To Love Again?

"are you alright?" he looked at her eyes intently.

"of course i am. im fine. dont worry." she tried to avoid his gaze but such eyes were insistent.

"how could i not worry? i always care." he sat beside her and wrapped his arms around her. slowly she relaxed against him.

"i know you do." she twisted to look over her shoulder. he held her face and moved closer.

"you just know it but you cant feel it. thats what pains me. what should i do to make you love me? do i need to tell it every single day that i love.." she resisted as he tried to draw her to him.

"no, you dont need to. i feel it. seriously." she sighed and held his gaze for a long time. she believed what he said.

"then why are you pushing me away? i promise i can be the guy that you want. i can be everything that you wish for. i can love you with my whole heart. i can take care of you. i can.." he grabbed her face and kissed her. she pushed him away and shot a look at him.

"go on. love me as much as you can but i cant love you back. i just cant and i wont."

"oh. so you're seeing someone right now?" he shrugged, taking that in and trying to ignore the piercing pain from what she just said.

"no. im not seeing or dating anyone."

he breathed a sigh of relief, "then what's stopping you from liking me? am i not lovable? im doing everything i can to be perfect for you. i wanna be the man for you. i will give you everything. believe me." he went down on his knees with a teary eye.

"miko, listen to me. you're a good man. you're attractive. you're smart and responsible enough to handle a relationship but im not the girl you're looking for." she made the smallest of sounds but it was filled with such sincerity.

"how could you possibly say that?" he frowned but that was the time for patience so he controlled himself from impulsive acts then he continued, "well i guess you're not yet ready. id wait.." but before he could finish his words, she interrupted.

"no, miko. you cant understand. how could you wait for someone who doesnt even know where to start?"

"but you've moved on already, right? we can start a new life together. id help you mend what has been broken"

"im not broken and ive moved on already." she stood, ready to walk away.

he grasped her arm and turned her to face him. "i wont give up on you."

she smiled and sighed, "thank you, miko, but i just cant accept what you can offer because i cant give them back. look, how could i love again if i already gave my heart away?"