Capítulo 223: Diego's warning
The late afternoon lit up with its heat, yet people stroll the streets busily, carrying on with their daily lifestyle.
Watching the scene from nearby vicinity is Diego, dressed in his casuals and looking clean in his attire. He sat nearby the window while sipping a cold drink. His eyes glanced at the passengers spanning his vision; a tension still prevails. Despite how long he stares, the anxiety in him could never let him live in peace.
What a useless hobby to watch the strangers pass by, still it doesn't distract Diego even for a second.
It has been like this for the past few days.
**
The prime time for young seeds to focus on their dream arrived already. Upon receiving their final grades, everyone began working on their applications to send to their preferred universities.
Every day was busy, chasing after the path they all chose. It is a pivotal moment where one cannot lose focus. However, Diego's anxiety is the result of something else that happened a few days back.
Ever since Lillian declared being in love with Giselle and that she is planning to make her confession soon, Diego became listless. His mind racked from the very thought of imagining Lillian and Giselle together. No matter how much of influencing one does, still, Diego won't feel content from Lillian falling in love with someone else, let alone a girl. These sickening feelings tortured Diego, leading him to a lack of sleep along with cranky mood swings; Diego couldn't feel his usual self. He wished to put an end to his struggles, or else this might become the greatest regret in his life.
**
Right now, sitting in a café, Diego still seems apprehensive. A lot of emotions surfaced in his eyes; sadness, anger, frustration, etc.
All caused by one person, and that is Giselle.
Diego cowered in fear that his feelings for Lillian might go unnoticed with Giselle's presence in their lives. He forced himself to resolve. Influenced by his frustration, Diego had no choice but only to think this way.
Just as his mind wrecked itself internally, Diego's gaze glanced over at his mobile phone.
He picked it up and went to the inbox to read a message.
//
Lilly – 10:47 PM
I'm planning to ask out Giselle this weekend. Wish me luck, Diego!
//
It was only a single line, but the story behind it struck Diego.
'What did you do all these years?' – He asked himself immediately after reading this message that Lillian Grey sent him last night. It appears that she sent it to Anna also, informing both of her friends about the plan to make Giselle her lover.
'Did I simply waste all this time?'
'Do all the years of me, silently watching over her while waiting for the right time and moment, is rubbish?'
Diego's grip clenched. If it were a fragile item, then it would get crushed with his force.
It is not what he dreamed or desired.
It is also not what wants.
..
"Diego?"
A voice intruded his reverie.
Diego attended to find Giselle standing in front of him with a sweet smile on her face. He recalls why he was sitting in a café. It was him who invited Giselle for a small chat.
Seeing her face, Diego felt both fits of rage burst alongside slight fear that jittered him to question if what he was doing is correct or not.
Naturally, he glared at her with his raw instincts. However, when Giselle's grimace shifted to wonder, Diego withdrew his hatred filled gaze.
'Why am I even meeting this girl?' – He cursed at himself.
Right now, he shouldn't be depressing. Finishing the last sip of his drink, Diego greeted Giselle, forcing a smile on his face despite all the resentment he possessed on her.
Upon welcomed by Diego, Giselle took her seat, and the two went ahead to place their orders.
A formal exchange of words traded between Giselle and Diego, soon their drinks arrived, aiding to their unbearable tension.
Giselle kept glancing at Diego, not sure why he would invite her out in the first place. When she received a call from him, Giselle, initially, turned it down by trying to give a lame excuse. However, Diego kept insisting on meeting her, saying that he must talk to her immediately.
Sensing his urgency, Giselle finally agreed and requested a favorable time to meet.
Now, facing him, Giselle couldn't handle the inescapable situation. Firstly, she felt discomfort from meeting Diego because Giselle knew that the guy secretly is in love with Lillian Grey. Hence, meeting him outside without Lillian or Anna means that he plans to talk about things related to Lillian.
Giselle suddenly tasted fright.
Lillian left Diego alone on prom night. She left him and came to meet Giselle.
'Maybe, he is mad at me,' – Giselle thought.
"How is your application process coming along? Have you decided which college you are going to attend?" Diego asks, opening a conversation to build.
"No, I haven't decided yet."
Giselle's simple response bored Diego. However, he did not care and only aimed to present a conversing topic.
"Have you- decided?" Giselle asks, showing her courtesy.
"I did, and I'm sure of getting a positive response very soon," Diego boasted his reply.
"After all, we are fighting for our dreams. It is only natural to be working hard towards your goal in life," he added while glimpsing at Giselle. His gaze didn't exhibit encouragement.
It was hard to react or even converse with Diego because of his hostility. The guy never gave a peaceful space for Giselle to breathe. Ever since he learned that it was she, who confessed to Lillian Grey, Diego's approach changed. However, he is never the bad guy, and so, believing in those words, Giselle thought she could lighten up a little and try to be understanding. After all, they both fell in love with the same person. Giselle knew Diego takes more priority in Lillian's life than her. Hence, every action of Giselle's filled with respect and courtesy.
Diego found the girl to feel uncomfortable with the broken conversation. Without hesitating, Diego chose to inaugurate the subject he wanted to address.
"Did Lillian visit you on that day?" Diego asks, denoting the prom night.
Giselle waited to respond.
"I already know she did, there is no use hiding it from me," Diego adds, knowingly.
There is no point in hesitating anymore. Giselle admits seeing Lillian on that night. She keeps her head lower rather than meeting Diego's gaze.
"Mind I ask, what happened? Why was she so eager to meet you?" Diego braves to query what exactly went that day. Back then, Lillian only mentioned that she went out to meet Giselle and not any details.
According to Diego, something occurred on that night that triggered Lillian to convince her feelings for Giselle as love. Using this opportunity, Diego hopes to get Giselle to spit out the details.
Knowing Diego, Giselle knew that answering what happened on that night will get her into trouble. She can't say that Lillian behaved unusually.
A flash of past clips replayed, making Giselle remember that night's departure and how Lillian shattered Giselle's trouble with a spontaneous kiss on her forehead.
Remembering it made Giselle redden a little. She was not like her usual self; ever since that incident, Giselle lost control over herself. Lillian made her continue having hope, which seeped deep into Giselle's heart. Subconsciously, she struggled in between developing the desire to pursue Lillian and giving up on her forever.
Diego noticed Giselle appearing flushed all over.
"Did something interesting happen for you to glow?" he asked, exposing her.
Startled, Giselle denies and answers that Lillian only came to meet her. She also added the part where Lillian got lost and that Giselle had to guide her, making it seem like nothing else happened on that night.
To believe her answer or not, Diego mused. She seems to hide something from him. Diego found it futile to ask her anymore.
Sighing to himself, he admitted that what the two did, do not interest him.
Returning to the tight stillness once again, the two prevailed.
..
"This is all so stupid and atrocious."
Diego calls out, breaking into the peace.
Giselle baffled from the unambiguous remark. Ignoring her lost state, Diego resumed talking.
"The minute when Lillian fought with Mike for you, I knew it was stupid,"
Without letting her take the ball, Diego continues.
"I warned her that day and on multiple occasions, not to get herself involved with unnecessary things-"
Diego paused to give Giselle a slandering look.
"Although the reason behind her action seems to be right, it is not her place to play the judge role. That is when I started avoiding you openly."
Giselle never knew the reason why Diego became suddenly distant with her. They were chill until the trip. However, returning from the tour, Giselle felt Diego ostracizing her. A few times, she tried to approach the guy, but always ended up receiving his disdain. Eventually, Giselle gave up and respected his space. She never invaded the conversation led by him or tried to voice out her opinion when he questions. This way, it turned to be peaceful for Giselle.
As time went and Diego asked Lillian out, he unveiled his emotions for a few seconds, which Giselle happen to notice. Thinking back now, Giselle felt that Diego's cold-shoulders were all to point out his dislike for her. Things got messed up, and so, Giselle thought of saying goodbye to those precious feelings for Lillian. It was the main reason behind her harsh words to Lillian Grey, on that day at the park.
In the end, it appears as if she got involved in a love triangle, which Giselle never wished. All she did is to fall for a girl she liked. If confessing her love means to bring her all sorts of troubles, then Giselle hoped that she never met Lillian at all. It was all too much for her to handle the mess.
"What does that have to do now, Diego?" Giselle asked, encouraging him to speed up the conversation and settle it as soon as possible, as she began to feel cumbersome.
"Step out of our lives, Giselle," Diego said, playing no more games.
His words sounded both rude and aggressive. Diego looked more intense, practically glaring at her with his contempt.
"Step away from Lillian, and just because she helped you once doesn't mean she cares for you," he spoke without any hesitation.
"What do you mean?" Giselle couldn't follow his words, and so she requested for him to address in detail.
"You think you know Lillian Grey better than us? I've known her for a long time, and this isn't the Lillian we grew up with, she is acting all weird, and it is honestly awful to watch her behave this way. She is not your puppet, influencing her to take revenge for your sake, and sticking next to her always doesn't mean that she prioritizes you more than others."
"You might admire her from the borders and liked her, but that doesn't mean you can get all comfortable with our Lillian,"
The more Diego spoke, Giselle found it to be harsh. What she feared is happening right now.
"Think again. All you did is use Lillian to your advantage."
Giselle shuddered from what she heard. She could no longer hold her senses better. The very word 'using Lillian' came as a hard slap on her face. Giselle pressed her hands tighter, hurting herself as she listened to the guy speak.
"I'm not saying that you had ill intentions, but that is how it looks,"
"I am sorry to say this: because you were weak to stand for yourself, Lillian had to step into your life,"
'Weak!'
Giselle heard her heart shatter. Indeed, she was not able to save herself. But that doesn't mean she used Lillian.
Giselle knew she was weak. However, it felt painful to hear it out loud.
"You were weak, and so she sympathized with you," Diego openly states.
Giselle knew Lillian for quite a time, and in all those moments together, not once did Lillian say that Giselle was weak.
Now that Giselle thinks about it, it makes sense. Maybe, Lillian was striving for Giselle to stand for herself. All of her concerns might come from charity.
Finally, pausing, Diego glanced at Giselle to find the girl distressed and breaking down emotionally.
Though a part of him felt sorry for her situation, Diego can't stop right now. He can't easily ignore the feelings he harvested all these years.
Plus, Diego also firmly believes that Giselle is not the person Lillian should be with and spend her life. Selfishly, he chose to hurt Giselle and make her disappear from Lillian silently.
Unable to bear any more words, Giselle asks what he is trying to accomplish from all these statements. By now, Giselle sounded both enraged as well as hurt.
"I wish you know your place, Giselle,"
"I don't want Lillian to get influenced by your presence. You can hang out with the group of people who's just like you, but don't drag my friend down," Diego declares.
"It is best for all if you quietly disappear from our lives. We can return to the place we were happily enjoying ourselves without any worry."
With those, Giselle appeared on the verge of tearing up, yet she restrained from letting herself look vulnerable. Her pride, her feelings, everything got insulted by Diego. Being humiliated by one of Lillian's close friends, Giselle didn't wish to stay any longer.
"Alright," Giselle quickly agrees to his wish.
"..."
"You invited me out to prove that I am a bad influence on your friend, correct?"
"You said too much already. Let me talk too," Giselle sarcastically requested.
Diego waited guardedly.
"Being gay is not a disease to get afraid of, Diego. For the record, Lillian Grey and I aren't in a romantic relationship. I, myself, feel grateful for her accepting me as a human being when everyone else treated me like a disgust. Yes, she might seem to be a little over-protective of me, but you don't have to worry, I am not using her to my satisfaction."
"Please stop having any misconception hereafter. In case if you do, you can ask your friend, Lillian, directly instead of calling me out and embarrassing me. Lastly, just because I don't react doesn't mean I'm weak. What I face every day isn't something you can endure easily. So, don't go assuming what I am without knowing what I went through in my life."
Finishing her final few words, Giselle swiftly stood up and walked away.
Diego at first got overwhelmed by her response, but watching her leave, he finally exhaled.
He never knew that Giselle had the potential to talk back. Nonetheless, all of his efforts seemed paid off. By confronting Giselle, Diego made sure that the girl learns her place and leaves Lillian Grey. It was the only way for Diego to stop Lillian from growing her infant love.
Diego knows Lillian won't stop. Therefore, making Giselle quit might hurt Lillian, but it is all for good.
***
That night, Lillian sent her usual funny text message to Giselle. However, Giselle wasn't in the mood to respond.
Despite the failing efforts to lure in Giselle, Lillian kept sending back and forth texts. Even Giselle found it to be unusual.
Reading those messages one after the other, Giselle reached the final text, which caught her attention.
//
Lillian Grey -
'Giselle, I have something important to tell you. Can we meet over this weekend?'
//
Giselle paused and kept staring at the message advertently.
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
ljack_ace
ljack_ace I contemplated a lot for this chapter even after the storyboarding. A lot of new perspectives arise the more I think about the story and the characters.
Anyways, I hope this chapter served its purpose in the story!
Thank you for reading 'Get Back to You.'
Stay warms and be happy!
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