Assuming that the energy is transferred to an atom, there are hidden variables in the phase of the receiving atom. This may indeed relate to some rotation mechanism, like the orbit of an electron.

In quantum mechanics, it is clear that particles do not simply behave like physical bodies. We can for example use an electron microscope as if the electrons behave similar to light. If we make very small objects on chips, we can see wave-effects too.

It is as if the single particles behave more as one system.

Light itself does not really work well as particles, especially if we look the electric field. It is very easy to have a constant electric field, but this is impossible in a particle system. Feinmann assumed that there were infinite (virtual) particles, but I personally prefer to see it as a simple field. Works better. Feinmann can created very complex models of very simple things.

If you have trouble understanding it, maybe it is easier to see matter as a liquid that moves very fast at small scales. We are still trying to learn how it works exactly.

People like Feinmann and Dirac like to see particles as waves that are part of a sea (Dirac-sea or Quantum foam). Some others talk about superstrings, multiple worlds, etc. Sadly, most of these interpretations are mathematical solutions, and do not really reflect reality.

In this discussion about the simplest quantum interpretation, you may learn some new things.