The Distance and Secret

The sound of airport announcements echoed faintly as Aries Frostel wheeled her luggage through the crowded terminal. She looked calm on the outside, but inside, her heart ached with a quiet longing.

It had been a month since she left for her business trip abroad, a project that kept her miles away from the man she secretly loved—Brylle.

They promised to keep their relationship hidden from their friends, to protect what they had until the right time came.

But now… time was slowly becoming their enemy.

Aries (texting):

“Hey, I just landed from another meeting. How’s your day?”

Minutes passed. Then hours. The “seen” mark appeared, but no reply came.

Every night felt colder. Every unread message became a wound.

On the other side of the ocean, Brylle sat in a café with Jasmine, a mutual friend of Devine. What began as harmless company slowly turned into something more dangerous—comfort.

When Aries stopped calling often, Brylle found himself laughing, smiling, and talking deeply with Jasmine.

And because no one knew about his secret relationship with Aries, Jasmine had no idea she was falling for someone already taken.

Brylle (softly, smiling):

“You always make things easier, Jas.”

Jasmine (laughs):

“You too, Brylle. You’re… different.”

While Brylle found warmth in Jasmine’s presence, Aries back abroad was fighting her own loneliness.

She missed him too much.

Too much that one night, she made a sudden decision.

Aries (packing hurriedly):

“I’ll surprise him. I’ll finish everything early and go home. He’ll be happy… right?”

But fate had other plans.

Aries returned earlier than planned. She told herself it was because of work — a project that needed her presence. But deep down, it was because of Brylle. She missed him. Missed their quiet talks, their secret glances, their laughter that only they understood.

She wanted to surprise him. Maybe they could fix whatever was breaking.

The afternoon sun was warm when she arrived at his apartment. The keys jingled in her hand, her heart racing with excitement and nerves. She took a deep breath, opened the door—

—and the world stopped.

There, on the couch, Brylle was asleep. Jasmine was beside him, her head resting on his chest. His arm was around her, holding her as if she belonged there.

Aries froze.

The suitcase slipped from her hand, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

Jasmine stirred but didn’t wake. Brylle’s arm only tightened around her, his face peaceful, unbothered by the heartbreak standing right at his door.

Aries couldn’t breathe. Her chest felt hollow, her eyes stung, but no sound came out.

She turned away silently, closing the door without a sound.

That night, she went home to her parents. When they saw her, their eyes widened in surprise.

Aries Mother: “Aries? Anak, what happened? I thought you’d be gone for three months,” her mother asked gently.

Aries only smiled weakly, tears threatening to fall. Aries: “Can I… stay for a while? Just a few days.”

But those few days turned into weeks. And when she finally spoke again, it was to ask for one thing.

Aries:“I want to take a break,” she said softly. “From work. From everything. I want to find myself again.”

Her parents looked at each other — worried but understanding. They loved her too much to ask questions she wasn’t ready to answer.

So when she asked to go abroad — this time not for business, but to heal — they agreed.

They helped her pack, hugged her tightly, and promised to keep her secret.

And when her friends asked about her sudden disappearance, her parents only said, “She’s away for business again. We don’t know when she’ll return.”

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