I love you too, James.

5 — Red Tulips — Red tulips are the perfect choice to express feelings of deep, romantic love. They symbolize intense and sincere love, being ideal for dating requests, declarations of love and celebrating relationships. The red of tulips conveys a powerful message of passion and commitment, making any occasion special and memorable.

I felt like déjà vu. 

I mean, not really, it was more like a sentimental déjà vu, because I could remember very well feeling that same feeling four months ago, the feeling that, at the same time as I have anxiety accompanying me every As I pass, waiting for the inevitable, there is also an absolute dread, self-dubbed “The Fear of Rejection” creeping in the back of my mind.

At the same time, I wanted to run away as far as I could, somewhere that doesn't exist he, It isI was eager to do so soon, and that part of me was also more than a little sad to even think of somewhere he didn't exist. 

And it doesn't make sense, I know it doesn't. 

But it was inevitable, I'm an anxious person, I overthink everything, Regulus tells me that all the time, and he's right, I was born with a brain pre-programmed to think of the worst atrocities he could, even in situations that obviously are in my favour, that's usually why I'm an eight or an eighty, or I'm procrastinating, or I'm just, you know, doing everything at once. 

And right now, I'm procrastinating.

My original plan was to ask him to be my girlfriend last night, when everyone was asleep, and I could kiss him afterwards as much as I wanted, away from prying eyes, but he and he slept while we watched movies, like, nine o'clock at night, because my friend insisted on watching “You Can't Buy Yourself”, So this time it wasn't my fault. 

So, as I carried it up the stairs, towards my room, thinking with the few brain cells I have, I decided to ask for it when we were opening presents in the morning, so it would be something nice and meaningful, even though we couldn't hold on to each other in front of it from my parents and our friends, but I was a patient guy, I could wait.

And I obviously didn't ask for it, because I'm a cowardly guy who as soon as he saw the possibility right in front of him, he almost fainted just thinking about how everything could go wrong. 

Which, of course, brings me to this moment. 

We had all already had lunch, we were satisfied with my mother's wonderful food, spread around the room, with my parents, Regulus, and I am sitting on the biggest sofa, Sirius and Remus crammed together in the armchair, because Sirius lost 3-0 at jokenpô to Peter, who was lying comfortably on the love seat, almost asleep, while “The Grinch” played on the TV. 

Looking down, I couldn't feel a wave of heat spread through my chest at the sight I saw: Regulus, who was lying on my chest, almost asleep, his feet were intertwined with my father's, who was dozing, lying on top from my mother. 

It was an image so comfortable it screamed “Love affection” It is “Home”. 

In a small burst of courage, I jumped up, startling a sleepy Regulus, and, ignoring his grumbles and complaints and the “What the fuck, Potter?” I grabbed his hand and dragged him to the centre of the room, steadying him when he tripped over a gift box that was forgotten on the floor. 

— Get away from the TV — Sirius said, but I ignored him. 

— What the hell- — his speech was cut off, his mouth closing with a click, when, just as abruptly as I stood up, I knelt before him.

Looking around quickly, I could see Remus with his hand-over Sirius' mouth, smiling, my father, who had just woken up and was still confused, with his eyes wide, my mother's proud smile and Peter's encouraging thumbs.

Taking a deep breath, I turned back to Regulus, who seemed to have a mixture of emotions passing across his face, so fast that I could barely identify them, and with a shaking hand, I took the small box that had been stuffed in my pocket the entire holiday, the box that I had already opened several times before, just to admire them, and I pulled it out, placing it right in front of his eyes. 

Regulus was starting to turn a worrying shade of red, but his eyes were brighter than usual, and if I hadn't been so tense, I would have mocked him for the unusual colour his face was turning. 

— Reggie, you've been my best friend since I stole those white roses from you — I began, this time remembering at least part of the text I wrote — You spent years chasing me, attached to my hip, until you entered elementary school and let go of Dorcas and Pandora, and I can tell you, I still have regrets about that — I joked, and he finally smiled, taking some of the weight off my heart — You know all my secrets, all my versions, you've been with me in difficult times and in good times, you laughed and cried with me and prevented me from freaking out over small things so many times. You let me invade your room whenever I wanted, no matter how much I hated people coming in there, you allowed me to curl up around you like an octopus whenever I got the chance, you laughed at my silliest jokes and made your own — I took a deep breath, taking in the breath that was escaping me — You were my first love, my first real date, the first that made me feel like this, as if my world shook every time you laughed, as if my heart races every time I see you, as if I'm high just looking into your eyes for a while — then taking your hand, I bring it to my lips and kiss it — We only became something more 4 months ago, but I've been yours for a long time before that, and I can't bear the thought of going another second without being able to shout to everyone that you're my boyfriend, and I know that rings are usually for married people, but fuck it, because I wanted something to symbolize that, and we make the rules of our relationship anyway — I stammered — So… Regulus Black, will you date me? I finally asked, and of all the reactions I thought I'd get, laughter was definitely not one of them. 

Regulus laughs and laughs and laughs some more, and as much as I loved his laugh, he seemed a little manic, and at that moment, I liked his tears more than his laughter. 

Looking around, I realized that it wasn't just me who had missed the joke, but everyone seemed a little confused, and even Sirius was looking at Regulus as if he had a second head. 

Turning back to my hitherto best-friend-just-a-little-more-than-that, I started to get genuinely worried, because I had never seen him laugh so much, so hard, and why was he laughing?

Oh God, he doesn't want to date me? Do you think that was a joke?

And before my thoughts begin to get the best of me, Regulus, still laughing, lets go of my hand, which falls heavily to my side, takes something out of his pocket, and kneel.  

— Yes, I accept dating you, how could I not? I love you — he finally replied, with a smile — But what about you, James, will you agree to date me? — he asked, opening his own velvet box, which was larger than mine, and contained two beautiful necklaces, two parts of a single heart. 

And until that moment, I had never felt so relieved in my entire life. 

— Of course I did, you idiot — I replied, needing to express my feelings, offending him, so I let out a loud sigh and opened a huge smile — You gave me a heart attack, you know? — I said, and he laughed, which seemed to break the mood, because then, as we were exchanging rings and necklaces, we were getting some claps, our family congratulating us, and I think I heard a whistle. 

Before I could stop myself, I snatched the box from Regulus's hand and threw myself at him, giving him a teeth-chattering kiss, but neither of us minded that, no, because we were more focused on showing each other how happy we were. 

— Get a room! — Peter shouted when we separated, out of breath, looking at each other with twin smiles. 

— No! ‘Are you crazy, Pettigrew? My little brother won't go to any room! — Sirius said, but the smile on his face gave away how little he cared about it. 

Regulus let go first, standing up and then reaching for me, and as I allowed myself to be pulled, a blur of colour beneath the Christmas tree caught my eye and for a second I thought someone must have forgotten to open a present. , but then I touched myself.  

— Shit — I cursed, letting go of Regulus and going to get the bouquet partially hidden by the nativity scene. 

In all my nervousness, I forgot about the bouquet I had bought for him.

— I knew I was missing something — Regulus said, taking it from my hand, and then placing a short, sweet kiss on my lips — I love you too, James — he said, but was partially cut off by Peter's scream. 

— I WON THE BET!