Chapter 53

Lewis’s mind drifted back to the past, memories flooding him as he recalled the countless times he had tried to get closer to Lily but had always fallen short. It frustrated him to see her upset, and he wished he could do more. Back in high school, he had worked as a delivery boy at the local pizza shop, saving every penny he could for a special gift for her.

One day, he spotted a beautiful pendant in a shop window. It was perfect, but the price was steep. Determined, he worked overtime, saving every dollar he could. Finally, the day arrived when he felt he had enough money to buy it. But when he rushed to the shop, his heart sank.

“I’m sorry,” the owner said gently, seeing the disappointment on his face. “The necklace you wanted has already been sold.”

Lewis’s heart shattered. “But today is Lily’s birthday,” he whispered, his voice barely above a murmur. “I wanted to give it to her and tell her how I feel.”

The owner’s expression softened in sympathy. “I gave you enough time. But... the customer who bought it just left a couple of minutes ago. She was wearing a green dress. You could try asking her; maybe she’ll consider selling it back.”

Hope ignited in Lewis’s chest as he thanked the owner and sprinted out of the shop, his heart racing. He scanned the street, searching for the woman in the green dress.

There she was, walking toward her car, almost seated inside. “Excuse me!” he called out, breathless as he approached her.

The woman turned, surprised. “Yes?”

“I’m really sorry to bother you, but I saw you just bought a necklace from the shop. It’s for my friend’s birthday today, and it was really special to me. Would you consider selling it back?” His voice was filled with urgency.

She frowned, clearly taken aback. “I just bought it. Why do you want it so badly?”

Lewis approached the woman, his voice earnest. “One day, my friend asked someone if she wanted this necklace. She really wanted it, but the person didn’t give it to her. I wanted to give it to her. I’ve worked hard to save money, and it took me a year. Please, I’ll pay you back—just give me this necklace. Today is her birthday, and I really want to gift it to her.”

The woman smiled, her expression softening. “Okay,” she said, reaching into her bag and pulling out the small box.

Lewis’s heart raced as he tried to hand her the money he had saved. “Here, please take this,” he urged.

She shook her head, a gentle smile on her lips. “You don’t have to pay me back. Just confess to your friend whatever you feel for her before it’s too late.”

With that, she slid into her car, leaving Lewis standing there, staring at the box in his hands. A wave of happiness washed over him as he realized he finally had the chance to make Lily’s birthday special.

Lewis ran toward the school, his heart racing as he searched for Lily everywhere. Finally, he spotted her in the school backyard, sitting alone on a bench, looking upset. His heart sank at the sight.

As he approached her slowly, he couldn’t understand why she was sad today. She had been so excited about her birthday. But then he noticed the tears streaming down her face, and his heart ached even more.

“Hey,” he said softly, trying to reach her.

But Lily ignored him, standing up and turning away. “Lily, wait, I—” he called after her, desperation creeping into his voice.

“Lewis, please, I need to be alone. Just leave me alone,” she replied, her voice strained as she turned her back to him.

He wanted to stop her, to hug her and tell her everything would be okay, but he didn’t have the courage. Instead, he tightened his grip on the small box in his hands, feeling the weight of his unspoken feelings.

As he watched her walk away, heading toward Ethan, a wave of hurt washed over him. The sight of her turning to someone else made his heart ache, and he felt a deep sense of loss in that moment.

****

Lewis stood there, lost in thought; Mia called out to him. “Mr. Evans, are you alright? I’ve been calling you! Where are you lost?”

He blinked, snapping back to the present. Looking into Lily's eyes, he felt a surge of happiness. Today was her birthday, and he had finally given her the gift he had worked so hard for.

“I’m here, Mia,” he said, shaking off his daze. He turned his full attention to Lily, who was still holding the small box, a mixture of surprise and curiosity on her face.

“Lily,” he began, a smile breaking through his earlier worry, “I just wanted you to know how much you mean to me.”

As the words hung in the air, Lily’s expression shifted. She couldn’t hold back her emotions any longer. Memories of how she had ignored him in the past flooded her mind, and seeing the genuine concern in his eyes overwhelmed her.

Without warning, she stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. “I—I need to go,” she stammered, her voice shaky.

Before Lewis could respond, she turned and dashed out of the restaurant.

“Lily!” he called after her, panic rising in his chest. But she was already gone, the door swinging shut behind her.

Mia, sensing the tension, quickly followed Lily out, confusion etched on her face. “Wait, Lily! What’s wrong?” she called, her voice trailing off as she hurried after her friend.

Lewis remained seated, staring at the door where Lily had just exited. His heart sank, and he felt a wave of guilt wash over him. Did he say something wrong? Had he hurt her feelings? The joyous atmosphere of the restaurant felt suffocating now, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he had lost her for good.