As seconds turned to minutes, Nil looked less and less confident and more vulnerable; it was starting to look like she might be the one under pressure here, not me, as one would normally expect.
If I don't say anything… I'd be the one in the wrong; I'll have affected her negatively. I don't want that!... And yet… why does my body block off all responses? Now that the initial shock of what she said is subsiding, I'm starting to sweat, my heart beat is increasing in speed.
"I…" I am useless. I need to answer!
"I… am sorry… for making you wait…" I'm not going to lose my nerves. I love her too!
"Without you, I would be worse for wear, and while my social life is still in the dumps, you made my home life something to look forward to, something I enjoy. And, I found someone I enjoy that with… and… Before I knew it, I too had fallen in love." Short stop. I couldn't say anymore…
She looked up at me from where she was sitting. "Yeah?... I'm so grateful... Please stay with me, Kea." She murmured
*Boom* The fireworks had started, drowning out all possibility of talking.
I'll let her have the final word… I have reached my limit.
A warmth had enveloped my hand. I must have been too busy watching the fireworks to notice that she had grabbed my hand.
… Is this what people call girl charm? Soft hands, a feeling of disbelief that this was now, likely a new norm. This feeling that now might be something normal, something that, in a sense, belonged to me.
I have changed, haven't I? And for the time being, Nil has too. I would estimate a roughly 250% increase in boldness. It feels nice being conscious of someone like this, but… I would bet that it has its drawbacks, too.
*Boom*
"Oh! This is the finisher! You'll love this part!" I said.
But for now, I'll work hard for another person.