UNREQUITED LOVE: Sequel Tally 1

(please don't get bored!)


I feel it. A knife darted through my heart, slicing what's still left. But with all those pain and shattered heart, I still smiled. And he cringes, moving his hand away again, like I'm still that venom he doesn't like.

"I'm sorry," I smiled, tears striding down my cheeks. "I'm really sorry for saying that, Tyson."

(Him)

Here I am, standing there, looking at her with this really stupid look on my face.

Well, it's not really stupid.

Still... anyone would feel this stupid when you're looking at someone who just blurted out a secret they should've kept to themselves.

A secret they really aren't supposed to have said a loud.

I mean... I was speechless.

I didn't know what to say.

And it's the first.

It's the first a girl had actually admitted that they like me.

Really, really like me.

And...Hilary, too!

HI-LA-RY.

This cocky, bitchy, and always-complaining-about-me girl.

This girl that... that I thought hated my guts.

This... this...

Hilary, for God's sake!

All I did was recoil away from her.

Like she was something I thought was disgusting.

I know it's a mean thing to mention but I can't help know it's quite true.

"I'm sorry, Tyson," she repeats.

"I'm really sorry."

She seemed to be regretting those words.

I guess she must've been thinking the same as what I had thought.

Well... she should've.

I couldn't do anything, or SAY anything.

I could only... watch her.

What am I supposed to say?

What am I supposed to answer?

I can't tell her that I like her, too.

I mean...

That's just not me.

I... I...

I can't!

Even if I do feel the same way—I can't!

I swore to myself that I would never ever have this 'Love' crap invade my life.

I swore to myself that I wouldn't let a little friendship cross further than that.

I swore to myself that—

I will never fall for Hilary...

But... what's happening now?

All these jumbled problems I couldn't answer a few days ago are coming back.

I can't do anything but let it get me.

And for the first time, I don't know what to do.

A just stare at her.

I could take a step back away from her.

I could walk away and leave her here.

Only that...

I couldn't seem to.

"Y—you... you—what?"

She removed her palms from her face to look up.

I wanted to see her face for the truth but now I regret ever wanting to.

Her teary eyes sliced me through and I felt frozen to my poise.

For a small, little, tiny confession, I can't clearly tell that she was taking this worse that I was.

Her body shivered, either from the night or something more.

Her shoulder shook up and down a little, and I guess she was sobbing a little bit.

I could step back if I want, walk away if I could.

I could just turn around and leave this trouble behind, forget this ever happened.

I could just forget she was here and forget she ever said that to me.

I would... I really, really would.

But the thing is, I couldn't.

I could only watch her and wait for anything else to happen, anything that isn't too drastic.

She didn't fully take her palms off her face.

She was able to slide them down below her chin so that her fingertips simply touched her chin.

I saw her lips quiver the slightest bit but I still caught the sight.

She was going to cry again...

-

(Her)

Oh, god...

What just happened?

This wasn't what I was expecting!

I wasn't expecting this whole horror to come true like what my mind had imagined.

I wasn't meant to tell him what I felt right now.

No!

I wasn't planning right!

I wasn't supposed to tell him this soon!

I shiver a bit but it wasn't from the cold.

It was because I'm scared.

Tyson isn't saying anything to me so I'm guessing he was taking this as bad as I am.

When I open my eyes to look at him, he was beyond struck.

I start to move but my whole body began to freeze.

What... what do I do?

What do I do?

What do I say?

What do I think?

What... what do I feel?

"I'm sorry."

It repeats, rolling out of my tongue, rolling out of my shaky lips.

Instead of him walking away, I found myself surprise that he still hasn't left the spot he stood.

I guess he must want something clear before he leaves.

Whatever it was... he better be quick about it.

There isn't a time to be dillydallying about things you thought were a good thing to do.

"Hilary, I... Hilary, I..."

"You what?" I demanded softly.

For some reason, I didn't want to hear it.

I didn't want to hear him say it.

No—no I don't!

When Tyson could open his mouth hesitantly, I opened mine first.

"Before you say anything, I just want to make clear of things first... is that okay, Tyson?"

It took an eternity before Tyson could give me a nod of approval.

I wasn't that quite relief.

It wasn't my fault I don't know what to tell him to make things clear.

What I want to tell him was that my feelings were mine.

That it wasn't anyone's suggestion.

They were all mine.

I want to tell him—show him—how sorry I was for all the stupid things I did and told him long ago.

I want to tell him that even if he didn't agree to these feelings I'm feeling, it wasn't his fault.

Maybe then...

Maybe then...

"I'm sorry."

Although those words were the only things I could tell him, I know now that there were more.

If I open my mouth now, I could continue on about my speech.

And it was exactly what I want to do.

What I can do to make sure he doesn't say those ugly words to me.

"Hilary, there isn't anything to be—"

"There is—there are."

-

"The time I first met you? I didn't deny you were the most idiotic and laziest moron I ever met.

Besides, I only bossed you around because you were so egotistical and you always seem to get your ways by stupidity while I got mine by being intelligent.

The time I thought you hated me because I only tried helping you and the others, I was sure you hated me more when you didn't do that training Kenny and I made.

What can I say? I'm always a positive girl.

But when I'm around you all...

When I'm around you, Tyson...

I always feel... lost."

-

(Him)

"When I'm around you, Tyson... I always feel... lost."

Lost?

How can she be lost when she's around me?

How you be lost when someone knows you're there?

Sometimes, I couldn't understand Hilary.

Sometimes, I do.

It must be one of those friend-bond things.

Sometimes, I knew her.

Then again... sometimes, I don't.

Am I a pessimist?

The back of my head tells me I am because I'm refusing to do whatever it is that I want to do or say.

It took all my will to let my pessimistic subliminal self do whatever it wants.

Because my other half is unsure.

The part where I want to do something rather than run away from Hilary.

Something else... but what?

Still, my killjoy ego wins and all I can do was try and enjoy what little fun ride there is left in this moment.

"I don't understand. One minute you hate me... the next, you... you... you like me?"

Both my feet stood on the same row, my arms loose to my sides.

My Prussian eyes stare at her intently, waiting for an answer, but the wind only replied by making the night air colder.

No.

This quietness really is irritating me.

But I would feel guilty to walk away from an unimportant subject.

"Answer me, Hilary. I don't understand..."

"It's because you never do."

I frowned when her voice reached the limit where she, too, was getting aggravated.

I pursed my lips.

I see I'm not the only one getting impatient.

"You never do, Tyson," Hilary repeated, "I don't think you ever will."

"If you just let me understand then I can," I objected, "there's no point trying to distant yourself so much nowadays."

"Says the one who does the same thing," the girl mumbled lowly.

I scowled.

"What?"

"I said," Hilary all at once spat, "that I wasn't the only one distancing myself."

"I wasn't 'separating' myself from others, if that's what you mean—"

"No," Hilary interrupted, "that wasn't what I meant."

She didn't say anymore, and I only got more confused.

My pessimistic mind sparked once again and I feel as if I really need to know what people think I don't know.

The more I looked at Hilary, the more something inside me wanted to do...

Wanted to say.

Only three words echoed in my head.

Three words that I wanted to tell her.

Three words that wanted to come out of my mouth.

Then again...

That wouldn't be my pessimistic self.

I was always so puzzled at things, letting my mind solve a problem by itself and not by others.

If I were to say those words, then... I'll understand.

"Why?"

I will understand the problem.

"Why are you being this way, Hilary?"

But I can't.

"Why can't you at least tell me what's going on?"

If I say those words... then I won't be Tyson anymore.

"Why are you distancing yourself to me and our friendship?"

You might not understand it, but this Tyson isn't optimist.

"You aren't letting me understand, and that's what I don't understand."

I'm not a romanticist.

I gaze at Hilary with unresponsive eyes.

"You say I'm distancing myself—but just look at yourself."

I can't be what any other typical boys can be.

I don't know why, but I just can't.

-

(Her)

I did as he had told and regretted ever trying to obey it.

The smooth reflection of a flawed girl emerged on the pond behind me as I slowly looked over my shoulder to stare at what looked like myself.

I recoiled.

No.

It...

It was—It wasn't me!

This weird looking girl isn't me!

It can't be!

I quickly look away and hide my face with my palms and buried them on my knees.

I didn't cry.

I just gasped.

"No," I whispered.

No.

"No... this... this isn't what's suppose to happen," I mumbled to myself.

I never planned for this to happen.

I never ever did.

I only wanted to... try and understand myself—me.

I didn't mean for Tyson to start acting so suspicious.

I didn't mean him to dislike me even more than he already does.

I didn't mean for everyone to start getting questionable about me...

I...

"I'm sorry."

I wasn't just apologizing for what people have been thinking about me now.

I was apologizing for whatever I've made Tyson think of me.

All those time (in all those chapters...) that I've done, I never knew how it could affect my friends.

I never knew that it would cause a strange hole in our friendship.

Now that it had...

What do I do?

I kept my face buried on my knees until I heard footsteps coming closer towards me.

He touched my shoulder—I wasn't expecting that.

I recoiled away.

Why... why is Tyson...

"W—why are you still here?" I stammered, lifting my face a little to watch in surprise while Tyson took a seat on a smaller boulder beside me.

He let go of his hand on my shoulder and placed them on his knees, crouching low a little to look at a distance in front of him.

"I live here," was his visible response.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

Well, duh.

"I didn't... mean it that way," I murmured.

He didn't answer.

I wanted to see his expression but his face was covered underneath the shadows of his large bangs.

Instead, I propped my chin on both palms as my elbows rested on my knees.

"Why aren't you walking away?" I asked him.

I hope he'd give me a positive answer.

I've had too much negative responses for today and I needed some support.

Maybe Tyson can do that...

"I can't walk away when I sleep in this place."

I face-faulted.

Then again... maybe not.

I gave a sigh of defeat and closed my eyes.

Usually, when I get to anxious, I try cooking and eating what I made.

It didn't matter how awful or good my food tasted like.

Whatever it looks like or tasted, I eat them all.

It reminded me of what happened last month when I got so troubled about Tyson and my argument.

I obviously got sick for three days.

I always reminded myself that curry and Mexican dressing does NOT go together when cooked.

The best part was when Tyson and the others skipped school and visited me.

It was a memory I couldn't forget.

I must have been daydreaming that I might've been silent for several minutes.

Because that then, when I opened my eyes, they widened with surprise but my chin didn't move from its spot on ms palms.

Tyson had managed to sneak and sit down crossed-legged on the pebbled earth less than three feet away from me.

I wasn't expecting him to do that too.

I gawked at him with a 'what the hell are you doing?' look in my cherry eyes.

-

(Him)

I bit back a laugh when she gave me that look she always did every time I do something out of the blues.

But I had to make everything clear again.

Even if it meant trying to indulge Hilary into being a little contented.

I have to.

Just so that everything can be the way it was before.

I imitated her actions and propped my chin on one palm as my elbow settled on my right knee and leg.

That 'what the hell do you think you're doing?' was still playing on her ruby eyes and I gave her a smirk.

"You know..." I began.

She mouthed a what, unable to bring out any voice out of her throat.

"You have a choice," I said.

That one eyebrow that had been raised pretty high on her forehead lowered down so that both of her brows made a small frown.

"We can have this so-called discussion tonight..." I began, "as adults... or as immature stubborn idiots."

Now that, Hilary found her voice.

Still, her chin never left their place.

"Wait a minute," she protested, "now look who's talking—"

"Okay, okay, okay," I scowled, "jeez. For someone who tries to be a little smart, you sure find a way to put me back to being the idiot."

I knew she felt sorry then, so she didn't say anything.

"So... which one?"

Sarcasm reached her limits.

"I think I can decide that already, don't you?"

Oh for...

"Listen, smarty-pants," I spoke, "here I am trying to talk like an adult and you're still making things complicated."

I made a mental smile when Hilary's lips shot upwards a little.

It was better when we both weren't so dense and moody when we're talking.

After all... that would be the rarest thing that could happen between us.

I had to mentally slap myself when a small memory of the past played in my head.

"All right," Hilary replied, "we can discuss this in a normal adult way... right?"

That irked me a little.

"Well, excuse me," I rolled my eyes, "I can SO be a normal adult."

"If you want to, right?" Hilary suggested, "that is... if you can?"

I inhaled sharply and exhaled very loudly.

This girl is either trying to irritate me again or she's trying to play with me—which I SO don't appreciate.

"I'm trying to understand you, Hilary, do you get that?" I implied. "Why are you always trying to make things for me so difficult?"

It wasn't suppose to come out as a force, but my pessimistic ego couldn't help impel them out.

Hilary straightened her lips and gazed at me intently.

"Fine."

Her words were ground out through clench teeth behind a barely opened mouth.

All jokes were gone when I gave her an equal stare.

-

(Her) –

I am as immature and as stubborn as an idiot can get.

But what can I say?

My optimistic ego wants a rest and my mind wanted to be pessimist.

I could only hope that this would go well.

-

(Him) –

God, I hope this'll go well.

I don't even know why I suggested those things.

There's no point reminding ourselves that we aren't being immature right now.

We're just the simple sixteen-year-olds dealing through a rough time that one doesn't get at all.

And that person who feels a little confused, is me.

So I had to make it quick.

"If you want me to understand, could you at least spare me the lame details and get to the right point?"

Well that question obviously wasn't the right thing to ask...

Her jaded face tells it all.

Is she ready to explode?

"That's the problem with you," she muttered.

I sighed.

Yep, she was ready.

"You can't even let me try and get you to understand me properly—that's what you can't understand!"

"Then what's to understand with you then! I can't even try and figure you out!"

"Do you even need to—want to?"

"Do I look like I DON'T?"

"Admit it!" Hilary exclaimed, "you're TRYING to but you just aren't INTERESTED!"

"I AM, ALL RIGHT!"

"YOU AREN'T!"

New tears formed under her lids as they took a brisk stroll down her cheeks.

I cringed a little and wondered how in the hell did we start yelling so loud already.

I stopped myself from screaming again and sighed.

"Listen, Hilary. I just needed to know what's the problem."

She glared at me with daggers.

"Am I the problem?"

I relaxed a little to find that I was right since her glare softened and she made fists with her hands but still hadn't moved her chin the slightest bit.

"So... I am, right?"

She didn't answer.

A pretty great sign of 'yes'.

"Did I do anything wrong?"

I'm pretty sure that's another 'yes' considering that she didn't answer me still.

She closed her eyes and let the last teardrops fall off her cheek, down her palm and down her elbow to her skirt.

"Did I say anything wrong?"

Again, a 'yes'.

"Did I say anything really mean?"

Okay... that's another silent 'yes' then.

"Did I do anything, too, that's really mean?"

A 'yes'.

"Did I say something that made you act like this?"

'Yes'.

"Um... did I do anything that made you act like this?"

'Yes'.

"Then what did I do, Hilary?"

'Yes'—oh wait... she's not answering that one.

I don't think she wanted to answer that one so she isn't saying nothing...

Or...

She hadn't really answered a single question I just asked.

"Look, Hilary," I started, getting a little annoyed, "if you think that—"

"You really don't get it, do you?"

I backed away a little at the sudden squabble.

Her tone was angry.

I don't get it... how did I piss her off?

"Here you are, trying OH SO HARD to—to understand me but all you're trying to do is plainly putting stupid questions to just try and get me to answer them easily by just saying yes or no."

She narrowed her eyes, no tin a furious way but to study me.

I could read her better if her lips weren't so much entirely covered behind her folded fingers.

"You're only making it more simpler to your case but really—it's not."

-

(Her) –

I like you, Tyson, I really do.

Can I tell him that again?

Would he understand it now if I say those words once more?

I like you, Tyson...

Will he understand me if I truly confess?

Will he truly know me better if I tell him what's the matter with me?

...I really do.

-

(Him) –

When someone—especially Hilary—says that things aren't looking the way they ought to be...

She is damn correct.

I want to understand her.

I really do.

I mean, of course I like her but...

Why isn't she letting me understand?

Hilary's one of my friends.

She's one of those I trust the most as I do to the others.

She's one of those that really knows how to control me when I get insane and I'm not talking about being biological insane.

I really, really appreciate this girl.

But I'm always so far away now.

Our friendship's moving farther and I'm quite confused.

She told me that she likes me but I didn't answer.

She said I'm sorry but I didn't answer.

She says that I'm trying too hard to understand her and I didn't answer.

Then what the hell is left in there to try and understand a stupid thing?

It was then that she started telling me things in an angry voice and I can't yell at her in return.

"You want to know what's wrong with me?" Hilary started and slowly added, "EVERYTHING."

I frowned.

"Before, nothing was wrong. Then, all of a sudden, everything's wrong! I want to understand myself, too, Tyson. And I want to understand you!"

I was taken by surprise.

I couldn't help but point to myself with wide eyes.

"Me?"

"Yeah, you," Hilary rolled her eyes, "how many years does it take through your thick head that I want to really know you, Tyson?"

Quite a lot... actually...

I didn't say anything.

"You want to know me... and I want to know you. But somehow, that seems too impossible to happen."

"No. It isn't," I objected quietly. "If I try to understa—"

"That's what you can barely do."

"I can," I persisted, "but you just aren't letting me."

"Because IT'S HARD TO!"

That, I don't quite understand.

"Why not?"

Her hardened face softened and she looked at me with her full ruby eyes.

That would be one thing I wasn't expecting.

She looked like what she had looked like before she slapped me under the bridge.

But I didn't move away.

"Because..." she murmured gently, "because it's just hard to. I want to know you, Tyson. I know I've known you for two years or whatever but I didn't get to know you better."

I frowned a little.

"But you did. Didn't you?"

"No," Hilary shook her head, "I need to know the real you."

I looked at her and my mind started to jumble.

I want to understand her...

I really do.

But she had just said something that I don't know for sure myself that I can do.

-

(Her) –

I fought the surprise look inside of me when Tyson's face contorted into something I couldn't read.

It was both readable and unreadable.

And whatever readable I can read... the emotions were mixed.

Had I said something that offended him?

I knew that this was impossible by the look in his eyes.

That Tyson will always be impossible.

I like you Tyson...

I regret it.

I like you, Tyson.

I regret whatever I have ever done.

-

(Him) –

"I'm sorry."

There it is again.

Those words were in the air again.

And I don't think I like those words.

I don't think I enjoy hearing those words anymore ever again.

And thankfully, I barely say them.

"I'm sorry, Tyson. I really am."

I looked at her.

"For what?"

For a moment Hilary said nothing.

I watched her as she pulled her position from her chin and placed her hands on her laps, clenching them.

She gave a small sigh and closed her eyes, thinking of something really hard.

I gave her her time because I knew that if I say something wrong she'll go ballistic and starts bitching at me.

I don't want that happening more than twice now tonight, don't I...

Then again, this silence would buy me more time to start thinking things myself.

Well...

Actually...

I would... if I had the slight chance.

Before I could even think or do anything, the sudden rush of hot breath came close to my face.

Slightly taken aback, I look up to see Hilary practically leaning towards me with a blank look on her face.

I couldn't move back.

How can I when her warm breathing was wrapping my muscles in one spot?

I opened my mouth to say the smartest thing my mind wanted to say.

"Uhh..."

Okay—well it's not that smart but it was the best I could say.

Likewise, her vacant façade also stopped me from saying anything humorous.

Before long, she gave me a soft smile and I was content enough that she couldn't see or feel my heart jump slightly.

It seemed to do just that from time to time.

Obviously about Hilary, too...

Strange.

The next smartest words rushed out of my breath quickly.

"Um..."

Okay... that's not smart enough as the first one, too, I guess.

When I opened my mouth again, the girl found a way to open hers first.

"You know..." she began, imitating my instructed voice when I said those previously.

I sat still to my rear, just staring at her.

It was hard.

I can't take my face off hers when she's so close to my space.

I don't know why.

Most of all, I don't know why my chest is thudding like mad...

"I like you, Tyson."

Hold on a minute here...

I was taken off guard at her sudden voice of nonchalantly.

She sounded as if those words were too casual.

As if she rehearsed them everyday and tell them to people she see down the road.

And it was weird.

Everything was weird, actually.

Unexpectedly, Hilary's unreadable face crunched into a facial expression of sadness.

I didn't have to look at her face.

All I had to do was read her ruby eyes and everything tells all.

She pursed her lips before she could do something that was beyond my imagination.

My eyes widened pretty much when she reached her hands out and touched my face.

The gentleness of her contact made the skin she touched prickle at her warmness and sent shivers down my spine.

I tried to move away—I swear I did.

The fact is... I just couldn't.

There's this half of me that wanted to recoil away because I'm not use to being touched this way.

Especially when it's Hilary.

But there's the other half of me that... that didn't want to move away.

I have to admit...

It took me a long time battling the urge to close my eyes and actually enjoy this feeling I'm feeling.

I wanted to do that and I did.

Almost did.

My Pessimistic mind refused to because it's telling me that if I do then Hilary will know the real me.

She'll soon know what had happened to me that no one had ever known.

And I can't have anyone giving me pity about it.

Still...

She gripped my cheeks as if it were something really fragile.

And I had to compliment her for her good intentions...

She knew the times when something felt tense and she knew exactly how to break them.

Quickly, my rigid muscles started to loosen.

"I like you, Tyson."

This time, her voice isn't too melodramatic.

It was as if she were saying them honestly.

I was about to say something but I nearly jump out of my skin when she placed a right thumb over my bottom lip.

That shiver that streamed down my spine contorted into something that felt so invulnerable to fight back.

What was Hilary doing?

Why... how the hell can she does things I can't fight back?

What does she think she's doing?

She was saying something.

I know she is.

But how can I really know for sure?

I can't hear her when my mind's whirling so instantly around and around, focused on that one finger on my lip.

She opens her mouth again and still I can't hear her.

I'm really trying hard to listen to whatever she's saying.

Really I am.

-

(Her) –

He doesn't reciprocate to my words.

I'm telling him things but he doesn't move his mouth.

His eyes are staring back at mine but they look far away.

I tell him the same thing and still he de doesn't answer.

My back relaxed.

Good.

I'm not expecting him to.

-

(Him) –

What the hell is she trying to say?

My mind falls into faintness whenever I try to think of something else rather than the feeling on my fold of flesh.

I also found it hard to blink, even though my eyes are starting to dry.

It was at that time that her thumb finally moved away from my lip that my head started to clear.

I was a little hazed and I still couldn't hear the words she just told me.

Damn...

"Hilary, I—"

Damn...

I could continue, yeah.

I could finish my sentence off if I want to and I really do.

But I stopped when Hilary opened her mouth slightly.

I closed my mouth and waited for her to say whatever she told me before.

But whatever it was, I sure hell wasn't expecting it.

She opened her mouth and I thought she was going to argue with me.

But I was taken aback and blinked quite suddenly when she pressed her gentle hold on my cheek and brought my face closer to hers.

Her lips met mine and all things that moved stopped and my mind that had been whirling stopped dead.

The touch was brief and I barely felt it enough to battle my ego not to return it.

I hardly had the time to even feel her lips fully.

And I couldn't help but slacked when she pulled away.

I gave her a confused look.

"Hilary, I—"

I...

I...

There it is again.

Say it!

Just say the damn words!

My mind wanted me to but somehow it was hard to spill it out as easy as Hilary had done.

It was just too hard.

The look she gave me after that brief kiss only made it harder.

A tear fell from her cheek.

Then another.

But she gave me a sad smile and gradually let go of my cheeks.

I had to admit... my insides cried out for her to not do that.

I admit.

I watched as she studied me with a dreary look, rivers of tears falling down her already tear-stained cheeks.

For some reason... I felt as if doing the same thing to her face as what she had done to mine.

But I didn't.

It's not me.

"I like you, Tyson," she repeats.

Her voice is cracked and shaky.

"I really, really... do."

Say it!

Say them!

Only three words echoed in my head.

Three words that I wanted to tell her.

Three words that wanted to come out of my mouth.

If I could just say them and get this over with.

If I could just come clean and tell her that I... that I...

I...

"I don't understand."

Idiot!

But I mentally frowned when Hilary gave me a small smile.

Why is she smiling?

"You want to understand, Tyson. I know you really do."

She stood up and stared down at me while I stared up at her.

My face was black and poorly written but hers were completely smitten with small smiles and saddened look.

I felt something inside me but I don't know what it is.

I'm not used to feeling this kind of feelings.

I would never ever do.

"You wanted to understand me?" she asked.

I nodded.

"I want to but you're not letting me," I responded with the same quiet tone.

"I am."

With that said, she brushed her knees passed my shoulder gently and started walking away towards the gateway exit of my backyard.

I sat there, doing nothing, and hoping she would come back and try to make me really understand.

When she didn't, I slumped and looked at the ground, as if I'm really tired from a Beyblading battle.

She wasn't gone yet.

She was still in my backyard.

She was just walking pretty slowly.

I listened as her footsteps made their way through the pebbled ground.

Then stopped.

"I like you, Tyson. I really do," she restated gracefully.

She didn't turn around.

She left the dojo when her last words echoing inside my head.

I was there, wondering to myself.

I felt hazed, I felt confused.

Mostly, I felt somewhat...somewhat...

I don't know... empty?

So I just sat there, repeating Hilary's last words in my head while I closed my eyes steadily.

I wasn't aware how foolish I looked on there, along my backyard, facing the pond where I had first seen her look entirely different.

Where I had instantly... realized.

"I like you, Tyson...

Why don't you understand that so much?

There isn't anything else to understand.

I like you, I really do.

There isn't anything else that can spell that out.

Nothing.

I like you, Tyson, I like you so much I think it's hurting me if I keep it inside me.

That's something you don't need to understand, because I already do.

I like you a lot—do you not know that?

I like you...

Do you want me to repeat it again and again just to make you truly understand?

Then... I like you, Tyson.

I like you, Tyson.

I like you, Tyson.

I like you, Tyson.

I really... really do."

When I realized that then instantly—and too late...

That I felt the same.

-

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END