Chapter 61 - Not The Typical Confession

Marcellus would have never thought that this was how much Winter had been looking down at herself the whole time.

He came to know her as this confident and determined person who has a lot of admirable traits. The reason why he's attracted to her is because she's beautiful in and out. She should know that she's one of a kind, and she should appreciate herself more.   

"That's not true at all..." he began once more as he grabbed her chin and made her look at him again.

"Ms. Agreste, you shouldn't put yourself down like that. You're an amazing girl."

Marcellus trailed off as he leaned closer to Winter, whispering in her ear. Starting to get overwhelmed by his unpredictable gestures, she shut her eyes closed and settled with listening for the time being. She's more than aware that he gets so persistent as soon as he gets in the moment.

"Have I already told you how beautiful you look tonight?" he then told her, much to her surprise.

More embarrassed than ever, Winter wasn't able to keep herself from pushing Marcellus away. But he held her wrist and tugged her back to him, pulling her into an embrace. She blushes fiercely when he wraps his arms around her, no longer sure what is going on with him at this point. 

"Why do you keep denying to yourself that you're very pretty, Ms. Agreste? You're the most incredible person I've ever met."

This can't be happening. Him falling for her for real can't be happening at all.

Winter believed that Marcellus wouldn't take these feelings seriously. She knew him, after all. 

"Listen, it's true that before I met you, I was a jerk. I would chase after many girls. But, thanks to you, I'm different now," he continued while he held her tighter, practically engulfing her dainty figure in his arms. 

"I don't care..." she spat and pouted, not buying any of that.

"Why're you telling me all this? I know about your flirting. You don't have to remind me."

"You didn't hear a word I said."

She can tell that he is getting frustrated.

Now, Winter regrets not looking for George first. If she knew that Marcellus was going to get into such an intolerable mood, she would have just gone with Violet and Ace. At that moment, she really prefers to be lost in the crowd all on her own rather than be with him at his present state.

"I told you that I changed because of you..." he muttered underneath his breath, regarding her in all seriousness. 

"You've become so important to me."

She doesn't understand at what level of importance he's talking about. She doesn't know if that's something she should be happy about.

Yet despite her will, her heart wouldn't calm down no matter how hard she tried to control her emotions. It's starting to get difficult for her to suppress certain feelings she had buried within.

"Ms. Agreste...?" Marcellus called out again, snapping her from her thoughts.

"Am I important to you?"

"I don't know...." Winter said with a low, brittle tone, finally making him let her go.

"I'm sorry. I just don't know, and I don't want to know. Can we please change the topic now?"

"You're the one who brought it up."

That's when he reached his hand out and grabbed her wrist once more before he led her to the middle where everyone has been dancing in pairs to the slow, gentle music. Ever so gently, he pulled her to the center and regarded her contemplatively while all she could do was look back at him in confusion. He then offered his hand for her to hold, taking her back again.

"Can I have this dance, Ms. Agreste?"

She let out a sigh before she took his hand and held his shoulder. At the same time, he wrapped his other arm around her waist. Fearing that she'd trip in any point at the dance, she gripped onto him tightly, which caused him to smile in delight.

"You lead, Sir Lexington. I'm not really the best dancer. So, I'm telling you in advance that I'm sorry if I step on you," Winter warned, making Marcellus chuckle.

With that, he started to glide her slowly and steadily. Contrary to her expectation, she doesn't even have to worry about stepping on him. He leads her without a fault, guiding her into the pirouetting rhythm with enviable poise. Then, soon enough, they find themselves completely absorbed in the music.

Everything seems perfect from that point on - they feel like they're the only ones in the world. 

That's until Marcellus pulled Winter out of her reverie. He suddenly leaned his forehead against hers, drawing closer than ever. She furrowed her brows at him in return but did not say anything.

"Is our pace fine, Ms. Agreste?" he asked to which she only nodded in response.

She wasn't really paying attention since she's already high in the clouds. Then again, that's the only time she gets to appreciate how much of a striking knockout he appears tonight. His well-groomed white hair seems silvery as it gleams a compelling luster once streaked by light. And his classic fit suit makes him stand out with how stunning he looks in it.   

"You really do look beautiful tonight..." he brought up again all of the sudden, making her blush one more time.

"If I have to say that over and over again to make you believe me, I will."

Marcellus then gave Winter a smirk that could make anyone fall for his charms straight away. 

She was thrown off guard when she felt him pulling her closer and closer. This time, she couldn't find it in herself to push him away. That's just how irresistible he is. Sooner or later, she'd end up getting too drawn to him to the point of no return. 

'How could I resist, though? Ever since I met him, he's always been there for me. He has always shown his concern, and he has displayed his feelings more than once. Even though he's not going to get anything from me... Even though he could've just used me... Even though he could've only settled with a platonic relationship...' she could not help but think over, giving herself a chance to understand him better.

'Even though I have nothing good to offer other than my knowledge of the future, he keeps trying to give me everything he has - all his trust, his precious time, and his undying devotion.'   

She never accepted his feelings because she used to be more than sure that he was not serious about them. Being in a loveless marriage even within a short span of time was enough to break her whole - to lose her trust and hope. Most of all, she's afraid to get hurt again.

Winter doesn't want to get hurt anymore. 

Never in her two lifetimes had she heard Marcellus more sincere than he was in the present, though. She knows he's being honest about everything he says. The problem here is her - she's the one who has trust issues, anxiety and fears. 

'Yeah. That's right. This one's on me.'

Winter gripped tighter onto Marcellus as they both continued dancing at a slower pace.

They let the silence fill in for them for a fraction of time. But that's when she's thrown into disquietude even more. She comes upon one realization after another until she eventually admits that this isn't really as bad as it seems. Since he's trying his hardest to be as sincere as he can be, she has to put on some efforts too - she really shouldn't take the present for granted. 

Then, before Winter knows it, she already finds herself confessing to Marcellus.

"You're also important to me, Marcellus..." she said out of nowhere, much to his astonishment.

"I may have approached you out of the blue, but even before that, I already knew you're going to play an important part in my life."

And that's because he's the only one who helped her out back when she lost everything. He may have acted as an indifferent and distant husband, but when he reached out his hand to her that fateful moment, she knew that he was a good man deep within. She regretted that she did not get to know him earlier, and she regretted not appreciating him the way he deserved.   

"I-I'm sorry... P-Please, don't mind me..." she stammered out as she suddenly felt like tearing up for a bit.

"I just... g-got a lot in my head."

Marcellus didn't know why Winter looked so sad when he was feeling happier than he had ever felt in his whole life. It's amazing how those words could change his world. He felt himself heating up before he noticed it, and when he saw how much she meant them, he felt like his heart was going to burst out right then.

It's not the typical 'I love you' or anything, but at least, she still cares about him a lot more than he thinks. 

Ever since Marcellus met Winter, she slowly started to invade his thoughts, feelings and soul. He didn't realize when all that happened - all he knew was that it happened.

She was the first girl that made him go round and round in circles. And soon enough, she began to have the effect of a magnet towards him. He wants to be with her all the time, and he doesn't want to leave her side. It will fill him with jealousy when he sees her with other guys. There's no one in the world who had ever made him feel something like that.

It was all new to Marcellus.