[Huh? What did he just say?] Dino thought with his eyes wide in amazement, finding whatever Eric just said to be unbelievable. [Did he say that he likes me?]
"Eric, I'm sorry, but could you please say that again?" Dino requested with an innocent look.
"I guess you won't get it that way," Eric replied while scratching his head in disbelief with his eyes closed. Next, he placed his large hands on Dino's shoulders and gazed directly at the latter's eyes before tenderly saying, "Dino, what I meant is that I...I love you."
At this point, Dino started to blush, but he thought that maybe Eric meant that he loves him as just a friend.
"Eric, of course you love me. We're friends after all. Right?" Dino replied with his face flushed.
Eric shook his head before answering, "No, Dino. It's not that. I mean that I love you more than just a friend."
"Huh? W-What do you mean?" Dino asked, looking both flushed and confused.