39. Pessimistic
Clearing her throat, the blonde girl takes a deep breath, her hands clenching at her sides.
"I… I li- I like-"
Pause. The words die in her throat, and her face burns with embarrassment.
The boy in front of her is staring relentlessly at her, his blue eyes curious as he takes in her flustered appearance. "Rin?" He asks, and she flinches slightly. He's so familiar with her, but this is new territory for both of them, and her mind is racing with doubt. It's hard not to imagine everything that can go wrong.
He's going to reject me. Len's going to turn me down flat. He probably thinks I'm too boyish. I bet because I don't have a huge chest like Miku and Luka, he won't be interested in me. I'm his girl friend after all; he doesn't even see me as an actual girl, I'm positive. I'm sure he's more interested in someone like Neru-
"Rin?" He draws her back to him, taking a step closer. "Is something wrong? What is it?"
She swallows hard. "Um, we-well, I..." Fear of rejection floods her, but she stands her ground.
"I… I l-like y-" Rin chokes.
"Um…" Looking slightly uncomfortable, Len shakes his head. "Look, I, um, gotta head back… When you're ready to tell me-"
Seeing that she's about to lose her chance, Rin blurts out her confession in a single breath. "I like you, Len!" She turns a fiery red and directs her gaze to the ground, her skirt balled up in her hands.
He's silent, and she risks peeking up at him; he's still staring. Rin looks back down.
"You… like me?" Disbelief colors his tone.
She nods, fearing the worst.
Instead of the blunt refusal Rin expects, she feels warm hands take hold of her face and tilt her head up, and then Len's lips on her forehead.
Pulling back to grin at the blushing girl, Len smiles. "I've been waiting for a long time, Rinny."
Rin inhales sharply, then her own smile twists her lips upwards.
In that instant, all of her worries melted away.