CHAPTER FOUR: LOVE CONFESSIONS

She stared at him in shock; she could not believe what she had just heard,

The problem was their friendship? That sounded absurd!

Now her heart was broken and her face was quite grim,

And the sad tears poured from her eyes as she gazed deeply upon him.

"The problem is our friendship!" Rika repeated taken aback, "Henry, what do you mean the problem is our friendship!"

Henry looked at Rika and sighed. "Rika," he said, "for five years I have been your best friend. For five years I have helped you whenever you need assistance. For five years I have comforted you whenever you were sad. For five years I have always been there by your side…and after those five years, I have realized that something was missing."

"Something was missing? I don't understand," Rika said confusedly, "Henry, what are you trying to say?"

"What I'm trying to say Rika is that…I no longer wish to be your friend anymore," Henry answered.

Rika's face suddenly went a shade of white. "Wha…Wha…What?" Rika stammered as she stared at Henry.

"I no longer wish to be your friend," Henry repeated more clearly.

"But…but…but why?" Rika stuttered, "why don't you want to be my friend? Haven't I been the bestest friend you could have ever asked for? Haven't I been nice enough to you? Damn it Henry…didn't those last five years we've spent as friends mean anything to you?"

Henry looked Rika in the eye. "Calm down Rika," Henry said coolly.

"Calm down! Calm down! To hell I will calm down!" Rika shouted loudly as she glared at Henry, "Henry, for five years you and I have been close friends and now after those years, you don't want us to be friends."

"Yes," Henry answered in the same calm tone.

"But why?" Rika asked, "why do you want us to break up as friends?"

"Because I have realized something," Henry answered, "I have realized that there is more to life than just friendship. There is also compassion... devotion…and most importantly…love."

"Love?" Rika said puzzled, "Henry, are you saying that you are in love?"

"Yes," Henry answered contentedly, "very much in love."

"And that is the reason why you don't want us to be friends anymore! Because you are in…love?" Rika said.

Henry nodded. Rika then felt her heart sink. She could not believe what she had just heard! Henry…in love? That's impossible! And the worst part was….he was in love with someone else…other than her.

Rika stared at Henry for a while with a mixture of anger and disappointment; mostly disappointment. And although she tried hardly to fight back the tears in her eyes, she failed to do so.

"Rika, are you alright?" Henry inquired to his sobbing friend.

"Yes…I'm…I'm fine," Rika answered wiping the tears away from her eyes. Rika then smiled weakly at Henry and asked him, "So Henry…what is this…love of your life like?"

"Well to tell you the truth, I have known her for quite a long time," Henry answered, "She is the most beautiful…intelligent and caring girl I have ever met."

"I…see," Rika answered fighting back more sad tears, "well…is this girl of yours more beautiful…more intelligent…and more caring than…me?"

"More caring than you? What are talking about Rika?" Henry said looking perplexed.

"What am I talking about? You know damn well what I am talking about Henry Jenrya Wong!" Rika yelled angrily through tears, "first you took me on this wondrous date, then you told me that we can no longer be friends and now you're telling me that you are in love with someone else who is…even more special to you than me."

"Someone else?" Henry said still baffled, "wait…is that why you're crying? Because you think I'm in love with someone else?"

Rika sniffed sadly but nodded in response. Henry then started to laugh.

"Hey! What's so funny?" Rika questioned staring at Henry.

"Ha! You are," Henry laughed, "Rika, there is no one else. I am not in love with anyone else."

"You aren't," Rika said appalled, "then who was the most beautiful, caring and intelligent person you were talking about?"

"The same beautiful, caring and intelligent person I'm looking at now," Henry answered smiling at Rika.

Rika felt herself blush as she realized whom Henry was referring to. "Me?" Rika said shocked, "you're in love with….me?"

"Yes," Henry answered, taking Rika's right hand into his, "for five years, I have kept a secret like that away from you Rika and I thought taking you on this little date would be an easier way for me to tell you."

"Oh Henry," Rika said blushing more, "I can't believe it. You…like me."

"Love you Rika," Henry corrected, "I love you."

Rika beamed. "But what about what you said earlier about…not wanting to be my friend?" Rika asked.

"Well I don't want to be your friend anymore Rika," Henry said, "I want to be more than that."

"More than just a friend," Rika said gazing into Henry's grey eyes.

"Yes," Henry answered. Henry then tightened his grip on Rika's hand as reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a small black box. Rika's heart began to beat fast as she watched Henry kneel before her while holding up the small black box, which was now opened to reveal a small diamond ring.

Rika held her chest as she gazed down at the small shining ring and then at Henry, who was smiling toothily at Rika. Henry then took the ring and placed it on the middle finger of Rika's right hand. Rika was breathless.

"Rika Nonaka," Henry said, "with this diamond ring; I ask you, will you be my girlfriend?"

Rika stared at Henry. "You forgot to say please," Rika said smiling.

Henry grinned. "Will you be my girlfriend please?" Henry asked imploringly.

"But…isn't this a little sudden for us Mr. Wong" Rika said still smiling at Henry.

"Rika, a week is sudden. Five years is long enough," Henry answered.

Rika giggled. Henry then kissed Rika's hand, making Rika turn a shade red.

"So what do you say Miss Nonaka," Henry said smiling, "would you be my girlfriend please?"

Rika smiled at the ring on her finger and then gazed into Henry's eyes before answering………….

MistressPC: Yes…No…Yes…No….Yes…No! Which answer will Rika choose? Find out in Chapter 5! The Final Chapter. Don't forget to review too.