The Brunch Date - Part 2

Just as the three ladies busily had brunch, the atmosphere between them loosened to let Melanie finally take a sincere interest towards Lillian Grey. Meanwhile, Giselle had no choice but to remain reserved by the side.

It's because Giselle still couldn't move on with her past and still wishes to be with Lillian that Melanie didn't have a choice but to give up. However, she didn't want to give her consent easily. Melanie had to stay strict for the sake of Giselle's future. She didn't want her daughter to suffer.

***

Ever since learning about her daughter, Melanie always wondered how Giselle's life would turn out for her. To her endless worrying, Giselle did live a hard life away from her family and even ended up having a child. Melanie embraced the little girl, for she became a loving grandmother. Just when she thought Giselle was going in the right direction, Melanie heard her daughter mention Lillian Grey again.

Melanie never knew much of Lillian, nor was she aware of her budding relationship with Giselle. Hearing Giselle stubbornly choosing Lillian, again and again, troubled her mother. Melanie asked Giselle to meet Lillian in person. She wanted to see for herself what the great Lillian has that had her daughter completely smitten even after several years. Melanie realized she was here to do something else and not enjoy brunch. She knew she wanted to meet Lillian personally.

"So, Giselle says you are a writer," Melanie started casually.

"Ah… yes, ma'am," Lillian almost responded impulsively, as if she's at a job interview.

She went on to talk about working at Keyline and publishing her books successfully. Writing had been her interest, and she'd been able to achieve that dream effectively. While Lillian gloated about her flourishing career, Melanie smelled something from the narrative. She went on to question if both of them are colleagues at work.

Stunned, Lillian glanced at Giselle and then nodded quietly. She put an end to her brag and waited for Melanie, who had already turned to stare her daughter.

"I thought you came back because you got a great opportunity here, but- it appears otherwise," Melanie exclaimed suspiciously.

Lillian knew what Melanie hinted. Probably that's why she stepped in to explain.

"I knew she returned, but we didn't know. I only met her later accidentally."

Lillian looked at Giselle, reacting to how she had to send a message through a friend. Now that she remembered, her message for Giselle indeed became true today. She had warned Giselle never to show her face, and if she did, Lillian couldn't stop herself from reconnecting again. A little reality check was transparent to both Giselle and Lillian. Giselle knew what went inside Lillian's head, and she knew how haughty Lillian must be feeling.

It wasn't planned, but even Melanie realized that fate bought them together again. And that troubled her. She wondered if their love was still true as they behaved. And Melanie knew she had to test it to find out. She began again, calmly.

"So, how did you two meet? I know that you both attended the same school, but unfortunately, Giselle didn't tell me anything about you, back then or even now," Melanie started casually.

Lillian responded to the voice almost in a discipline. She glanced at both Giselle and Melanie before replying.

"Giselle- confessed to me,"

Melanie instinctively turned to Giselle's side, glaring at her in disbelief. She never knew that her daughter could be assertive. Giselle had always been a quiet child. Hence, this came as news for her mother. Melanie assumed that Lillian had chased after her daughter and charmed her eventually. However, the truth threw her back in surprise.

Lillian then went into detail to explain how she knew Giselle only as a classmate and not even as a friend. But one fine day, Giselle approached while Lillian was sleeping during lunch break.

Melanie sat back in awe while listening to the story. Meanwhile, Giselle never looked up and continued to eat her food.

"Giselle asked me to wait after school, and then she confessed her feeling for me," Lillian said.

Giselle refused to meet eyes with her mother and blindly ate. She knew her mother's glaring gaze burning holes into her skin in awe. Nonetheless, it's only going to get more interesting as Lillian admitted rejecting Giselle the same day, which brought Melanie's attention back to Lillian Grey.

Lillian followed up to reveal how she couldn't forget Giselle's confession. After all, it was the first time someone ever said such a thing. And that made her take an interest in a classmate. Naturally, her eyes searched for the girl every day, and slowly this curiosity transformed to natural fondness.

"Little by little, we grew close, and I became protective of her. Frankly, when all I did was simply study this person who admitted their feelings for me, I met Giselle again in a-"

Lillian paused. She still couldn't forget the state Giselle was in the bathroom back then. Lillian knew she couldn't slip every single detail, considering how Giselle's mother was there to judge. She ended her story by revealing how their relationship grew close over time.

"Were you into my daughter when you visited her? I only met you once or twice. You were the first person she bought home. We all thought she finally made a friend," Melanie asked.

"We did become friends, but I'm not sure. I could have been into her, considering how Giselle was the only one I kept myself looking at," Lillian admitted.

Having hit a dead-end, Melanie couldn't force herself to target Lillian about loving Giselle. Her story, the way she lightened whenever she talked about Giselle, how Lillian couldn't help but kept peeking over at Giselle, the way she looked at her, and so on.

There's no denying that Lillian held feelings for Giselle. It became evident for Melanie to accept it without resistance.

"Is your father aware of this?" Melanie inquired.

"Yes."

"So, everyone knows except us!" Melanie complained, not aimed at Lillian but at her daughter for never expressing herself openly to her parents.

Seeing her mother's downcast face, Giselle wanted to defend herself, but Melanie refused to listen.

"You don't say a word. If you two were that serious, you should have told us first. What are we going to do! Stop you?"

Both Lillian and Giselle remained still now. Lillian wondered if she should have lied for Giselle's sake, admitting never telling her father about her relationship. But that would seem obvious to Melanie. Besides, she didn't want to lie to Giselle's mother at their first official meeting.

On the other hand, Melanie controlled herself from becoming vulnerable in front of these two women. She couldn't let herself be taken away by the disappointment. Now that this was a perfect opportunity to throw all of her dice. She did spit the one that kept bothering her for years.

"Then why did Giselle leave?" Melanie asked, capturing both in shock.

"Let's say what you said is true. Then why did Giselle have to leave if you reciprocated her feelings? Why, Lillian?"

Lillian was speechless. She couldn't find the words to answer. If it were before knowing the truth, Lillian would have one, even if she knew nothing. However, now, she couldn't utter a word, for she knew exactly why Giselle had left.

Her prolonging silence, along with Giselle's panicking, Melanie sighed heavy-heartedly.

"And that's exactly why I don't want you two seeing each other anymore."

Melanie's words struck thunderously to both Giselle and Lillian as their silence disappeared to mum their senses. Giselle finally freed herself. It was the first time she reacted to the conversation.

"Giselle, I wanted to respect your decision, but I don't like this. And I cannot accept your relationship with Lillian," Melanie firmly spoke.

Giselle never expected it at all. She thought her mother wished to meet Lillian to accept her officially, but it turned out Melanie wanted to meet Lillian to inform her disapproval to their faces.

And the one who suffered alongside Giselle was none other than Lillian, who wasn't present anymore. Melanie's decision took her away emotionally, once again returning that ache.