When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 40: Portrait

Chapter 40: Portrait

Samuel looked around Zinnia’s art studio, taking in the beautiful paintings that lined the walls. There were landscapes, abstract pieces, and still lifes, but something struck him as odd—there wasn’t a single portrait.

His brow furrowed as he scanned the room once more, just to be sure. "Zinnia," he asked, turning to face her, "I don’t see any portraits. Do you ever paint people?"

Zinnia paused from cleaning her brushes, glancing at him with a small smile. "No, not really," she replied. "Portraits have never been my thing. I guess I just never felt the urge to do one." Her eyes lit up with mischief as she added, "But if you want, I could paint you. You’d be an interesting subject."

Samuel felt heat rise to his face, caught off guard by her offer. His heart raced at the thought of her capturing his likeness on canvas. "Me?" he asked, unsure. "You’d really want to paint me?"

Zinnia laughed softly, her teasing tone making him blush even more. "Of course, why not? I think it would be fun," she said with a wink. "You’ve got strong features—perfect for a portrait."

Samuel’s blush deepened, and he rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed but flattered. "If you’re sure," he murmured, nodding. "I’d like that... yeah, I’d love for you to paint me."

Zinnia’s smile widened, noticing his shy reaction. "Perfect! I’ll get everything ready," she said, her excitement clear. "But first, I’ll need you to pose for me. Be my model for today’s masterpiece."

Samuel chuckled nervously, shifting from foot to foot. "Alright," he agreed, though the idea of sitting still for so long made him uneasy.

Before she began setting up, Zinnia turned to him with a playful smirk. "So... should I livestream this? You know, so all your fans can watch me paint the great Samuel?" she teased, raising an eyebrow.

His eyes widened, and his ears turned bright red. The thought of people watching him live made his heart skip a beat. For a moment, he was torn—part of him liked the idea, but the other half wanted to crawl under a rock. "Livestream? Uh... I mean..." he stammered, unsure of how to respond.

Zinnia couldn’t hold back her laughter when she saw the panic in his eyes. She placed a gentle hand on his arm, her voice softening. "Relax, Samuel. I’m just teasing," she said with a warm smile. "There’s no livestream. Besides, I like keeping this studio a secret. This place is special, and I don’t want the public knowing about it."

Samuel sighed in relief, the tension leaving his body. "Thank God," he mumbled with a grin, rubbing the back of his neck again. "For a second there, I thought I was going to have to sit through a live broadcast."

Zinnia chuckled, grabbing her brushes and setting up her easel. "Don’t worry," she reassured him, "this is just between us." She handed him a stool, positioning him by the large window where soft light filtered in, casting a warm glow over the room. "Okay, I need you to sit here, relax, and try not to move too much. Got it?"

Samuel nodded and took his seat, trying to get comfortable. "I’ll do my best," he said, his voice laced with amusement.

The atmosphere between them shifted as Zinnia began her work. There was something almost magical in the air as she mixed her paints and started sketching the rough outline of his face.

The silence was comfortable, broken only by the occasional sound of the brush on canvas and the soft hum of the room.

As Zinnia worked, she would occasionally glance up at Samuel, her eyes studying his features with an intensity that made his heart race. Each glance felt meaningful, like she was seeing more than just his face. He tried not to squirm under her gaze, but the connection between them was undeniable.

Her brush moved across the canvas with purpose, adding layers and textures that brought the portrait to life. She used soft strokes to blend the light and shadow on his face, capturing the way the sunlight hit his cheekbones and the subtle curve of his lips. It was as if every stroke of her brush held a deeper emotion, one that echoed in the silence between them.

Every now and then, Zinnia would break the quiet to ask Samuel to adjust his posture slightly or tilt his head a little more. "Try to relax your shoulders," she’d say gently. "You’re too stiff. Let yourself loosen up."

Samuel chuckled, trying to follow her instructions. "It’s harder than it looks, you know," he replied, secretly enjoying the process.

As the hours passed, Zinnia fell deeper into her work, completely immersed in the process. Samuel could see the focus in her eyes, the way she poured herself into the portrait.

She added more detail to his eyes, using small, deliberate strokes to capture the subtle gleam in them, the hidden emotions she saw but never spoke of.

With each passing minute, the portrait slowly came to life. Zinnia added finishing touches, highlighting the warm tones in his skin and the slight curve of his smile.

There was something breathtaking about the way she saw him—how she painted not just what was on the surface but something deeper, something more intimate.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Zinnia stepped back from the easel, her hand hovering over the corner of the canvas as she signed her name, Zia_L, in delicate script. She turned to Samuel with a satisfied smile. "It’s done," she announced softly, her voice filled with pride.

Samuel’s heart skipped a beat as he stood and walked toward her, eager to see the finished product. When he laid eyes on the portrait, his breath caught in his throat.

It was him, but somehow, it was more than just a likeness. The painting radiated warmth, the colors blending together perfectly to create a sense of life and energy.

His eyes, in particular, seemed to shine with emotion, capturing something deeper than he could ever put into words. The smile on his face was soft but genuine, and the light that Zinnia had painted into his expression made him look almost... dazzling.