3 2 Yellow Tulip: Hope

In the hallway towards the dressing room, Anne was still hugging Lily's arm as they walked.

"Say are you taken?" She asked mischievously.

Lily looked down at her and knitted her brows, "with whom would it even be?"

"Then I take it that you're still a flower that's yet to bloom?" Anne clasped her hands together. She squealed by the thoughts of a beautiful romance that was about to happen. How does she know it will? Of course she is going to make it happen.

Lily frowned again, but at such cheesy poetic words, "Just worry about yourself. Why are you so interested in me?"

Anne was plastered with a smug face as she replied,( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) "Because you know…You are so mysterious!!"

Despite knowing Lily for a long time, she was so private. She didn't like to talk about herself all that much. Maybe because were only depressing things to say. Anne only knew the surface of Lily's situation, enough to gather who she was. Lily would always get angry if she asked too much, so she never said any further than needed.

Lily suddenly stopped amidst her steps and looked at Anne in the eye before warning her, "Nevermind, I do know, but that's not the point. You shouldn't be too curious and stick your nose in a dangerous place."

"Geez, you're no fun. You and Chen are a match made in heaven like this." She helplessly gave up after one last jab. As beautiful and sweet this flower maybe, she is scary when she's angry, and I don't want to find out her bottom line.

"Oh."

"Seriously stubborn people, attractive and cold on the outside yet kind….except you're more vicious despite that innocent look of yours." Anne gave her a sinister look, reattempting to elicit a reaction.

"Stop the nonsense and hurry up to the dressing room." Lily snapped and slapped her back. Aren't you more of a handful between us? I think he fits you much more, but this dumb girl doesn't realize it and finds another man instead.

I will cheer you on for your own happiness Chen. Lily thought to herself and sighed.

"Okay, mother," Anne replied sarcastically.

"Mother, your mom! Despite being alive for this long, I'm still quite young okay?"

________

They all had previously agreed to meet at the main lobby before entering the party.

After the men waited for what seemed like an eternity, it was finally time for the girls to present themselves.

Anne was dressed in a delicate almond color silk dress with intricate gold embroidery. It featured many layers below to give an overall look a more natural A-line pouf.

With bobbed styled hair, bangs swept to the back of her ears, and accessories kept to a minimal, she looked adorable as a bunny.

A princess was born.

"Darling! You look so beautiful! Everyone will be awed!" The king exclaimed excitedly by the thought of announcing to the world that she was his; however, his expression quickly turned sour that other men would be staring at his beloved.

".. I guess I have to keep my defenses up to chase other insects away again." He groaned. Those men better keep my eyes off of her if they know what's best for them!

"Thank you darling!" Anne raptured. "But I think the main course is yet to be served!" She took a sly glance at Chen and mischievously smiled.

Both the men gave her a confused expression.

Once the servants put some final touches on Lily, she followed out after.

Hair braided and swept to one side with floral bands locking each quarter. Jewelry covered her floral marking and wrapped around her head like a crown. In contrast to Anne, her two-piece dress had an effortlessly simple design giving her an elegant look, complimenting the complex detailing of her hair and jewelry. Make-up was very little since her face was already shaped by the finest craftsman.

Everyone was enthralled at how this person could even be more beautiful than she already was when she entered the palace. Oddly, everything around her just seems to be shining if she's in it.

Anne was the first to snap out of the enchantment.

She glanced at Chen before proceeding to run around Lily like a mad dog. "GOODNESS! Lily, You are so beautiful as I thought you were! I'm sure all the men in the room would come flocking for your hand in marriage!"

"You're exaggerating. This is not a party to find me, suitors." Look at yourself! You're more beautiful! Indeed when someone is in love, they are blooming!

Chen cleared his throat, "Now now ladies, we're a little late, let's enter the room."

The chief guests of honor came first as they were slightly behind schedule, while Chen and Lily waited to go in another entrance discretely to not disrespect them.

After 10 minutes. "Ok, you can go in now, Lily. The coast is clear."

As Chen walked towards the door to open it for her, Lily softly grabbed his arm and said, "Wait."

"hmm?"

Lily asked bluntly, "You like Anne, don't you?"

"..."

Chen was stunned for a moment by the sudden question. After a brief second, He quickly regained his composure and asked wearily, "How did you know?"

He wondered if Anne noticed as well. She might've figured his feelings out if someone else was able to detect it too.

"You can't lie, I can tell by the way you gaze at her. It's the eyes of someone in love!" Lily exclaimed with glee. 'Love is in the air!'

Anne and Lily enjoyed talking about romance since they are girls and dream to one day have a beautiful, romantic one. Thankfully, one of them finally found that special person and is now planning to spend her entire life with him.

Though it is wonderful, Love can also be tragic.

Unfortunately, Chen's love for Anne was the latter. Her excitement quickly died down, and her eyes drooped with a gloomy look thinking about reality.

"Please don't tell her," He said indifferently. "I've kept it thus far. Hopefully, these unnecessary feelings will end soon."

"You are…not going to confess?" She asked disappointedly. At least tell her how you feel and move on.

Untold feelings are truly heartbreaking.

"She has someone she loves. That someone loves her back and can protect her. What chance and right do I have anyway? It is not right to chase after someone who's already taken." He answered her truthfully and patted her head. "I will be fine."

"Very well." You can't help what you like after all, only time will tell.

Feeling bad for him since she was the one that brought this topic up, Lily wanted to lighten up the mood again. "Why don't you accompany me for the night, most of the people here came with their partners, right? I don't have one, and you don't either!"

Chen immediately rejected it. "It's ok I'll pas—"

"Come on! Let's go I won't take no for an answer!" She interrupted him hastily and hooked her arm around his to drag him inside. A party is meant to be enjoyed!

"…"

Chen was at a loss for words but reluctantly followed.

The girl looked so happy, he didn't want to ruin it.