You Can Only Ask If You're Jealous

"I don't want to give up on you."

"Argh!" Neil ruffled his hair. The words flashed through his brain. He paced back and forth, rolling up the sleeves of his plain faded shirt. "Why am I being rash? Why did I say all that to Lia? What if she later avoids me? What if I lose my chance to approach her?"

Neil was almost going to bang his head against the toilet wall if he didn't wake up soon enough. The sound of his breathing filled his ears. "I don't want her to leave. What got into me? Haven't I been able to keep myself from pushing myself all this time? - Why, Neil? Why are you like this?"

When Neil came out of the toilet he ran into Lia. He wanted to say hello, but suddenly he seemed to get a stiff attack that was difficult to explain. Daze hit him, not because of the charm of beauty that radiated from Lia's face, but from nervousness because he was aware of his stupidity.