Chapter 31

Zara's POV
I felt torn between the feelings that arose towards Doctor Leo and the fact that Orion, the man I was matched with, was still beside me. Although there was something strange about Doctor Leo's attitude, I couldn't deny that the attraction was starting to grow in me. On the other hand, the relationship with Orion felt increasingly blurry, and the attraction that once existed seemed to fade.
Now, in this place, Orion was guarding me, and there were only the two of us. "What do you want to eat? Let me prepare it," he asked in a soft tone, his face showing sincerity even though I felt the emotional distance between us.
I was silent for a moment, trying to observe my feelings. Our relationship had gone off track, and choosing between the two was now increasingly difficult. "Hmm, I don't know. Maybe something simple? Maybe a cup of tea or warm soup," I replied, trying to ease the feeling with an answer that was not too obvious.
Orion nodded, "Okay, I'll prepare something warm for you. You better get some rest for a while." He turned around, walking towards the cafeteria, while I felt a mixture of guilt and doubt.
Every second that passed made me think back to all the moments I had with Orion. On the one hand, he protected me, but on the other hand, my feelings began to drift away from him. And the need for Doctor Leo's presence felt more urgent in my heart. Maybe there was something inside me that was struggling to find the truth about what I really wanted.
As a few minutes passed, Orion returned with a bowl of warm soup and a cup of tea. "This is for you. I hope it can make you feel better," he requested, looking at me with genuine concern.
"Thank you, Orion. I appreciate it," I replied, feeling my heart tremble for a moment. Although my feelings for him were starting to fade, I knew that now was not the time to hurt anyone's feelings.
While enjoying the results of his cooking, I thought about all of this—the complicated existence between me, Orion, and Doctor Leo. How could I find the right elements in my life without hurting them? The hope that time would provide the answer came to my mind.
When my father came and revealed that I had to be accompanied by Orion for the night, my heart felt pressured. “Zara, for tonight you will be accompanied by Orion. Besides, you will be allowed to go home tomorrow, right?” he said in a serious tone.
“Oh my, why does it have to be with Orion too?” my heart was in turmoil. While on the one hand, I tried to respect my father’s decision, on the other hand, I felt uncomfortable with this situation.
Maybe, this wild thought was too selfish. However, how could I refuse? I felt tension growing in my chest. “Dad, I can be alone. Is it possible for someone else to accompany me? I think—”
“I don’t want to hear excuses, Zara,” my father interrupted in a firm tone. “Orion is the right choice. He can take care of you here. We need to maintain the strength of this relationship.”
My feelings became even more chaotic when I heard his words. Just when I wanted to explain how uncomfortable I felt, the opposite happened. Now I was trapped. There was no way I could ruin this situation by being rude in front of my father.
Finally, I fell silent, trying to calm my mind. “Okay, if this is your decision, I will respect it,” I said, trying to sound calm even though my heart didn’t fully agree.
After my father left, I kept my distance from Orion who was now near me. “Zara, are you okay?” he asked, looking worried.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just feeling a little tired after all this,” I replied softly, hoping to change the subject and the mood.
“Maybe we can watch a movie or do something relaxing,” he said, reaching for the television remote.
Deep down, I felt trapped between the hope of freedom and the reality that I had to accept. If tonight had to go through, I could only hope to use it as a time to reflect and perhaps find a way out of the confusion that was crushing me. Sometimes, facing discomfort can lead me to new discoveries about myself.
I had no other choice, so I finally agreed to watch a movie. Orion prepared an LCD projector so that we could both watch a movie. I was silent for a moment. He still paid good attention to me, but somehow my feelings for him had changed. I asked for an action movie even though I usually watch romantic ones with him.
"I'm sorry, Orion," I said to myself. I didn't hurt him. If Orion is indeed a good man, but I also can't lie to myself.
Unexpectedly, I suddenly saw Doctor Leo peeking through the door window; then for a moment, he left when he found out that Orion and I were watching a movie together.