When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 176: Farewell

Chapter 176: Farewell

The days had slipped by quickly, and Timmy knew it was time for him to leave. His vacation had been everything he had hoped for—peaceful, with no responsibilities weighing him down. But now, standing at the edge of the resort, watching the early morning light dance over the water, he realized it was time to return to his life, back to work.

"Lily," Timmy called, finding her by the beach, where she had been watching the waves roll in. The sound of the ocean mixed with the distant chatter of other tourists. She turned at the sound of his voice, offering a warm smile.

"Morning, Timmy," she said, wiping a strand of hair from her face, the sunlight making her skin glow.

He hesitated, shifting from one foot to the other. "I... I wanted to say goodbye. My vacation ends today, and I have to head back home."

Lily’s smile faded slightly, but she nodded. "I understand. It’s been fun having you here."

Timmy felt a lump in his throat, unsure how to express what he was feeling. "I’ll call you from time to time," he said, forcing a smile. "And I hope we can meet again sometime."

Lily’s eyes softened, and she nodded. "I’d like that. I enjoyed our time together too, Timmy."

The words she spoke made something stir inside him, and before he could stop himself, he stepped forward, pulling her into a quick hug. She stiffened for a moment but relaxed into the embrace.

"I’ll miss you," Timmy said quickly, stepping back before he could lose his nerve. He cleared his throat. "See you again, Lily."

With that, he hurriedly turned and began walking away, not looking back. His heart pounded in his chest as if he had just run a race. He wasn’t sure if he was running from his feelings or just trying to escape the emotional weight of the moment. Either way, he waved over his shoulder without slowing his pace.

Lily watched him go, her eyes crinkling into a soft laugh. "Typical Timmy," she muttered to herself with a smile.

She chuckled as she watched Timmy speed-walk away, his steps quick and uncertain. She couldn’t help but find the scene endearing. The way he hurried off, as though trying to outrun the very emotions he had just confessed. He had always been a little awkward with his feelings, but it was part of what made him so charming.

"I guess he really is leaving," she said to herself, shaking her head in amusement. "I never thought he’d be the type to run away after a goodbye."

But despite his hurried departure, Lily felt a warmth in her chest. She had enjoyed their time together. His presence had brought a lightness to her days, and she would miss him more than she wanted to admit.

The moment Timmy was out of sight, Lily sighed and headed back to her room. She wasn’t exactly sad, but the fact that it had come to an end still lingered in her mind. Packing her bags felt like a task she had been avoiding, but it was time. She had completed her work at the resort, and the investigation into the chemical spill had concluded.

The travel guide, who had been the only one involved, had been dealt with accordingly. The resort itself was clear, and there was no need for her to stay any longer. With the mystery solved, Lily decided it was time to head home too.

---

Back on set, Zinnia could feel the exhaustion creeping in. It had been a long few days of shooting, but the end was finally in sight. Tomorrow, the crew would shoot their final scenes on the sea. The ship would dock at the port, and everything would shift to the final stages of production.

Zinnia adjusted the headset in her hair, surveying the crew as they moved about in their usual flurry of motion. "Alright, everyone," she called out, her voice firm but tired. "This is the last stretch. Tomorrow, we’ll be shooting the final scenes with the ship. I need everyone sharp, so make sure you’re ready."

One of the crew members walked over with a notepad. "Zinnia, we’re all set for tomorrow. The ship’s arriving early, and we’ll have everything ready to go by the time the sun comes up."

Zinnia nodded, taking a deep breath. "Good. Let’s make sure we don’t miss a thing tomorrow. This is the final scene on the sea. We want it perfect."

She glanced over at the director, Marcos, who was giving some last-minute instructions to the camera team. Zinnia knew how important these final moments were, not just for the crew but for herself.

She turned back to the team, who were breaking down their equipment from the previous scene. "Everyone, get some rest tonight. We’ve been working non-stop, but tomorrow, we finish strong. Let’s make it count."

The crew nodded, their tired faces showing a mix of anticipation and relief. They all knew that the end of this shoot meant the end of weeks of hard work, and the promise of a job well done.

Zinnia caught sight of Julian, who had just come off set, and offered him a tired but encouraging smile. "Julian, you’ve been amazing through this. Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, we need you at your best."

Julian gave her a tired but sincere nod. "Thanks, Zinnia. I’ll be ready."

"Alright, everyone, gather round," Zinnia called out as she approached the group, clipboard in hand. Ryan, Trish, Tom, Leo, and the others turned toward her, each of them adjusting to the shift in focus. She glanced around to make sure everyone was there and then nodded, signaling that they could begin.

"This is it. Tomorrow, we film the final sea scene," Zinnia began, her voice carrying the seriousness of the moment. The wind tugged at her hair, but she didn’t let it distract her. "We’re almost there, but we need to bring everything we’ve got to this shoot. It’s the culmination of all the tension, all the struggles these characters have been through, and we need to make it count."