This brings Aris fully back to earth and he nods slowly a few times before turning his gaze back to the girl and pointing a finger in her direction to acknowledge the point. "The other reason it's scary," he responds, tone superficially chipper but with an underlying resignation, before dropping his hand, "But it can go the other way too. What if they do feel the same way but neither of you ever say anything? Or if telling them would be what makes them think about you a different way? It's all..."

The words to describe what it is are beyond him and exhales a laughing sigh as he drops back in the grass. His mask jostles a bit and one panicked hand flies to his face to make sure it's still in place before he says anything else.

"...I dunno. Maybe you just have to listen to your heart after all and hope for the best."