt a warm, unfamiliar tingle—but neither moved away. In that quiet moment, two strangers were slowly becoming something more. Chapter 2 – The Silver Coin The next morning, Ace woke to soft sunlight filtering through the curtains. Beside his phone lay a polished silver souvenir coin from the seaside park, and a folded note with just three words: “I’m Happy.” Morick was still asleep, his face relaxed and peaceful. Ace never asked who left it; deep down, he already knew. He slipped the coin into his pocket, holding it like a precious memory. Back at work days later, Ace noticed something: hanging from Morick’s ID lace was an identical silver coin. “Do you collect these?” Ace asked, curious. Morick smiled faintly. “Something like that.” What Ace didn’t know was that the coins came as a pair. Morick had kept one, and left the other for Ace—too shy to explain the feeling behind it. Later, when Ace lost his phone, Morick found it in the conference room. The first thing he saw was the silver coin, carefully taped to the back of the case. His heart fluttered—Ace hadn’t just kept it; he treasured it. Chapter 3 – Ordinary Days This was how it grew—not through grand words, but through ordinary days. Every morning, Morick’s soft “Good morning” felt like the start of Ace’s whole day. When Morick was away, the office felt colder and emptier. Without planning, they always ended up eating lunch together, sitting side by side in meetings, or walking together during fieldwork. Small gestures—sharing water, offering a handkerchief, or shielding from the sun—became their quiet language. Soon, coworkers began teasing them. “Ace, where’s your other half?” someone called out, making everyone laugh. Morick nearly choked on his coffee, and Ace’s face turned bright red. Yet neither corrected them. Strangely, they didn’t mind the jokes—they secretly enjoyed the excuse to be closer, even if they dared not say it out loud. Chapter 4 – Sixty Days Ace started a countdown: 61, 60, 59… Each day marked brought him closer to leaving, but also felt heavier. When Morick noticed the list, he asked what it was. “Days left before I go,” Ace replied. Morick’s expression shifted—surprise, then quiet realization. For the first time, it felt real: Ace was leaving. As the days fell, Morick began to feel a quiet ache. When a visiting coworker leaned too close to Ace, Morick felt a sharp twist of jealousy he couldn’t explain. At lunch, someone asked Morick, “Do you have a girlfriend?” Before answering, Morick glanced straight at Ace—just for a heartbeat. “No,” he said simply. Ace spent the rest of the afternoon distracted. Why did that glance matter so much? Why did the answer feel like a relief and a loss all at once? Chapter 5 – The Ride Home The office manager’s birthday celebration ran late, ending only at nine o’clock. Soon only Ace and Morick remained. “My ride already left,” Morick said, checking his phone. “I can drop you,” Ace offered quickly. Inside the car, city lights glowed softly through the windshield. For a while, they said nothing—just enjoying the rare moment alone, free from watching eyes. “You’ll be gone soon,” Morick said gently. Ace nodded. “Two months.” “The office won’t feel the same,” Morick whispered. Ace’s heart skipped. He wanted to ask, Will you miss me? but only smiled and said, “You’ll manage.” When they stopped outside Morick’s building, his gaze fell on Ace’s phone—and the silver coin still attached. “You still keep it,” Morick said, smiling. “Some things are too precious to let go,” Ace replied. Their eyes met, and for a moment, time stood still. Then headlights passed, breaking the spell. Morick stepped out, glancing back once before walking away. It was a quiet ride, but one both would remember. Chapter 6 – Confessions Never Made There were so many chances to speak. On Ace’s birthday, Morick left a short note: “May you always find reasons to smile.” Ace replied, “It means more than you know,” but nothing deeper was said. After work, their messages grew longer—talking about rain, traffic, quiet nights. Ace wanted to say I don’t want to leave; Morick wanted to ask Will you come back? But fear held them back. When Morick fell ill and took sick leave, Ace felt the absence deeply. He called, and Morick’s hoarse voice said, “The office feels strange without me—but stranger still without you there.” Late-night drives, shared meals, quiet moments—every time courage rose, fear arrived first. What if it ruins everything? What if it’s only friendship? So they stayed silent, letting “I’ll miss you” become just “Take care.” Chapter 7 – The Last Week Seven days remained. The office buzzed with farewell plans, but for Ace and Morick, time felt like sand slipping through fingers. Ace packed slowly, lingering longer at his desk, trying to hold onto every moment. Morick grew quiet and restless—staring at his screen, lost in thought, his eyes always finding Ace when he turned away. His mind kept drifting back to the beach: the waves, the breeze, the warmth between them. Regret began to grow—regret for words never spoken, moments never fully taken. At the farewell gathering, Morick spoke briefly, voice soft: “Working with Ace was a privilege. I hope you find everything you seek.” He sat down quickly, afraid his voice would c***k. Later, alone by the exit, Morick admitted, “I wish we had more time.” “Me too,” Ace whispered. Both carried the same fear: What if this is the last time we meet?  Chapter 8 – The Second Coin On Ace’s final afternoon, Morick handed him a small white envelope—no fanfare, just a quiet smile. That night, at home, Ace opened it. Inside lay another silver coin, identical to the first. Engraved on it: “Some things find their way back.” The note read: Dear Ace,These coins come in pairs. I left the first one after the beach because I knew something had changed. I kept the second one, too afraid to speak until now. If you leave, know this: I will wait. If you return, you will find me right here. Thank you for making ordinary days feel special.— Morick Ace read it again and again, holding both coins together—two halves, finally whole. Then his phone buzzed: “Did you read it?” A warm smile spread across his face. He typed back: “I did. And I’m keeping both.” For the first time, Ace didn’t feel like he was saying goodbye. He felt like he was just beginning. Some stories start with words. Ours began with a silver coin—and it was only just starting.