Something restricts his motions, and Neil is surprised to find that the source of it is Alex. He turns his head to watch the other, to silently question the reason.

When Alex touches his cheek and utters a question (that question), Neil freezes. Head, heart, and gut scream their answer in unison, but he can't. He can't say what everything in him wants him to say.

So he gives the next best thing. A truth, of course, but still very lacking. "My feelings for you haven't changed," he answers carefully.