Chapter 219 - Chloe Opens Her Heart

Nathan Evenhart:

"Nathan," Chloe said as she stepped out of her room.

"There's something I've wanted to talk to you about for a long time..." she said, in a tone I couldn't quite decipher.

"Tch," Cylla clicked her tongue. "I'll wait in the other room... I can see where this is going..." She hopped off the table and disappeared into the other room, leaving me alone with Chloe.

My cousin looked at me, and for the first time, she seemed genuinely nervous.

“Nate, could you come to my room? It’s… a serious conversation.”she said.

I followed her, closing the door behind us. Chloe turned, took my hand, and, before I realized it, led me to sit on the bed. She locked the door, then sat on the edge, seeming to gather her thoughts.

"What are you doing?" I asked, a bit confused.

"I don’t want you to run," she replied.

Run? From what exactly?

She took a deep breath and began. "Since I was five... I think it was that first night I saw you. I came into your room crying, feeling the weight of everything going on back then. And that night, when you spoke to me... I felt at peace just being next to you."

Chloe looked into my eyes, and I could feel the weight of each word.

"After that, we grew up together. We learned magic, had elemental battles, threw water at each other. We camped out, scared Carnellian, snuck candy together, hid Sifu's practice swords, took my mother’s magic books… pretended to be asleep just to avoid chores... We've done so many things together. In every memory, you're there, right by my side."

I was starting to understand where this was going. My heart raced, and for a moment, I thought of any excuse to leave, but I couldn't. She needed to be heard, and I couldn't run now.

"Nathan Evenhart... it's been ten years by your side. And I want it to stay that way. I thought of so many ways to say this, rehearsed how to open up... but in the end, I decided to drop all that. I want to be honest. It’s been ten years with you, and I want it to last forever."

"Chloe..." I tried to speak, but she raised her hand, signaling me to stop.

"I'm not done yet..." she said, taking another deep breath, clearly gathering her courage.

My heart pounded, and a slight shortness of breath started to creep in.

"Nathan Evenhart... will you be my boyfriend?"

Chloe Evenhart:

The day’s classes had ended, and I ran as fast as I could back to the apartment. Nate had a different schedule today.

I bet he’s going to get a bunch of chocolate boxes. Ugh… later, I’m going to make a list of every one of those shameless girls!

I rushed past the other students, my mind spinning with plans. I had to get back, shower, get ready, and put on my best outfit. I’d already picked the one he couldn’t stop staring at last time we went out, the one with the slightly daring neckline.

He complained about it back then, but I didn’t care. I knew he couldn’t take his eyes off me, hehe.

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Everything had to be perfect.

If I were a transmitter mage, I could use a mana armor and wash my hair with the water element while walking…

I even considered making a water bubble around my hair to rinse it, but that would have drawn way too much attention.

No, I need to take a shower and smell nice.

As I approached the dormitory, my heart began pounding harder.

Nate… you have no idea how nervous I am right now.

I touched my storage bracelet and pulled out the box of chocolates.

“What kind of face will he make?” I wondered, smiling at the thought.

He’s so adorable when he gets flustered.

I took a deep breath.

Keep it together, Chloe. Don’t let the nerves win.

Thinking about Nathan used to calm me, but now it only made my nerves worse. He's so dense... I've tried so many times to get him to notice me! Once, when we were playing in the forest, I even pretended to sprain my ankle just so he would carry me on his back and create a romantic moment. But the idiot didn’t catch on at all and simply summoned the Stone Maiden Golem to carry me back to the castle.

Not this time!

Today was the day I’d finally confess to that electrified idiot!

I ran down the hallway, completely lost in my thoughts, when I bumped into someone walking out of the dormitory.

“Chloe?” a voice said. “Are you hurt?”

My head throbbed.

“Just a little…” I muttered.

I looked up and realized I’d collided with Viktor Saul, who was wearing full knight armor.

“Sorry about that,” he said, apologizing. “I forgot I’m still in my armor.”

I glanced at my hand and froze.

The chocolate box was gone.

Where is it?!

Panicking, I scanned the floor.

“Is this for me?” Viktor asked, holding the slightly crushed box.

“What?! Of course not!” I snapped, grabbing it back.

But as I looked at the box in my hands, I couldn’t believe it.

It was squished.

Damn it…

I clenched my fists, swallowing the surge of anger bubbling inside me.

“The air feels a bit colder…” Viktor said, looking around uneasily.

“It’s just your imagination,” I muttered, resisting the urge to launch him across the hallway with an ice spell.

Ignoring him, I swallowed my frustration and headed straight for the apartment.

Nate… I hope you’ll forgive me for the crushed box.

***

“Nathan,” I called as soon as I heard his voice in the apartment. I had to force myself to stay calm, though I felt a nervous chill in my stomach.

"There's something I've wanted to talk to you about for a long time..." I managed, trying to keep my voice steady.

A long time indeed… I’d thought about this day for years, and now it had finally arrived.

“Meow,” Cylla added curtly, before hopping off the table and heading to the bedroom.

I’ll have to ask Nate what she said later. She looked annoyed.

“Nate, could you come to my room? It’s… a serious conversation.”

I led him into my room, watching as he closed the door behind him.

Oh! I’d never invited him in here before… I always studied in the living room. Now I was starting to get nervous. I have one of my camisoles hanging on a hook...

Deep breath, Chloe! He’s your fiancé! He’s going to see everything eventually…

Once he was far enough from the door, I took his hand and pulled him toward the bed, then went back to the door and locked it, taking the key with me.

“What are you doing?” he asked, looking confused.

"I don’t want you to run,"

I sat at the end of the bed, facing Nate, and memories of our time together flooded my mind. He had always been there, supporting me.

“Since I was five…” I began, “I think it was that first night I saw you. I came into your room crying, feeling the weight of everything going on back then. And that night, when you spoke to me... I felt at peace just being next to you."

I looked at him, gathering the courage to continue.

"After that, we grew up together. We learned magic, had elemental battles, threw water at each other. We camped out, scared Carnellian, snuck candy together, hid Sifu's practice swords, took my mother’s magic books… pretended to be asleep just to avoid chores... We've done so many things together. In every memory, you're there, right by my side."

Every memory we shared crossed my mind.

"Nathan Evenhart... it's been ten years by your side. And I want it to stay that way. I thought of so many ways to say this, rehearsed how to open up... but in the end, I decided to drop all that. I want to be honest. It’s been ten years with you, and I want it to last forever."

"Chloe..." he tried to say.

"I'm not finished yet..." I interrupted, taking a deep breath.

My heart was pounding. I’d planned just to tell him I liked him, but that wasn’t enough. I wanted more. I wanted to build something with him, to be by his side…

“Nathan Evenhart… will you be my boyfriend?”

I said it! I managed to say it!

Nathan looked stunned. I was a little surprised at my own words too. He stared at me, visibly shaken, then swallowed and looked away at the floor.

Why are you looking away? Don’t do this… look at me.

He kept his gaze fixed on the floor as I watched him, willing him to understand everything I felt.

“Chloe…”

Why is he choosing his words so carefully?

“I… I can’t be your boyfriend. I’m sorry.”

The words hit like a punch to my soul, shattering my world into pieces.