Chapter: 27
Sometimes, you see something… or feel something… and it doesn't sit right.
But instead of facing it, you push it away.
You tell yourself:
"It's probably nothing."
"Time will tell."
"I'll deal with it later."
Even when the signs are right in front of you.
That's exactly how I've been feeling since we arrived at this villa.
May said things… hinted at things…
But I brushed it off as child talk.
Let me explain.
I woke up that morning not even remembering when I fell asleep.
Jack was gone.
For a second, I just stared at the empty space beside me…
Then I shook it off, got up, and got ready.
Today was the festival.
I was brushing my hair, still lost in thoughts about last night, when—
BANG.
The door flew open.
"Lea!"
Lily rushed in, holding her chest and her phone like she had just run a marathon.
"You won't believe what just happened. When you ignore a problem, it always comes back later. I don't know what to do!"
She started pacing back and forth.
"Sit first," I said. "Breathe. Then talk."
But the moment she sat down, she shot right back up again.
"And YOU!" she added, pointing at me dramatically.
"You don't want to talk to me anymore!"
I blinked. "What?"
"I saw Jack leaving your room this morning!" she continued, fake crying now.
"I was waiting for you to tell me everything, and then he just appeared!"
My face instantly turned red.
"Nothing happened!" I said quickly.
"We just talked… and slept. That's all."
She froze.
"…You slept together?"
"Lily—"
"WOW. I didn't know you were already at that level."
"Shhh!" I whisper-yelled. "People will hear you! He was on the bed, I was on the bed, we just slept, that is it!"
She narrowed her eyes.
"…Okay. Fine."
Then she crossed her arms.
She sighed and finally sat down properly.
"I woke up early and went to the beach," she said more calmly.
"It was peaceful. Quiet."
She paused.
"I was waiting for you… But you didn't message."
Then her expression changed.
"And then… I saw someone."
I leaned forward. "Who?"
"Beau."
"WHAT?! Beau?? Here?!"
"I know," she said, still looking shocked herself.
"I couldn't believe it either."
She took a breath and continued.
"He came closer and said, 'Lily? That's you, right? I knew it was you… I just wanted to make sure."
I could already imagine the scene.
"And you?" I asked.
"I just said, 'What are you doing here?'"
She crossed her arms again, mimicking herself.
"He said his mom won some kind of prize from work, and since there's a festival here, his uncle brought his food truck. He's helping out."
"And then?" I asked.
"I said 'okay'… and I left."
Of course she did, I thought.
"But he grabbed my hand."
My chest tightened.
"He said, 'Please… just for this holiday… can we pretend this is the first time we're meeting? Like nothing ever happened between us?"
I stayed silent.
Waiting.
"I turned to him," Lily continued, her voice calmer now, almost… tired.
"I told him, 'It's not that easy to pretend like you, you know"
She stopped for a second.
"And before I could finish… he said—"
"I know. It hurts. It feels like you lost a part of yourself."
My breath caught.
"I'm sorry, Lily. I really am. I acted like a jerk. I chased attention, even when I knew it was fake.
It got to the point where I lost myself…
and forgot that there was someone who knew me from the beginning when I was nothing and too afraid."
Lily looked away.
"Someone who accepted me first."
Silence filled the room.
"Even if you can just pretend to forgive me just for the holiday's sake. I will take it. I'm sorry, Lily."