Understanding exactly what he meant, Aki gasped.
“I won’t hurt your feelings and make you cry alone like this. I don’t want you to look this sad ever again…”
“L-Leo…”
My chest hurts… I can feel just how much he cares about me, my heart aches. Why…? Wrapped in Leo’s strong arms, Aki placed her hand on his shoulder to comfort him. Why is it people rarely ever fall in love at the same time with the same person?
Just one small deviation can change everything.
“You even told me you loved me back… It made me wonder if miracles like this could really happen to someone like me. You taught me what happiness is. Thanks to you, I was glad to be alive for the first time.”
What Elias said to her earlier that day suddenly came to mind.
There is no greater miracle in life than being in love with a person who loves you back just as much.
Aki didn’t want to lose that miracle.
“…Aki,” Leo passionately uttered her name. Her heart did a little flip. “…I love you…just as much as he does,” he whispered in a husky voice.
A single tear rolled down Aki’s cheek. She despised herself for being unable to respond to his strong feelings for her.
Leo released her without another word. His feverish gaze met her bewildered eyes. Her very breath was taken away by the deep purple gleam of his eyes and his handsome visage.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him when she refused to even breathe in his presence. “I won’t hold back if he’s given up on you,” he announced inches from her face.
Startled, Aki looked away from the ardor burning in his eyes and shook her head back and forth.
“Leo, I…”
I can’t return his feelings. It’s Elias I love. I won’t give up on him even if I’ve lost my place in his life. But maybe that’s how Leo feels about me too. It’s impossible to just will away your feelings.
When Aki said no more, Leo instantly let go of her. He turned around faster than she could say anything.
“…I’ll go check on Elias,” he said quickly and walked away from her.
Aki reached for his back. “Leo! Wai—”
“You wait here,” he ordered in a quiet voice.
Trembling, she dropped her hand. His back rejected further conversation, causing words to fail her and she pressed her lips together instead.
Leo left the room without looking back. The door shut with a cold thud. She was left alone once more.
…Why? Aki bit the inside of her cheek and slid down to her knees in the painful silence. Why did it come to this?