"Rachael, do you love me?"
The moment Adrian uttered those words, a delicate silence enveloped the romantic air between them.
"..."
Rachael wasn't at all surprised by the question. In fact, since the moment Adrian proposed a date, she had a hunch that something like this might occur, and that hunch had only strengthened throughout the day.
However, anticipating was one thing; facing it in reality left Rachael momentarily flustered.
The romantic haze that had veiled her eyes lifted, and a sudden clarity settled over her, forcing her to grasp the gravity of the situation and remember the romantic kiss she shared with Adrian.
"I... I... I...."
Her attempts to articulate a response faltered. She opened her mouth, stumbled over her words, touched her lips, and then closed her mouth again, unsure of what to say.