Michelangelo stared at the guest for a long moment as he replayed their question over and over in his head. “Love her?” Once it finally sinked in, he felt his face get immediately hot. “Uh-WOW that is quite the question to ask nony!” The orange clad turtle rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled a bit shyly. Cheeks now a darker shade as he thought about the women in question.
They have been in a relationship for about two years in private (mainly from the Headmaster and not his brothers), and best-friends for more then five. Yet he still felt fluttering butterflies in his stomach whenever he saw Sam. When she would turn and give him a wink or smile, his toes would curl. Have a conversation for hours, hugged, hold his face, hold hands, cuddle, laugh with him, make love, kiss…His heart was racing just thinking about those precious moments they shared. It all felt like the first time every time even though they did all this more then once at this point……
Oh boy.
“But—I’m now starting to realize that that may be the truth.” Mikey rubbed a hand over his mouth and chin, smiling big with rosy cheeks. “I was honestly worried about that because ooh boy nony…this turtle right here-“ He pointed at himself with both hands. “-has a bad habit of falling in love too fast to any sign of affection from the person I’m interested in.” He laughed a bit but sighed, knowing the trouble it caused for him in the past. “It’s caused a lot of issues and pain in past relationships for me-but, Sam already knew about this.” He nodded with a slow smile.
“My girlfriend is a patient and understanding person, incredibly so, but at the same-time she took this habit of mine seriously.” The orange clad terrapin walked over to a bar and pour himself a glass of water. Pouring a second one for his guest and handing them one with a bigger smile and nod. “We both had a calm but serious sit down to talk about this issue right at the beginning of starting the relationship, and she helped me to understand that there was more then just a physical connection in Love but, an emotional and mental one as well.” He took swig of drink and signed softly as the cool water went down smoothly.
“Love builds over time, yeah? And Sam herself wanted to take this slow between us for her own personal reasons. I of course agreed because I care about her so much and didn’t want to scare her off. ” Mikey gently squeezed his cup as he felt a knot tighten in his stomach. “At the same time she was firm on wanting me to be honest and not be afraid to tell her anything. Even though expressing/talking about emotions and opening up in general was difficult her, she still built a safe space for us to be able to talk about anything. To learn and grow together.” He said with a soft exhale.
Lifting a hand and tracing the lines on his palm with his eyes. “Sam has treated me like a person and made me feel like a man more then anyone I’ve dated in this past.” He murmured. “She didn’t say nor make me feel stupid or like some innocent child that wouldn’t understand.” His jaw tighten at the bad past partners he had but he immediately breathed in then out to calm himself. He didn’t need to bring those nasty thoughts right now.
“With her I’m…so happy. I may not know if she also loves me because I’m afraid to tell her but, I know through her eyes, her words, lending an ear to listen, her praises, her soft touches, warm hugs, homemade foods and sweet kisses that she does like-like me.” He chuckled at that last bit. “Her feelings for me feel genuine.” Mikey’s eyes soften as his smile grew into a warm one. “Maybe when the time feels right for both of us…I’ll tell her.”
And maybe if the Headmaster was warmed up to the idea then suddenly surprised by their relationship. Then Sam wouldn’t worry so much to protect him from getting in trouble. When in reality, it was the other way around for him. There was a side of the old man he was starting to see…that didn’t rub him the right way.
