Chapter 317 - 317: Torn Between Two Men (2/2)

Allen approached Marie, pulling her gently towards the center.

”This is for you.” Allen handed the bouquet of red roses over to Marie.

”Thank you.” She accepted it with a smile.

After that, there was a moment of silence. Both of them felt the awkward atmosphere surrounding them.

After a while, they met each other's gaze and ended up bursting into a peal of laughter.

”Argh… this is so awkward!” Allen mumbled.

Marie let out a soft giggle and said ”I know right.”

”Anyway, a birthday party without a gift is not complete,” Allen stated, picking up something at the back pocket of his jeans.

It was a jewelry box. He stretched his arm as he opened the box while showing it to Marie.

A silver necklace with a half crescent moon pendant came into her view.

Marie gasped in surprise. ”Wow, it's beautiful and it looks expensive… I didn't know if I should accept it or not. What if you will try to use this to blackmail me once we get into a fight?” Marie said jokingly to lighten the mood.

Allen chuckled. ”Dummy. I won't do that. I am giving this to you as your birthday gift!”

”Alright. I am just kidding. You don't have to call me, Dummy!”

They burst out laughing once again.

Then Allen suddenly stopped laughing as he became serious. He mustered all his courage to do this.

”Marie… I have something to tell. Will you hear me out?”

Badum! Badum!

”S-Sure… tell me.”

Allen looked straight at her eyes. His gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds before he spoke up.

”Marie… I don't know how do you feel about me. But I have to tell you this before I end up regretting it.”

”The truth is… I like you Marie, not just a friend… but more than that. No… that's not the right words…” Allen was having a hard time putting his feelings into words. He was really nervous.

'[email protected] Allen! Don't mess this up! Be a man!'

Allen took a deep breath before he continued.

”Marie, I love you! I think I've loved you since we started working together in the special task force. I kept this for a long time now.”

Marie had no words right now. She was shocked by this sudden confession coming from her colleague who was also her good friend.

”I was planning to confess my feelings for you after solving our last case but that unfortunate incident happened.”

”You lost your memory. So… my confession got postponed.” Allen said to her then letting out a soft chuckle.

”So now, I decided to confess… I hope you will give me a chance… don't worry. You don't have to answer me right away. I will not force you to love me… but please… give me a chance to show you how much I care about you… how much I love you.”

Marie was tongue-tied. She had mixed emotions right now. She was confused. Just a few days ago, she met with a certain guy named Brandon Stone who claimed to be her man. He asked her to start all over again.

And now, Allen who was her former colleague and her good friend at the same time just confessed his feelings towards her.

She didn't know what to feel nor what to think right now. She felt like she was torn between the two men. She had not given Brandon Stone her answer yet and now Allen was also asking her to give him a chance.

'What should I do now?'

**********

Unknown to them, what was happening in that garden right now was being witnessed by Black Shadow. He heard everything.

When Marie left the venue going to the garden, Black Shadow was following her behind. He thought it was a perfect opportunity to meet her since she was alone.

But he didn't expect that a certain someone was already waiting for Marie in the garden. Black Shadow even wanted to commend Allen for the effort he put into for this surprise.

He had to admit that Allen was so thoughtful and romantic, preparing everything like that. He felt insecure about himself. He had not thought of doing things like these for Marie.

What made Black Shadow feel more defeated was Allen told Marie that he loved her in which Black Shadow couldn't tell her that since he didn't believe in those words anymore.

Without waiting for Marie's response, Black Shadow started to walk away with a heavy heart. He couldn't describe what he was feeling right now.

Is he mad? Angry? But with whom? To the guy who had just confessed to Marie or to his own self?

”Black Shadow… you are really a pathetic loser.” He mumbled to himself, smiling bitterly.