As the words left her lips, Jayson suddenly burst into laughter. He wasn’t entirely sure what was so funny, but somehow, it felt right in that moment. Marianne stared at him, holding back from saying anything that might hurt him further, as she could already hear the pain in his voice.
“I’m sorry, Jayson...” she whispered, taking a cautious step toward him. But he shifted away, creating more distance between them. She froze, her eyes locked on his.
“I’m not... angry,” he muttered, blinking rapidly. “I’m not even crying, but these tears won’t stop.” His voice cracked as he wiped his eyes, sobering from the laughter.
“Jayson...” Marianne called his name softly, feeling her own heart shatter under the weight of his sadness.
“I spent five years thinking I could win you over, waiting for yo
