Zinnia smiled softly at James as she stood up from her chair. "You should rest now, James," she said, her voice gentle but firm, with a hint of nervousness. "We’ll come back tomorrow."
James nodded, his tired eyes meeting hers. "Thank you for visiting, Zinnia. And Lily," he added, glancing at the woman standing quietly behind her. "It’s good to see you again."
Lily gave him a small smile, her arms crossed. "Take care of yourself, James. Rest is what you need most."
As they turned to leave, the door opened. Timmy stepped in, holding a small bag, his movements pausing briefly when he saw them. His wide-eyed surprise quickly gave way to a polite nod. "Miss Zinnia, Lily," he greeted, his tone professional but a little stiff.
Zinnia tilted her head slightly, curiosity flickering in her gaze. "Timmy, you’re back already."
He clutched the bag tighter, his stance awkward. "Yes, ma’am. I brought some things for Mr. James. Sir Samuel wanted me to make sure he’s taken care of."
Zinnia’s expression softened at Samuel’s name. She hesitated, wanting to ask about him but holding back. "Thank you, Timmy. I know you’re doing your best."
Timmy nodded quickly, his lips pressed together. "Of course, ma’am."
Zinnia caught the way Timmy’s eyes darted to Lily, lingering just a second too long. She glanced at Lily, noticing how her friend’s cheeks flushed slightly under his gaze. The subtle glances didn’t escape her sharp eye.
A mischievous smirk spread across her lips. "Timmy," she said suddenly, her voice teasing. "What kind of woman do you like?"
Timmy froze as if he’d been struck by lightning. His eyes widened, and his face turned bright red. "I-I... What do you mean, ma’am?" he stammered, his voice cracking slightly.
Zinnia leaned a little closer, her tone playful. "You heard me. What kind of woman catches your eye?"
Timmy glanced nervously at Lily, who stood stiffly, her face growing redder by the second. His gaze darted back to Zinnia, his lips moving, but no words came out.
Zinnia laughed softly, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Oh, come on, Timmy. It’s just a question."
Timmy finally managed to choke out, "I-I’m not sure... Someone kind, maybe."
His eyes flicked to Lily again, almost involuntarily. Zinnia caught it and raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Ah, I see," she said knowingly.
Lily cleared her throat loudly, stepping between Zinnia and Timmy. "Alright, that’s enough," she said, her voice firm but her cheeks still burning. "Zinnia, we’re leaving now."
Before Zinnia could protest, Lily grabbed her arm and began dragging her toward the door. "Goodbye, Timmy," Lily said quickly over her shoulder, her voice curt.
Timmy, still flustered, gave a small wave. "G-goodbye, Lily... Miss Zinnia."
As they walked down the hospital hallway, Zinnia burst into laughter, her amusement echoing softly off the walls. "Oh, Lily, you’re blushing!" she teased, glancing at her friend’s reddened face.
Lily shot her a glare, though it lacked any real anger. "You’re impossible," she muttered, shaking her head. "Don’t embarrass him like that."
Zinnia grinned, her laughter subsiding. "I wasn’t embarrassing him. I was just curious. And it’s obvious he likes you."
Lily sighed, her steps slowing. "It’s not like that," she said quietly. "He’s just being polite."
Zinnia shrugged, her smile turning softer. "If you say so. But I think you should give him a chance."
Lily didn’t respond, her face thoughtful as they continued walking.
When they reached the end of the hallway, Zinnia stopped in front of a door and knocked softly. She turned to Lily, her expression bright. "I want you to meet my parents. They’re in here."
Lily blinked in surprise. "Your parents? Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude."
Zinnia chuckled, pushing the door open. "You’re not intruding. They’ll be happy to meet you."
Inside, the room was warm and welcoming, a small vase of flowers on the table by the bed. Elena and Ricardo Lopez sat side by side, Elena flipping through a magazine while Ricardo scrolled on his phone.
When the door opened, Elena looked up and immediately smiled. "Zinnia, darling, you’re back!"
Ricardo glanced up as well, setting his phone down. "There you are," he said warmly. "We were wondering when you’d come by."
Zinnia stepped inside, gesturing for Lily to follow. "Mom, Dad, this is Lily. She’s a very close friend of mine."
Elena’s eyes lit up as she stood, extending a hand toward Lily. "Oh, it’s so lovely to meet you, dear."
Lily shook her hand, her smile polite but genuine. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Lopez. And you, Mr. Lopez."
Ricardo stood as well, his handshake firm. "Thank you for being there for our daughter," he said sincerely. "She’s been through so much lately."
Lily glanced at Zinnia, her smile softening. "Zinnia’s been there for me too. I’m glad I can be here for her."
Elena gestured to the chairs near the bed. "Please, sit down, both of you. We’d love to get to know you better, Lily."
The four of them settled into the room, the conversation flowing easily. Zinnia watched her parents interact with Lily, warmth spreading through her chest. It felt good to have this moment, a small piece of normalcy amidst the chaos of her life.
As they talked, Zinnia noticed how quickly her parents grew fond of Lily, her mother asking about her work and hobbies, her father sharing stories from his own life. Lily seemed at ease, her laughter genuine as she listened and responded.
Zinnia leaned back in her chair, a quiet smile on her face. Watching them like this, she felt a sense of peace.
But just as Elena was in the middle of telling Lily a story about Zinnia’s childhood, Ricardo suddenly leaned forward, clutching his chest. His face contorted in pain, and a harsh cough escaped his lips. Everyone froze for a moment as the sound of the cough echoed through the small room.
"Dad?" Zinnia called out, her voice sharp with worry. She stood from her chair and rushed to his side.