Beyond The Fine Line

Chapter XXVII - Hide and Seek

In the late afternoon sun, the penthouse glowed with a luminous warmth, its floor-to-ceiling windows framing panoramic views of the city skyline. The open-concept layout seamlessly blended the living room, dining area, and kitchen, creating a quintessence of luxury. Yet, despite its sleek design and upscale amenities, the space lacked the lived-in feel, making Sean feel out of place as if he wandered into a showroom.

Sean had always been aware of Jay's affluent background. Still, the sheer scale of it now felt daunting. It was a reminder that their paths would never have crossed under normal circumstances - they lived in different worlds, ones not meant to intertwine. But somehow, it happened. They acted on the impulse one night and now seemed to be stuck in this silly game of hide and seek. There were days when Sean wondered if it was a mistake, days when he struggled to keep his feelings in check, and days when being around Jay hurt more than he was willing to admit. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to end this because not seeing him was even worse.

His eyes swept over the expansive living room, and it suddenly hit him. It wasn't just a lack of lived-in feeling. It was a profound emptiness permeating everything around them, like a void that could never be filled. But it wasn't just this that startled him... it was the way it seemed to absorb Jay. It almost felt as if he would vanish if Sean dared to blink. The contrast between Jay, with whom he spent so much time, and this moment was surreal. It also made him realise that the wall between them wasn't related to how different their backgrounds were or the limited time Jay had here. It was something else entirely, something Sean couldn't quite grasp.