YOU SWAN , HE FROG !

4

His voice was cold, and so were his eyes—so icy that even I, a soul without the ability to feel temperature, shivered at the chill spreading from him. Emma stared at him in disbelief, like she hadn't expected to be rejected. "Is it because of Annie—?" 

I stood frozen too, my heart pounding uncontrollably, its rhythm chaotic and erratic. James stayed silent for a moment, lowering his gaze, his expression unreadable. "Emma, I have a girlfriend right now." 

"This isn't good for you," he added, his voice still cold. 

Emma understood. A slight smile curved at the corners of her lips. "I'll wait for you." 

And I understood too, a bitter, mocking smile tugging at my lips. What James meant was that as long as we hadn't officially broken up, there would be no physical affair between him and Emma. 

It had nothing to do with his integrity, nor did it mean he had some deep respect for me, his girlfriend. No, he just didn't want Emma to carry any stain of guilt or face any moral backlash. 

He cherished her that much, cared for her so deeply. 

I kept smiling as tears started falling, big, hot drops sliding down my face.