Song for you

9

A few weeks had passed since Eva and Sam’s performance at the pub. The song had been well received, and life had returned to its usual rhythm. Sam’s relationship with Paul remained a well-guarded secret, and their discreet routine continued. Most nights, after work, Sam would stop by Eva’s house for a quick visit. He would leave through the backdoor, only to return to Paul's place once everyone believed he had spent the night with Eva. Their cover was still intact, and the few whispers about Sam and Eva being a couple had mostly died down.

One evening, after a particularly busy shift at the pub, Eva started to feel a bit off. What she thought was just exhaustion quickly turned into a fever, and she found herself bedridden for a few days. Sam, unfortunately, couldn’t visit her because Paul needed him at the pub for a series of weekend events.

"You sure you’ll be okay on your own?" Sam asked over the phone, his voice laced with concern.

"I’ll be fine," Eva reassured him, though she felt miserable. "I just need some rest."

"Text me if you need anything. I’ll sneak out if I have to, okay?" Sam offered, though both knew it wouldn’t be easy given the pub's packed schedule.

"I will, don’t worry. I’ll survive," Eva said, trying to sound more upbeat than she felt.

The next day, as Eva lay on her couch, trying to sleep off the fever, her phone buzzed with a text. It was from Michael.

Michael: Hey, Sam told me you’re sick. Do you need anything?

Eva blinked at the message, surprised. She hadn’t expected Michael to reach out. Though their interactions had remained friendly and professional since the concert, there was always a bit of distance between them.

Eva: I’m fine, just resting. But thank you.

A moment later, her phone buzzed again.

Michael: I’m free for the day. Mind if I drop by and check on you?

Eva hesitated. The thought of seeing Michael while she looked and felt like a mess made her cringe, but before she could type out a polite refusal, she saw another message.

Michael: I’m already near your place. Just text me if you need anything.

She sighed, knowing there was no way to turn him away now. Resigned, she quickly threw on a sweatshirt, and attempted to make herself look somewhat presentable.

A knock came at her door not long after. Eva shuffled to answer it, and there stood Michael, a bag of groceries in hand.

“Hey,” he greeted, his voice soft as he took in her pale face. “You don’t look so great.”

Eva let out a tired laugh. “Thanks, I needed that.”

Michael stepped inside, kicking off his shoes as he headed toward the kitchen. “I brought soup and some meds. Figured you’d need them.”

Eva watched as he moved around her kitchen, setting everything up. “You didn’t have to come, you know.”

“I wanted to,” he said simply, his voice so genuine it caught her off guard.

They spent the next hour quietly chatting as Michael made her some soup and tea. Eva sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, feeling a strange mix of comfort and awkwardness. The way Michael was looking after her made her heart beat a little faster, and she couldn’t help but wonder if this was all in her head.

As they sat in the living room, a comfortable silence settling between them, Michael suddenly spoke.

“Eva,” he started, his tone more serious. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to say for a while now.”

Eva looked at him, confused but intrigued. “What is it?”

He ran a hand through his hair, a habit she’d noticed whenever he was nervous. “I know you and Sam are... together. And I respect that. But I... I think I’ve been trying to ignore something for too long.”

Eva’s heart skipped a beat. This conversation was taking a turn she hadn’t expected. “Michael...”

He leaned forward, his eyes meeting hers. “The truth is, I’ve always felt something for you. I didn’t realize it at first, or maybe I didn’t want to admit it. But it’s been there, under the surface. These past few weeks, I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

Eva felt a lump in her throat, the weight of his words sinking in. “Michael, I...”

“I know it’s complicated with Sam in the picture,” Michael interrupted, his voice softer now. “But I had to say it. I can’t keep pretending I don’t feel this way about you.”

Eva looked down at her hands, her mind racing. She had dreamed of this moment for years, but now that it was happening, it felt more complicated than she’d ever imagined.

“I don’t know what to say,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Michael reached out, his hand brushing against hers. “You don’t have to say anything right now. I just... I wanted you to know.”

Eva sat there, torn between the feelings she had harbored for Michael and the life she had built around her friendship with Sam. Michael’s confession had opened a door she wasn’t sure she was ready to walk through.

After a long pause, she finally spoke. “Michael, I care about you... I always have. But Sam—”

Michael withdrew his hand, a sad smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I know. I just couldn’t keep it to myself anymore.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the unspoken hanging between them.

“I should probably go,” Michael said, standing up. “You need to rest.”

Eva nodded, still processing everything. “Thank you for the soup... and for telling me.”

Michael paused by the door, his eyes lingering on her for a moment. “Take care, Eva.”

With that, he left, leaving Eva alone with her thoughts. As she sat back on the couch, staring at the now-closed door, she couldn’t help but feel the complexity of the situation settling in her chest.

Michael’s feelings, Sam’s friendship, her own hidden emotions—it was all too much. She didn’t know what the future would hold, but for now, she needed to figure out what her heart truly wanted.