Him? [JesBible]

13 [Waves of Panic]

Bible stood behind the counter of his cat café, the comforting hum of chatter and the soft purring of cats surrounding him like a warm blanket. He poured a fresh cup of coffee, focusing on the rhythm of his routine, trying to push away the gnawing anxiety that had taken hold of him since Jet’s announcement. It was just four days, he reminded himself. He could manage.

As he served a customer, the café's television flickered to life, drawing the attention of several patrons. Bible glanced up, expecting a local weather report, but instead, his heart sank as the news anchor's voice filled the room, laden with urgency.

“We have breaking news: three scuba diving instructors have gone missing while conducting tours off the coast of Koh Samui. Authorities are currently searching for them, and we’ll keep you updated as more information comes in.”

Bible’s breath hitched in his throat as the camera panned to a photo of the missing instructors. His eyes widened in disbelief as Jet’s face appeared on the screen, his smile bright and carefree, contrasting sharply with the gravity of the situation.

The café grew silent, the sound of clinking cups and soft conversations fading into the background as disbelief washed over him. Time seemed to freeze as memories flooded his mind—images of his dead boyfriend, Jes, who had drowned.

Now, as he stood in the café, the familiar tightness constricted his chest, memories clawing at him like sharp claws. No, not again. He couldn’t bear to lose someone else he cared about.

“Bib, are you okay?” Bas’s voice jolted him back to reality, concern etched on his face as he gripped Bible’s shoulder. But Bible could barely process the words.

“No, I—” he stammered, his voice shaky. “Jet… he’s—”

Bas turned to the screen, eyes widening in horror. “Oh no….”

Bible felt the room spinning, memories flashing before his eyes—the frantic calls, the feeling of helplessness as they had searched for Jes’s body, the anguish of hearing the news reports day after day. It felt like a nightmare he couldn’t escape.

“Stay with me, Bib..” Bas urged, pulling Bible away from the counter. “Let’s get you some air.”

Bible could hardly register the words. He shook his head, desperately trying to push the panic back down, but it clawed at him, raw and unrelenting. “I can’t… I can’t do this again,” he gasped, his heart racing. “Not Jet.”

“Breathe,” Bas instructed, guiding him to a quieter corner of the café. “In and out. Focus on me.”

But the memories of Jet in danger consumed him. The laughter they shared, the late-night talks, the warmth of his hand in Bible’s—it all felt so fragile, teetering on the edge of loss.

“Look at me,” Bas said firmly, their hands steadying Bible’s trembling shoulders. “Jet is strong. He knows what he’s doing. We don’t know anything yet. Just because he’s missing doesn’t mean—”

“But he was in the water! What if he’s hurt? What if…” Bible’s voice cracked, tears streaming down his face as the fear engulfed him, the world blurring at the edges.

As the panic rose, his chest felt tight, like a vise squeezing the air from his lungs. He struggled to breathe, the air around him becoming thin and suffocating. He could feel his heart racing, pounding so hard it echoed in his ears. The walls of the café seemed to close in, the sounds of patrons fading into a distant hum.

“Stop,” Bas said, their voice steady but urgent. “You have to hold on to hope. I know it’s hard, but we can’t let fear control us.”

But the weight of his memories pressed down on him, each moment with Jes layered with guilt. The time they had spent together, the promises they had made—Jes had been his anchor, and now he was gone, leaving a void that felt impossible to fill. What if he lost Jet too?

As the news continued to broadcast updates, Bible felt as if the walls were closing in on him. He couldn’t shake the image of Jet’s face from his mind, a stark reminder of the danger lurking in the depths of the ocean.

He took a shaky breath, trying to find solace in the thought that Jet was strong and capable. But as the minutes ticked by, doubt seeped into his heart, and he knew he had to do something—anything—to find out if Jet was safe.

With a newfound determination, Bible pulled out his phone, his hands trembling as he searched for any updates. He wouldn’t allow history to repeat itself. Not this time. Not with Jet.

As he waited for the news to load, he felt Bas’s presence beside him, a silent promise of support. He might not be able to control what happened, but he could fight against the despair that threatened to swallow him whole.

Jet was still out there, and he wasn’t going to give up without a fight.

.....

Did it hurt?