@ AQUINO • confession ‹3

DUXO POP I had promised myself that I would confess my feelings three times and, if she rejected me each time, I would give up. I didn't want to be insistent, I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable, but I couldn't keep this inside me any longer.

The first time I said it as a joke. "Hey, Duxo, what if you listened to me?" He just laughed and gave me a light punch on the shoulder, not taking it seriously. "Sure, Aquino, and then we get married, right?"

It hurt.

The second time I was more direct. "I like you. Seriously." This time, Duxo didn't laugh. He just looked at me for a second and looked away. "I don't know what to tell you, Aquino…"

It hurt more when I thought about it...

Now I was here, on our park bench, with the sun setting in front of us. The wind blew softly, but my chest burned.

I took a breath. This is the last time.

—Duxo… This is the third time I've told you. The last time. I like you. Not as a friend, not as a game. Seriously. But I also promised that if you rejected me three times, I wouldn't insist again. So tell me, is there any chance of being with you?