Chapter 23: My Response

You asked me this. If there was ever a time when I had anticipated something for a long time, but when there actually came an opportunity for it, shrugged it off for another time. I know you were talking about telling me you loved me, but I laughed it off and, feigning ignorance, changed the subject. I can't do this anymore, and I don't know how to handle situations like these. Where I know you want nothing else but for me to know how you feel about me, and I want nothing else but for us to just be friends. You're young. And you live with the idea that one only lives once. And so you're willing to rush into love and relationships and titles and responsibilities. But I've seen and experienced the hardships and expectations that come with things like these, and I know for sure that I'm not ready for something like that. I'm fine if you like me, just don't tell me. I'll be close to you and treat you special, if we don't have to label what we have, or what we think we have. If there are no expectations, no ties, nothing official, I'm fine with it. Just don't expect me to admit anything, or to confess my true feelings. I'm not ready for anything like that. And anways, why can't we just have what we have now?