Arla hesitated. She hesitated for a long time, staring ahead. Her mouth moved a moment, then stopped. Her ears moved closer to her head, just a little. Nakoa was always good at reading people, but he tried hard not to just now.
Nakoa waited, somewhat stiffly, and she could take her time. He listened when she did finally answer, and he listened extremely carefully. It was important that he did. Because he could tell, despite how she'd closed herself off somehow or other, that she was afraid of her answer.
She spoke it aloud, honest and careful. It wasn't what he hoped, and it struck him in its truth. But of all things, her straightforward admission was easier for him than dancing around it all. Arla would know, whatever his reasons for keeping his mouth shut so long, he didn't speak his feelings lightly. He could feel how his heart fluttered and was well aware that Arla could hear it. He could hear hers pounding too. Nakoa looked away.
His skin flushed further silver, then faded back to normal as he released a breath. When his gaze returned to hers, Nakoa's expression was warm and bittersweet, a smile yet not. It wasn't the first time Nakoa had experienced rejection, and he doubted it'd be the last. It hurt, it did. But he wasn't a child nor made of glass.
"Arla, don't be sorry. These feelings aren't spoken for the promise of return." His chest hurt, and he could handle that. It was the answer he needed, rather than dwelling on what may or may not be. "Thank you. And, sorry for surprising you with this," he apologized, a little sheepish, weight shifting from one leg to the other.
"We're still friends, aren't we?"
@Phoenix