NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25: Chapter 24
Marshall took and deep breath and started talking
__Marshall: The thing is... I've been feeling things I didn't expect," he said, his voice quiet and vulnerable. "Things I can't explain. Things I thought I wasn't capable of feeling."
He paused, searching for the words to express the complicated mess of feelings inside his head.
__Marshall: "Being with you like this, it's...I don't know," he said, his voice shaky. "It's like you've stirred up something inside me that I didn't even know was there. Something that makes me feel...different. Confused."
He looked away, avoiding her gaze for a moment, feeling exposed and vulnerable.
Emily listened intently, her eyes never leaving his face. She could hear the uncertainty and vulnerability in his voice, the struggle to put into words whatever it was he was feeling. She shifted in her seat, her body turning more towards him.
__Emily: "Different, like how?" she asked, her voice gentle and understanding.
He struggled to find the right words, to express the swirl of emotions inside him. He looked up at her, his eyes meeting hers again.
__Marshall: Different like...like I actually care about you. Like I want to know how your day was, like I want to make sure you're happy and safe." he said, the words escaping his lips in a rush. "Like I get this weird mix of excited and nervous whenever I know I'm going to see you."
__Emily: "We're together for 6 months, it should be normal. Why is that different for you?" She asked softly, trying to understand how he feels
He chuckled softly, a mix of self-deprecation and disbelief.
__Marshall: "I know," he said, shaking his head. "It should be normal, right? But the thing is...I'm not used to feeling this way."
He paused, his gaze shifting down to his hands.
__Marshall: "I don't understand why it's affecting me so much. I didn't think I was capable of...caring this much about someone. It's like...it's like I'm questioning everything I thought I knew about myself." He looked up at her, his expression conflicted.
Emily looked at him, her expression a little taken aback by his words. She studied his face for a moment, before her voice broke the silence.
__Emily: "Have you ever...been in love, Marshall?" she asked, her voice soft and serious.
His eyes widened slightly at her question, the unexpected weight of her words sinking in. He took a deep breath, his gaze shifting away from her.
__Matrshall: "I...I don't know," he said, his voice uncertain.
He paused, his mind reeling as he tried to figure out his feelings, tried to put them into words that made sense.
__Marshall: "I mean, I've had relationships before, I guess." he continued, his voice growing softer.
He sighed, still avoiding her gaze as he fidgeted with the edge of the tablecloth again.
__Marshall: "But nothing like this." he said, a hint of frustration in his voice. "I've never felt this...attached, this connected to someone before. It's like...it's like you've dug up something I didn't even know was there."
He looked up at her, his expression a mixture of confusion and vulnerability.
Emily took a deep breath, her eyes locked with his. She could see the turmoil and confusion in his expression, the way he struggled to make sense of his own feelings.
Emily leaned in a little, her expression soft and kind.
__Emily: "Maybe...maybe that's because this is different. Maybe there's a reason you're feeling this way."
She smiled, her expression soft and loving.
__Emily: "When we first met, I found you intriguing," she said, her voice quiet and thoughtful.
She reached out and gently touched his hand, her fingers brushing against his skin.
__Emily: "Over time, I started to see different sides of you. Hou were funny and intelligent, and you had a dry sense of humor that I found attractive."
She shifted in her seat, her body turned fully towards him now.
__Emily: "I started to notice these little things about you, like the way you'd tilt your head when you were really thinking about something, or how you'd get this hint of a smile when I said something that amused you."
She chuckled softly, her eyes lighting up.
__Emily: "And then there were those moments when you'd let your guard down and be vulnerable. Those moments were the most special, because I knew how rare they were, and it felt like a privilege to see that side of you."
She paused, her expression growing serious.
__Emily: "And then there were the big things." she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The way you'd surprise me with little gestures, like bringing me a cup of coffee just the way I like it, or remembering something I said in passing and showing you were listening. It made me feel...seen, I guess."
She took a deep breath, her heart fluttering in her chest.
__Emily: "And that's when I realized...I was falling in love with you."