Basic

Chapter 17

Stepping out into the bright sunlight, hand in hand with Lili, Ace felt a sense of exhilaration course through his veins. The world stretched out before them like an open road, ripe with endless opportunities and adventures waiting to be discovered. With Lili by his side, he knew that anything was possible.

Ace's heart pounded as he stood before Lily, his palms sweating with nervous anticipation. Taking a deep breath, he mustered all the courage he could find and spoke softly, "Lily, there's something I need to tell you."

Lily looked up, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. "What is it, Ace?"

"I... I've been feeling something for a long time now," Ace began, his voice trembling slightly. "Something I haven't been able to shake, no matter how hard I try."

Lily's brow furrowed in concern as she listened intently, her heart racing with a sense of anticipation. "What is it, Ace? You can tell me anything."

Ace took a step closer, his gaze unwavering as he searched her eyes for any sign of understanding. "I... I think I'm in love with you, Lily," he confessed, the words hanging heavy in the air between them.

For a moment, there was silence as Lily processed his words, her heart pounding with a mixture of shock and relief. And then, slowly, a smile spread across her face as she reached out to take his hand. "Ace, I've been feeling the same way," she admitted softly. "I've been afraid to say it, but... I love you too."

Tears welled in Ace's eyes as he pulled her into his arms, holding her close as if afraid she might disappear. "I can't believe it," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "I never thought you could feel the same way."

Lily smiled, her heart overflowing with happiness as she nestled against him. "I've loved you from the moment I met you, Ace," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "And now that you've said it, I feel like the luckiest person in the world."

In that moment, amidst the soft glow of the setting sun, Ace and Lily found solace in each other's arms, their love a beacon of hope in a world filled with uncertainty. And as they stood there, bound together by the unbreakable bonds of love, they knew that, no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, hand in hand, forevermore.