Jasper waited for your response, your explanation, watching you expectantly, with mixture of hope, sadness and worry in her eyes. If you were in her place, you would probably feel the same.

It was kind of weird to see her like this. A fearless warrior, who used to mowe down thousands of enemies without a second thought, now so afraid, so vulnerable, so fragile.

You took in a deep breath and slowly, carefuly asked "A-and how exactly do you feel?"

Her cheeks turned dark orange before she spoke. When you saw her blush, your cheeks instinctively lit up too, as you found it rather cute and adorable.

"Well, when I'm around you, I feel so... nice and fuzzy... and warm? There's a tingling sensation in my chest... I suddenly become happier and... determined to carry on in trying to become a proper Earth-dweller." she sighed and shook her head, looking down on her hands, as she nervously messed with the lower rim of the shirt-part of her new uniform. "It probably sounds pretty stupid, I know..."

"No! It doesn't!" you quickly blurted out "I mean, not to me! I think I know what you feel..."

"Oh? So... would you tell me what it actually is? So I could finally stop worrying..."

You found it really hard to explain something as simple as love to someone who didn't understand the concept and never felt it before. Actually, you yourself were pretty confused. Of course she wasn't the first person you had a crush on, there were a few other people before that you liked, but Jasper was different.

She was both someone and something completely different. The way she acted, both innocently unaware of her surroundings and fearless of what may come. The way she looked, no human could ever substitute for her unearthly beauty.

And now, this gorgeous Gem had chosen you, out of all people on this Earth, she chose you.

And you at the same time didn't know how to tell her that you feel exactly the same.

You took in a deep breath again.

"So, Steven has already taught you about 'love', hasn't he? The feeling of treasuring someone above all the riches in the world, above your own good and well... the feeling you could stay with the person forever if you had the chance..."

"Yes, yes! I-is that what I feel?"

You nodded lightly, but to your surprise, an emotion you certainly did not expect took over her features.

Regret and remorse.

"I-I knew it! But Steven told me that sometimes, the person won't love you back... and that I cannot change it..." she clenched her fists together into a tight ball. "I-I was afraid of this! I knew that if I felt... that... it would just hurt me! It would do no good. Not to me, not to you, not to anybody else! Just look at me... it made me weak and it made you probably hate me..."

You just stared at her through this whole outburst of emotions.

You stared at her as she expressed her worries and insecurities about her feelings, which were alien to her.

And you stared as she hid her face in her palms, whimpering softly "Please don't hate me..."

You even saw some tears make their way past the shield of fingers.

The first time you saw her actually crying.

It was heartbreaking for you to see her in this state. You felt horrible for not saying a god damn word to as she slowly broke down in front of you.

But you would not just watch anymore. You had to do something.

Jasper still silently wept into her palms as you stood up, her soft sobs getting lightly louder, as she probably thought you were leaving her.

You, in fact, did the exact opposite.

You walked in front of her and smiled softly, as you carefully sat on her lap facing her, gently grabbing her hands and pulling them away from her teary eyes.

She looked at you in confusion, the tears starting to stop. Her breath was uneven, her gem looked a bit duller than usual.

You smiled reassuringly, your hands moving from her wrists to her face. You softly held her cheeks in your palms as you whispered.

"I don't hate you... I feel the same...

I love you Jasper."

Her eyes widened as she watched you slowly move your face to hers, until your lips were touching. She was sitting there for a short moment, completely thrown off, before she wrapped her arms around your waist, kissing you back.

Your lips were connected for a short, but memorable while, she was both soft, careful and needy for your touch.

Then the annoying need for air kicked in.

You slowly leaned away your head, both your faces completely dark from blushing, both your features adorned by happy smiles.

You spent the rest of the day in each others warm embrance in her sitting sack, talking about your feelings towards each other and why didn't you express them earlier.

There were many problems to be solved, mainly your future plans and when exactly were you going to tell the others about your new relationship.

But that could wait.

Right now, the world seemed to be just about you two.

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