CHAPTER 4

Lily still couldn’t understand what kind of spirit possessed her to do what she did earlier when everything replayed in her head. Was she that desperate? She never thought of doing that, she always imagined that it’ll be a guy that would make the first move. how she got the bravery she didn’t know, what shocked her more was when she sacrificed herself like a sacrificial lamb to him.

“Then let me burn!” she winced, her face tightened at the memory of what happened earlier. Lily was aware she had finally lost her wits, but for an odd and fond reason she didn’t regret it and instead of withdrawing she felt drawn to him more. She suddenly felt motivated too, like a little bit of hope got lit in her heart.

He clearly wouldn’t love her back, and although she was attracted to him, she couldn’t imagine loving a cold and heartless man. He obviously looked like someone whose heart was made of stone. She had always imagined loving a man who lit the room with warmth, his smile as bright as the sun, making her warm in her cold world, a man who would hold her gently and speak so gently erasing past memories.

So why was she falling for a man who wouldn’t love her back, who wouldn’t give her the love she craved for. She knew the implications of one sided love, she has read it and heard from people’s experience. She remembered the way their face twisted in subtle agony, the way the light in their eyes faded, the bittersweet smile they showed, the stress that was shown in their face and in their eyes, the way they regretted exposing themselves thinking that one day they would be loved back, the way they questioned if they were ever going to be good enough to feel loved and it was something she never wanted to experience but her feelings about him made her re-consider, besides love knows no bounds.

When she reached home, she made noodles and watched her favorite TV program. After that she went to her room, took a shower and laid on her bed. She had been thinking about that man, the manner in which he spoke, the way he adjusted her collars, his warm breath on her bare skin when he was close to her and the way he walked. She tried her best to stop thinking about him but she couldn’t. was it hypnosis? Was it the way he warned her? his rejection? His touch? His looks?

His handsomeness didn’t look ordinary; he didn’t look like someone who belonged to this world, which made her wonder if their meeting was a figment of her imagination, or she was in an alternate universe. She reached out to where her bag was and brought out the card that she found earlier on the floor and stared at it for a while.

As she lay there, she drifted into slumber. The next thing, the sun was already peeking through her windows. She rose up swiftly and did her usual morning routine, arranged her bed, prepare breakfast and got ready for work.

When Lily arrived Raven-brook, it took her a while before she got a part-time job as a librarian. Her job was to check books in and out, assist the patrons in finding books, shelving returned books, maintain basic records and answering phones or emails.

She was with the few workers at the library because majority of the workers that worked with her had gone for the library program her library had been planning. She sent a message to Diane earlier, telling her she wanted to talk to her about something, so they agreed to meet at the coffee shop, the coffee shop where Lily worked by 4pm.

“Here” lily said as she handed Diana a bottle of cold water “you look exhausted babe, rough day?” Lily looked at Diana with concern.

“obvi” Diana playfully grunted “do I really look that bad?”

“yup”

“hahaha..you’re a bad liar Lily, I had to re-do my makeup before coming here” Diana huffed, folded her arms and pouted. Diana was very beautiful, the kind of beauty that can make people stop and stare, she was wealthy, intelligent and had suitors lined up like school kids in an assembly, but she was alone and lonely. Ladies who only wanted financial status approached her, asides that they avoided her because of the insecurities they projected on her. and as for guys, they only approached her because they wanted to hit, and flaunt that they bagged the finest girl. Lily met Diana when she was leaving Frostwynd for raven brook, they were seatmates. Due to the nine hour travel, they started talking and it turns out they had a lot in common, they related on a very deep level even though their world were complete opposites. Whenever they went out, people would treat Diana better than Lily and they both figured it was the in the way Lily dressed. Diana would get so pissed whenever that kind of situation happened, she even insisted on changing Lily’s wardrobe at her own expense, but Lily disagreed. Lily didn’t care about what people said about her. She loved the way she dressed, as long as she wore clean clothes, smelled nice, and looked put together, she was fine. With that reason Diana left her alone.

“so what’s popping?” Diana looked at her as she playfully looked at Lily while sipping her water.

Lily bit her lips while she looked at Diana “I think I’m in love” Diana choked and started coughing.

“take it easy”

“girl, I know you didn’t call me out like this to prank me” Diana said in utter disbelief.

“I’m serious Ann, I think I’m in love” Lily said looking at Diana.

Diana’s jaw dropped and few seconds later, a smile widened across her face.