As the moonlight added a sparkle to her reddish-brown hair, she seemed to be glowing even more. Keeping her hands behind her back, humming and hopping while enjoying the bliss of the night on that lovely bridge — rightly designated as Lover's Bridge, for it was the best place for couples to be made and lovers to date — she looked so mesmerizing that he couldn't take his eyes off her as he followed her from behind. Just looking at her, he didn’t know why, filled his heart with so much pleasure. He kept on looking at her without blinking as if there were no tomorrow.
"She’s really enjoying herself here. It's good; after all, she made so many preparations to pick out the best outfit and arrange everything else for this reunion. She looks really pretty today, though. The outfit really suits her. She looks exceptionally pretty today. Ah! No, she's pretty every day. Ughhh, wait—what am I thinking? That stupid Parker's nonsense really seems to have affected my mind. Nevertheless, she looks really cheerful today, without any burden. It's been a week since she smiled like that, right?" And that was where he stopped the series of his thoughts and stopped in his path. His expression grew grim as he began recalling the incident that had occurred between them a week ago, from when she started avoiding him because he had tried to get her to confess something that was... he really wanted to know the answer to.
The atmosphere was so pleasant that he felt unwilling to ruin it. However, something inside him was telling him that it was now or never. She had been avoiding him since that incident. Today they met only because they were both from the same alma mater and had to attend the so-called reunion party held to congratulate their Senior Year's homeroom teacher on her upcoming marriage. After all, her Camellia had finally bloomed. If not for that, she would have kept avoiding him. Perhaps, she might start avoiding him once again after the night ends. His inner consciousness told him, "Now is the time."
And so he stopped and stopped her too by calling out her name gently with those lips on which any woman would like to give a kiss.
"Elia!"
She turned her head, with the breeze flirting with her hair, making her look even prettier, similar to how the spring cherry blossoms were. But now was not the time to admire her. Getting done with the matter was the top priority.
"Lia, you still haven't answered my question from that day. Is it true? Is what Della said true? Do you like me?"
Finally, he said it. Now all that was left was for her to answer.
Elia remained silent for a few minutes and then smiled. Her expression seemed like she had already seen this coming. She gave a gentle sigh and then walked toward him. He remained unmoved, with his eyes fixed on her. She stopped when she was about half an arm's length away, and with her voice as sweet as always, she said, "You know, Dan, when I first came here, I was worried that I would have trouble adjusting. After all, I've always been a spoiled princess. So I really wasn't sure how I would be able to make things work out in college. But because of you, everything became easy. I had no trouble adjusting. You know too that I am not close with any other boy besides you. You are the only one I feel comfortable with. I enjoy our times together. We bicker, we tease each other, we play, and we also help each other empty out our hearts. It's really refreshing and good to be with you. I have some of the most blissful moments of my life whenever I am with you." She paused a little and then continued.
"You know… it’s heaven's blessing to have you as a friend." She took his hand in hers and then looked straight at him. He looked into her eyes, wondering what she would say next.
"You know, Dan… I– I," she stuttered for a while and then took a deep breath.
"I really, really, really like the fact that I have a friend like you." Her hands began shaking a little as she let go of his hand. She then interlocked the fingers of one of her hands with his.
"Dan..."
"I really hope that we can forever be like this, forever continue to have fun like this, forever be able to take walks on the road while enjoying each other's company like this. I– I…" Her voice was no longer as stable. It felt like she was trying to force it to become stable.
"I hope we can walk together, hand in hand, while interlocking our fingers like this. As crime partners and as— as friends… There's nothing more I ask for. I hope we will stay like this forever. I don't want anything else."
And she withdrew her hand and took a few steps back. Then she turned to leave.
He uttered, "Lia—"
However, she cut him off.
"I wouldn’t have said this if I liked you."
…
…
…
"I hope you've got your answer."
And she left.
---
The End
[Don't forget to comment about your thoughts regarding this story.
What do you is their back story ?
Why is it "Hard to say I love you" ?
For whom is it hard for ?
Don't forget to give feedback ~ ]
[And wish me all the best for my exam
(*・～・*) ]
- By Author Yours Only Yulissa Jin
(#Erica White)
