"Your house should be done in a couple of days," Eileen told me as soon as she entered my barn, "You might have to stay at the town hall until then. I'm sure that I'll work hard and quick."

"No need to rush," I reassured her, "I don't mind staying at the town hall for now. Take your time. You need to rest more."

"You're so considerate," she gushed, "But I'm a master of this after all. I'll do the best I can. You will like this. And you'd have all the room that you will need. In case you planned on living with a certain maiden."

I blushed at that, "I don't know what you mean. No girls like me like that."

"Is that so?" She gave me a knowing look, "You don't have to be embarrassed about that. You're young, so you have to live while you can. Make a chance at love. You might end up getting your happy ending. But then again, not everyone does."

"What about you, Eileen?"

"Huh?"

"Didn't you have something that you liked."

"I did. I remember him even now. He was a guy who lived a few houses next to me. I never did confess my feelings. A couple of days after I decided to gather the courage to ask him out, I found out that he was dating the girl who lived across from me."

"I'm sorry," I frowned at her, "That must have been awful."

"I got over it. I don't really need a lover to be happy as long as I have friends. And this is such a nice and peaceful town. We all get along so well, like one big happy family. Well as Howard put it."

"I hear that you saved Laney from drowning," Ash leaned against Cam's counter with a bright spark in his eye, "That's pretty impressive. I don't know what I would have done in your shoes. But you are a hero, man."

"I'm sure he's aware of that," Cam gave a small smirk, "Laney likes to remind me how much of a good person you are."

"Well I'm sure that's just her being thankful."

"Ah, Philip! You're here!"

I turned as Laney left the cafe, "Oh, hi Laney."

"Can we talk?"

"Sure."

"Alone," she waved to the guys, "Maybe near the river?"

"See you two," Ash nudged me before giving Cam his full attention. The flower seller waved lazily, a knowing gleam in his eyes. I sighed.

"So what do you want to talk about," I asked her while we walked out of town, "Since you didn't want those two to overhear."

"Not yet. I'll tell you once I'm sure that no one else can hear us."

"So now that we are here, what did you want to tell me?" I gave Laney my full attention, the sound of the river in my ears lightly. She turned from the water to look me in the eyes.

"I've been thinking about you a lot. Even before the day you saved me. I think I've finally made up my mind. Philip, I like you. Like really like you. Will you be the one for me?" she confessed, blushing slightly.

I felt my heart pounding. But I guess I wasn't the only one surprised. Both of us must have heard that gasp. I recognized that voice. I wasn't able to look up in time, but I knew that Oracle must have saw that. I frowned, glancing back at Laney. She was still waiting for my reply. I realized that I would have to break her heart. My tongue felt like it was made of concrete. I swallowed before replying.

"I'm sorry Laney."

"Huh?"

"I don't feel the same way."

"Oh," her gaze went back to the water, "It's her, isn't it?"

"I-i-i," I stuttered.

"I can see it," she pouted a bit, "But I wanted to let you know my feelings before it was too late. But I guess it's been too late for a while now."

"Laney-"

Before I could finish, she ran off. I flinched when I realized that tears in her eyes.

I'm sorry Laney!