Silent Strings

Chapter 9

As he drove her home later that night, Jackson kept one hand loosely on the wheel, the other tapping a restless rhythm on his thigh. The city outside blurred into streaks of light, but all he could focus on was the silence filling the car.

He stole a glance at Ines. She sat beside him, her profile illuminated by the warm glow of passing streetlights. She wasn’t frowning, but her face wasn’t relaxed either. Her expression hovered somewhere between tired and guarded, and it made his chest ache in a way he couldn’t quite explain.

He hated this. The quiet. The distance. The way she stared out the window like she was trying to escape—like he wasn’t even there.

Jackson prided himself on being the guy who could talk his way through anything. Awkward situations? He’d crack a joke. A rough day at work? He’d charm his way to a laugh or a smile. But this?

This was different.

Because this was Ines.

He wanted to say something, to break the silence, to ask her what was really going on. But every time he opened his mouth, the words caught in his throat. He didn’t even know where to start.

And what if she didn’t answer? What if she brushed him off, like she always did when things got too close?

He tightened his grip on the wheel, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. Why wouldn’t she let him in? They had history—years of it. She used to talk to him about anything and everything. Now, it felt like she was keeping him at arm’s length, and it was driving him insane.

“Take a right here,” she said softly, breaking the silence for the first time in minutes.

Her voice was calm, composed, like she wasn’t even aware of the storm raging inside him.

Jackson swallowed hard and obeyed, turning the car onto a quieter street. His chest felt tight, his mind racing with unspoken questions.

Did she not trust him anymore? Was she trying to shut him out on purpose? Or worse—had she moved on completely, and he was just clinging to something that no longer existed?

The thought made his stomach twist.

When she directed him toward a sleek, modern apartment complex, recognition struck him immediately.

“This is Kassian’s place,” he said, his voice sharper than he intended.

“It’s his extra apartment,” she replied, her tone carefully neutral. “The one he never uses.”

Jackson blinked, the realization hitting him like a punch to the gut. Kassian had offered her a place to stay. Kassian, not him.

“So, you asked Kassian for help and not me?” The words came out before he could stop them, and even he could hear the edge in his voice.

Ines turned to him then, her expression calm but her eyes holding a flicker of something—guilt? Defensiveness? He couldn’t tell.

“Kassian is like an older brother to me,” she said simply. “He’s been looking out for me since before.”

The words stung more than they should have. He forced a laugh, shaking his head. “Am I not your friend too?” he asked, plastering on his usual playful grin to mask the very real hurt simmering beneath the surface.

“Stop being dramatic, Jackson,” she said, rolling her eyes.

He chuckled, but it felt hollow. “I’m just saying. I’d have given you a place. Probably would’ve thrown in free meals, too.”

She didn’t respond, and the silence that followed was heavier than he’d expected.

Jackson pulled into a parking spot and turned off the engine, but he didn’t move to unbuckle his seatbelt. Instead, he leaned back in his seat, his fingers drumming against the wheel.

“Ines,” he said quietly, his voice softer now. “You know you can talk to me, right? About anything.”

She gave him a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Thanks for the ride, Jackson. Good night.”

And just like that, she was slipping away again.

He watched as she opened the car door, her movements brisk and practiced, like she couldn’t wait to be out of his orbit.

“Good night,” he said finally, forcing the words out. Then, because he couldn’t resist, he added with a faint grin, “Dream of me.”

She rolled her eyes, but he caught the faintest twitch of a smile before she turned and walked toward the building. Jackson waited until she disappeared inside before slumping back in his seat, his head resting against the headrest.

For a few moments, he just sat there, staring at the darkened windshield. His mind replayed every interaction they’d had that night, dissecting every word, every glance, every tiny shift in her expression.

Why did it feel like she was slipping through his fingers?

He let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. He was Jackson Huang—he always had a plan and knew how to fix things. But right now, with Ines, he felt like he was fumbling in the dark, trying to hold onto something he couldn’t even name.

And as much as he hated it, he knew one thing for sure: he wasn’t ready to let her go. Not now. Not ever.

Weeks slipped through Jackson’s fingers like sand, leaving behind an exhausting blur of surgeries, rounds, and consultations. The hospital seemed busier than ever, a hive of activity with no room for distractions. Yet, no matter how chaotic his schedule became, Jackson found himself unconsciously looking for her.

He’d catch fleeting glimpses of Ines in the corridors, always rushing to her next task, her brows furrowed in concentration. The oncology department was swamped, and she was constantly on her feet, juggling patients, charts, and meetings with precision and calm.

Jackson admired her from a distance, the way she held herself together despite the pressure. He wanted to find an excuse to talk to her, to tease her and make her laugh like he used to—but time was cruel. They were both trapped in the unrelenting tide of their respective duties.

One late afternoon, as he exited the operating room after a grueling double bypass surgery, Jackson found himself pausing by a window overlooking the garden courtyard below. He didn’t expect to see anyone there—most staff were too busy to take breaks—but the sight of Ines standing by a bench with Kassian caught his attention immediately.

She was laughing.

The sound didn’t reach him, but the way her shoulders shook, and her hand flew to cover her mouth, told him enough.

Jackson’s chest tightened.

He leaned against the window frame, his gloved hand still clutching a surgical cap, and watched the scene unfold below. Kassian said something, his casual, easygoing demeanor on full display. Ines tilted her head back, laughing again, and Jackson couldn’t help but wish it was him standing there instead of Kassian.

Her laugh used to be mine to hear.

The thought blindsided him, sharp and unwelcome, leaving him momentarily breathless. He clenched his jaw, his fingers curling around the cap in his hand.

He knew it was irrational—Kassian was Kassian. The guy wouldn’t cross a line, and Ines wasn’t his to claim anyway. Not anymore.

But that didn’t stop the flicker of jealousy.

He’d spent years telling himself that what they’d shared back in college was just casual, something born out of mutual attraction and convenience. Something that didn’t mean more than either of them had let on.

But now, watching her light up for someone else, Jackson wasn’t so sure anymore.

Maybe he’d lied to himself for too long.

The brief interaction below ended when Kassian patted Ines on the shoulder and walked toward the hospital entrance. Jackson’s eyes followed him as Ines glanced at her watch and headed back inside.

He didn’t hesitate. Jogging down the corridor, Jackson made a beeline for Kassian, determined to intercept him before he vanished into his busy schedule.

“Kassian!” Jackson called out, catching up to his friend near the elevator bank.

Kassian turned, one brow arched as he held the elevator button. “Jackson. What’s up?”

Feigning nonchalance, Jackson crossed his arms and leaned casually against the wall, though his voice betrayed a hint of urgency. “You were talking to Ines just now. She looked…busy. Is she?”

Kassian smirked knowingly but didn’t comment on Jackson’s poorly veiled curiosity. “She’s swamped, man. Between her patients, the department’s new trial program, and her usual perfectionist tendencies, she’s got way too much on her plate.”

Jackson frowned, the words hitting him harder than he expected. So she’s overworking herself. Just like always.

“Right. Makes sense,” he muttered.

Kassian glanced at his watch and sighed. “I gotta run too. I’ve got a meeting with the newly appointed CEO of one of the Vasileiou corporations. They’re planning some big expansion—something about logistics or tech, I don’t know. It’s a mess.” He clapped Jackson on the shoulder. “Catch you later, yeah?”

“Yeah, sure,” Jackson mumbled, watching Kassian stride toward the elevators, his usual confident air unshaken.

Left alone in the corridor, Jackson leaned against the wall, Kassian’s words echoing in his mind.

She’s swamped. She’s drowning in work, and I can’t even make time to talk to her properly.

He tilted his head back against the wall, exhaling sharply. He hated feeling this powerless. Hated knowing that someone else could make her laugh when he was stuck watching from the sidelines.

More than anything, he hated the fact that no matter how much he told himself to move on, she still had this hold on him.