CHAPTER 7
923 Words
# Chapter 7: The Distance Between Us
Three months had passed since Luke left for Cebu.
Life had become busy for both of them.
Alyssa immersed herself in her work as a junior graphic designer. Every day brought new clients, deadlines, and creative challenges. She loved what she did, but every success felt incomplete because the first person she wanted to celebrate with was hundreds of miles away.
Luke, on the other hand, was adjusting to life at one of Cebu's top architectural firms. He spent long hours drafting building plans, visiting construction sites, and learning from experienced architects. It was everything he had dreamed of.
Yet something was missing.
Every evening, after work, he would instinctively reach for his phone.
"Good evening," he would text.
A few seconds later, Alyssa would reply.
"How was your day?"
No matter how busy they were, they never missed a chance to talk.
---
One Friday evening, Luke called Alyssa through a video chat.
The moment her face appeared on the screen, he smiled.
"You look tired," he said.
"I've been working on a logo project all week."
"What about you?"
"I spent the entire day at a construction site."
They laughed.
It felt almost like old times.
"I wish you were here," Alyssa said without thinking.
Luke's heart skipped a beat.
"I wish that too."
An awkward silence followed.
Neither of them realised how much those simple words meant.
---
Weeks turned into months.
Their schedules became even busier.
Sometimes Alyssa worked late into the night.
Sometimes Luke had meetings that lasted until midnight.
Their daily conversations slowly became shorter.
Instead of hour-long video calls, they exchanged quick messages.
*"Good morning."*
*"Have a great day."*
*"Don't forget to eat."*
*"Good night."*
Both of them understood.
Both of them pretended it didn't hurt.
---
One Sunday afternoon, Mia invited Alyssa for coffee.
"You've been quiet lately," Mia observed.
"I'm just busy."
Mia stirred her drink.
"Is it really work?"
Alyssa sighed.
"I miss Luke."
"I know."
"I didn't think distance would be this hard."
Mia smiled gently.
"You know... people don't usually miss their best friend like that."
Alyssa looked down at her cup.
"I don't know what I'm feeling anymore."
Mia reached across the table and squeezed her hand.
"Maybe you already do."
---
Meanwhile, in Cebu, Luke's colleagues convinced him to attend a company dinner.
"You work too much," his supervisor joked.
"You deserve a break."
Luke reluctantly agreed.
During dinner, one of his co-workers, Angela, sat beside him.
"So," she asked with a smile, "is there someone special back home?"
Luke thought for a moment.
"There is."
"Oh?"
"My best friend."
Angela smiled knowingly.
"Best friend?"
Luke nodded.
"She's been part of my life for years."
"And you're still calling her your best friend?"
Luke laughed softly.
"I guess... I'm afraid to call her anything else."
---
A few days later, Alyssa was scrolling through social media during her lunch break.
One photo caught her attention.
Luke was smiling beside several co-workers after finishing a project.
Angela stood next to him.
The caption read:
**"Celebrating another successful project with the team!"**
Alyssa stared at the picture longer than she wanted to admit.
She knew it was innocent.
She trusted Luke.
So why did her chest suddenly feel heavy?
She quickly locked her phone and returned to work.
But she couldn't stop thinking about the photo.
---
That evening, Luke called as usual.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"You sound different."
"I'm just tired."
"Long day?"
"Yeah."
Luke smiled.
"You should rest."
Alyssa hesitated.
"Who's Angela?"
Luke looked surprised.
"My co-worker."
"Oh."
"We're working on the same project."
"I saw the picture."
Luke immediately understood.
"You were jealous."
"What?"
"You were."
"I wasn't."
He laughed softly.
"It's okay."
"I wasn't jealous."
"Then why did you ask?"
Alyssa couldn't answer.
Instead, she changed the subject.
"How's your project going?"
Luke smiled sadly.
He knew she was avoiding the question.
---
That night, neither of them slept well.
Alyssa lay awake, replaying the conversation in her mind.
*"Was I really jealous?"*
She closed her eyes.
The answer frightened her.
Across the sea, Luke sat on the balcony of his apartment.
He opened the leather sketchbook Alyssa had given him on graduation day.
Nearly every page contained sketches inspired by memories of her.
The umbrella.
The beach.
The school festival.
Her smile.
He gently closed the notebook.
"I love you," he whispered into the quiet night.
It was the first time he had admitted those words aloud.
Even if no one else heard them.
---
A month later, Luke received unexpected news.
His company was sending him to Manila for a week-long architectural conference.
The moment he saw the email, he reached for his phone.
Without hesitation, he called Alyssa.
She answered almost immediately.
"Luke?"
"I'm coming home."
For a second, neither of them spoke.
Then Alyssa smiled so brightly that tears filled her eyes.
"Really?"
"I'll be there next Friday."
"I can't wait."
"Neither can I."
As the call ended, both of them found themselves smiling.
Neither wanted to admit it.
But they weren't counting the days because they missed a friend.
They were counting the days because their hearts had finally begun to recognise what they had been hiding for so long.
Sometimes, distance doesn't weaken love.
Sometimes, it reveals just how deep that love has always been.
And soon, after months apart, Alyssa and Luke would finally see each other again.
Neither of them knew that this reunion would change their lives forever.
**End of Chapter 7**
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