Ria received his feeling and said.
"Love? Do you love me?"
Leon was surprised and embarrassed by his own feeling. He didn't expect to feel love for Ria. He didn't know how to respond to her question.
He hesitated and said.
"I...I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not. I'm not sure."
Ria felt hurt.
Leon received her feeling and said.
"Hurt? Why are you hurt?"
Ria explained.
"I'm hurt because you don't love me. I'm hurt because you're not sure. I'm hurt because I love you."
Leon was shocked and touched by her confession. He didn't expect her to love him. He didn't know how to react to her confession.
He asked.
"You...you love me? How? Why?"
Ria explained.
"I love you because you're my friend. I love you because you're my companion. I love you because you're my partner."
Leon asked.
"But what does that mean? What is love?"
Ria explained.
"Love is a feeling. Love is a bond. Love is a choice."
Leon asked.
"But how do you know? How do you know that you love me?"
Ria explained.
"I know because I feel it. I feel it in my heart. I feel it in my soul."
Leon asked.
"But what do you want? What do you want from me?"
Ria explained.
"I want you to be happy. I want you to be safe. I want you to be mine."
Leon felt a surge of emotion and confusion.
He felt happy and scared.
He felt safe and vulnerable.
He felt loved and wanted.
He wondered what he should do.
He wondered what he really wanted.
He looked at Ria and saw her sincere and hopeful expression.
He made his choice.
He said.
"Ria, I..."
He was interrupted by a loud knock on his door.
He heard his mother's voice.
"Leon, are you there? Can I come in?"
He panicked and said.
"Mom? No, wait, don't come in!"
He looked at Ria and said.
"Quick, hide!"
He looked around his room and saw no place to hide her.
He remembered the system's function called 'appearance'.
He said.
"Appearance, human!"
He saw Ria's form change and shrink.
She turned into a small red lizard with green eyes and a gold necklace.
She looked like a pet.
She said in a low voice.
"Is this better?"
He nodded and said.
"Yes, much better."
He picked her up and put her on his shoulder.
He said in a low voice.
"Stay quiet, OK?"
She nodded and said in a low voice.
"OK."
He walked towards the door and opened it slightly.
He saw his mother standing outside, holding a tray of cookies and milk.
She smiled and said.
"Hi, honey. I brought you some snacks. Can I come in?"