Another Life, Another Me

86. The Impenetrable Fortress (Part 1)

"I love you."

At that moment, time seemed to stop entirely.

My heart began to beat so fast that I was worried that it was going to explode.

"I love you...I love you...Cordelia, I love you so much that I feel like I'm going to die..." 

Then, for a split second, I could feel a tiny crack forming in the carefully built stone walls that surrounded my heart.

I widened my eyes and pushed Ace away in surprise.

No...

This was bad...

Bad...bad...bad...

"Cordelia..." Ace murmured.

I wasn't even able to move an inch as he wrapped his arms around me and held me against his chest, which felt so hot that it was almost comparable to fire.

With my head pushed up against his chest, I could hear a loud, thrashing heartbeat coming from within him that took my breath away.

"I'm sorry...I should have told you much earlier, right?" Ace murmured.

I opened my mouth slowly but no words came out.

Indescribable tears began to well up in my eyes against my will.

What does this mean...?

No...

I shouldn't misunderstand him...

After all, there was still that tiny chance...that tiny chance that he meant it platonically...

...Like a friend...

Yes...like a friend...

"Ah...and before you misunderstand, I meant it romantically, Cordelia. Not like a friend," Ace said as he ducked his face in front of me, removing all of my doubts.

It was as if though he were able to read my mind.

Romantically...?

I could feel my complexion becoming pale and I felt a little sick too.

No...

This can't be happening...

This was bad...

Definitely bad...

"Do you really hate it that much?" Ace asked with a small pained chuckle when he noticed the look of despair on my face.

"...Ace...that's not it...I just..." I tried to speak but all that came out of my mouth was just a jumble of incoherent phrases.

I felt so dizzy that I almost fell to the ground.

His face turned dark as he watched me struggle.

"Cordelia...If you hate it so much...what are you going to do now that I've told you...?" Ace asked me, his voice a little scarier than normal.

"I..."

"Do you hate me?" Ace murmured as the light in his eyes slowly faded away.

It was as if though his heart was dying as we spoke.

I bit my tongue.

"N-No...! That's not it," I shouted as I shook my head quickly.

"Then what?" he asked.

His voice was cold and prickly.

Somehow, it seemed as if though he had completely lost his rationality, but at the same time, was sane enough to not go on a rampage.