LOVE DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN

Chapter 32

"When I was in seventh grade, I had a huge crush on a boy but he moved away and went to another school. Then, I thought what I felt was heartbreak. I thought nothing could be worse than what I felt but what I've been feeling in this past few days is way worse. Do you know why that word is called crush? It's cause it completely crushes you. I've always considered myself to be strong but I'm not as strong as I thought I was."

"Isla, I'm sorry for everything."

"It's okay. You don't have to apologize again. I know you're sorry."

"So do you forgive me?"

"No, I can never forgive you. I hate you. I hate your face. I don't want to see you ever again. In fact, delete my number and never call me again. Don't even dare think about me ever again."

He looked broken and vulnerable. "Isla.......are.....are you serious?"

I laughed. I laughed so hard that I had to clutch my stomach.

"OMG!!!! Your face is so priceless. I wish I was with my phone, I would have taken a picture. You looked like you were about to cry." I laughed harder.

He still looked confused.

"I was kidding."

He sighed and smiled.

"I forgive you. At least I know how a real heartbreak feels like."

"I'm so happy!" He exclaimed. "Can I hug you?" He asked.

"Yh." I said and he hugged me.

We just sat down there, in complete comfortable silence. The sun was rising, my heart is healed.......well, not completely but you know, baby steps.

"Isla,"

"Hummm." I hummed.

He turned to face me. "I like you. I just don't like you, I really really really like you. In fact, I love you. I've loved you from the first day I saw you, from the moment you bumped into me, as cliché as that sounds, I've loved you from that moment. I'm sorry that I was a jerk this past week and I'm sorry for everything I put you through."

I released a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Carl, it's okay. You don't have to apologize over and over again and you want to know something?"

He nodded.

"I like you. I just don't like you, I really realy really like you." I said.

"And......." he urged.

"I love you too." I said.

He dragged me I to a very big embrace. "Gosh Isla, you don't know how happy you have made me. Yh, I knew you liked me but it feels so gold hearing it from your mouth."

"How did you know?" I muffled into his chest.

"Don't be mad but Tori told me."

"Of course she did." I smiled.

The rising sun sent an ethereal glow all around us. He stood up and also helped me stand.

"Isla, I want to ask you something. Can I?"

"You just did." I said.

He chuckled. "I meant something else."

"Even the beauty of the rising sun doesn't compare to your beauty," he started.

"When did you become so corny?" I laughed.

He smiled. "Let me be as corny as I want Isla. I just can't help it. In the presence of the rising sun as witness, will you please, please, pretty please make me the happiest person in the world and be my girlfriend?"