"How can you be so oblivious? One moment, you act as if you want me, and in the other, you push me away. How is it that it's been eighteen years, and all you've done is reject me!"
Her brows merged, but she didn't flinch. "What are you talking about, Chris?"
He left her and ran a hand through his hair. "Do you love Xavier?"
She stammered, "Wha— I— but..."
"Do you love him, Giselle? I need to know..."
"I don't know, I..." She looked around nervously.
He gulped. "Will you go back to him?"
She looked into his eyes as if caught in between committing a crime. "He's been through a lot. I don't wanna hurt him. I'm scared for him."
He stared at her sadly. "You will go back to him."
She closed her eyes. "He loves me."
Chris laughed humorlessly. "People who love you don't hurt you like that, Elle!"
"He was angry. He... He loves me."
"All right." He nodded. "If that's your criteria for being with someone then I'm eligible."
Her eyes widened. "But you..."
"Are you still gonna pretend you don't understand?" he asked silently. When she remained frozen, he continued, "I've spent my entire life waiting for you. Just waiting... Wondering when you'd realize what you meant to me... Praying for you to understand my feelings... Contemplating when to kiss you at the perfect moment so you'd remember it for the rest of your life.
"I'm always aware of you. I always know where you are, what you do, and the way you move. My world revolves around you, Elle." He moved forward and placed his hand below her ear. "How could you not see all these years that it was you who I wanted? I didn't want you to find me a girl. I wantedyouto have me."
She closed her eyes.
He gulped, his entire existence coming down to this single moment. "I love you."
Her eyes fluttered open and green covered his vision.
He leaned closer. "I've loved you from the moment I saw you. You were in your pigtails and wore a pink frock. I didn't know what it meant back then, but I couldn't keep myself away from you.
"I don't remember not loving you. I loved you when we played in the rain, when you scraped your knees, and when we watched cartoons. I loved you when you made new friends, when you cried in my arms, and even when you loved someone else. I love you from the moment I wake up till I go to sleep, and then I love you some more in my dreams."
She gulped but didn't pull back as his hand snaked to the back of her neck, holding her under her hair. He placed his other hand firmly on her waist.
He licked his lips, the last of his patience draining. "I'm exhausted, Giselle. I'm so tired of waiting for you. My whole body aches. I don't have any strength left in me to take this pain anymore. I've ached for you my entire life. Do you understand what I'm saying?" He searched her eyes. "Please tell me you won't make an excuse for this again. Tell me you'll understand what I'm saying. I can't be clearer."
Her lips trembled.
"Giselle," he pleaded. "Do you understand? I love you. I love you so much, this word seems meaningless to describe what I have in my heart for you. I've always loved you." He took a deep breath and let it out shakily. "I wish you were mine..."
She whispered, "Why have you never said it?"
"Because it was never the right time."
"And this is?"
He shook his head. "No. Because you'll never love me back. You're going back to Xavier who uses you like a punching bag, and it breaks my heart to see someone I'd give up my entire world for being treated like she means nothing." His lips brushed against hers as he spoke, his voice barely audible. "Because to me, my dearest, you're a queen. I've been trapped in your spell for as long as I can remember, and I don't ever wanna escape."
A tear rolled down her cheek. He moved forward and kissed it away, his lips brushing the corner of her mouth.