Chapter 203: The Depths of My Affection
Sensing things were getting awkward, Maggie nervously laughed. "Um I mean, it's not like I'm super into it or anything," she corrected herself.
"Oh yeah? So, how not into it are you?" Nathael advanced, step by step, while Maggie slowly retreated.
Ugh, I feel like crying. Am I setting myself up for trouble?
I could pick any piece of music, but I had to go with "First Love."
With no way out, Maggie stopped and hugged him around the waist, trying to please him. "You know you're my absolute favorite, right? I like you more than anyone else."
Nathael chuckled softly, gazed at her, and asked, "How much do you adore me?"
Maggie closed her eyes, pondering for a moment. "I adore you a lot, like, really, really adore you. I'm totally into you."
Nathael gazed at her intensely. His narrow eyes, as dark as ink, resembled a deep, mysterious ocean, captivating anyone who looked into them.
"Is that it?" His voice was low, sensual, and tempting.
Maggie swallowed nervously, her head starting to ache. She struggled to think of how to turn the situation around.
Looking up at him with sincerity, she said softly, "I love your eyes, your nose, your mouth. It's like I love everything about you."
This time, Maggie spoke slowly, her eyes moving from his eyebrows downward, growing more serious with each word. Her cheeks flushed involuntarily.
Her throat tightened as she continued to hold his gaze. "I also love the way you look at me, how your eyes reflect me, and how patiently you listen to me"
Maggie hesitated, took a deep breath, paused, and then added, "I also love how you hold me."
As she spoke, Nathael leaned in and gently kissed her.
His slender, captivating eyes glistened with depth, like a deep sea, overflowing with restrained emotions, surging like waves.
"Do you realize that some words, once spoken, can't be taken back?" he murmured softly, visibly touched.
A heart that had once felt buried beneath icy depths now basked in the warmth of the sun, receiving both sunshine and rain, offering both grace and hopeful longing. Maggie didn't pull away, closing her eyes as she reciprocated his passionate kiss; her cheeks still flushed with warmth.
Chapter 203: The Depths of My Affection
Golden hues shone on the peach-colored wooden floor, adding to the room's allure.
"My legs feel weak."
After what felt like a long time, Maggie tried to push him away. She felt as if this continued, she might suffocate from lack of oxygen and collapse.
Nathael chuckled lightly, whispering, "Want me to hold you?"
Maggie's ears instantly flushed crimson. Without looking back, she hurriedly ran to the living room sofa, leaving behind only one sentence: "No need! Hurry up and get the camera. The sun is about to set!"
They hadn't gotten much done, but most of the time had already passed. And they still weren't sure how the video recording had turned out.
This guy is really distracting!
Nathael watched her retreating figure with amusement, grabbed the camera, and followed her.
Maggie lounged on the couch with Nathael, watching the video together. The footage was stunning, better than any she had attempted to record herself.
Maggie became fully engrossed, completely captivated by what she was watching.
On the screen, outside the wide floor-to-ceiling windows, were lush green trees, distant mountain peaks, and the occasional trickle of a small stream. The breeze gently rustled the white curtains, while warm sunlight bathed the room in its glow.
A slender young girl in a white dress looked graceful, her delicate fingers dancing on the black and white keys of a piano. The lively notes flowed from her fingertips, momentarily evoking the atmosphere of a green campus.
A young man in a white shirt and a girl in a pleated skirt walked together, books in hand. Sunlight streamed through the trees, scattering dappled patterns on the ground. They laughed and chatted, their youthfulness evident. There were fleeting glances and shy smiles exchanged, moments of innocent awkwardness as their eyes met Maggie closed her eyes, envisioning the carefree yet spirited youth of the boy and girl.
She saw the boy sweating as he played basketball, going for a dunk, while the girl stood awkwardly holding a bottle of water. She saw a boy sending a paper airplane with a love note, and a girl finding wildflowers on her desk.
Chapter 203: The Depths of My Affection
She saw the girl sitting behind him on a bicycle, awkwardly tugging at his shirt, while he whistled carefree tunes. There were moments of urgency buried in a sea of books and moments of contentment as they gathered for bubble tea after school.
The piece, "First Love," carried the scent of gardenias, the essence of sunlight, grass, and dew, the rustling of leaves on campus, and the lazy sunbathing of a white cat behind the playground.
As the story drew to a close, the boy and girl parted ways after their college entrance exams. The unspoken truths behind the paper-covered window eventually became bittersweet secrets. Despite lingering regrets, the memories remained beautiful.
Maggie watched with earnest attention, unable to deny that Nathael had done an excellent job. He not only knew how to capture her in the best light but also understood the exact emotions she longed for.
As the video approached its end, a touch of melancholy and regret lingered in the air, the echoes carrying a lingering sweetness. Simple yet profoundly resonant.
It took Maggie a moment to return to reality. She glanced at the man beside her, unable to hold back her words. "Your first love"
"It's you," Nathael said, his voice heavy.
Maggie was speechless. Despite her prior suspicions, hearing those words felt like a sharp blow to her heart. As if a frozen layer had shattered, emotions rushed forth uncontrollably.
"When did you start having feelings for me?" Maggie squinted, assessing him. She had wanted to ask this question for a while.
Nathael raised an eyebrow, his gaze deep. "Curious?"
"Call me honey."
Nathael's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he slowly spoke. Maggie opened her mouth, but as the words hovered on her lips, she felt an unexpected blush creeping up her cheeks. Calling him that shouldn't have been a big deal; she'd heard Beth do it. Yet, at that moment, she found herself strangely unable to say it.
"Forget it," Maggie said, shifting her gaze away with annoyance.
Nathael didn't push it, but it was clear he had no plans to share anything. Maggie was annoyed to the point of gritting her teeth, yet she felt powerless. She couldn't exactly hold a knife to his throat and force him to speak.
"If you won't spill, I'll just assume you were smitten with me from the start. Oh, perhaps someone had a secret crush on me way back," Maggie said with irritation. Nathael held her close, planting a gentle kiss on her hair, lost in reminiscence.
He murmured, "Indeed, I have been secretly crushing on you since a long time ago."