Hidden Love [WilliamEst]

Chapter 12

William’s heart raced as he rushed out of the meeting room, his phone in hand. He hadn’t been expecting the last-minute call from the company, and it had thrown off all his plans. His phone, dead from hours of constant use and no time to charge, had left him unable to reach Est, even though he had promised to meet him that morning before Est’s flight.

As soon as he was able, William plugged his phone into the nearest outlet, his fingers trembling with urgency. The first thing he did was try to call Est. But the call went straight to voicemail. He tried again. And again. Panic started to set in as his attempts to reach Est were met with the same silence.

“Come on, baby… pick up,” William muttered under his breath, his mind racing as he replayed the events of the morning in his head. He knew how much this trip meant to Est, how much they had both been looking forward to spending time together before his departure. He couldn’t believe that he had let his work get in the way of their plans.

It wasn’t until hours later, after he had finally finished another round of interviews and meetings, that William’s phone rang with a new notification. His heart leaped, thinking it was Est returning his call. He dialed Est’s number again, praying he would pick up.

But when Est’s voice finally came through, it was soft and distant, as if there were a barrier between them. “Hello?”

William’s breath hitched, guilt clawing at him. “Phi Est… I’m so sorry. I tried to call you earlier, I really did. My phone died, and I didn’t… I didn’t mean for you to feel abandoned.”

Est sighed on the other end, his voice carrying the weight of disappointment. “I already know, Will. I just… I waited for hours. I don’t know what happened. And when I couldn’t reach you… I felt like I was alone.”

William’s heart ached at Est’s words. He hated that Est had been left feeling that way, even though he knew it wasn’t intentional. “I should’ve been there, phi. I should’ve been with you when you needed me. Please, I’m so sorry.”

Est was silent for a beat, then let out a small sigh. “I know you didn’t mean to. I just… I really needed you.”

William swallowed hard, guilt lacing his words. “I’ll make it up to you, I swear. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Est’s voice softened. “It’s okay, Will. I know you’re busy, but it doesn’t make it easier.”

William’s heart felt like it was breaking as he listened to Est’s quiet words. “I’m here now. And I’ll be here every step of the way for you, even if we can’t be together in person.”

There was a pause, and then Est’s voice, small but warm, came through again. “I know. I’m just… I’m just sad right now.”

“I’m so sorry,” William whispered again. “But we’ll make it through this. We always do.”

They stayed on the phone for a while longer, talking through the weight of the situation and sharing how much they missed each other. William listened closely to Est’s soft, vulnerable voice, promising himself he would do whatever it took to make it right. Despite the distance between them, the connection they shared was undeniable, and he wanted Est to know that.

As the night stretched on and the hours passed, William finally suggested, “How about we video call? Maybe it’ll help us feel closer.”

Est agreed, his voice still a little distant, but it seemed to bring a sense of comfort to both of them. William set up his phone, and soon, the two of them were staring at each other through the small screen. Est’s eyes looked tired, but there was a small, reassuring smile tugging at his lips.

They spent hours video calling, chatting about everything and nothing. William’s heart swelled with love as Est talked about the shoot in Chiang Mai, and they reminisced about the times they’d spent together before Est had left. The more they talked, the more they both began to relax, even if the circumstances were far from ideal.

At some point, as their conversation drifted into comfortable silences, Est’s eyes began to droop, and he yawned softly.

William chuckled gently, his voice low. “You’re exhausted, aren’t you?”

Est smiled sleepily. “Yeah… I just... I miss you so much.”

William’s expression softened, and he reached out to the screen as if he could touch Est. “I miss you too, baby. But you need to get some sleep.”

Est nodded, his eyes fluttering closed. “I will. Just… stay with me a little longer.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” William whispered. “I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”

Est’s breathing slowed, and soon, his eyes were fully closed, his head resting against the pillow, a contented sigh escaping his lips. William watched him for a few moments, smiling softly at how peaceful Est looked, even in the midst of everything.

“Goodnight, phi. I love you,” William whispered, though he knew Est couldn’t hear him anymore. The screen remained on for a while, with William’s gaze locked on Est’s sleeping face.