𝙴𝚛𝚒𝚌 𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚛 𝚡 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛 ★ 𝙾𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚝 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ★

𝒞𝑜𝓃𝒻𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝐸𝓇𝒾𝒸

The air was crisp as the sun began its slow descent over the horizon, casting a golden hue over the small park you and Eric often visited. It was a quiet place tucked away from the noise of the city, a secret spot where you could both escape the pressures of life. The leaves had begun to turn, and the trees around you were painted with shades of amber and crimson, their beauty amplified by the soft glow of the fading daylight.

Eric walked beside you, his hand occasionally brushing yours as the two of you wandered along the winding path. There was an unusual silence between you, not uncomfortable but different from the easy banter that usually filled your conversations. You glanced over at him, noticing how his dark curls framed his face and how his brow was furrowed, like he was deep in thought.

"Eric," you said, nudging him gently with your elbow, "you've been quiet today. What's on your mind?"

He turned to look at you, and for a moment, his dark eyes softened, his expression unreadable. He seemed to hesitate before finally speaking, his voice low but steady.

"I've been thinking a lot lately... about us."

Your heart skipped a beat at the seriousness in his tone. You had been close with Eric for months, ever since that fateful meeting when you'd both been introduced by a mutual friend. He had quickly become your best friend, someone you could laugh with, talk to, and share everything with. But lately, something had shifted between you. There had been more lingering touches, more stolen glances, and your heart would race every time he smiled at you in that way only he could.

"I know we've been spending a lot of time together, and I... I don't want to make things awkward between us," he continued, his voice faltering slightly as he searched for the right words. "But I need to tell you something, something I've been feeling for a while now."

You stopped walking, turning to face him fully, your pulse quickening. There was a vulnerability in his eyes that you hadn't seen before, and it made your chest tighten. Eric reached up to rub the back of his neck, a nervous habit you'd come to recognize.

"I've always been someone who takes things slow, who's careful about feelings and stuff like that," he said, his gaze dropping to the ground for a moment before meeting yours again. "But with you... it's different. Everything feels natural. Like being around you makes everything better, even when life's crazy. And I've realized something."

He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, his voice a little softer now, as if the words were meant for only you.

"I love you. Not just as a friend, but... as someone I want in my life in every way. You're the person I think about when I wake up, the one I want to share everything with, the one who makes me feel like I'm home, no matter where we are. I don't want to just be your friend anymore. I want more."

The confession hung in the air between you, his words filled with sincerity and emotion. You felt a warmth spread through your chest, his admission causing your heart to flutter wildly. Eric took a small step closer, his hand reaching out to gently cup your cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against your skin.

"I want to be with you," he said softly, his gaze unwavering. "I want to call you my girlfriend, if you'll have me. I know I'm not perfect, but I promise I'll do everything I can to make you happy. You mean the world to me, and I don't want to lose you."

You stood there, feeling the weight of his words, the tenderness in his touch. It felt like the world had faded away, leaving just the two of you in this moment. You had known for a while that your feelings for Eric ran deeper than friendship, but hearing him say it, hearing him want the same thing you had been longing for, made everything feel more real, more tangible.

Without a second thought, you closed the distance between you and wrapped your arms around his waist, burying your face in his chest. His arms immediately encircled you, pulling you close, his heart beating rapidly against yours.

"I love you too, Eric," you whispered, your voice muffled against his shirt. "I've wanted to tell you for so long, but I was scared I'd ruin what we had."

Eric pulled back just enough to look into your eyes, his expression a mix of relief and happiness. His hand came up to brush a stray hair from your face, his touch gentle.

"You could never ruin this," he said softly. "We've got something special, and I promise, I'll never take that for granted."

Before you could say anything more, he leaned down and pressed his lips to yours in a soft, lingering kiss. It was sweet and tender, filled with the quiet promise of all that was to come. When you finally pulled away, his forehead rested against yours, both of you smiling like you were the only two people in the world.

"So, does that mean...?" Eric began, his voice playful now, the tension from earlier completely gone.

You grinned up at him, your arms still wrapped around his waist.

"Yes, Eric," you said, laughing softly. "I'll be your girlfriend."

His smile widened, and he pulled you back into his arms, spinning you around playfully as he let out a joyous laugh.

"I can't believe it," he said, his voice filled with happiness. "You're mine."

"And you're mine," you whispered, holding him close.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in soft twilight, you knew that this was the start of something beautiful, something that would only grow deeper with time.