“The SIP”

Chapter Four — The Slow Undoing

The message stayed beneath Yay's pillow until morning.

He didn't delete it.

He didn't reply.

But he didn't forget it either.

When the alarm went off, Yay reached beneath the pillow before he was even fully awake.

His fingers found the phone.

The screen lit up.

Xan: Goodnight, Yay.

Two simple words.

They shouldn't have mattered.

Yet Yay stared at them for several seconds before locking the phone again.

Beside him, Zain stirred.

"You awake?"

Yay slipped the phone beneath the blanket.

"Yeah."

Zain opened his eyes and smiled sleepily.

"Come here."

Yay moved closer.

Zain wrapped an arm around him, pulling him against his chest.

For a moment, Yay allowed himself to disappear into the familiar warmth.

Then his phone vibrated.

Once.

Yay froze.

Zain felt it.

"Your phone."

"I'll check it later."

Zain's eyes opened fully.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah."

Yay smiled.

But his heart was already beating faster.

---

At work, Yay was distracted.

He made mistakes he normally wouldn't make.

He forgot a meeting time.

Misplaced a set of equipment.

Read the same email three times without understanding it.

And every time his phone vibrated, his attention snapped toward it.

Nothing from Xan.

That somehow made it worse.

By noon, Yay was angry with himself.

He stepped outside for air.

The courtyard was quiet.

He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.

"Having a bad day?"

Yay opened them.

Xan.

Of course.

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

"I'm just tired."

Xan studied him.

Then smiled.

"Did you sleep?"

Yay looked away.

"Yes."

"You're lying."

Yay frowned.

"You don't know that."

"I do."

Xan stepped closer.

"You have the same expression you had last night."

Yay's stomach tightened.

"You don't know what expression I had last night."

Xan's smile was faint.

"I know you were thinking about me."

Yay stared at him.

"You're arrogant."

"Maybe."

Xan paused.

"But am I wrong?"

Yay didn't answer.

That was becoming his most dangerous habit.

Silence.

Because Xan always seemed to understand what his silence meant.

---

Over the next few days, something changed.

Xan stopped chasing him.

He didn't corner Yay.

He didn't send messages.

He didn't flirt.

He simply became distant.

And somehow, that was worse.

Yay began looking for him.

Across rooms.

In hallways.

Through glass doors.

He hated himself every time he caught himself doing it.

One afternoon, he finally found Xan alone.

"Are you avoiding me?"

Xan looked up from his phone.

"No."

"You've barely spoken to me."

"I've been busy."

Yay frowned.

"You weren't too busy before."

Xan smiled.

"Maybe I decided to give you space."

The words struck harder than they should have.

Yay folded his arms.

"I didn't ask for space."

Xan's eyes lifted slowly.

"Then what did you ask for?"

Yay had no answer.

Xan stood.

He moved closer, but stopped before invading Yay's space.

"That's the problem, isn't it?"

"What?"

"You don't know what you want."

Yay swallowed.

"And you do?"

Xan's expression became unreadable.

"Yes."

Silence.

"What?"

Xan held his gaze.

"You."

Yay's breath caught.

Xan didn't move closer.

He didn't need to.

He simply walked past him.

"Figure out what you want, Yay."

Then he was gone.

Yay stood there, heart pounding.

For the first time, he realized something terrifying.

He wasn't waiting for Xan to make the next move.

He was waiting for himself.

---

That evening, Zain was waiting at home.

Dinner was already on the table.

"You've been quiet lately," Zain said.

"I'm tired."

"You always say that."

Yay looked up.

Zain wasn't angry.

That somehow made it worse.

"I miss you."

The words were soft.

Yay's chest tightened.

"I'm here."

"No."

Zain shook his head.

"You're physically here."

He looked directly at Yay.

"But you're somewhere else."

Yay couldn't speak.

Zain stood.

"Is there someone?"

Yay's heart stopped.

"No."

Zain searched his face.

"Then look me in the eyes and tell me."

Yay looked at him.

"I love you."

Zain's expression broke slightly.

"I didn't ask if you love me."

Yay went still.

"I asked if there's someone else."

Silence.

That silence told Zain more than any answer could have.

Zain stepped back.

"Okay."

"Zain—"

"I need some air."

He walked toward the door.

Yay followed.

"Please."

Zain stopped.

He turned around.

There were tears in his eyes.

"Whatever is happening, Yay... don't make me discover it after you've already left me."

Then he walked out.

Yay stood in the doorway long after Zain disappeared.

His phone vibrated.

He looked down.

One message.

From Xan.

Come see me.

Yay stared at the screen.

His heart told him to stay.

His curiosity told him to go.

And for the first time, curiosity won.

He grabbed his jacket.

And walked into the night.

---