Him? [JesBible]

10 [Unspoken Tension]

The days that followed were heavy, filled with silence and unresolved emotions that hung in the air like a storm waiting to break. Bible felt the weight of it every time he opened the café doors, knowing Jet was never too far from his thoughts. Each interaction with him left Bible feeling both energized and torn apart, as if he were caught in an endless cycle of longing and frustration.

He tried to stay busy, focusing on caring for the cats and serving the customers. But no matter how hard he tried, Jet’s presence lingered in his mind, unsettling and impossible to ignore.

One afternoon, while Bible was wiping down the tables, the familiar jingle of the doorbell caught his attention. He glanced up, heart skipping a beat as Jet walked in, a casual smile on his face. But something was off—something Bible couldn’t quite place. And then he saw her.

Baifern.

She had adopted one of the cats from his café months ago, and they’d struck up a friendly rapport since then. Her bright smile was contagious as she made a beeline for the cat area, her laughter echoing through the space. Bible watched her fondly for a moment before his gaze shifted back to Jet, who stood near the entrance, watching her with an easy, relaxed expression.

The ache in Bible’s chest intensified. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy, not because Baifern was there—she had always been kind—but because of how Jet seemed around her. Carefree. Unburdened. As if the tension that clung to Bible whenever Jet was near simply didn’t exist in her presence.

Bible forced himself to focus on the tables, wiping them down with more force than necessary, trying to ignore the gnawing feeling in his stomach. He could hear Baifern’s laughter and the sound of Jet’s voice as they joked, and every laugh they shared felt like a knife twisting deeper.

Eventually, Jet wandered over to the counter, leaning against it in that familiar, casual way. Bible didn’t look up immediately, his hands still busy with the cloth, but he could feel Jet’s eyes on him.

“Hey,” Jet said softly, his voice steady but laced with something unspoken.

“Hey,” Bible replied, trying to keep his tone neutral, though his heart raced in his chest.

There was a pause, long and uncomfortable, as the sounds of Baifern playing with the cats filled the café. Bible could sense the tension between them, thick and stifling, but neither of them seemed willing to address it. Jet shifted slightly, as if contemplating whether to say more, but the words didn’t come.

“Is everything alright?” Jet finally asked, his voice gentle but probing, like he could sense the weight Bible was carrying.

“Yeah. Just busy.” Bible’s reply was short, clipped. He didn’t want to open that door—didn’t want to let Jet in on the storm brewing inside him. Not now. Not with Baifern here, not with their unresolved argument still hanging over them like a dark cloud.

Jet nodded, but Bible could see the concern in his eyes. Just as Jet seemed about to speak again, Baifern’s laughter interrupted them. She called Jet over, and Bible watched as he walked away without hesitation, slipping back into that easy, carefree demeanor as if the weight of their silence didn’t affect him.

Bible clenched his jaw, feeling a bitter mix of frustration and hurt. He wanted to be the one Jet smiled at like that. He wanted to be the one who brought that lightness to his eyes, not someone watching from the sidelines, left with nothing but unresolved tension.

By the time they left, Bible felt like he could hardly breathe. The air in the café seemed too thick, too heavy with everything left unsaid. He locked up earlier than usual and decided to take a walk, hoping the fresh air might clear his head.

The streets of Thailand buzzed with life—vendors calling out, people laughing, the scent of street food filling the air. But none of it registered with Bible. All he could think about was Jet, the way he smiled with Baifern, the way their argument had hung between them like a wound that refused to heal.

After walking aimlessly for a while, Bible found himself near a temple. And there, to his surprise, was Jet. He stood alone, lighting incense, his head bowed in quiet prayer. Bible froze, watching him from a distance, his heart pounding.

There was something about the sight that made Bible’s chest tighten even more. Jet, usually so composed, so in control, looked vulnerable in that moment. It was a side of him Bible rarely saw, and it tugged at something deep within him.

For a moment, Bible thought about approaching, about finally saying something—anything—to bridge the gap that had grown between them. But he couldn’t. He stayed rooted in place, fear and uncertainty keeping him silent.

Jet finished his prayer and stood, glancing around as if sensing someone nearby. Their eyes met across the distance, and for a brief second, the world seemed to stop. Bible’s heart raced, but his feet wouldn’t move. Jet took a step toward him, his expression unreadable, but Bible couldn’t face him—not now, not like this.

Without a word, Bible turned and walked away, leaving Jet standing there, the weight of their unresolved tension pressing down on him with every step he took.

The following days were no better. Everywhere Bible went, it seemed like Jet was there, always just out of reach. Whether it was at the market, where Bible saw Jet helping a child pick out a toy, or at a festival where their hands brushed as they reached for the same snack, the tension between them was palpable. Each accidental encounter felt like a reminder of everything they hadn’t said, everything they’d left behind.

And yet, neither of them spoke. Bible found himself tongue-tied whenever Jet was near, the words dying in his throat before he could even begin. The weight of their unresolved feelings grew heavier with each passing day, until it felt like Bible was suffocating under it.

Every night, as he lay in bed staring at the ceiling, Bible’s thoughts were consumed by Jet—by the what-ifs, by the memories of their closeness before things became so complicated. And yet, despite everything, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the end. That there was something still left between them, waiting to be spoken, waiting to be healed.

But how could he fix something when he didn’t even know where to begin?