When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 149: Unexpected Take

Chapter 149: Unexpected Take

Timmy looked at her, surprised by the question. He had always been so focused on the present, on surviving the day-to-day. The future had felt like something distant, something he didn’t have the luxury of thinking about.

"I don’t really know," Timmy admitted. "But I think I’m starting to figure it out. One step at a time, I guess."

Lily smiled, her eyes softening. "That’s the way it works. You don’t have to have everything planned out. Sometimes you just have to take it as it comes."

Timmy nodded, the weight of her words settling in. He didn’t need to have everything figured out.

Timmy hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck as if the simple action could help him gather courage. He took a deep breath, his usual confidence suddenly buried under a wave of nerves. The words he wanted to say felt heavy, sticking in his throat.

"Speaking of future plans..." he began, his voice quieter than usual. He glanced at Lily, then quickly looked away. "Uh, I was wondering if... if I could get your contact information? You know, just so... in the future... I could, um, reach out if I have any plans or anything."

His words came out in a jumble, and he immediately felt his face heat up. He couldn’t understand why it was so hard to ask. He’d spoken to her just fine moments ago. Why was he stuttering now?

Lily tilted her head slightly, her calm expression softening as she watched him fumble. A small smile tugged at her lips, and her gaze held a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

"Sure," she said, her tone light and easy. "That makes sense. It’s always good to stay in touch."

Her simple agreement caught him off guard. Timmy blinked, momentarily speechless, before nodding quickly. "R-right, exactly," he stammered. "Staying in touch is important."

She reached for her phone, unlocking it with a quick swipe. "Here," she said, holding it out to him. "Add your number."

Timmy fumbled with his phone for a moment before taking hers, his hands slightly shaky. As he typed in his number, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of her gaze on him. It wasn’t judging or impatient—just calm and steady, like she found his nervousness endearing.

"All done," he said, handing the phone back to her. "Uh, thanks."

Lily looked at the screen and smiled. "Great. Now let me save it." Her fingers moved quickly as she typed in his name. Then she paused, looking at him thoughtfully. "Wait. Can you stand there for a minute?"

Timmy froze, confused. "Uh, sure," he said hesitantly. "Why?"

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she stepped back a little and raised her phone, aiming it directly at him. Before he could react, the sound of the camera shutter clicked.

"There," Lily said, showing him the picture she’d just taken. "It’s a good shot. You’re photogenic."

Timmy’s eyes widened as he stared at the screen. His face, slightly flushed, looked back at him. "Y-you took my picture?" he asked, his voice an octave higher than usual.

"Yeah," Lily replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "It’s for your contact profile. Makes it easier to remember who’s who, don’t you think?"

Timmy’s heart raced, and he felt like the ground beneath him might give way. "Oh, uh... yeah, I guess that makes sense," he mumbled. "Thanks?"

Lily chuckled softly, her expression calm but amused. "No problem. It turned out nice, don’t you think?"

He didn’t know what to say, so he just nodded, feeling more awkward by the second. Then, as the silence stretched, a thought popped into his head. It was bold, maybe too bold, but he couldn’t stop himself.

"Um," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "Would it be okay if... I mean, could I... maybe take a picture of you too? For, uh, my contacts?"

He immediately regretted the question, his ears burning with embarrassment. What if she thought it was weird? What if she said no?

Lily raised an eyebrow, her smile growing slightly. "A picture of me?" she repeated, her tone teasing but not unkind. "Sure. Why not?"

Timmy’s head shot up, his eyes wide. "Really? I mean, okay. Thanks!"

She stood calmly, her posture relaxed, waiting for him to take the picture. Timmy’s hands shook as he opened his camera app, trying to steady himself. He didn’t want to mess this up.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly.

"Ready," Lily replied, her calm demeanor putting him at ease.

He snapped the picture, taking a moment to look at it before showing it to her. "Is this okay?" he asked nervously.

Lily leaned in to check, her expression thoughtful. "Looks good," she said with a nod. "You’ve got a good eye."

Timmy’s heart swelled at the compliment. He quickly saved the picture to her contact profile, feeling a strange mix of pride and relief. "Thanks," he said softly. "For, uh, letting me do that."

"No problem," Lily said, her tone light. "It’s only fair, right? Now we both have a picture."

They exchanged a small, shared laugh, the moment easing the lingering awkwardness. As they finished saving each other’s contact information, Timmy felt a sense of accomplishment. It wasn’t just about getting her number—it was about the connection they’d started to build.

"Well," Lily said, slipping her phone back into her pocket. "Now you have no excuse not to reach out. If you ever have future plans, let me know."

"I will," Timmy promised, his voice steady for the first time since the conversation began. "Thanks again, Lily."

She smiled, giving him a small wave before turning to leave. Timmy watched her go, a newfound confidence blooming in his chest.

For the first time in a long while, the future didn’t seem so intimidating. It felt... hopeful. Especially now that he had finally managed to get her contact information.

The regret he had felt before—the heavy, nagging thought that he might have lost his chance to connect with her—was completely gone. Relief flooded through him, washing away the weight he hadn’t even realized he’d been carrying

She had just left, but he couldn’t help feeling excited about their future encounters.