"I like you."

"Ahcough cough." Varian coughed and nearly choked on his own saliva. He thought he was hearing things. But as a level 6 Enhanced Awakener, he wouldn't buy his own excuse.

His brain refused to focus on her words and his body just wanted to slip out. Varian decided to slap himself. He should've made an announcement as a dreamer or thrown a hologram into her home to her he's safe.

No. Like an idiot, he decided to visit her person.

'I totally deserve this.' Painfully aware of her intense stare, Varian felt his heart race.

"I like you." Sarah said again, her face blushing like a ripe tomato. But she cupped his cheeks and looked into his eyes.

Varian could feel her hands shake fiercely. She was trying to control her nervousness with her Awakener powers, but still couldn't stop trembling.

Just how nervous was she?

Varian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. But looking at her sky blue eyes, he found himself out of words and thoughts.

"I like you." Sarah seemed to use up all her energy and this time, it finally hit him.

Varian felt his heart thump as it nearly leapt out of his chest. His palms were sweating before he knew it and the next moment, he was staring at her wide eyes.

He wanted to clarify things. She must be thinking of friendship as something else. "S-Sarah, you don't know what"

"I know what I'm talking about." Sarah said with a determined expression. "And Varian, I said it three times already. I'm expecting a response."

"W-What?" Varian's mind was in confusion. But his heartit already knew what it wanted.

Even though Varian tried to deny it, the feelings welling inside him made it impossible.

Varian was forced to confront his true feelings.

"Just like you said to my father, don't be a Tsundere." Looking at his expression lost in thought, Sarah added, causing Varian to groan in frustration.

'Alright, when I was going angry in the dungeons, what was I really thinking?'

Now that he thought about it seriously, not withholding other factors, this was one of the reasonsHe was worried how devastated Sarah would be.

And he wanted to pleasantly surprise her by meeting her in-person.

"II." Varian frowned in confusion and looked at Sarah. How the fuck was he supposed to know anyway?

Where was the line between friendship and love?

Someone tell me already!

Sarah inched closer to him and leaned her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

"I-I am thinking" Varian said.

"Don't think!" Sarah closed her eyes and smiled. "Feel it. Are you feeling anything?"

She slowly wrapped her arms around him. Her face was blushing, from ears to neck, but she had a serene smile.

She was like a bird that finally returned to her nest and found the warmth she longed for everyday.

"!" Varian felt her soft bosom pressing against his chest and stiffened. In moments like this, he was reminded of a fact that he normally ignored. Sarah's beauty was one of its kind.

She exuded a scent of flowers that calmed his mind, and her charming curves gave her a natural young charm.

Naturally, when she leaned onto him, a good portion of her body was in contact with his.

And painfully self-conscious, Varian discovered something awkward.

He looked down and wanted to curse!

Damn it, hormones!

We were having a moment here and I was really trying to think or feel.

"When I hold you like this, I feel peacefulI know if I ever face a problem, you'll stand for me. But don't worry, I plan to fight my battles myself. Your presence is more than enough.

I am happyI don't know you completely, but from what I know of you, I completely like you.

Your are impulsive sometimes, daring a few times, but every timeyou're reliable.

I don't know what you went throughI really want to know. But I won't ask. Just know, I'll be always be there for you.

I might not know the solutions to your problems. Looking at how fast you've grown, I realize that you might not need my help at all.

Butif you ever face a hardship, a heartbreak, just know, you aren't alone. There is a girl willing to suffer with you, smile with you and most of all, be with you." Sarah muttered softly.

Varian looked down and saw Sarah. There was a sweet smile on her face as she spoke each and every word that tugged at his heart strings.

His heart skipped a beat and thumped against his chestas if it wanted to go to the girl.

Varian pulled her closer and sat her on his lap. They were now in a much more intimate position, but Varian didn't have any other thoughts.

He simply lowered his head and their foreheads touched each other.

Sarah was taken aback by his actions her eyebrows quivered. She was nervous, yet she didn't move. Even though she felt like her heart might burst out at any moment, she patiently waited.

She was scared and hopeful at the same time. But most of all, she was happy that she was brave enough. She did what she never thought she could.

Varian recalled the time he spent with her. They started off as a normal senior captain-junior member.

Along the mission, he slowly started knowing about her. The third in Amethyst List. Goddess Sarah.

Her concern for her teammates.

Her courage to take risks.

Her morals in repaying Seth's favor.

Her care in looking after a weak level 2 and not despising him like others her level would.

He was impressed by her from the beginning. She was just being herself.

Returning from the vanish dungeon, he never expected she would be the one to find him before everyone else.

He could still remember the way she cried like it was yesterday.

Then he saw the other sides of her. Her childishness with Anna, her vulnerability against her past, her inferiority complex against her dual awakening, her fear of disappointing her father

He saw it all.

Her strengths and weaknesses. Her good and bad.

He saw it all.

And now he knew why his heart beat so fast when he thought of her.

"Sarah, I think I'm in love with you."

*** *** ***

(A/N): Two chapters upcoming in few minutes.