Jade felt as though her heart was about to jump out of her chest.
"I love you, Jade," Althea said again.
"Althea... Althea, I-I---"
"Shhh... It's alright," she said, sensing her hesitation. "You don't need to say it back, love. You don't have to force yourself. I will wait for you."
Those words made Jade tighten her arms around her. How can she not love her more?
"Why me, Althea?"
"Why not you, Jade?" she asked back.
She looked into those dark anime eyes and saw nothing but love and sincerity. She almost felt unworthy.
Althea held her cheeks and gazed at her.
"Anata wa watashi no tsuki. Anata shika mienai. Konna kimochi wa hajimete da."
A what now?
"What did you just say?"
Althea bit her lip and giggled. Jade loved it when her eyes disappeared like that when she smiled. Althea moved away but she pulled her back. She held Althea's nape and pulled her closer until their foreheads touched.
"Answer me, Althea Guevarra," she demanded lightly.
Althea just kissed her nose which made her cheeks burn.
"You'll find out soon enough, love."
Damn, Althea.
She squeezed the woman's cheeks just to ease the butterflies in her stomach.
Althea's eyes squinted as she giggled and smiled widely, reflecting the same happiness that Jade was feeling right now.
I am so in love with you, Althea.
Those were the words in her mind yet what she said was, "Thank you for loving me, Thei."
Althea chuckled. "So I've got a new nickname now?"
Jade playfully hit her arm. "I'm serious."
Althea pulled away just enough to look at her.
"You don't need to thank me, love. You are worth it."
Jade bit her lip. She had to restrain herself but she couldn't help but pinch Althea's nose. It made Althea laugh. She kissed Jade's nose and her forehead before enveloping her in a tight hug. Jade wrapped her arms around the woman's waist and leaned on her shoulder. She smiled as she sighed and inhaled Althea's perfume.
"Thei?"
"Yes, love."
"Red chrysanthemum."
She wanted to complain at the loss of the touch when Althea pulled back again. Her knitted brows and her pout eased when she saw the look in those eyes. Oh, her sweet Althea.
"It's perfect for what I feel right now," she answered the question before Althea could ask it.
"How do you feel?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she looked down when she felt the blush creeping up her cheeks.
Althea kept one hand on Jade's waist while she used the other to get her phone from her jacket's front pocket. She started typing, probably searching the meaning of the flower she just mentioned. Jade looked up just in time to see the surprise on the woman's face.
Althea turned her attention back to Jade, but the latter bit her lip and avoided her eyes. Her cheeks and ears almost as red as the dress the short-haired woman was wearing. Althea tried her best to calm herself as she put her phone back in her pocket. She held Jade's chin and gently lifted it so that their eyes met.
