Tell me how to love you

Mark walked home that evening, his mind still spinning with everything that had happened in the past couple of days. It felt like the world had shifted on its axis, and now he was standing in a new place, unsure of how to move forward.

He couldn't shake the feeling that everything with Emma—her blue eyes, her calm demeanor, the unexpected kiss—had all happened too fast. There was so much he didn't understand about her, about himself, about relationships in general. And yet, the way he felt when he was around her made him question everything he had once believed.

When he reached his apartment, Mark threw his keys onto the counter, then slumped against the door for a moment, feeling the weight of his own thoughts pressing on him. He hadn't had time to process everything. The emotions had been too overwhelming—too intense. A part of him wanted to stay in that quiet, safe place where things were familiar. But another part of him couldn't ignore the pull he felt towards her, even though it terrified him.

He walked into his bedroom and sat down on the bed, still thinking about their conversation earlier in the café. Emma had made it clear that she wasn't looking for perfection. She wasn't expecting him to have everything figured out. And somehow, that had made him feel like maybe, just maybe, he could do this. Maybe he could let go of the walls he had spent so long building around himself.

Mark reached for his phone, feeling a sudden urge to talk to someone. He had kept everything bottled up inside, and it was starting to feel like too much. He needed to hear a familiar voice—someone who would listen without judgment.

He scrolled through his contacts, then hit call on Cristiano's name. Cristiano was the one person who had always been there for him. Their friendship had withstood the test of time, and even though they didn't talk as much as they used to, Mark knew that if he needed advice, Cristiano was the person to call.

The phone rang twice before Cristiano picked up.

"Yo, Mark!" Cristiano greeted him, his voice full of energy. "What's going on? You sound… off. Something wrong?"

Mark smiled softly at his friend's voice. It was always upbeat, no matter what was going on in his life. Cristiano had always been the life of the party—the kind of guy who could charm anyone with a smile or a joke. But tonight, Mark wasn't in the mood for jokes. He needed someone who would listen and help him make sense of everything.

"I don't even know where to start," Mark admitted, his voice shaky as he sat down on his bed. "I… met someone. And I don't know what to make of it."

Cristiano didn't interrupt. He let Mark speak, patiently waiting for him to continue. Mark had known for a while that he didn't have any experience with relationships, but hearing himself say it out loud felt almost like admitting defeat. He wasn't the smooth, charming guy like Cristiano. He wasn't the kind of person who knew how to flirt or make a connection easily.

"It's this girl I met the other day. She… I don't know, there's something about her. We were at the bus stop, and then we ended up sitting next to each other on the bus. And then we had coffee, and… I kissed her, man. On the cheek. I didn't even think about it. It just kind of happened."

Cristiano was quiet for a moment, and Mark could feel the tension rising in his stomach. Was he judging him? Was he laughing at him? Mark had never been great at relationships, but he still expected a certain kind of reaction. Maybe some advice. Maybe some understanding.

Instead, there was a brief silence before Cristiano spoke, and when he did, there was a strange edge to his voice. "Hold up. You kissed her? Just like that?"

Mark hesitated, his throat dry. "Yeah. It was… well, it was kind of unexpected, but it felt right, you know? I don't know what I'm doing, man. I've never done anything like this before."

Cristiano chuckled, but it was a bitter, almost sardonic sound. "I can't believe you're telling me this. You've only known her for, what, a couple of days? And now you're kissing her?"

Mark winced at the sharpness in his friend's tone. He didn't know how to explain it, how to make Cristiano understand what he was feeling. It wasn't like he had planned it. It wasn't like he had been out to impress anyone. It had just happened. And now, all of it felt so overwhelming.

"Yeah, man, I don't know. But it's just a kiss on the cheeks. It's the way she looks at me. The way she listens. She makes me feel like I'm worth something, like I don't have to be perfect." Mark ran a hand through his hair, feeling a strange mix of frustration and confusion. "But at the same time, I'm scared, you know? I don't want to mess this up."

Cristiano was quiet again. Mark could hear him shifting in his seat, and then, after a long pause, his voice came through, softer this time.

"I get it, bro," Cristiano said, his tone a little more sympathetic. "I really do. I just… it's hard for me to watch you do this. Because I'm sitting here, single as hell, while you're out here making moves with some random girl."

Mark felt a pang of guilt. He didn't want to make Cristiano feel bad, but he knew that his friend had been struggling with his own relationship issues for a long time. He had always been the one who got attention from women, the guy everyone liked. But lately, things hadn't been as easy for him. He was still looking for something that felt real. Still searching for someone who could make him feel the way Mark was starting to feel.

"I'm sorry, man," Mark said softly, feeling bad that his own life seemed to be the source of some of Cristiano's frustration. "I didn't mean to make you feel bad. It's just… I don't know what to do. I'm not good at this stuff. I'm not good at relationships."

Cristiano was silent for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was gentler. "You don't have to be good at relationships, Mark. None of us are. But what you need to understand is this: love doesn't come with a manual. You just have to be open to it, take risks, and see where it goes."

Mark was silent, taking in his friend's words. He had always been afraid of taking risks. Afraid of letting someone in and getting hurt. But maybe, just maybe, Cristiano was right. Maybe he had been holding back for too long.

"I don't know if I'm ready for that," Mark admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I'm ready to let someone in again."

Cristiano let out a deep sigh. "None of us are ever 'ready.' You just have to do it. Take the plunge. Because if you keep waiting for the perfect moment, you'll never have the chance to experience anything real. Just go for it, man."

Mark thought about it for a long moment. It was strange, hearing advice from Cristiano—who had always seemed to have everything under control. But maybe, just maybe, it was time for him to stop running from what he really wanted.

"Thanks, man," Mark said quietly. "I think I needed to hear that."

"No problem, bro," Cristiano replied, sounding a bit more cheerful now. "And hey, don't forget about me when you end up in a relationship. I'll want all the juicy details!"

Mark laughed, feeling lighter than he had in a long time. "I won't forget, man. I'll keep you updated."

After hanging up, Mark sat in silence for a moment, reflecting on the conversation. He wasn't sure what the future held with Emma, but for the first time in a long time, he felt like he was ready to take a chance.

As he lay back on his bed, he let out a deep breath, his thoughts drifting back to her—the way she had looked at him with those soft blue eyes, the way she had made him feel like he mattered. He didn't know where this would go, but he was ready to find out. For once, he wasn't afraid of what might happen. He was ready to let go of his insecurities and take the risk.

And with that thought, he finally felt like he was ready for whatever came next.

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A/N: i think he is a good guy, i mean Cristiano.

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