He still loves you
The door to the house was opened wide by Sandy following Steve's sudden arrival, as it was getting late. As usual, when Saturday night came, the two of them often talked together about random things while watching television. This time, there was something unusual about Lily sitting with them in the living room.
Steve put out the cigarette he was smoking and stomped on it until it shattered, then sprayed air freshener. The scent of citrus came out. Lily, who had just sat down, was a little disturbed, but it was better than having to inhale the more pungent smell of burning cigarettes.
"Steve, do you have any job openings in your office? I mean, if there is, I want to work there." Lily's question made both of her friends freeze. Sandy winked, and Steve opened his mouth wide. They couldn't believe what they were hearing.
"Work? In an office? No, it's better for you to continue your mom's boutique," Steve refused. He didn't agree that his little friend wanted to work for a company that was extremely competitive.
"But the boutique has been bought by Ryan."
"Isn't the boutique in your name?" asked Sandy. Lily nodded, then looked down. Her fingers twirled over her other hand. Sandy blew out a rough breath. This was Lily's way of sulking, shutting up, and looking down.
"Lily, the office atmosphere doesn't suit you. Keep going with the boutique; we'll help you if you need anything." Sandy soothed Lily. Tya knew a lot about how to persuade her best friend, more or less like a child asking for a toy.
"B-but I..."
Steve cut off Lily's sentence by stuffing a mouthful of ice cream into her mouth. Lily smacked her lips, making Steve chuckle at the sight.
"Already, don't think too much about it. Your child needs peace of mind; both of us are ready to help. Right, Sandy?" Steve nudged Sandy's arm; Sandy stammered and gave him a thumbs up.
"Thank you. I don't know how to repay you."
"No need to reply; just make yourself happy." Sandy hugged Lily as well as Steve. Although it was a friendly hug, she felt awkward to some extent.
The night was getting late. Lily had entered her bed, struggling with beautiful dreams that made her fall asleep. Meanwhile, outside the room, two people of the opposite sex were still sitting and enjoying the movie they had just watched. An action movie about a superhero who saves humans from extinction A little tense but exciting.
"When did you start getting into Lily's heart again? I mean, start a relationship with her again," Sandy said, her words breaking the silence. Steve turned his head. His eyes blinked slowly as he thought about what Sandy was asking. He exhaled slowly, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Lily still loves Ryan. How can I get into her life?" Steve replied resignedly.
"Stupid!" Sandy slapped Steve's head hard enough to cause him pain. Sandy was a bit rough and tough when it came to romance.
"You're too rude. How can a boy want to be with you?" Steve swore softly as he rubbed the back of his head. Sandy didn't comment. He was busy shelling peanuts and throwing the trash into the plastic.
"I don't need a man. This is your chance to get close to her again. Lily needs a gentle man like you. Come on, win her heart again." Sandy chewed on the peanut she had just opened. Her eyes glanced to the side, seeing Steve, who was silent with his hands still holding the back of his head.
"Does she want to?" muttered Steve, which Sandy could hear.
"Willing. As long as you prove that you really, sincerely love her. Steve, for two years you waited for her, right? This is an opportunity; hearing her dumped by that crazy man makes me hot." Sandy was eager to beat Ryan up. She repeatedly swore at Lily's ex-husband with harsh words. Occasionally, her eyes flashed with emotional energy.
"Alright. I'll try. But do me a favor."
"I will."
That night, Steve decided to stay at Sandy's place. He chose to sleep on the sofa because the only guest room was occupied by Lily. Before going to bed, he slowly opened Lily's locked bedroom door. His gaze fell on Lily, who was sound asleep with her hands on her stomach.
Steve sighed with relief. He had thought Lily would be depressed or stressed out because of the divorce. But she wasn't. Lily might be sad, but she was also happy for her future child.
The sunlight came in through the gap in the window that was still tightly closed by the curtains. Lily woke up because the light was quite glaring. She glanced at the clock on the wall, which she vaguely saw was already less than six o'clock. She hurriedly got up and cleaned herself. Her steps shuffled slowly towards the kitchen.
Lily jumped in fright as one arm and one leg suddenly climbed onto the sofa. Her heart racing, she rubbed it several times to make it go away. Lily stalked off in search of the suspect who had startled her so early in the morning.
'Steve?'
Lily gasped. Once again startled, she turned her head to find Sandy's hand on her shoulder from behind.
"Steve often stays here on weekends. Usually in the guest room, now on the sofa. He's afraid of being visited by the woman who lives next door," Sandy explained at length.
"The woman next door? Do they bother you often?" Sandy nodded. "Why don't you evict her?"
"How can you kick her out? She's stuck to a tree," said Sandy as she dragged her feet towards the kitchen. Lily still didn't understand what Sandy was talking about. For a moment, she was silent and thoughtful. In the fifth second, she understood, and then suddenly her neck got goosebumps.
"You mean ghosts?" asked Lily in a loud voice. Sandy widened her eyes and put her index finger on her lips, which was immediately followed by Lily.
"Don't shout. Don't discuss it either; the important thing is that you know." Lily nodded.
The two friends helped each other make breakfast. As usual, sandwiches and cafe-style fried rice that Sandy often makes Lily was very good at cooking. She was used to it and trained.
Lily jumped in fright as one arm and one leg suddenly climbed onto the sofa. Her heart racing, she rubbed it several times to make it go away. Lily stalked off in search of the suspect who had startled her so early in the morning.
'Steve?'
Lily gasped. Once again startled, she turned her head to find Sandy's hand on her shoulder from behind.
"Steve often stays here on weekends. Usually in the guest room, now on the sofa. He's afraid of being visited by the woman who lives next door," Sandy explained at length.
"The woman next door? Do they bother you often?" Sandy nodded. "Why don't you evict her?"
"How can you kick her out? She's stuck to a tree," said Sandy as she dragged her feet towards the kitchen. Lily still didn't understand what Sandy was talking about. For a moment, she was silent and thoughtful. In the fifth second, she understood, and then suddenly her neck got goosebumps.
"You mean ghosts?" asked Lily in a loud voice. Sandy widened her eyes and put her index finger on her lips, which was immediately followed by Lily.
"Don't shout. Don't discuss it either; the important thing is that you know." Lily nodded.
The two friends helped each other make breakfast. As usual, sandwiches and cafe-style fried rice that Sandy often makes Lily was very good at cooking. She was used to it and trained.
Half an hour later, the cooking was done. Lily woke Steve, who was still asleep. Steve woke up on the count of three, opened his eyes slowly, and saw Lily's shadow standing in front of him. He smiled instantly. Imagining something beautiful ahead.
But his happiness faded. Lily's soft face was replaced by Sandy's grumpy face as Steve didn't wake up.
"How come the angel turned into a monster?" Steve pointed at Sandy's face and unconsciously reproached him.
This time Sandy hit the man's arm, making him grimace with pain. "Wake up, habit deh. After all, Lily has cooked a lot for you."
"Can you not hit me so much? It hurts!" whined Steve. Lily smiled while covering her mouth. The look on Steve's face was too funny not to laugh at.
"Maybe Sandy likes you, so she hits you more often," said Lily. Suddenly, the atmosphere became awkward. All three of them fell silent, including Lily, who looked at her two best friends. Feeling guilty, Lily repeated what she had said. "I mean, if you joke around a lot, you'll end up liking it over time. Um, let's have breakfast first."
Lily walked to the kitchen first, leaving her two friends behind. They glanced at each other in silence. Sandy, who usually said harsh words, was now silent like a child who lost his candy.
"Don't take Lily's words to heart. She just doesn't know that the only one I like is her. Sorry, Sandy."
Steve stood up, went to the bathroom near the kitchen, and cleaned himself there. Sandy was still silent. Her heart was beating fast. Lily's words had entered her heart. She felt her left chest pounding again.
'Is it true?