Chris Brown

Chris Brown says he still loves ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran.

The 26-year-old rapper said so in an interview with On Air with Ryan Seacrest on Tuesday. Brown appeared hopeful for a reconciliation with Tran, who left after discovering the star fathered a daughter, Royalty, with Nia Amey.

"[I] just take it one day at a time," he said. "I can't promise anything, or jump over the moon. But I think it takes time for all wounds. I take full responsibility for my actions and things that I've done in the past. I feel like it's just a time thing."

"Of course," he responded when asked if he still loves Tran. "I'm not a hateful person. Of course I still love her. But mentally right now, I just think everything takes time. I think I just need to focus on being the best father I can be."

Brown and Tran were an on-again, off-again couple for several years, and previously broke up due to the rapper's Rihanna-over-Chris-Brown/5091405371517/?spt=sec&or=en" target="_blank">lingering feelings for ex-girlfriend Rihanna. He reportedly ran into Tran at Playhouse nightclub and later argued with the model at Norms diner last week.

Brown released his sixth studio album, X, in Sept. 2014, and debuted collaborative record Fan of a Fan: The Album with fellow rapper Tyga in February. The rapper will kick off his One Hell of a Nite summer tour with Kid Ink and Omarion on Aug. 12.