THE SILENCE SAM LEFT

#2 Joshua: A stranger's comfort

I woke up feeling refreshed, with an unexplainable sense of peace settling within me. The gentle morning light streaming through the window seemed to wash away my worries. As I stretched, I couldn't shake off the lingering sensation of Sam's touch and warm hug from the previous night.

Today promised to be a beautiful day, with a gentle breeze carrying the sweet scent of blooming flowers. I hoped to face Jake without any awkwardness, still unsure if he was bothered by my question from last night.

As I descended the stairs, the aroma of freshly baked goods wafted through the air, and I found Jake cooking again.he Never likes cooking I don't know why he's cooking here.His face lit up with a warm smile as I approached, and my heart skipped a beat. "Good morning, Josh," he said, his voice infused with genuine warmth.

"Good morning, Jae," I replied, mirroring his smile. His eyes softened, and he looked taken aback, probably because I hadn't called him Jae in a while.

"Josh," he whispered, his voice barely audible, "you're finally calling me Jae again... thank you. I really like when you call me Jae." His happiness was infectious, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of joy.

During breakfast, I found myself wondering where Sam was. Was he asleep? I turned to Jake, "Uh, Jae, where's our housemate?"

Jake's expression changed, and he seemed caught off guard. "He's... I met him once this morning, and he's outside doing something. But why did you ask?"

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "I'm just curious, that's all."

Breakfast went by peacefully with lots of talk and gigglings like always.
After breakfast, I decided to explore the outdoors, searching for Sam. The sunlight danced across the garden, and I spotted him watering the plants. His radiant smile captivated me, and I felt drawn to him like a magnet.

"Hi," he called out, waving me to come over. As I approached, he asked, "How's your day going, Joshua?"

I stayed in his side while he was watering the plants, engaging in effortless conversation. Sometimes, I couldn't help but wonder if Sam was real. He felt like a beautiful dream, one I never wanted to wake up from.

As we talked, Sam turned to me with a nervous smile. "Do you want to have a walk together with me? I'll really like it if you would." He touched his hair, his eyes pleading.

My heart skipped a beat. "Yes, I'll really like it too."

Sam's face lit up, his smile brighter than before.

We strolled through the woods, discussing everything and nothing. Time flew by, and before I knew it, two hours had passed.

"Sam, I think we should head back. Jake must be worried," I said, feeling a pang of guilt.

Sam's face fell, but he nodded. "Okay, let's go." He held out his hand, his voice soft and pleading. "Let me hold your hand, please... so you won't get lost."

I couldn't resist the gentle urgency in his voice. His hand enveloped mine, warm and reassuring.

As we walked back to the house, Jake stood at the front door, worry etched on his face. His expression softened when he saw me, but his eyes narrowed when he noticed Sam's hand clasped around mine.

I hastily freed myself, noticing a flicker of disappointment on Sam's face.

Jae rushed to me, embracing me tightly. "Josh, why didn't you tell me you were going somewhere? I was so worried." His voice trembled with concern.

Sam intervened, "I'm sorry, Jake. I asked him to join me for a short walk. I didn't mean to worry you."

Jae's face hardened, and he led me inside, his grip on my hand firm.

"Jae, what's wrong? Why are you hurrying?" I asked, sensing his agitation.

He didn't respond until we reached his room, where he closed the door firmly.

"Josh, why did you go with him? You could've told me to go with you. You have social anxiety; you can't just talk to strangers. And you held his hand... what if he had done something to you?" Jae's words spilled out in a frantic torrent.

I tried to calm him down. "I'm sorry, Jae. I won't do that again. But I really do like him, and I feel safe with him."

Jae's expression crumpled, his eyes welling up with emotion. "You feel safe with him... you like him?" His voice cracked.

"Can't you... can't you just...like.." He paused, his words trailing off. "Never mind."

I felt a surge of confusion. What was Jae trying to say?

"Jae, I-"

He cut me off, his voice laced with desperation. "You cannot trust him that easily. But... but I understand if you feel safe.but whenever you go somewhere, I'll go with you."

I nodded, still reeling from Jae's words.

As I retreated to my room for a nap, my mind swirled with emotions, torn between Sam's gentle charm and Jae's unsettling words.

What did Jae mean? Was he genuinely concerned, or was there something more