The Love Algorithm

Chapter 30: The Space Between Heartbeats

William

He hadn't planned to say it like this.

Not while Est was making tea in his cartoon-sheep pajamas, humming some old K-drama OST off-key. Not when the apartment smelled like oranges and the leftover miso soup from Japan they tried recreating last night. Not while Est looked like the softest version of home.

But the words pushed against his throat like they were on fire.

"I have to go to Shanghai," he said, voice flat. "For six months. Off confirmed this morning."

The clink of the teaspoon against ceramic stopped mid-stir.

Est turned.

William hated the way he froze, like someone had hit pause on his whole face. His fingers tightened around the edge of the counter.

"Six months?"

William nodded once. "It's for that cross-country campaign. I thought it'd be later, maybe next year. But Off wants me there next month."

Est blinked, and it looked like it took effort.

William kept talking—fast now, like if he filled the room with words, it wouldn't feel so empty. "We'll call. I'll visit. You can come too—maybe you can work remotely for a week or two? I mean, I know your manager's chill, and Shanghai is—"

Est just nodded quietly. William stopped.

He could feel something crack beneath his ribs.

Est

Six months.

It repeated in his head like a countdown.

He didn't say anything at first, because if he opened his mouth now, he wasn't sure if words or tears would come out.

Shanghai.

It wasn't the city. Or the job. Or the time. It was the simple fact that William wouldn't be here.

In this room.
On the other side of the bed.
Making fun of Est's choice of cereal.
Singing in the shower and calling it "vocal warmups."
Walking into Est's 3am coding sessions with sleepy "hi baby"s.

He knew William had dreams. Big ones. And he wanted him to chase them.

So he managed to speak.

"Of course you should go," Est said, aiming for steady and landing on brittle. "It's a huge opportunity."

William's face fell further, like that wasn't what he wanted to hear.

"I'm not... upset," Est added quickly. "I'm just processing."

William nodded, but the silence grew.

Est hated this. The way it already felt like William was slipping into the future and he was being left behind in the present.

He wanted to say stay.
He wanted to say I'm scared of missing you.
He wanted to say you just moved in and now you're moving away.
But all he said was—

"When do you leave?"

"Three weeks."

Est nodded. Then whispered, "Okay."

William

He wanted to pull Est close and promise him the world.
But something about Est's voice—tight, controlled—made him hesitate.