Love Me, Love Me Not || Hanamaki Takahiro

Last Petal: She Loves Me?

She loves me.

'Does she though?' Hanamaki wondered as he held onto the last petal with uncertainty. He could not think of another so-called hint that Nakamura likes him back. In fact, the reasons he has stated are not strong evidence that she likes him. They were more like his hopes. Hopes that she likes him back. Maybe he is trying to gather up his courage to confess to her and finally call her his. 

As he sighed, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see Nakamura smiling at him. Just by seeing her smile, he forgot what he was even worried about and smiled back at her.

"Did you wait long?" She asked as she sat beside him.

Hanamaki shook his head since it was his fault for arriving too early. "What do you want to do today?"

Upon hearing his question, she blushed as she glanced down at her hands that were placed on top of her thighs. He looked at her with confusion at her action. Why was she suddenly shy? However, not wanting to rush her, he silently waited for her to speak.

As she continued to stay silent, the silence between them began to make him nervous. He felt his heart beginning to beat faster each second. It wasn't unpleasant at all. It was as if he was expecting something to happen. Expecting his hope will come true. Expecting her to confess.

Hanamaki shook his head slightly, trying to calm himself. He told himself that it was not possible. He tried to stop himself from getting false hope. He didn't want to appear disappointed when it turns out it was not a confession at all. He tried his best to put on his usual expression. 

"Hanamaki-kun," she finally spoke up after taking a deep breath. "I wanted to meet up with you today because... because I had something i-important... to tell you..."

He looked at her with a reassuring smile, silently urging her to continue.

Nakamura looked everywhere except for his eyes. "I-I like you!"

Hanamaki felt his eyes widen as he did not know how to react. He couldn't believe his hope came true. He couldn't believe they had mutual feelings for each other. The flower myth was true after all. The flower myth he laughed at was real.

He unconsciously removed the last petal on the flower he was holding. 

She loves me.