Secretly In Love // n.h. *Under Major Editing*

Chapter 13

It was just minutes away from meeting Niall at the park. I left my house a bit early, sparing me some time to think. I was already sitting down at the bench closest to the lake. The scenery was calming. I looked at my phone: It was five minutes 'til six o'clock. Not gonna lie, I was pretty nervous as to what he was going to say.

Niall approached me, sitting down next to me.
"Hey." He said quietly.
"Hey."
He was fiddling with his fingers, "I... I'm..." he struggled to find words. I sat there quietly. He took a deep breath and started, "Okay... As you know, I was dating Kaitlyn," he displayed air quotations at the word dating. I nodded along as he continued, "I wasn't interested in her, but she insisted until I said yes." He stopped, looking at the ground. I waited until he continued.
"I did want to talk to you, but she was always there, and she'd say that if I talked to you, she would do something you. That's why I avoided you, I didn't want her to do anything to you." He looked for any kind of reassurance. My lips parted in shock.
"I don't know what to say." I said.
"You don't have to say anything. Just, listen to me. Please." I nodded. He made eye contact with me before saying, "I like you. A lot, actually. Since the day I first saw you. I love spending time with you, that's why I found it hard to avoid you, but I did it to protect you. I just wanted to say I'm sorry if I were the reason why you were angry the other day." He ran out of breath but he spoke with sincerity. I was speechless. Hearing those words come out of his mouth made my heart beat faster and faster, until it felt like it could no longer keep up. I was shocked that Kaitlyn would do such thing. But I was also happy, and surprised that he feels the same way I do. We sat there in complete silence, just staring at each other.
"I-I feel the same way..." I tried to form a proper sentence, "I just, need time to think... about everything." His eyes lit up at hearing that the feelings were mutual.
"Okay. Take your time.' A hopeful smile taking over his face. I smiled back at him, "I should get going then." I stood up from the park bench. He stood up and walked towards me. He hugged me tightly. It took me by surprise. I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tightly. This just felt so, right. I didn't want to let go, but we did eventually. I turned one last time, smiling at him, then left. This was all just one big surprise, but I felt happy.