Chapter 358 - I love you

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The words Diana was about to say caught on her throat and the world around her felt like it paused for a second;

''What… '' her throat was dry; did he... did he just say he loved her?

''What did you say? '' she asked to be sure, maybe she was dreaming.

Michael blinked; ''I said… I love you, that's why I'm eating this, besides it's not that bad, don't mind what I… ''

Diana smiled, her face turning red.

''Do you know how long I've waited to hear you say this? ''

Her eyes danced as she stared at him, wondering why he made her wait too long. Wondering why he made her have sleepless nights, made her worry, made her doubt him, made her so confused... made her cry when he could have just said it...

Michael was puzzled; he didn't know he had to say it to prove he loved her. Wait… did she not know he loved her more than breath itself?

''You didn't know I love you? '' Michael stared at her with worry; what in the world had she been thinking all this while?

Diana smiled as her eyes watered then she hit him on the chest;

''You should say it, dummy! It's not enough to show it, you should say it! I waited for you, I waited for you to tell me you loved me, but you didn't. I even said it to you and yet you didn't… ''

At this juncture she could not control the tears that flowed down her eyes; her hands shook as she grabbed his shirt.

Michael's eyes stared at her face and his heart broke into a thousand pieces; instantly he tossed the piece of sandwich on his hand away and hugged her tight;

''I'm so sorry… '' he said in a painful voice;

Diana hugged him back, crying on his shoulders;

''You make me worry too much Michael, it hurts… ''

''I'm sorry, I'm so sorry… '' Michael's heart broke. He hated to see her cry and the fact that he had caused it tore him apart.

''I love you; I love you to hell and back. Jeez, I'm so sorry! What have I done? ''

Michael could not explain how he was feeling at that moment, thinking about what must have been going on in her mind every single time she looked at him, tore him apart. It must have been so hard for her but she had pretended to be fine; Michae felt like beating himself up;

why was he so slow?

Diana stabled herself but she was shy to let go of him. She had overreacted in the spur of the moment. It wasn't her fault though, she had waited too long. He made her wait.

''I'm sorry for being a dummy. I'm sorry for hurting you… Dammit, I'm sorry for making you cry.''

Diana let go of him slowly, 

''It;s okay, I was just overreacting; '' she shouldn't have cried, but she already loved him too much, she couldn't help it. That was her flaw, she loved with everything in her without holding back.

Michael held her face; ''Diana, look at me… ''

He said, but she closed her eyes, too shy to look at his face.

''Please just look at me this once; ''

Diana swallowed and she looked up slowly until her gaze locked in his;

Michael breathed out as he stared at her;

''Diana, in my entire life, you're the only person I've ever loved. I didn't say it to you because I am not used to saying it, I've never said it to anyone, and I grew up without love or affection, so it's hard for me. I'm so sorry, I'm so very sorry for making you worry, for being slow, for making you doubt my feelings for you.

You're the first person who had made me smile so much that my cheeks hurt, you're the only person that makes me want to be a better version of myself, you're the only person that puts a smile on my face every morning, the only one I want to see in my dreams and think about the moment I wake up and I love you, I love you so much, more than breath itself. Babe, I should be kissing you right now, but my mouth tastes like bread and cheese and chicken, so I can't do that… ''

Diana laughed and slapped his chest jokingly; then she leaned close and pecked his lips.

''I love you too, so so much.'' 

Michael smiled and hugged her;

''I love you, babe, I love you okay? ''

Diana nodded and kissed his chin.

After hugging for what felt like hours, they finally sat to eat.

Diana bit into her chicken, she chewed on it and peeked at Michael, her eyes locked in his and she pulled her gaze away, blush creeping up her chin.

''I love you. '' Michael said out of nowhere and Diana coughed;

Was he going to say it all the time now? She thought, but she liked to hear him say it, she couldn't help smiling.

''Stop staring at me and eat,'' she said, stretching a drumstick towards him;

''I can't stop staring at you; ''

Diana held his gaze; ''why?''

''Because I love you; ''

''Lord, you're going to kill me. '' Diana laughed, looking away, her cheeks heating up.

''Okay, but eat first, you have all the time in the world to stare at me, ''

She said and Michael took the meat from her; ''you could have just told me, what happened to 'talking to each other about anything'. ''

Diana looked away; ''it's not something that can easily be said. I had so many thoughts in my head, what if you didn't like me?

What if you didn't want to say it yet? What if you were still in doubt of your feelings for me?'' she sighed;

''Telling you, was like forcing you to tell me you loved me. I couldn't do it.''

She pouted; ''do you know? That day I told you I loved you and you didn't say it back, I nearly fainted, I had to run into the bathroom to catch my breath. I had cried my eyes out there, and I faked being on my period so you wouldn't ask me why I was taking so long. I felt so bad. ''

''I'm so sorry; I didn't know you went through all that. '' Michael said, looking visibly sad.

Diana smiled; ''it's okay, I can't even remember the pain anymore, it's past now. ''