37. A worthless me...

"You, my love, are my date for tonight, and yes that is the reason I came back earlier today. I need to get you ready for the party."

Oh Lords! He had no idea what his affect was on her every time he held her so close to his face, or when he so tenderly said ``my love. And now to top it off, he was calling her his date, and her whole insides were heating up, and her skin was turning pink from blushing all over. But then wait a minute…

"D_Date, to a party? I've never been to a party? Why would you want to take me to a party? I don't know what happens at a party?"

"Mea__Mea calm down"

"How big of a party would it be? I don't like crowded places. I'm a whole mess, I don't do well in crowds. I'll just disgrace you there,"

"Mea! Mea just calm down first."

"why would you want to take a good for nothing prostitute like me to a party? What if someone recognizes me? People will laugh at you, they'll mock you, they'll criticize you. I'll just ruin your reputation. I'm sure someone will recognize me, You've been so good to me, I don't want to be an embarrassment to you. I'm just a worthless prostitute... I..."

"MEA!" He viciously shakes her shoulders, forcing her to Shut up and look him straight in the eye.

"Don't you ever!__Don't ever call yourself worthless..." She stared at him, lost for words. She could see the sincerity in his every facial expression, and she wondered... Why did he treat her so?

"Never call yourself a good for nothing prostitute! Do you understand me?! Mea, do you understand me." He shakes her again, and she could see the anger burning in his eyes.

Or maybe it wasn't anger, maybe it was something else, she could see the fire to shield and protect her, she could see the way his face cringed with disgust, but not towards her, but for the words she had spoken.

And oh Lords!, she didn't know it, she'd never felt it from anyone else, but she could sense it. She could sense something, is this love? She wondered in her head. Maybe…

"Mea do you understand me?" he asks again, and she nods. "You have to learn to cherish yourself before others can cherish you. Even if the whole world is putting you down, you have to hold yourself in high esteem, only you can bring out your worth. And Mea, you are not good for nothing, you are priceless. So give yourself the credit you deserve. Understand me. "

" I'm going to ask you for only one thing, Mea, never underrate yourself, you get that?"

All her life, as far back as she could remember, people had always put a price on her, placing bets on her, bidding for her, and yet here was someone calling her priceless. He has given her everything, and was yet to receive anything in return, and all he asks is that she treat herself better.

"You're making me helpless." she whispers, and slowly, she curls into his arms, lacing her hands round his back, holding him tight, resting her head upon his chest, she could feel the rhythm of his heart, and she fell for it too.

"M_Mea" He called, startled by her sudden embrace, but she only held onto him tighter, and a kind tingle ran down his body as she pressed her head deeper into his chest.

"Maybe it's because you're the nicest person I've ever met, or maybe it's because I haven't had someone beat me up in weeks, or maybe because I've been living too comfortably, or just because you say the nicest things to me, or maybe it's the books I've been reading, or__ or maybe it's just you,"

"Mea"

"But you're making me helpless, and you're making me rely on you." She confesses. "Ever since I lost my dad, I've learnt to never rely on anyone, I've learnt to fend for myself, I've learnt to never trust or put my hope in anyone... But__ But..." She faltered

"You're changing me... Because you're different, you're not like anyone I've known. I think my heart keeps beating faster whenever you're around, and even when you're out, I still can't help but long for you."

Was this a confession? Was she telling him she had grown to have feelings for him? He wondered, wondered if this was true, and also wondered why he was really hoping and praying deep down in his hear that this was indeed her love confession.

" I think I'm starting to act like those girls from the novels. And even though I know I shouldn't, you're making me want to cling to you and never let go. Marco, you're making me love you." And his heart leapt.

"Oh Mea," he purred, holding her tight and firm in his embrace. She had no idea, but she was doing the same to him. His heart raced, and he was also starting to act like those men from the novels. The overprotective kind, the kind that wouldn't want her hurt in any way or form. And she was making him cling to her. And he was loving her. It was crazy, but he already loved her.