Chapter 18: Bryce' confession

After the director separate Nathaniel and Bryce from each other, Nathaniel was on the other beach house that is also near the beach house we are staying. Nathaniel acts so irrationally, I feel bad for Bryce. I squeeze the damp towel from its excess water and gently put it on him again.

Bryce winced, "Ow!"

I stopped, "Sorry," and continue gently dabbing his face with a damp towel.

"I'm sorry of what Nathaniel did to you,"

"It's fine, I'm also at fault"

'No, you're not. Nathaniel is acting immature" I said, putting the towel back on the bowl and sit beside him. Bryce stared at me and I stared back. Reading his eyes, there is something he wants to say. Silence envelops between us, I averted my gaze.

"Daphne," I looked at him but his eyes are looking at the distance. "There is something I want to confess.."

"What is it?"

"Do you remember when you were a kid that you talked with a little boy?"

I raised an eyebrow, "a boy?"

He nodded, I can't remember Daphne's past talking to a little boy when she was a kid.

"Hmmm, no"

"Oh," Bryce slowly nodded, "I see... Uh- maybe because it was a long time ago that you already forgot"

I nodded, "Yeah"

"But did you know that little boy likes you? He often passes by your classroom to see you and you are busy reading a book. You are not like the other middle school girls that are talking with their friends. "

My face puzzled, "H-how.."

"And your favorite thing to do is reading a book. You made friends but eventually, they bad-mouth you from behind and some bullied you but you didn't fight back. You made friends again but some would reject you but that little boy didn't. He didn't reject you, he is just shy to talk with you.."

"Ho-how, w-wait... How did you know all that? About that little boy not rejecting my friendship with him..? And I can't remember when I talked with that little boy"

"It was afternoon and that little boy was crying.." Bryce paused, "He was crying because he failed on an exam and suddenly, you.. you are in the scene. You helped him by telling him that he can do it and that little boy was grateful. After that, he thought that you and him are already friends. Again, he is shy to talk to you that's why he often passes to your classroom"

"Okay, but.. how did you know all that? How did you know that little boy like me? Do you ha—"

"Because that's me, Daphne. I'm that little boy"

My eyes widened, he smiled and glance down.

"I want to ask you as my girlfriend but then.." He paused and looked at me. "After I knew that you and Nathaniel are in a relationship, I tried not to like you as much as I like you before. And earlier, don't freak out"

"I heard you and Nathaniel talking about "rules", though I'm not sure what you two mean by that."

My jaw drooped, "Uh-B-Br—"

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone... I just... I just want to say that I like you and if ever Nathaniel treat badly, I'm always here"

So, he heard Nathaniel and me talking about the relationship, I can't believe that he heard us.

I don't know what to reply to Bryce, a sudden confession and he knew about Nathaniel and me

"I know you are surprised by my sudden confession but Daphne.. if you need someone, I'm always here" he said as he stared at me. I stared at the back, doesn't know what to say. Silence envelop between us, I averted my gaze.

"Oh," I laughed. "I-I.."

"You don't have to think about it, Daphne. I'm just expressing my feelings out to you"

I gave him a smile—a friendly smile, "Thank you, Bryce but I'm sorry that I can't give my feelings back to you. I.."

Bryce laughed, "Again, you don't have to think about it. I just want you to know"

I gave him a half-smile, "Oh" I grabbed the bowl with water inside and stood up from my seat.

"I gotta go now and have some rest" and headed to the door. He stood up and followed me, I opened the door and turned around to look at him once more.

"Good night," he said, smiling.

"Good night," I said and walked out.