Chapter 76

Bella.

"I like you, Daniel," I blurted out without even realizing it. Once the words escaped my lips, I couldn't help but acknowledge the truth behind them. I didn't regret confessing my feelings because deep down, I genuinely meant it, and I suddenly felt the urge to be honest.

Daniel had taken me out on another one of his heartwarming dates, and with everything we had been saying to each other, and how honest he had been with me from the start, I knew telling him how I really felt wasn't the wrong thing to do.

I had been suppressing my emotions, trying to focus on work, and ignore these seemingly trivial feelings. But being here, with him, in this moment, I felt compelled to be honest with myself and with him. It was the right thing to do.

"Did you just say what I think you said, or did I misunderstand?" Daniel asked, his face reflecting visible confusion. I let out a sigh, preparing myself to explain.

"I understand that my sudden confession might catch you off guard. I'm not confessing because I expect a relationship or any particular outcome. I just wanted to be true to myself and share my feelings with you," I replied honestly, hoping he would understand.

He remained silent for a long while, clearly taken aback by my words. I concealed my eagerness, waiting anxiously to hear his response. It was the first time in a long time that I had openly expressed my emotions like this, and his reaction held great significance for me.

"To be honest, Bella, I don't have an immediate response," he finally spoke, his words filled with genuine honesty. "I appreciate your honesty, and I'm sure this must have been challenging for you. However, there's something else on my mind, and I'm determined to act on it regardless of whether or not you want it to happen," he said.

Confusion washed over me as I furrowed my brows, eager to understand his intentions. "What do you plan on doing?" I questioned, my gaze fixed on him.

"This," he responded, accompanied by a sly smile. Before I could comprehend his intention, his lips met mine in an unexpected kiss.

Caught off guard, I didn't know how to react at first. It didn't occur to me that he would kiss me so suddenly, but instead of pushing him away, I found myself surrendering to the moment, eagerly returning his kiss. The kiss began slowly, but in seconds it escalated into a passionate and intense exchange. His tongue explored every corner of my mouth with fervor and possessiveness, and I eagerly reciprocated with equal passion.

Eventually, we broke apart, both needing to catch our breath. I found myself licking my lips and clinging onto him for support, trying to steady myself.

"What just happened?" I voiced my wonder aloud, not fully realizing it.

"Are you upset?" he asked, innocence shining in his eyes as he looked at me.

His attempt at appearing innocent after surprising me with a kiss frustrated me. I wanted to hit him for his misleading facade. Yet, deep down, I couldn't be mad at him. I had the power to push him away from the start, but instead, I allowed the moment to unfold.

Therefore, I had no grounds to be upset or place blame on him for what transpired between us.

"I'd be lying if I said I was angry with you. I could have stopped it if I didn't want it, but I chose to let it happen. So, I have no reason to be upset," I replied, letting him know I wasn't angry about what happened.

"Do you want to talk about it now, or would you prefer to move on and talk about it later?" he inquired, and I sighed, uncertain of how to respond.

Talking about it later didn't seem like a reasonable option, but at the same time, I wasn't sure if I was ready to have that conversation right now. It would inevitably lead to a discussion I might ready to face.

"What do you want to do at this moment?" I asked, genuinely curious about his perspective.

"For me, I believe we should address it now. I see no reason to postpone such an important conversation. I've made my feelings for you clear, and I want a genuine relationship with you. Now, it's your turn to decide where you stand," he replied, wearing a serious expression.

I knew this conversation between us was unavoidable. Although I wished to delay it as long as possible, the time had come to address it and make a definitive decision.

I enjoyed being around Daniel, and I loved the progress we had made in the past few weeks. However, as much as I liked the feeling of being with him, I wasn't entirely confident that I was ready for another relationship.

He was the type of man anyone would consider perfect, and while I wasn't a bad choice either, the thought of entering another relationship made me nervous, and uncertain.

I was also unsure if I could handle the attention that comes with being in a relationship with him. I had so much more I want to focus on, and I didn't want to be known solely as his girlfriend, losing recognition for what I wanted to achieve.

"I owe you honesty, Daniel. I genuinely like you a lot, and as tempting as it is to enter a relationship with you, I don't think it's the right time for me. I don't see myself as someone ready for a relationship," I told him sincerely.

"I enjoy being with you, spending time together, talking for hours on the phone or through texts. These aspects of our friendship have become essential to me, and I don't want to lose them. But at the same time, I'm not sure if I can define our relationship and maintain it as it is right now," I added.

He sighed, seeking clarification, "So, you're saying you lack the confidence to be in a relationship with me? Are you rejecting me?"

"I don't want our friendship to end, and I'm not even sure I want to reject you. My head is guiding my actions, not my heart. I want you in my life, but I fear repeating the mistakes of my previous relationship or being consumed by it as I was before," I explained.

I knew that he might not fully comprehend my feelings, but I hoped he would try to understand and be patient with me.

"I realized that we've never really talked about our past relationships. I've been curious about many things for the last few weeks, but I refrained from asking, not wanting to intrude or pressure you," he shared.

"Now that we're at this point, how about we start being completely honest with each other, sharing everything we've been holding back?" he suggested. "I'll tell you everything you need to know, and I want you to do the same. Then, you can make up your mind about whether a relationship with me is worth a try."

I paused, contemplating his suggestion, unsure of what else to say at that moment.