Chapter Eight:Hidden Feelings
658 Words
The photoshoot came to an end just as the afternoon sun began to soften.
Bella thanked the photographer with a polite smile before watching him and his assistant load their equipment into the car.
As they drove away, she slowly made her way back toward the house.
Halfway there, Emmy stepped out of her bedroom.
“There you are!” she called. “What happened? Did the photographer leave already?”
Bella nodded.
“Yeah. They’d been shooting since morning. I think everyone was getting tired.”
She deliberately left out one detail.
The photographs she had taken with Noah.
For some reason, she wanted to keep that moment to herself.
“Oh,” Emmy sighed. “That’s okay. We can always arrange another shoot.”
Bella smiled before excitement sparkled in her eyes.
“But guess what…”
“What?”
“They offered me a chance to model.”
Emmy froze.
“…Seriously?”
Bella laughed and nodded.
“They said I have potential.”
The next second, Emmy wrapped her in a tight hug.
“I told you!” she squealed. “I knew you could do it! I’m so proud of you.”
Bella couldn’t stop smiling.
For the first time in a long while…
One of her dreams didn’t feel impossible.
Just then, a familiar voice interrupted them.
“Emmy.”
Neither of them had noticed Noah approaching from behind.
Bella’s smile faded ever so slightly.
She didn’t turn around.
Noah stopped beside them, his expression as composed as ever.
“Your mom’s looking for you.”
Emmy let out a small groan.
“Already?”
He nodded once.
“Something about lunch.”
“Okay, okay… I’m going.”
She squeezed Bella’s hand one last time.
“We’re celebrating later.”
With that, Emmy hurried upstairs.
Silence settled almost immediately.
Bella suddenly became aware of how quiet the hallway had become.
And how close Noah was standing.
Without looking at him, she started walking toward her room.
Every step felt strangely heavy.
She could hear his footsteps behind her.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Steady.
Bella slipped inside her room and quietly reached for the door.
She needed a moment to breathe.
To calm the racing rhythm inside her chest.
Just as she began to close it—
A hand stopped the door.
She looked up.
Noah.
He stepped inside before the door could shut completely.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
Bella forced an awkward smile.
“Jesus… Noah.”
She placed a hand over her chest.
“You scared me.”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he simply watched her.
The familiar hint of amusement rested quietly at the corner of his lips.
“Bells.”
She met his eyes.
“You never answered my question.”
Bella frowned slightly.
“…Which question?”
“The one your eyes answered before your words ever could.”
Her heartbeat stumbled.
She knew exactly what he meant.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t you?”
His voice remained calm.
There wasn’t a trace of accusation in it.
Only quiet curiosity.
Bella lowered her gaze.
After a long silence, she whispered,
“Some questions are better left unanswered.”
For the first time, Noah looked genuinely thoughtful.
Then…
The faintest smile appeared.
Not because he believed her.
But because he knew she was protecting the truth.
He didn’t press any further.
Instead, he stepped aside.
As he reached the doorway, he paused.
Without looking back, he said quietly,
“You’re still young, Bells.”
His voice was almost gentle.
“Don’t rush through life.”
Then he opened the door and walked out, leaving the room as silently as he had entered.
Bella remained standing exactly where she was.
The room was quiet.
Yet the sound of her own heartbeat echoed louder than anything else.
For reasons she couldn’t explain…
His questions unsettled her far more than his answers ever could.
- Writer
