Day we met

Chapter 25 - Her Confession

I couldn't wait any longer. I needed answers, and I needed them now. I took a deep breath and sent a text to Ric: "Meet me at the park... exactly at 5 o'clock."

As soon as I sent the message, a wave of anxiety washed over me. I spent the rest of the day feeling a mix of anticipation and dread. The minutes seemed to crawl by as I kept glancing at the clock, waiting for it to be time to leave. What if he didn't come? What if he did? The questions swirled in my mind, making it impossible to focus on anything else.

Finally, the time came. I arrived at the park a few minutes early, my heart pounding in my chest. The park, usually a place of comfort and happiness, now felt charged with tension. I found a bench near the pond, where we had often sat together and waited.

As the clock struck 5, I spotted Ric walking toward me. My heart raced, a mix of relief and nervousness washing over me. He looked slightly apprehensive but came anyway, which gave me a small glimmer of hope.

"Thank you for coming," I said softly as he approached.

Ric nodded, his expression guarded. "I got your message. What's this about?"

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "I need to know why you've been avoiding me, Ric. Ever since I came to your house, you've been distant. Did I do something wrong?"

"I'm not avoiding you... You're overthinking," Ric said. How could he lie to me?

"Enough, Ric. Stop lying and give me the proper reason, and I'll leave," I demanded, feeling my frustration rise. He remained silent. Sometimes silence answers the unanswered questions. I had hoped he wasn't avoiding me, but his silence shattered that hope.

"I'm not an obtuse person. I know you're avoiding me," I whined, my voice trembling with emotion.

Ric looked away, his jaw clenched. I could see the internal struggle in his eyes, but his refusal to speak only made me feel more helpless and hurt.

"Why, Ric? Why are you doing this?" I pleaded, trying to keep my voice steady. "We were fine. We were getting closer. What changed?"

"You know, Ric, how much you mean to me," I said, my voice trembling. He stood there, silent, seemingly unaware of the depth of my feelings. "Although there are people around me, I feel so lonely. Do you know why? Because I feel alone without you, Ric. I feel like I'm all alone in this vast world. I've tried to push away my feelings, but my mind is full of you and your thoughts. I can't concentrate on anything. I'm messing up everything around me. I'm missing something important to me. That something is you, Ric. Your avoidance is hurting me more than anything."

He looked at me, a mix of confusion and sadness in his eyes, but he still said nothing.

"I don't know why I'm addicted to you," I continued, my voice cracking. "I've lost myself in love. You're not the type of person I dreamt of, but still, I've fallen for you. You've become more than myself. Why don't you understand my feelings for you?"

"I love you... I love you more than you can imagine," I blurted out, my voice shaking with emotion. "I'm willing to do anything for your love. Just tell me, and I'll do everything for you to reciprocate your feelings for me. If you want me to die, then I'll die happily for you. I think that is better than living without you. I'm tainted in love. It sucked more than you can imagine."

The words tumbled out of me, raw and unfiltered. I had intended to ask him for a reason, to understand why he was pushing me away, but instead, I confessed my love. I stood there, heart pounding, feeling a mix of agony and relief. Ric just stared at me, bewildered and silent.

Realization hit me hard. I had begged him to love me, forgetting that love is about giving, not asking. Forcing someone to love you isn't love at all. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.