I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
57. Acknowledgments.

Joel ran after Ariel and ignored Christina who came back crying. He continued to run until he finally saw the back of Ariel who was still running away from the beach, trying to quickly reach where his car was parked.

"Ariell,,, stop!" joel shouted with hope.

Ariel kept running without understanding what the real reason was that he suddenly ran away from Joel.

'Why am I running? Why am I avoiding him? Obviously Joel said he loved me. But why am I like this?' lament his heart.

"Ariell,," call Joel again.

Ariel still ignored Joel who kept calling her. His run began to slow down with gasping breath, but still did not stop his run.

He felt his face as he felt the water running down his cheeks and was stunned when he realized he had shed tears.

'Since when did I start crying?' ariel confusedly wiped her tears.

'Why not stop? Why do these tears keep coming out?' the balance in the heart.

"Please stop," murmured Ariel sobbing softly as she continued to wipe away the tears that kept flowing.

"Ariell, wait, wait,!" please Joel.

Joel finally manages to catch one of Ariel's hands, strengthening her grip so Ariel doesn't run back from her. Then he was stunned when he saw Ariel crying.

"Hey, what's wrong? Are you all right?" ask Joel worried.

Joel turned Ariel's body to face her gently. Staring at him who was now looking down while continuing to wipe his tears.

"I'm fine, just_,, just, just, I'm so silly," Ariel replied with a wry laugh.

"You obviously don't look okay Ariel. Tell me, what's up?" ask Joel .

Silent,,,,

Ariel tries to stare at Joel who is now in front of her, but when she looks at him the tears re-escape from her eyes, making her look down again.

"I don't know what you've seen, or heard. But, I can explain it," Joel hoped slowly.

Slowly Ariel lifted her face, looking into Joel's eyes who returned his gaze with love in it.

'I was too preoccupied with the thought that he was no different from Bram either. Until I forgot one fact that she was also experiencing the same pain that she was getting from Jessi. But, she just kept showing her feelings even though I didn't reciprocate, why am I seeing her now?' whispered Ariel's heart.

"I don't know why Christina came all of a sudden and told me that, I never even gave her my home address" Joel said.

Ariel shook her head slowly as Joel began to give her an explanation, then wiped away the rest of her tears that had stopped flowing.

"Ariel, please, please, at least give me a little time to explain" Joel said. "I just don't want you to misunderstand me" he added.

"I knew from the beginning that he liked you" Ariel said.

"You, you know, you know,?" reiterate Joel surprised.

Ariel nodded slowly and began to catch her breath. Fear just grew in his heart. Worried that Joel's feelings for her will change because he's been letting Joel wait too long and ignoring his feelings.

"I'm not skeptical of him having feelings for you. But, she knows how she feels, and she tells you. Even when you rejected him, he kept telling you. And it scares me, that I've thrown it all away" Ariel said.

"What I feel will never change, even if someone tries to change it" Joel said.

Joel's hand stretched out to touch Ariel's chin, raising her face until their eyes met.

"I don't like situations where you feel overwhelmed by my feelings. I know you've been hurt, and I can't say that what you feel is the same as how I feel. But, just because you fail and your heart breaks, doesn't mean love doesn't exist for others,"

"And I really hope that, rather than judging the man you buried a few years ago, you can learn to love the man in front of you, and I won't push you" Joel said in a soft voice.

Once again, Ariel felt warmth flowing through her, a feeling she always denied, and fear if it disappeared from her.

Imagine how the days he would go through without Joel in it, making his heart feel tight.

The desire in his heart to ask Joel to always be by his side, and the selfish desire to hope that smile is not owned by anyone other than himself.

Ariel finally realizes that she has fallen in love with Joel.

"Sorry to have made you see the sad side of me, I sillyly cried like that" Ariel said in a trembling voice.

"Basic fool!" joel flicked Ariel's forehead slowly.

"These two things are things that we can't control at any time, why do you have to apologize for that?" joel said with a sincere smile.

For a time that felt long enough for Ariel, she was silent and pensive. All the time he spent with Joel was turned back in front of his eyes.

He who always tries to be there for me, he who tries to get out of his comfort zone just for me, and he's the one who always makes me laugh with his silly behavior and pisses you off at the same time but I don't hate his attitude.

Then what if it's just because you're too scared to get out of your own comfort zone? Will he change?

To give birth to it, unknowingly made Ariel again shed her tears. It made Joel shocked and panicked at the same time.

"Hey,, hey, Ariel, what's up? Please, don't cry" Joel said as he wiped the rolling tears with his thumb.

"No, it's okay," Ariel replied, nodding slowly.

"Then why are you crying? Did I make a mistake? Did I unknowingly hurt you?" ask Joel gently.

"It was I who hurt you. I just focus on myself until what I'm doing unconsciously hurts you, hurts your heart" Ariel said.

"Not even a little bit" replied Joel.

"Honestly, it was a little upset at first, but when I saw you smile, it made me understand one thing. That the love I have for you is unconditional. Just because I'm saying love to you doesn't mean you have to reply with the same words, but I'm still serious about everything I say" Joel said.

Ariel placed her palm on Joel's cheek, and she placed her palm on Ariel's hand. Closing her eyes for a moment, she opened her eyes only to realize that Ariel was looking at her deeply.

"I realize one thing, I love all the things you do for me, spending time with you, I love it, and imagining after today you're no longer with me feels like a nightmare that I wish would never happen, but I'm honestly-,,,"

A pause occurred for a moment when Ariel took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Staring into Joel's eyes that were always beautifully framed behind his glasses, and smiling sincerely.

" I LOVE YOU, JOEL,,,"

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