When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 128: Strange emotions

Chapter 128: Strange emotions

After a long shower, Timmy dried off and changed into fresh clothes. He pulled on a simple t-shirt and a pair of loose shorts. His stomach growled, but he barely felt like eating. The adrenaline from earlier had burned away his appetite. He sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his face with his hands.

Why couldn’t I just ask her to dinner? he wondered. The way she’d spoken, so distant and composed, had killed his courage. He had let fear get the better of him, and now it was too late.

Timmy finally pushed himself off the bed. There was no point in moping. He needed to get out, grab some dinner, and clear his head. He slipped on his shoes, trying to shake off the weight of disappointment. Maybe the resort’s bustling dinner crowd would be a good distraction.

---

Meanwhile, Miss Aquila hurried back to her own room. Her heart was still racing from the incident, but she kept her composure until the door closed behind her. The moment she was alone, she let out a shaky breath and pressed her back against the door.

The fear she’d felt earlier still clung to her, tightening in her chest. Her knees felt weak, almost buckling beneath her. She forced herself to move, walking to the bathroom in a daze. The rush of saving someone, the panic that gripped her heart when she saw Timmy struggling—she couldn’t shake it.

She turned on the shower, stripping off her wet clothes and stepping under the hot spray. The water poured over her, but it couldn’t wash away the memories. The fear she’d felt today was too familiar, too close to the terror she’d experienced years ago. She closed her eyes, willing the past to stay buried.

James. His name echoed in her mind. It was a name she tried so hard to forget. But seeing someone on the brink of drowning had brought everything back. The helplessness, the loss. It made her heart twist painfully. Miss Aquila’s hands shook slightly as she ran them through her hair, trying to steady herself.

You have to be strong, she reminded herself. There had been no room for hesitation earlier. The moment she realized someone was in danger, she had acted. She hadn’t thought, only moved, driven by the need to save a life. Losing another person wasn’t an option. She wouldn’t let it happen again.

Her breathing slowed, and she finally began to calm down. The fear ebbed away, replaced by a strange kind of exhaustion. She finished her shower, wrapping herself in a towel and sitting on the bathroom floor for a moment. Her body felt heavy, but her mind was clearer now.

She thought of Timmy, how he had clung to her in the water, his eyes wide with fear. He looked young, probably carefree, and she’d noticed his embarrassment. She almost smiled, but the memory of his fear sobered her. It reminded her why she did what she did, why she kept pushing herself. Ensuring safety wasn’t just a job; it was something she felt deep in her bones.

Eventually, she stood and changed into dry clothes, letting her hair fall loose. She looked in the mirror, her reflection showing a woman who had faced fear and won, but only barely. She straightened her back, refusing to let the past haunt her any longer.

The memory of James would always be there, a shadow on her heart. But saving Timmy today had shown her that she could still make a difference. And that had to be enough. For now, it had to be.

---

Timmy stepped out of his room, feeling more put together but still restless. The sun had started to set, casting golden light over the resort. People laughed and chatted as they made their way to dinner, and he followed the crowd, hoping to lose himself in the noise.

But as he walked, he couldn’t help but hope he’d see Miss Aquila again. Even if it was just a passing glimpse, he wanted to thank her properly. He wanted to find the courage to say something, anything that mattered. But for now, all he could do was hope.

He let out a sigh, the disappointment still heavy in his chest. Maybe fate would give him another chance. Maybe he wouldn’t be so afraid next time.

And maybe, just maybe, he’d find a way to be brave.

Timmy rubbed the back of his neck, trying to understand why he felt so out of sorts. His behavior confused him. He wasn’t usually so hesitant, so unsure of himself. But ever since Miss Aquila saved him, something felt different.

"Why am I acting like this?" he muttered to himself. He couldn’t shake the thought of her. Her calm strength in the water, the way she brushed off the situation afterward—it kept replaying in his mind.

He let out a sigh and pushed the thoughts away. This wasn’t like him. He wasn’t the type to dwell on a stranger, no matter how impactful the moment had been. His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten yet. Deciding to focus on dinner instead of his racing thoughts, he walked into the resort’s main restaurant.

The place was buzzing with energy. Groups of vacationers filled the tables, chatting and laughing over plates of seafood and tropical drinks. The scent of grilled fish and spicy sauces made his mouth water. He hoped the lively atmosphere would distract him from the strange pull he felt.

Timmy stepped up to the host stand, but before he could ask for a table, he spotted someone out of the corner of his eye: a woman with dark hair falling in soft waves down her back, sitting nearby. She was talking animatedly on her phone, her laughter bright and carefree.

His heart skipped a beat. For a moment, he thought it was Miss Aquila. But no, something was different. This woman glowed with an easygoing joy that didn’t match Miss Aquila’s composed, authoritative demeanor. Her smile was wide and open, not reserved. Her carefree vibe was almost the opposite of Miss Aquila’s strict and professional aura.