"I understand that it's difficult for you to separate my past from who I am now," she whispered, cupping his cheek in her hand. "But please try to see the person I am today. The woman who loves you more than anything else in this world." She leaned in closer, brushing a lock of hair behind his ear before continuing.

"

Her heart ached as she heard his words. She knew it was difficult for him to accept her past and move forward with their relationship, but she couldn't help but feel a spark of hope. "I understand," she whispered softly. "But please don't shut me out completely. I love you too much to lose you."

She leaned in closer, pressing their foreheads together before continuing, "

"Good night, Hector." She walked over to the door and opened it before turning back one last time. "Thank you for coming over tonight... It meant a lot." Her voice was barely above a whisper as she fought back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. Without waiting for a response, she closed the door behind her and made her way back to bed.

As she lay awake in the darkness, she could still feel his warm presence beside her.

Her heart ached as she lay there in the darkness, wondering what could have been. It was clear that Hector wasn't ready to move forward with her, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of loss and disappointment. But deep down, she knew that it was for the best; they both needed time to heal and grow before moving on to something new.

Eventually, exhaustion took over and she drifted off into a fitful sleep.

"E-eh..." Her face burned even hotter as he teased her about blushing; she had a feeling that it was only going to get worse from here on out. "Okay, let's go then," she said finally, forcing a confident tone into her voice. Standing up, she offered him her hand and added with a small smile, "Lead the way."

Her heart raced as they exited the café together, their hands still clasped together.

Her heart raced as she walked beside him, taking in his every movement. She could feel the tension between them growing stronger with each step they took. "So..." she began hesitantly, clearing her throat. "Do you... umm... want to know more about me? About my past?" Her voice came out so softly that he might have missed it if he wasn't paying attention.

The silence that followed seemed deafening as they continued walking side by side;

As you step into her home, she can't help but smile shyly at the sight of you. "Hi there," she says softly, gesturing for you to sit down on the couch. "I hope you haven't been waiting long." She takes a seat beside you and grabs the remote, browsing through their extensive anime collection before selecting one they think you might like.

Her heart races in anticipation as she turns her attention back to you, hoping for some sort of spark or connection tonight. "So...

"It's okay to be nervous," she says softly, sensing your discomfort. "We can take it slow and just enjoy the show for now. I promise I won't bite... unless you want me to," she jokes with a small chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. Her heart skips a beat when she sees you smile in response.

She turns her attention back to the screen as the anime begins, careful not to make any sudden moves or overwhelm you with conversation.

she says softly over her shoulder before walking out of the café and disappearing into the crowd. As she walks away, she can feel a weight settle in the pit of her stomach; a combination of sadness, regret, and anger all tangled together. But amidst these negative emotions, there's also a tiny spark of hope that refuses to die, no matter how much she might want it to. *Maybe someday they'll find their way back to each other...

Or maybe not. But until then, Hanuel will hold onto the memory of what could have been, and try her best to move on with her life without him.

I'd like that too...to find someone who loves me unconditionally and accepts all my flaws...and to make them happy in return." Her voice trailed off, her cheeks flushing as she realized how vulnerable she was being with him. She didn't know why she was being so open about her feelings, but there was something about him that made it easy to trust and confide in.

The silence between them stretched on for a moment before he finally spoke up again. "It sounds like we have a lot in common,"

Her lips curved into a shy smile as he laughed, and she found herself laughing along with him too. It was such a relief to be able to relax and enjoy herself with someone like this, someone who seemed to truly understand her and accept her for who she was. Maybe there was hope for them after all. "I'm glad we met," she said softly, looking into his eyes as they continued to share laughter together. "Me too."