93 Yes

Lily was lost in her thoughts.

Although the experience had been horrible, she found that she wasn't as upset as she thought she would be.

Was she abnormal?

Wouldn't people usually feel awful, horrible, bad, and be traumatized?

Yet, for her …

It wasn't to say that it had not been a horrible experience, and it was not to say that she was not affected but …

Lily put her hands around her arms, rubbing them.

A jacket, warm from the body heat of the person who had been wearing it, was draped over her shoulders.

Lily smiled to herself, looking down while grabbing the lapels of the jacket, and then she slipped her hands through the sleeves. She breathed in deeply, inhaling his scent.

It was because of this.

He had chased those dark thoughts away.

Like a knight in shining armour, he came and rescued her.

Like a solid, dependable wall, he shielded her.

Like a miracle doctor, he eased her pain.

Though her face flushed a bit when she thought of his hands there. His touch actually erased the repulsion she had felt from the brute's hands.

Lily felt, with him by her side, she could overcome anything.

Was this what it was like to be in love?

That they brought sunshine and everything became fine?

She had boyfriends before, but never did they ever make her feel like this.

It had always been her trying to accommodate them. Or they compromised a lot (or perhaps, it was more of her compromising).

She would do anything she could for the guy, and she tried her best to be what he wanted to be.

With Zero, he gave as much as she did.

She wasn't the only one giving.

In fact, she felt like she was the one that was taking more.

She … also found she could be herself with him. He accepted her as she was.

Lianne had been right about that.

Zero didn't mind, no matter what she did.

He didn't find her irritating.

She sighed, then suddenly felt so sad.

She wasn't feeling sad or upset over what had happened with the brute.

Instead, she felt sad and upset over the fact that now that she was aware of her feelings for Zero, he was like a rock.

Steady, dependable … and entirely dense.

Would she be satisfied with the way they are now?

Should she rock the boat by telling him her feelings?

Or just leave it as it is?

After all, he treated her better than any of her previous boyfriends, and Zero wasn't even her boyfriend! If he became uncomfortable with her straight-forwardness and distance himself, wouldn't she be at a loss?

But damn it!

She knew she would never be satisfied with the status quo.

Being able to enjoy his caring but not doing more than that.

Sure, she could hold and touch him right now and he wouldn't flinch. But she really wanted to be able to kiss him, too.

Yes, she is a perverted woman.

What normal human being would be able to keep their hands off the person they love?

Stay in the sidelines?!

Her?

Lily?

She pressed her lips together.

Well, if Zero was going to be a rock, then she'll be the sledgehammer!

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They stood like that, side-by-side, each lost in their own thoughts.

Finally, after what seemed like ages, Lily turned to Zero and smiled at him, saying, "Thank you, Zero. For coming to my rescue."

"I'm sorry I was late," Zero began, and Lily placed her fingers on his lips, shaking her head.

"No, you were not," she said softly, stroking his cheek after that, "I'm more than grateful that you were actually there before anything got worse."

Zero gulped, suddenly being aware of her, made him unable to stand still when she was touching him like that.

He was assaulted with feelings that he had never had before and he took a step back, not wanting to let her see it.

"Zero?" Lily called out, seeing the unusual behaviour from Zero, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," Zero replied, not looking at her as he gazed at the ocean.

"Don't lie to me," Lily said with a pout.

"I'm not lying," Zero replied.

He wasn't. Really he wasn't lying.

There was nothing wrong.

He was just trying to hide his feelings from her.

He should really ask Lianne about this, shouldn't he?

For the first time in his life, Zero felt lost.

Lily, seeing Zero being all distracted, sighed inwardly, and pouted.

<Fine, be that way> she thought.

She found a comfortable place to sit down and just watched as the sun slowly set. Seeing that, Lily thought that this was a rather romantic setting.

If it wasn't for the fact that they were just sitting there, not talking, and looking at the sunset.

She couldn't believe that time had flown by so fast. From lunch, to the journey home, then that thing, the journey here … all in all, several hours had passed by.

Lily knew she had only a few more hours before having to head back home. She had already called up the cafe and told Andy to close up for her today. Andy could be trusted and he did do so once in a while whenever she had something up, so he didn't think anything was wrong.

Lily had also informed her mother that she was out on a date with Zero, so would be back late. She cringed a bit at the text her mother replied:

<Have fun. Use protection>

<MA!>

She had to tell her mum that nothing was happening and not to embarrass her later. So Lily was typing furiously to reprimand her mother and prayed that her mother wouldn't tease her later.

She peeked at Zero and noted that he was still just looking away.

Lily sighed audibly and Zero quickly turned to face her, his expression full of worry, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," Lily replied with a slight pout, bringing her knees up to her chin.

Zero frowned, "Don't lie to me …"

"I'm not," Lily replied, cutting him off.

Zero's frown got deeper.

Why did this conversation sound familiar?

He brushed it aside, coming closer to her and said in a soft, gentle voice, "Tell me."

Lily turned away.

"Please?" Zero said, trying to coax her.

Lily took a deep breath and turned to face him, her cheek on her knees as she stared at him, not talking.

Zero didn't move, as he tilted his head and waited patiently.

Finally, Lily let out another sigh and she said, "You're really good to me, Zero. Thank you."

Zero didn't know how to reply to that, so he just hummed, "Hmm."

"Will you always come to my rescue?"

"Of course," Zero replied without hesitation.

"Will you always like my cookies?"

"Yes."

"Will you always taste my creations?" Lily continued to ask.

"Yes."

"Will you always do whatever I want?"

"Yes."

"Will you be my boyfriend?"

"Yes … wait, what?!"