Miles Apart

Chapter 21

A year had passed, and yet, the distance between Sky and Nani felt just as heavy as the first day they were apart.

Sky and Nani carried on with their lives, but deep down, they both knew they were incomplete without each other.

Nani worked tirelessly, the weight of his father's task pressing down on him. The problems had spiraled far beyond what he had excepted. Each passing day felt heavier, especially knowing he'd have to postpone the surprise he'd been so excited to give Sky.

The thought alone made his chest tighten. Another delay. Another moment stolen from them.

He leaned back in his chair, running a tired hand through his hair. If I'd known it would be this hard to be apart from him, I would've brought him with me. His mind wandered, imagining Sky at his side, lighting up the dullest of days with his smile. Hell, I'd have begged him to leave his job if I had to.

Even as the thought crossed his mind, Nani sighed and shook his head. It wasn't that simple. Sky had his own dreams, his own goals. Nani couldn't take that from him, especially when he knew how passionate Sky was about his acting.

Of course, Nani, with all his power in his father's company and his own successful ventures, could easily give Sky a peaceful life without Sky having to lift a finger. He could provide everything Sky needed, make sure he never had to work a day again. But Nani knows that wasn't what Sky wanted. Sky wasn't someone who thrived in ease. He thrived when he had purpose, when he was chasing something that made him feel whole. And Nani loved Sky too much to take that away.

Nani stared out the window, the city lights blinking in the distance. The ache of being apart from Sky was sharp, but he knew this was part of love. The hardest thing in love was allowing the other person the space they needed to chase their dreams. Nani closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, knowing that as long as they held onto each other, they'd be okay.

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Mr. Nirav admitted that he had sent Nani abroad not just for work but to test the strength of his son's relationship with that actor. Watching from a distance, he had hoped to uncover the truth.

Since Nani left, Mr. Nirav quietly assigned one of his men to keep an eye on Sky. Not because he doubted him, but because he wanted to understand the person who held his son's heart. What his man reported were simple, yet they spoke volumes about Sky's character. His days revolved around work, the gym, and, surprisingly, spending time with the F4 gang. There was no sign of anyone else in his life, no reason to doubt his loyalty to Nani.

What impressed Mr. Nirav most was how easily Sky had fit in with the F4 gang, Nani's closest friends. F4 were known for being troublemakers and difficult to get along with. Yet, Sky had managed to earn their acceptance, even their friendship. But even so, it wasn't enough to convince Mr. Nirav that Sky was truly worthy of his son.

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Dew and Tee were seated at the bar and Win shamelessly trailing behind, as usual. Since Win is already here, Tee took out his phone and sent Sky a quick text, asking if he'd like to come along too. Sky replied, saying he could come after he done with the event, which is almost finished.

After a short while, Sky walked in, his usual bright smile lighting up the room. But for those who knew him well, like Dew and Tee, it was easy to see how much he missed Nani. Though Sky's smile was wide and warm, there was a quiet sadness in his eyes that only those close to him could recognize. It was the light in his smile didn't quite reach the depths of his heart, which longed for Nani's presence.

Sky sat beside Win, but Win could tell right away something was off. He glanced at Sky with a knowing look, his expression softening just slightly. Though Win rarely showed it, he understood what Sky was going through.

F4 gang had always assumed Nani would be back soon, but as time passed, it became clear that it wasn't going to happen anytime soon. It had already been a year since Nani had gone to London.

Even with all their calls and messages, it still didn't feel the same. Sky missed Nani so much, and no matter how often they talked, the distance between them was hard to bear.

Sky had wanted to visit Nani so many times, but his busy work schedule always got in the way. He missed being with Nani, feeling his warmth, but his responsibilities kept him apart.

Win, who had been watching Sky finally spoke up. "I know it's tough." he said quietly "but you've got to take care of yourself too, Sky. You can't pour from an empty cup."

Dew, always sensitive to the mood, leaned in, giving Sky a small but encouraging smile."If Nani knew you were feeling this down because of him, he wouldn't want that. You wouldn't want him to feel like that, right?"

Win and Tee exchanged a knowing look, both realizing that Dew had cleverly used Nani's name to get through to Sky.

Sky blinked, feeling a warmth in Dew's words. He knew Dew was right. Nani would never want him to feel this way.

"Yeah, you're right," he murmured, his voice quieter now, as if he was starting to let go of some of the heaviness.

Win leaned in, adding with a teasing grin, "And if you need a distraction, we've got plenty of nonsense to keep you busy."

Sky smiled faintly at Win's words, the corner of his lips lifting just a little. "I could probably use some nonsense right now," he replied, his tone lighter than before.

"That's the spirit." Dew said, his voice warm and full of encouragement. He clinked his glass gently against Sky's, and soon Win and Tee joined in, raising their glasses as well.