The Distance Between Us
The next morning, June awoke to find Sushi already preparing to leave for the office. Concern etched lines into his forehead as he watched her bustling about, her movements still somewhat sluggish from her feverish night.
"Sushi, you don't need to go into the office today," June called out, his voice tinged with worry. "You should rest until your fever goes down."
But Sushi seemed not to hear him, her focus solely on gathering her belongings and heading out the door. With a sense of frustration and helplessness gnawing at him, June watched as she slipped out of the house and disappeared down the street.
As he stood alone in the empty house, June couldn't shake the feeling of hurt that lingered in his chest. Why was Sushi acting so coldly towards him? He had only tried to show her kindness and concern, and yet she seemed to reject his efforts at every turn.
"It should be me who's mad at her," June whispered to himself, his voice heavy with resignation. "I tried to show her some kindness, but I guess she doesn't need it from me. She'll take it from Huan instead."
With a heavy sigh, June gathered his things and headed to the office, his mind consumed by thoughts of the distance that seemed to be growing between him and his wife. But no matter how hard he tried to push them away, the nagging feeling of unease remained, a constant reminder of the rift that had formed between them.
As June arrived at the office, his mind was still consumed by thoughts of Sushi and her well-being. Despite the distance that seemed to be growing between them, he couldn't shake the urge to take care of her, to ensure that she was safe and comfortable.
And then, an idea struck him. Summoning his assistant, June quickly scribbled a note and handed it to her, along with a bottle of fever-reducing medication.
"Take this to Sushi's office," he instructed, his voice low and urgent. "Make sure she takes it, but don't let her know it's from me."
His assistant nodded, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she accepted the bottle and note. "Consider it done, Mr. June," she replied, before hurrying off to carry out his instructions.
As the day wore on, June found himself growing more and more anxious, his thoughts consumed by the thoughts whether she takes the medicine or not?.
As the day progressed, June's worry for Sushi only intensified. Unable to shake the feeling of unease gnawing at him, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
Summoning Sushi's team into his office under the guise of an urgent meeting, June's heart pounded with anxiety as he waited for her arrival. When she finally entered, he watched her closely, noting the pallor of her complexion and the fatigue etched into her features.
"Update us on the progress of the project," June instructed, his voice firm but tinged with concern.
Sushi launched into her report, her words steady but her movements betraying a hint of dizziness. As she spoke, June's heart clenched with worry, his instincts screaming at him that something was terribly wrong.
And then, it happened. Sushi swayed on her feet, her eyes widening in alarm as she reached out for support. Before anyone could react, she began to fall, her body collapsing towards the floor.
In a split-second, Huan was by her side, his arms wrapping around her and breaking her fall. Sushi landed against his chest, her eyes fluttering closed as she slipped into unconsciousness.
June's heart lurched in his chest as he leaped from his chair, his worry for Sushi overpowering all other thoughts. "Sushi!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with panic as he rushed to her side.
With trembling hands, June gathered her limp form into his arms, his heart breaking at the sight of her pale face. "Hang in there, Sushi," he murmured softly, his voice thick with emotion. "I've got you."
Ignoring the startled looks of her team, June carried Sushi out of the office and towards the pharmacy located within the building. With each step, his determination to take care of her only grew stronger, his love for her driving him forward despite the uncertainty of the situation.
As he reached the pharmacy, June gently laid Sushi down on a nearby couch, his hands shaking as he brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. "Please be okay," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.
The pharmacist quickly prepared an IV drip, expertly hooking it up to Sushi's arm to administer much-needed fluids. June watched with a mix of apprehension and gratitude, his heart aching as he witnessed Sushi's pale form lying motionless before him.
With each passing moment, June's worry only grew, his mind consumed by thoughts of what could have caused Sushi's sudden collapse. Was it the fever? Dehydration? Or something more serious?
And as June sat by Sushi's side, his hand clasped tightly in hers, Sushi stirred, her eyelids fluttering open as she slowly regained consciousness. June's heart leapt in his chest as he watched her gaze flicker around the room, confusion and disorientation clouding her features.
"Sushi," June breathed, his voice thick with emotion as he reached out to grasp her hand. "Can you hear me? Are you okay?"
As Sushi woke, her eyes fell upon June, holding her hand with concern etched across his features. Anger flashed in her eyes as she swiftly withdrew her hand, shaking off his touch.
"What are you doing?" June demanded, his voice sharp with irritation as she reached to remove the IV fluids.
"It's none of your business.", she replied.
June's brow furrowed in confusion and concern as he tried to stop her. "How can it be none of my business?" he implored, his voice laced with worry. "You're still unwell. You need proper medication."
But Sushi's resolve remained unyielding as she pulled away from June, her eyes blazing with defiance. With tears welling in her eyes, she confronted him with raw emotion.
"You said it yourself yesterday," she choked out, her voice trembling with hurt. "That I'm none of your business, even if I sleep with someone else. So why are you pretending now? What are you planning?"
June's heart clenched at her words, the weight of her accusation hitting him like a punch to the gut. "Sushi, I..." he began, his voice faltering as he struggled to find the right words.
But before he could finish, Sushi stepped towards him, her tears now streaming down her cheeks as she laid bare her vulnerability. "I know you hate me," she whispered brokenly. "There's no need to act kind in front of people."
June's heart shattered at the sight of Sushi's pain, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears as he reached out to her.
With a heavy heart and a tumultuous mix of emotions swirling within her, Sushi turned away from June. Tears blurred her vision as she stumbled through the corridors of the office building, the weight of her pain pressing down on her with each hurried step.
She didn't know where she was going, only that she needed to escape, to find some semblance of solace in the solitude of her own thoughts. Anger, hurt, and confusion battled within her, tearing at her soul with merciless intensity.
As she reached the exit, Sushi burst through the doors and into the cool embrace of the evening air. As tears streamed down Sushi's cheeks, her anguish palpable in the stillness of the night, a gentle presence approached from beside her.
Startled, she glanced to her side to find Huan standing silently, his expression one of quiet empathy. Without a word, he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, offering her silent solace in her moment of need.
Unbeknownst to Sushi, June had followed her from a distance, his heart heavy with sorrow as he watched the scene unfold before him. Unable to bring himself to approach her directly, he stood back, hidden in the shadows, silently observing as Huan offered Sushi the comfort and support that he himself could not provide.
A pang of jealousy and sadness pierced June's heart as he watched Sushi lean into Huan's embrace, her tears mingling with the night air. Despite his own longing to be by her side, he knew that he had hurt her deeply, that the wounds of their fractured relationship ran too deep for easy repair.