"So please will you be mine?" Reyes asked.

She looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of insincerity, but all she saw was genuine emotion. "Reyes, I...I need time to think," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Reyes' face lit up with hope, and he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's all I can ask for," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "Take all the time you need, Christine. I'll be waiting."

Christine nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation wash over her. She had never expected Reyes to confess his feelings to her, and she didn't know how to process her emotions.

As...