When Love is a Question Mark-Chapter 34: Unspoken feelings

Chapter 34: Unspoken feelings
Samuel met her gaze, his eyes filled with an emotion Zinnia couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t anger or sadness, but something deeper, something he wasn’t ready to say out loud. "Because I love you," he wanted to confess, but he swallowed the words. Instead, he focused on the task at hand: helping her. He thought it was better this way. No need to complicate things further with his feelings.
Zinnia’s chest tightened at his offer. Samuel was willing to help her search for James, even after everything. Guilt washed over her in waves. "I... I don’t know what to say," she murmured, her voice breaking. "I’m sorry, Samuel. I never meant to hurt you like this."
Samuel gave her a small, tight smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "I know," he said quietly. "It’s not your fault. You can’t help how you feel, Zinnia."
Her heart ached at his words. She had tried to move on, to love Samuel for who he was, not because he looked like James. But was it enough? "I did try," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I tried to love you for you, not because you look like him. I really did."
Samuel’s gaze softened as he looked at her. "I know you did. But maybe it’s not enough. And maybe that’s okay."
Silence fell between them, heavy with the weight of their unspoken emotions. Zinnia’s mind raced, full of questions she was too afraid to ask. Meanwhile, Samuel had made his choice. He would help her, even if it meant letting her go in the end.
After a while, Samuel broke the tension. "Have you eaten dinner?" he asked, his tone casual, as if trying to steer the conversation somewhere lighter.
Zinnia blinked, the sudden shift catching her off guard. "Oh, um... yeah. I had something earlier," she replied, though she barely remembered what it was.
Samuel nodded, glancing around the hospital room, his eyes landing on a small bowl of fruit on the table. "What about some fruit? You want some?" he asked, trying again to ease the tension.
She looked at him, surprised by his offer. "Sure," she nodded, appreciating his sincerity.
Samuel stood up and walked over to the table, picking up the fruit. He washed them carefully, his movements calm and precise. Then, to Zinnia’s surprise, he started peeling and cutting them with a skill she hadn’t expected. Within minutes, he had transformed the fruit into intricate shapes—animals, flowers, and other creative designs that looked like something out of a high-end culinary show.
Zinnia’s eyes widened as she stared at the plate of fruit in front of her. "You... made all this?" she asked, clearly impressed.
Samuel shrugged, his expression modest. "Just something I picked up along the way," he said, trying to downplay his skills.
Zinnia gave him a thumbs-up, her eyes still wide in admiration. "You could be a professional with these," she said, her voice full of genuine praise. "This is incredible."
Samuel’s smile finally reached his eyes this time, breaking into a wide grin. Her compliment had clearly lifted his spirits. "I’m glad you like it," he said, his face lighting up with pride.
Zinnia couldn’t help but stare at him for a moment. It was the first time she had ever seen Samuel smile like that—so bright, so full of joy. It was almost blinding, like he was a completely different person, an angel descending into her world. She hadn’t expected him to look like this, and for a moment, it took her breath away.
The atmosphere between them lightened as they both sat down to enjoy the fruit. For a short time, they forgot about everything—the tension, the confusion, the pain. In that moment, it was just the two of them, enjoying a peaceful moment together, laughing softly as they shared stories and let themselves relax.
But soon, the night drew closer, and with it, the reminder that they were still in a hospital, still facing the unknown. The awkwardness crept back in as the clock ticked toward bedtime. The hospital room was small, and there was only one bed, making the situation even more uncomfortable.
Samuel noticed the tension in Zinnia’s face and couldn’t help but tease her a little. "So, uh... I guess it’s just the two of us in this room, huh?" he said, raising an eyebrow playfully.
Zinnia blushed, her eyes darting toward the bed. "I... I guess so," she stammered, clearly embarrassed by the situation.
But before she could say anything more, Samuel chuckled and waved his hand. "Relax. I’ve got a room next door. I’m not planning on sleeping here."
Zinnia let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, her shoulders relaxing. "Oh, good. I was starting to worry," she said, trying to sound casual.
Samuel stood up and grabbed his coat, ready to leave her for the night. "Don’t worry. I’ll be right next door if you need anything," he said softly. "And tomorrow morning, the doctor said you can go home."
Zinnia nodded, grateful for his calm presence. "Thank you, Samuel. For everything," she said, her voice full of sincerity.
He smiled at her again, that same warm, genuine smile from earlier. "We’ll talk more tomorrow," he said. "Get some rest, okay?"
"Okay," she whispered as he walked to the door. Just before he left, he turned back to her one last time. "Goodnight, Zinnia."
"Goodnight, Samuel," she replied, watching as he disappeared into the hallway.
As the door clicked shut, Zinnia sat back in the bed, feeling a strange sense of peace wash over her. The day had been emotionally draining, but somehow, they had managed to end it on a calm, almost happy note.
For a brief moment, it felt like everything would be okay. Samuel’s kindness, his willingness to help, had lifted a weight off her shoulders, even if the future was still uncertain.
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, she allowed herself to rest.
The day had ended far more peacefully than she could have imagined, and that, at least, was something to be grateful for.