Sarah looked at Steve who was sitting beside her looking at the beautiful night sky filled with stars.
They were currently sitting on a park bench near the hospital because Steve had something to say.
They had been sitting in this silence for five minutes, making Sarah wonder what the man really wanted to say.
However, Sarah decided to remain silent and just looked at Steve. Admittedly, Steve still looks handsome even when viewed from the side, and Sarah seems to be quite enjoying the sight.
"Sarah," Steve called softly, his eyes still straight up, looking up at the sky.
"Yes?" asked Sarah. Her facial expression was confused.
"How long have we known each other?"
Sarah's brow furrowed when she heard the random question.
"We've known each other since college. So maybe ten years?" Sarah asked back. She still didn't understand why Steve suddenly asked about their friendship.
"Ah… it's been that long," Steve muttered under his breath as he sighed.
"Yes, but if we calculate the time we lost contact, it seems like only five or six years," replied Sarah, who began to reminisce about her friendship with Steve.
After divorcing Michael and deciding to move to another hospital, Steve and Sarah became too busy with their residency so they lost contact.
If Steve hadn't come to visit his father, and Sarah didn't need input from her professor, the two of them probably wouldn't have met.
"You're right, but that doesn't hide the fact that we've been friends for a long time," Steve replied.
Sarah nodded. Among her friends in college, only Steve is still in touch with her until now.
"Then what do you want to tell me? Did you invite me here to ask how long we've been friends?" Sarah guessed with wide eyes then immediately hit Steve's arm.
He was so random and always pissed her off, so Sarah could barely imagine that Steve could do that.
"Ah! That hurts! Why is your hit so strong?" Steve asked, wincing in pain and then rubbed his arm.
"Then why did you invite me here?" Sarah asked confusedly and started to think about what Steve wanted to say.
Was that some random joke again? Or… could he be apologizing about Mr Collins again?
After what happened to Mr Collins, Steve kept apologizing to her and putting on a guilty face for not being able to keep his promise.
Sarah had said it was okay many times, but he kept bringing it up again.
Steve took a deep breath, then looked at Sarah who was sitting beside him.
Her face lit by the moon and stars tonight made Sarah look beautiful. Very beautiful.
"I like you!" Steve said, looking at Sarah with a gentle look. The palms of his hands that were placed on his knees started to sweat, and he could feel the sweat running down his back.
He already said it!
So far, Steve has never dared to express his feelings to Sarah. Apart from that he hadn't done that in a long time, he didn't want the friendship between the two of them to become awkward.
He wasn't confident.
However, seeing how Sarah came to his house and dined with his parents, made Steve gain his courage.
He wanted the scene not to just happen once or twice. He wanted it to continue.
He wanted Sarah to be a part of his family.
From the outside he might look like he was enjoying their dinner as he joked around, but his heart kept beating fast every time he saw Sarah.
How the woman interacts with his parents, and how his parents seem to like her.
So tonight, before his courage wears off, he's going to say how he feels!
Sarah blinked her eyes when she heard that. Is this part of Steve's joke?
But… the man looked quite serious.
"Emm… I like you too," Sarah answered slowly.
Steve's face looked surprised when he heard that, his lips immediately formed a smile when he heard that Sarah had the same feelings as him.
"Even though you're a little annoying, I like you too! You're a good friend."
The continuation of Sarah's words made Steve's smile immediately disappear from his face. It seemed he was jumping to conclusions too quickly.
"It's not like that, you idiot!" Steve rubbed his face in frustration, then looked back at Sarah.
"I mean, I love you. I'm in love with you!" Steve said, repeating his words so Sarah would understand what he meant.
Sarah blinked again when she heard that.
"…"
"…"
"…"
Sarah's face suddenly turned red as her brain finally processed what had just happened.
"I told you not to joke like that!" Sarah said then raised her hand and hit Steve's arm again.
"But I'm serious," Steve said with a serious expression and didn't wince in pain like he usually did when Sarah hit him.
"Eh?"
Before Sarah could react, suddenly Steve's hand was holding her cheek and his face was approaching Sarah's face then without waiting any longer, Steve's lips touched Sarah's.
Sarah widened her eyes when she felt something soft pressed against her lips, and crushed them gently.
It happened so fast that she couldn't react. She finally came back to her senses when the kiss had been released by Steve.
"What did you just do?" Sarah said, covering her mouth with her hand and then backed away a little, away from Steve. Her face felt hot.
"Sorry, but I can't help myself," Steve replied, blushing and looking a little flustered.
The only way he could think of to prove his seriousness was to kiss Sarah.
"Ah..." Sarah looked at Steve who averted his face and looked flustered.
It's her first time seeing Steve like that and dhe looks quite adorable.
"So… you really meant what you said earlier?" Sarah asked to make sure Steve wasn't joking at this point.
She still couldn't believe that Steve actually liked her!
Steve looked back at Sarah, then nodded his head.
"I don't kiss the woman I consider a friend!"
Sarah's heart skipped a beat when she heard those words. Does that mean Steve really doesn't see her as a friend?
His feeling more than that?
"Steve..."
"Don't!" Steve cut in quickly, raising his hand to stop Sarah.
"I just wanted to tell you how I feel tonight. I don't need the answer right now," Steve continued hastily.
He had a feeling that what Sarah was going to say would make it a scary night, and Steve didn't want to.
He wanted to remember tonight as a good memory, when he finally said his feelings.
Sarah was silent before finally nodding in understanding.
"Ahh… I'm glad I said that! You don't know how many times I've thought about this," Steve replied then spread his arms and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Let's go! It's getting colder! I'll drop you off!" said Steve and stood up quickly, followed by Sarah.
While heading to Sarah's apartment, there was a slight distance between the two of them. Steve walked in front, and Sarah followed behind him.
Steve sighed when he felt the situation between them became awkward. He was relieved to finally be able to say how he felt, but he didn't want the situation to turn out like this.
Not long after, they had arrived in front of Sarah's apartment.
"Then… I'll go in first," Sarah said awkwardly and then immediately walked into her apartment.
However, Steve suddenly grabbed her wrist, making Sarah immediately turn around and look at Steve.
"I don't know if you will accept my feelings or not, but… can we just act as usual? I don't want to be awkward with you," Steve said as he looked at Sarah gently.
Sarah was silent as she listened to Steve's words.
How could she act like usual after what had just happened?
The man she thought of as her friend, had just said that he saw her as more than a friend!
He confessed his feelings to her!
But Sarah just nodded, indicating that she understood.
"Then… see you tomorrow," Steve said with a smile and then released his hand that was holding Sarah's wrist.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow," Sarah replied then immediately turned around and went inside.
When Sarah actually got inside, Steve just turned and headed for his car.
Once in the car, he grabbed the steering wheel then hid his face there. He's really shy!
"It's okay Steve! You did well," Steve said then patted his shoulder again and a smile returned to his face when he thought about what happened earlier.
Not only had he managed to tell her how he felt, but he had also kissed Sarah.
"Her lips were soft and sweet," Steve muttered and then touched his lips. He could feel the imprint of Sarah's lips there.
"What are you thinking, Steve! Don't be such a pervert!"
Steve shook his head then immediately started the car, he better get out of here before anyone sees him.
Chapter 92: Steve's Confession