章節 400: Lillian's long confession

The midnight rolled with crackling fireworks in the sky and passing around wishes. Everyone at the party exchanged greetings to welcome the New Year. As Giselle stood mad stubborn in Lillian's absence, she couldn't help but get angry at her.

And in that rage, she felt a hand press tightly on her shoulder. Giselle turned around and saw Lillian Grey.

The first reaction Giselle expressed was temper. She liberally acted displeased, as if Lillian should realize on her own the mistake she did.

Luckily, Lillian caught the yellow signal before it turned red. She briefly explained about the accident and how she had to help Shane's grandmother. Giselle's anger eased to understand the unforeseen incident. She had no choice but to forgive Lillian.

Regardless, it was visible that Giselle was looking forward to sharing that midnight kiss.

Lillian looked around. She recognized Jenna's face appalled and shocked.

The time was 12:08 AM, and the fireworks kept going. By now, the band started to play songs again in celebration.

Without much delay, Lillian asked Giselle to follow. She then grabbed Giselle's hand to leave at once.

Their silent departure did not disturb anyone except Diego.

Diego enjoyed his dirty victory from separating Giselle and Lillian at midnight. He had fun until he saw Lillian return to Giselle's side. It was time his pleasure went downhill. He noticed how all that risk he took was only worthy of feeling a few minutes of exhilaration. He saw Lillian taking off with Giselle somewhere, and he knew he had to follow.

Not far from them, through the ambient light, Diego tailed Lillian and Giselle tenaciously.

***

Shane had just wished Jenna with his surprise kiss, but all of his joy turned to a nightmare when he got called out. He rushed out happily and was met with the sight of his grandmother, where Lillian tended her. Shane approached to inquire and received a distressing story of his grandmother's fall.

Initially, Shane was furious to learn who did this, but his grandmother refused to speak out. She assumed that the man had bumped into her because it was close to midnight and everyone was ready to celebrate. Besides, Shane's grandmother couldn't see the face clearly. Hence, she asked Shane not to press the issue any further.

Shane's grandmother asked him to summon her husband for support. She warned him not to exaggerate the story and only state it to be a sprain. Shane listened, displeased, and still went out to bring his grandfather inside. Meanwhile, the old lady already thanked Lillian for her help and asked her to return to the party. At first, Lillian hesitated, but Shane's grandmother forced her to go- now that Shane and her husband are going to take care of her, she will be fine.

Lillian listened to leave at once.

***

Lillian and Giselle emerged out of the house to the front yard, far from the crowd and a little distant from the live music. It was quiet and dark, with no one else present except for these two.

The front yard ran long enough to give ample privacy.

Giselle walked by Lillian's side. No longer were they holding hands. It was only to get away from the crowd. Now that they are here alone, the hand parted, and noticing them depressed Giselle. She realized how desirous she was feeling from every detail. It was a new perception of how she admired her bond with Lillian Grey.

These microscopic yearnings and having them unfulfilled left her upset. She paused, demanding Lillian to answer.

"Why did you bring me here?"

Lillian heard her voice and then noticed her stopped walking. She turned to face Giselle, reading that expression once again. She stared at her blankly, wondering if Giselle was acting detached.

"I don't know. I- wanted to be alone with you!" Lillian replied.

Giselle huffed in defeat. She continued to walk along as Lillian joined her. They took a few more steps before Lillian asked Giselle if she was still angry at her for being absent at midnight. Startled, Giselle denied blindly.

"Is that the truth?" Lillian insisted on knowing.

Giselle remained hushed to stick with the previous answer. She denied being swayed by her absence and rejected her own disappointment. As they kept walking, Lillian remarked how it is always only her looking forward to these moments. It was not an answer but a simple comment intended to target the woman by her side.

Still, there was no reaction from Giselle except her resilient silence. It took a while for her to admit having some expectations.

"Like what?" Lillian demanded straight.

Giselle glanced, annoyed by her cocky smile that came out as soon as she acknowledged her feelings.

"Well, I guess I was looking forward to wishing you!" Giselle replied.

Lillian stopped walking, and she made Giselle pause as well. They faced each other as Lillian's face clearly screamed at Giselle to satisfy her expectations.

"Go on! Wish me!" Lillian dared.

She no longer smirked or looked cocky but daring in her statue.

Giselle struggled meeting that possessed face. Somehow, she found herself whispering a wish.

"Happy New Year, Lillian Grey!"

Amazed by the lack of romance, Lillian stood unimpressed.

"This is it?" she asked.

Giselle tried to walk away, but Lillian leaned in quick to plant a kiss on her lips, a little smooch before she parted.

"This is how you should do it!" she remarked.

Flushed from her sneak attack, Giselle covered her lips. It was unfair of Lillian to act as such. As revenge, Giselle chose to return the favor. She pulled Lillian close, brushing her lips against hers in favor of repaying.

It was now Lillian's turn to feel flustered, and she touched her lips in surprise. Eventually, a smile broke out between them as they silently satisfied each other's wish.

Tired from standing a long time, Giselle found a spot to sit down. Lillian followed to occupy the seat next to her. They sat close to each other, huddling for warmth since they were away from the campfire.

Frankly, there was no need for fire. There was also no need for words to exchange, but let alone the company of your love. Lillian and Giselle restraint themselves from talking. However, they stole occasional glances and short-lived smiles as they disappeared from constantly getting blushed.

Worried if the suffocation was going to kill her, Giselle broke the silence first. She inquired how did Shane's grandmother got hurt. Lillian was not sure herself. She knew she came out of the bathroom and saw the poor old woman on the floor. She did notice the spilling on the floor. However, it shouldn't be a concern between them right now.

"I didn't bring you out here to talk about others?" Lillian exclaimed.

Giselle stopped talking. It wasn't that she was unaware of it. But the rush of emotions when being alone with the person you love can be nerve-racking. Let alone Giselle was a shy girl with only the rarest courage to express out her feelings.

Observing her struggle, Lillian stood up to offer her coat to Giselle. She covered her exposed legs from getting cold and scooted down in front of her, engaging face to face.

Giselle knew that expression.

"Am I that predictable?" Lillian instantly asked, chuckling softly.

Giselle nodded to seize Lillian's hands. She stroked it carefully, studying the slender fingers and brushing its rough edges. The hand that was once so young has now grown old. How much time had passed? She wasn't aware. However, Giselle remembered wishing to hold these hands forever but only to miss it because of certain someone. Once done examining Lillian's hands, she bought them closer to kiss gently.

"I didn't even say anything!" Lillian said after watching her all while.

Giselle shook her head to continue kissing Lillian's hands.

Diego, who had followed them, found a spot to settle.

Meantime, Shane returned after sending off his grandmother to get a checkup, just in case. He found Jenna and asked her about Lillian and Giselle. Jenna failed to meet his eyes. She couldn't throw out the image from her memory, and it made her nervous around him. Instead of answering, she pointed in the direction they left.

Shane followed to realize that those two were still missing. He had to inquire his way to the front yard and spotted them far away. Lillian and Giselle sat on the corner of the rock sidewalk. Sensing that he may witness a magical confession from his friend, Shane found a place to hide and kept peeking out.

Lillian stopped Giselle from her relentless kissing and secured her hands tightly in her grasp.

"Giselle!" she called fondly.

"Stop, Lillian. I- I know! I know what're you going to say!" Giselle replied, feeling nervous.

Lillian looked at her, fighting on her own as always. Giselle appeared apprehensive as she kept looking down from meeting Lillian's eyes, who hesitated whether she should or not go on with her heart. Although she didn't want to make Giselle feel uncomfortable, this moment felt right. It was perfect, and they were alone.

And so, who cares! Lillian thought to herself and went ahead.

If not now, then she may never get a chance to express herself sincerely. Thus, Lillian requested,

"Then, please, let me, Giselle!"

Giselle tried to bury her face to her knees.

"Giselle, please!" Lillian begged.

"What's with you- What is wrong with you- you invited me to have fun-" Giselle vented while trying to conceal herself.

"I did- but-"

"Lillian-"

Both kept struggling, and Lillian was holding her back gently. She knew she had to stop playing around, so she caught both of Giselle's hands from helping her hide.

Giselle pretty much faced down for a while before she had to look up at Lillian.

"Giselle! Please. I'm serious!" Lillian pleaded.

Giselle remained motionless. Seeing her not fight back, Lillian brought down her hands and placed them on her knees. She never let it be free and continued to hold them firm.

"Please," Lillian begged again.

No longer did Giselle struggle. She stayed still.

"Hmm. Giselle," Lillian called.

It was a surreal moment for both as they knew where this was going. If Giselle appeared anxious, then Lillian's heart was beating louder that she could no longer hear anything except her pulsating beats. This made her repeatedly cry out for Giselle, thinking that if she called out her name, maybe it would provide her the needed encouragement.

"Giselle,"

As Lillian kept calling her name, she grew emotional and had tears rushing.

"Oh god- I- don't know how long it's been, but I missed you very much, Giselle," Lillian said to start bawling.

"Back then, that night, when I asked you out, I was getting ready to ask you to be my girlfriend. I had fallen in love with you already, Giselle. But- but you left. You left me alone without a word," Lillian paused to wipe her disturbing tears before continuing.

"I didn't know what to do. I kept visiting your parents, but I- I was wrong. I'm sorry that I upset your family."

Giselle shook her head in Lillian's defense. She bought her hand to wipe Lillian's raining tears, all while remaining quiet. Lillian took a second break and collected herself. She sniffed through the tears, holding them back firmly this time.

"So, I was hurt. I was angry that I couldn't tell you how much I love you," Lillian paused and took a deep sigh before confessing.

"I will admit that I met several people after that, but no matter how many times they told me to forget about you and move on, I couldn't. Why should I move on when I never got to express my love in the first place! I was angry at everyone because we didn't break up."

Lillian stared straight into Giselle's eyes. She caught her face,

"How can I forget you?

How can I forget my first love?

I kept asking myself, how can I forget my Giselle? She is mine. She is my love. She is my first love. You're mine, Giselle!"

Following Lillian, Giselle's tears finally showed up. It didn't wait or linger and came pouring down like a stream.

"Giselle, I don't wish to stop now, so will you keep listening to me?"

Lillian ached to tell everything she kept buried deep inside. She wanted Giselle to learn of the past she missed witnessing.

Giselle allowed, letting Lillian continue.

"Years passed, I met this girl, Lucy. Like all my previous relationships, I dated her, but this girl kept approaching me with her genuine feelings. At one point, she even reminded me of you that it was scary. It was the same night I heard that you returned. I was confused whether to accept Lucy, who made me remember you and kept healing me through my nightmares, or- if I should run back to you again and finally confess. I hesitated, but here we are," Lillian said to chuckle.

"No matter how many years it takes, no matter how many people I meet, you will always be my first love. I love you so much, Giselle. I'm sorry that I dated others all this time, but hearing that you're back, I can't help but run into your arms again. I want your love, Giselle. I know there's a reason you left me behind. And I won't ask you until you are ready to tell me yourself. But, I want you to love me again and again and again and forever.

I want to be your forever, Giselle! I will be! I love you so much, and I promise to take care of you. This time whatever it is, I will be there for you- like a friend, as a lover, as a family. And Lia- I-" Lillian paused to reminisce.

"She is like you- and like her father," Lillian choked to cover the latter part, which made Giselle laugh. However, that little laugh soon turned to a bitter smile when she heard Lillian's vow.

"Giselle, I promise to love you both for eternity. I will protect you both."

"So-"

Giselle's tears abruptly stopped, instinctively alarmed from expecting the incoming surprise. Lillian deeply exhaled to calm herself before uttering those words. Once she was confident to reveal, she spoke out.

"Giselle Jones, I love you. Will you- be my girlfriend?"

Giselle tore up in happy tears. She knew she was expecting something along this way when Lillian moved to face her. After that long, heartfelt confession, she could no longer be scared of anyone. Giselle felt this was enough to restore her faith. Hearing it word by word from Lillian made Giselle no longer be afraid of Diego. She prayed that she could make him hear this. Maybe it will change him to give up on his friend.

While Giselle was in her world getting refilled with love and hope, Lillian remained scooted down for a long time that her legs began to feel numb. Nonetheless, it didn't matter, but what did was the speechless woman in front of her.

Giselle saw Lillian's face turning yellow. This was it, and she was given another opportunity to be with the love of her life. Without a drop of hesitation, Giselle answered Lillian's confession with a sweet kiss.

The bitter past that always held her back can be shared with Lillian when time reaps. As she gently showed her love with the kiss, Giselle wordlessly promised Lillian about telling her the truth. And right now, what mattered was only them, not anyone else.

The kiss was not enough to display her love, so Giselle returned the favor again.

"I will. I've always loved you, Lillian. I love you so much."

After showering a dozen of kisses on her lips, Giselle parted to confess her vow.

"I don't know- how it's going to go for the both of us, but I love you so much, Lillian. I want to be with you."

No more words were needed as Lillian and Giselle accepted each other. Their gentle kisses and warm hugs melted away their pain and shortened their long separation, and reconnected their feelings.

The two men hidden somewhere were relatively far from getting caught.

Among the two, Shane couldn't hear a thing since he was pretty much closer to the main door and could only get the picture without the audio. Regardless, the sight he witnessed under the night sky made him feel happy for Lillian's sake. He was glad that these two were finally able to meet each other again and confess their love to one another.

On the other hand, Diego, who hid only a little far away, connected the dots. As soon as he heard them accept each other, the rage within turned to irreplaceable jealousy.