Heal the Scars Left on the Heart

20: Promise to Be Together

Rupert

"Eh?" I jolted from (Y/N)'s sudden question.

Do I like you?

"Uhh-" my voice quivered, and my cheek's pigment deepened.

I stared into (Y/N)'s (E/C) eyes, and they softened so much. They hinted too much vulnerability and I thought that they would help me man up to take control of the situation.

But I was wrong.

When she finally let me in her barrier that she had built around her, I felt lost. It had left me speechless, like I suddenly lost track of what to do. Maybe it was because I wasn't used to it. Or maybe it was because I wasn't used to women letting me this close into their lives.

Whatever it was, my heart soared in my chest to see her eyes gleaming this brightly. They finally twinkled like the stars I saw the previous nights. Now they've been swallowed up by the dusky clouds.

But now I finally got to see my own stars, right in front of me. And they were much more beautiful too.

She still continued to watch me struggle to say something. Her curious but shy gaze made me tighten my grip around her hands that were so much smaller than mine.

"I-I thought that I already-"

"I know," she cut me off abruptly. She reciprocated my grasp by squeezing my hands back. She whispered, "I just... wanted to hear you say it."

I sighed nervously, my heart screamed because it couldn't take it anymore. I've never seen her so shyly cute before. It was worth all the times she had pushed me away before.

It felt like time had stopped and I had all the time to spend holding her hand, watching her eyes.

"To be quite honest, I don't... think I do. I think there's something I feel... and it's different."

I gulped nervously.

"I think-"

I suddenly heard footsteps behind us, and we both quickly retracted our hands. We swiftly stood up, our faces flushed excessively to the point we lost the shade of our skin.

"Hello," Lloyd smiled at us, and he held a tray of food.

The dogs quickly ran to him, wagging their tails around excitedly for food except Ace. He stayed put in the corner.

When Lloyd noticed the thick tension that was built in this room, he tilted his head to the side slightly.

"Am I interrupting something?" he questioned innocently.

"No," (Y/N) shook her head, clearing her throat. "We were just about to get ready to go."

He nodded, his grin widened. "I see. Pleasured to have you today."

She smiled, it was crooked with awkwardness.

"Thanks for your hospitality. I'll be back."

"The pleasure is all mine, as well as Miss (L/N). Please do visit us again."

She nodded, quickly signaling me to follow along.

I nodded to Lloyd, and trailed behind her.

We walked back together to her car in silence, and even in the car, we sat there with the same tension.

To my surprise, she broke it before I had the chance to.

"Thanks for coming with me."

I looked at her steering the car, and I shook my head. "No, thank you for bringing me along. I had fun with the dogs today."