I felt something brush my hair, tickling my forehead with my own hair before I felt something warm pressed against my cheek.
I pried my eyes open groggily and found Len looking at me. I thought I was still half asleep, yet, the moment tears rolled down his cheeks, I sat upright and reached out for his face.
I held his hand that touched me and swiped away the tears that spilled down his cheeks with my free one. Why was he crying? Was he hurt? Did I go too far this morning? Maybe he regretted giving his consent when we had sex this morning.
Nevertheless, I found it hard to ignore the fact that Len was crying. No matter how much I swiped away the tears nor comfort him by clenching his hand, his tears kept falling.
Len hadn't said anything aside from the one time he called my name. He merely sat up and cried. His hand that was held in mine felt cold and his expression vacant aside from the small smile that trembled on his lips. What was happening?
"Len? Please... talk to me... are you alright? Do you need a doctor?" I asked as I rubbed the back of his hand with my thumb. He still didn't respond.
I felt worried. Really, really worried. After I threw away the broken shards of the plate and went out from the kitchen, I found Len collapsed on the floor. My heart nearly gave out.
Now he was up but constantly crying with a distant look in his eyes. I wonder what happened? Was he really sick?
Feeling like I should get an expert's opinion on the matter, I released his hand and stood up to get my phone from the other room. As I stood, I felt a tug on my shirt before I heard Len's broken voice.
"D-don't go.... Doyle... I'm... I'm sorry... I... uh... hic... I..." Len's voice cracked as he clutched onto my shirt almost as if he were holding on for dear life.
My heart felt like it was being crushed over how he was reacting, yet I knew I shouldn't touch him as I please. Not yet, anyways. So I steeled myself and turned to face him.
"Len... I'm only getting my cellphone. Don't worry." I said as I tried to get him to release his hands, but it wouldn't pry open.
"N-no... S-stay... Please... stay by my side..." Len said as he stared at me with his teary eyes, begging me to stay.
My heart skipped a beat before I felt it beginning to race. Why was he suddenly acting like this? Not that I'm against it but... didn't he reject me? It felt like... if I were to stay, I would be playing with my own feelings... yet... I didn't want him to think my feelings were fickle either.
Steeling myself I pressed his hands and forced it off my shirt. "It's only a moment." I said and stood to head out the door.
Len pounced on me and pulled me onto the bed as I fell on top of him, still locked by his arms around my neck.
"... Len?!" I gasped as I tried to get up but couldn't. Len had me firmly pressed against his body. It was a peculiar situation and I didn't know what to feel.
"Doyle... are you going to abandon me?" Len sobbed as his hands trembled.
My heart began to beat even more wildly as I felt my eyebrows twitch. Abandon?! Abandon Len because of one simple rejection?! Is that...
"Is that what you really think of me?!" I growled as I held onto his arms firmly.
Len flinched from below me and I felt his grip around me loosen. I took the chance to pull myself up as I turned around and locked myself in a position above him.
Len stared back into my eyes as his body quivered. Was I scary? No... That didn't matter at the moment. What matters was... he thought my feelings were shallow. Fickle. Over.
"Is that... really what you think of me?" I asked again, my tone slightly more gentle this time.
"I-I.... hic... I had a dream..." Len said as he started tearing up again.
"A dream? What about it?"
"You... you asked me to leave... because you needed space and that... I shouldn't mess with your feelings... you said... you said... hic... that if I was not going to accept you... you'd find another person..."
"What..."
Len continued sobbing as he wiped away his tears with the back of his hands. I found the words stuck in my throat as I felt the rage building up once more.
However, seeing Len reacting so badly to me saying I was leaving and searching for another person made me conflicted. Was he upset that I wouldn't show him affection anymore or was he upset because... dream me didn't want him anymore?
I decided on the latter and pressed my hand against his cheek, caressing it gently. My lips pulled to a small smile while my eyes smoothened out into a gentle gaze.
"Len... My feelings... remain the same. From then... until now... I don't think I've ever loved anyone aside from you."
Len stopped crying after that line as he stared up at my face. His wide round eyes stared back at me as he then blinked his eyes slowly, as if to comprehend the situation.
"Y-you... don't hate me? You... still... want me...?" Len asked as he tested the waters.
I smiled conflictedly before nodding a yes. Immediately after, Len seemed rather contented before wrapping his arms around my shoulders.
"I always... always want you. I love you, Len." I said with a smile as I caressed his cheek.
Len turned a shade darker before he smiled bashfully. He then pulled me into a kiss as he wrapped his arms closer around me.
Hmm? Wha-- what is this?
It was unexpected, but I didn't want to push him away. Instead, I wrapped my arms around his waist as I pulled him closer to my body to deepen my kiss with him.
The kiss tasted sweet, with a hint of salt. Must be because of all the crying he did. I broke the kiss as I touched his lips, caressing it lightly as I looked into Len's eyes. He seemed flushed and his eyes were a little hazy, but he didn't seem to hate the kiss.
My heart hammered in my chest. I still didn't know what to think. I started to move back but Len wrapped his legs around my waist, locking my escape.
Ah... this could be a little bad.
Len threw his arms around my neck as he kissed my cheeks. He then reached my lips before nibbling my bottom lip.
It seemed as if he knew how to grab my attention. He then pressed our lips together before pushing his tongue into my mouth. We kissed for a long while until a phone rang, sending us both jumping.