Hidden Love [WilliamEst]

Chapter 9

Over the next few weeks, William and Est followed the company’s advice, doing their best to avoid being seen together in public. It wasn’t easy, especially for William, who had never been one to shy away from showing affection to Est. Now, every interaction had to be cautious, planned, and hidden from the prying eyes of fans and media.

They stopped meeting at their usual spots. Gone were the casual dinners at their favorite restaurant, the weekend trips to quiet places, and even the simple luxury of holding hands in public. Every glance, every touch had to be brief and discreet.

Their schedules didn’t help either. William was still swamped with LYKN’s promotions and his solo work, while Est had his own filming projects, keeping them apart even more than before. But whenever they could, they found ways to be together in private, even if it meant sneaking around.

One evening, after a particularly grueling day on set, Est sat in his car, feeling the weight of the distance between him and William. His fingers hovered over his phone, staring at the last message William had sent that morning.

William: “Good luck today, baby. I’ll call when I can.”

That call never came.

Est knew it wasn’t William’s fault. He was overwhelmed by his solo schedules and group commitments, but the growing emptiness gnawed at Est. They had gone from being inseparable to barely seeing each other, and the uncertainty of when they’d next meet was starting to weigh him down.

Deciding he couldn’t spend another night alone in his apartment, Est drove to the William's apartment, hoping William might be back from his schedule. When he arrived, all the lights were off. Est’s heart sank. He knew it was foolish to think William would be free, but a part of him had hoped. He hadn’t seen William in almost a week. He decided to wait for William on the couch.

Hours passed, and Est dozed off on the couch, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up to him. It wasn’t until the soft creak of the front door that he stirred. Blinking his eyes open, he saw William quietly entering the dorm, looking completely drained from his late-night session.

William froze when he saw Est, his tired eyes widening in surprise. “Phi Est?” His voice was barely above a whisper, disbelief laced in his tone.

Est sat up, rubbing his eyes. “Hey… I didn’t want to go home without seeing you.”

William’s expression softened, and without a word, he walked over to the couch and sat down beside Est, pulling him into a tight embrace. The weight of the past few days seemed to melt away as they held each other. William buried his face in Est’s neck, inhaling the familiar scent he had missed so much.

“I’m sorry,” William murmured against Est’s skin. “I’ve been so busy, and I know it’s been hard for you.”

Est hugged him tighter, his voice barely above a whisper. “I know you’ve been working hard, Will. I just… I miss you.”

William pulled back slightly, his hand gently cupping Est’s cheek. “I miss you too. So much.”

For a moment, they just stared at each other, the unspoken longing hanging between them. William’s thumb brushed over Est’s cheekbone, and he leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to his lips. It was slow, tender, as if they were both trying to make up for all the time they had lost.

When they finally pulled away, William rested his forehead against Est’s. “I hate that I can’t see you as much as I want to. But I promise, I’m going to make more time for us.”

Est smiled softly, though a part of him was still hesitant. “I know you’re trying, Will. I just don’t want us to drift apart.”

“We won’t,” William assured him, his voice firm. “You’re the most important thing to me. I’ll find a way to balance everything. I won’t let anything come between us.”

They sat in silence for a moment, just holding each other as they found comfort in each other’s presence. Est rested his head on William’s shoulder, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against him. It was moments like these that reminded him why they were worth fighting for, even if it wasn’t easy.

William let out a deep sigh, the exhaustion visible in his every movement. He shifted on the couch, pulling away slightly from Est’s embrace, but not for long. With a tired but playful glint in his eyes, William suddenly straddled Est's lap, wrapping his arms loosely around his neck.

Est’s eyes widened in surprise, but he couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips. “What are you doing?” he asked, his voice soft and amused.

William leaned in close, resting his forehead against Est’s once more. “Just want to be close to you,” he murmured. His voice was laced with tired affection, and despite his long day, there was an undeniable warmth in his gaze as he looked at Est.

Est could feel the weight of William against him, his heart fluttering as he instinctively wrapped his arms around William’s waist, pulling him closer. The warmth of William’s body, the steady rise and fall of his chest, made Est feel a sense of peace that he hadn’t felt in days.

William nuzzled into Est’s neck, his breath warm against his skin. Est’s fingers gently traced circles on William’s back. They sat there in silence, holding each other in the dimly lit room. The outside world, with its chaos and demands, felt miles away as they shared this intimate moment. Est leaned back slightly, allowing William to rest more comfortably on his lap.

William tilted his head, gazing at Est with a soft, tired smile. “You know,” he said, his voice teasing but full of love, “this isn’t so bad. I could stay like this forever.”

Est chuckled softly, his fingers brushing through William’s hair. “Maybe we should just run away and do this all the time,” he joked, though a part of him wished they could.

William’s smile grew, his eyes twinkling despite his exhaustion. “Tempting, but I think LYKN and your acting career would notice if we disappeared.”

Est sighed dramatically, though he couldn’t keep the smile off his face. “Yeah, I guess they would.”

William shifted slightly in Est’s lap, his hands resting on Est’s shoulders as he gazed down at him. “But even with everything going on, I’ll always find my way back to you. No matter how crazy it gets, I’ll make sure we have moments like this.”

Est’s heart swelled with affection. He reached up, gently cupping William’s face in his hands, his thumbs brushing over his cheekbones. “I believe you, Will. And I’ll be right here waiting for you.”

William leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to Est’s lips. It was gentle, full of love and unspoken promises. When they pulled away, he rested his head on Est’s shoulder, his body relaxing as he let the exhaustion of the day melt away in Est’s arms.