Edwin can't help it--the strength and purity of the emotions scares him. It scares him because it will be so much worse if Jedao ever decides to hate him. It scares him because he doesn't want to say something that will make that happen. He could ruin it, and he's never had or expected anything like Jedao's intangible warmth.

I love you.

It's an overwhelming set of words. He makes a soft, shocked noise.

"...Why? What did I do?"

If he can learn, maybe he can do it again.