Jordy didn't expect the feeling to settle in the way it did.
It wasn't loud. It wasn't overwhelming.
But it was there.
Quiet. Steady.
And impossible to ignore.
He was happy.
Happy that Matt and Ella were on a break.
The thought lingered in his chest as he lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. His phone rested beside him, the screen dim but still glowing faintly from the last message he had read.
A break.
Matt had said it so casually, like it wasn't something heavy. Like it didn't mean anything.
But it did.
At least… to Jordy, it did.
He turned his head slightly, eyes drifting toward his phone. For a moment, he debated picking it up. Debated texting first.
He didn't.
Instead, he let out a slow breath and closed his eyes.
And right on cue, his phone buzzed.
Jordy's eyes opened immediately.
He grabbed it.
Matt: You free?
A small smile tugged at his lips before he could stop it.
He shifted slightly on the bed, propping himself up on one elbow.
Jordy: Depends.
There was a pause—short, but noticeable.
Then another message came through.
Matt: I was thinking…
Jordy's eyes followed the typing bubble like it meant something.
Matt: Do you want to go on a short trip with me?
Jordy blinked.
"A trip?" he muttered under his breath.
He sat up fully now, his back resting against the headboard. His mind immediately jumped to reality.
Work.
His schedule.
The exhaustion that came with it.
Jordy: I have work.
He sent it, even though part of him didn't want to.
The reply came faster this time.
Matt: When are you free?
Jordy stared at the question longer than necessary.
When was he free?
He thought about the next few days. The shifts. The long hours. The way his body always felt heavy by the end of the day, like he was dragging himself through something he didn't even want anymore.
His fingers hovered over the screen.
He didn't type.
Not yet.
Instead, he leaned his head back against the wall, staring up again.
His mom's voice echoed in his head.
You shouldn't push yourself too hard.
He exhaled slowly.
Was he pushing himself too hard?
Or was he just… stuck?
Jordy glanced back at the phone.
Then, quietly—almost without giving himself time to rethink it—he made a decision.
A real one.
Jordy: I'll be free the day after tomorrow.
He hit send.
And just like that, something shifted.
It felt small.
But it wasn't.
His phone buzzed again.
Matt: Good.
Jordy stared at the word.
Simple.
But it made his chest feel strangely light.
He hesitated, then typed again.
Jordy: What's the trip about?
This time, the pause stretched longer.
Jordy watched the screen, the typing bubble appearing… disappearing… then appearing again.
Finally
Matt: I just want to go somewhere alone with you.
Jordy froze.
His fingers tightened slightly around the phone.
He read it again.
And again.
Alone with you.
The words settled differently.
Deeper.
Before he could fully process it, another message came through.
Matt: It's a surprise.
Jordy let out a quiet breath he didn't realize he had been holding.
A smile crept onto his face, slow but genuine.
"Of course it is," he murmured.
He dropped the phone onto the bed beside him, running a hand through his hair.
Somewhere alone.
With Matt.
The thought made his chest tighten slightly—but not in a bad way.
Not in a way that scared him.
More like… anticipation.
Then suddenly
"Oh."
He sat up quickly, grabbing his phone again.
His mom.
She had told him earlier to text her what he wanted her to buy on her way back.
Jordy shook his head slightly, typing quickly.
Jordy: Anything is fine. Maybe rice and chicken.
He hit send, then leaned back again.
But this time, he didn't stare at the ceiling.
He just lay there, staring at nothing in particular, his thoughts drifting back to one thing.
I just want to go somewhere alone with you.
The next morning, Jordy woke up earlier than usual.
Earlier than he needed to.
For a few seconds, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out why.
Then he remembered.
And just like that, he was fully awake.
He sat up, running a hand over his face.
Today.
His last day.
The thought didn't feel heavy.
If anything, it felt… freeing.
Jordy got ready quickly, not rushing but not dragging either. There was a quiet kind of energy in the way he moved, like something inside him had already shifted.
By the time he stepped out of the house, the morning air was still cool.
He got to work earlier than usual.
Much earlier.
The place was barely open, the usual noise not fully there yet. It felt… different.
Calmer.
Jordy stood there for a moment, just taking it in.
Then he walked toward the back.
The manager was there, going through some papers like always.
He looked up when Jordy approached. "You're early."
Jordy nodded slightly. "Yeah."
There was a brief silence.
Then,
"I wanted to talk to you."
The manager straightened slightly. "What's up?"
Jordy slipped his hands into his pockets, steadying himself.
"Today's going to be my last day."
The words came out smoother than he expected.
The manager blinked. "Your last day?"
"Yeah," Jordy said. "I've been thinking about it for a while."
That wasn't entirely true.
But it felt true now.
The man studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"Alright."
Jordy let out a quiet breath.
"I just wanted to say thank you," he added. "For everything. I appreciate it."
The manager nodded again, this time a little slower. "You did good work here."
Jordy smiled faintly. "Thanks."
And just like that, It was over.
The rest of the day felt… lighter.
Jordy moved through his tasks with ease, a quiet kind of energy following him around. The usual stress didn't stick. The noise didn't feel overwhelming.
Even when things got busy, he didn't feel the same pressure.
It was his last day.
And tomorrow he was going somewhere with Matt.
He didn't know where.
He didn't know why.
But for once…
He didn't need to.
By the time he got home, the sun was already starting to set.
His mom was in the living room, sitting comfortably with the TV on.
She looked up when he walked in.
"How was your day?"
Jordy dropped his bag and sat down beside her.
"It was my last day."
She turned slightly, brows knitting together. "Last day?"
"I quit," he said simply.
She watched him for a moment, like she was trying to read something deeper.
Then she nodded.
"Okay."
"I'll find something else," Jordy added.
"I know you will," she said calmly.
There was a pause.
Then,
"I'm going out tomorrow."
"With who?" she asked.
"A friend."
She smiled slightly. "That's good."
Jordy nodded. "Yeah."
"For how long?"
"I'm not sure yet," he admitted. "It's just a short trip."
She leaned back again. "Alright. Just be careful."
"I will."
And that was it.
Simple.
But enough.
The next day came faster than he expected.
Jordy got ready earlier than necessary, checking his phone more times than he wanted to admit.
Matt had sent the location.
Jordy got there on time.
Maybe even a little early.
He stood there, shifting slightly, glancing around every now and then.
Then, a car pulled up.
Jordy recognized it immediately.
Matt stepped out, keys in hand, a small smile on his face.
"You've been waiting long?"
Jordy shook his head. "Not really."
Matt lifted the keys slightly. "My dad's car."
Jordy nodded, opening the passenger door. "Nice."
He got in, settling into the seat.
Matt joined him a second later, starting the engine.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Matt glanced at him.
"Ready?"
Jordy looked at him for a second.
Then forward.
Then back again.
"Yeah."
Matt nodded.
And just like that, they drove off.
Leaving everything familiar behind.
Heading somewhere unknown.
Together.
And this time, Jordy didn't question it.