17 16th Dawn - Girl Meets Boys? Pt. One

I returned to the inn late at night, eyes puffy and swollen, much to Madeline's surprise.

As expected, she didn't let me through without explaining myself first. It seems like I have worried both her and Ruben for not showing up until now. Knowing this makes me feel a bit more burdened, though. I don't really like troubling them with my drama and antics.

"The thing is... I..."

I hesitate for a moment, contemplating whether I should really bother them any more than I already did. However, when Madeline express her worries for me like how I imagine a big sister would, I find myself drowning in tears once again. Then, for the rest of the evening, I release all my pent-up frustrations to her, including my discovery of Sol's engagement and conversation with that woman.

"You also think they're childish and shallow, do you?" I questioned after confessing everything, sniffling like a soaked puppy all the while.

"Of course not! Even if they appear so to some people, they have no right to dictate how you should feel about them. You're human, after all. You still feel pain no matter how trivial the reason is," she gently chided, eyebrows furrowed.

"As trivial as getting your crush crushed?"

"Don't give me that, Lily. You're heartbroken. That's natural."

Her figure then slumps at this, much to my confusion. For some reason, she looks deflated all of the sudden.

"The cause doesn't matter, anyway. It's how you deal with them afterwards."

When Madeline shows me a comforting smile, I slowly return a soft one of my own, thinking that she's right. Mother once told me how people would inevitably experience adversary in life, but no matter how difficult it is, the most important thing is how they'd follow through.

They're meant to build people, not break them down, after all.

Feeling relieved, I finallt decided to go to my room and eventually put my uneasiness to sleep.

---

On the next day, Madeline went to the diner before Lillian got there and told Ruben about the incident last night. Both of the siblings care for her like she's one of their own, after all. As soon as she steps a foot in their lives, even though it involves knocking their landlord down with a punch on his face, she's already a part of their family.

"Lily really has a peculiar way of thinking. That wasn't shallow, at all. She's too hard on herself," Ruben commented to which Madeline just nodded in reply.

"I agree. She's already working so hard."

A few minutes in their conversation, Madeline spots something outside that makes her scrunch her eyebrows together in miff.

"Speaking of the devil..."

Ruben turns to look at what got her distraught. Standing outside his shop is none other than Sol and his fiancee. They seem to be searching for something, probably their friend who's still not there. When they seemed to have figured out that she's not around, they swerve around and walk to the direction of the inn.

"Maddie, quickly, tell Lily she doesn't have to come if she's not feeling like it. Also, don't let that guy get near her for now," Ruben whispered to his sister.

"Roger!" Madeline replied before rushing out of the eatery, leaving him with a grim look on his face.

"I should also ban that guy from the restaurant from now on..."

---

I'm about to pace down the stairs when I catch sight of my newly-engaged friends outside. Still unprepared to face them again, I rush back to my room and lock myself up. I then try to calm my racing heart and settle down.

"Call me pathetic but I'm still not ready," I grumbled to no one in particular.

This is quite troubling, though. I have to go to the diner or I'll be late for work. Then, mulling over how to sneak out, I soon come up with an idea - one that I'm used to the most. At this, I pull out my black cap along with my rubber shoes and put them on. Afterwards, I start humming contentedly as I check myself on the mirror before sauntering towards the window and looking down. It's easy to jump from here since my room is only in the second floor. Then, stepping on the window sill, I just brace myself and go for a dive.

"Hup!"

With a loud thud, I safely land on the ground.

"W-W-What are you doing?!"

Flummoxed, I instantly swivel around to the speaker, only to find an utterly perplexed blonde. My eyes then went as wide as his, baffled as to why I didn't see him earlier when I looked down. He appears to be not from this neighborhood ans is wearing an army green vest over a white long sleeves polo and a pair of brown pants. For some reason, his face is beet red as well.

"Uh..."

"Seriously, what're you doing in that skirt?! Where did you pop out from, anyway?!"

I can ask the same thing to him actually, but then I remember my job at the restaurant. I'm already late as it is. Although I know it's rude, I just turn around and leave him in that stupefied state, hurrying down the street and ignoring his call all the while.

"Sorry, but this will save me from explaining myself either..."

In order to avoid being seen by Sol and Felicity, I take a shortcut on the way to the eatery. The path is narrow and full of blocks, so I have to pull off a parkour from time to time. I leap over fences and balance myself on a steep wall. It's exhausting, but at least, no one is around and I can go all out. Then, a moment later, I finally arrive at the diner.

"Why are you here, Lily? Didn't you meet Maddie?" Ruben questioned as soon as he saw me, visibly puzzled.

"Huh? She went to see me?"

"Oh, you missed each other... Actually, I told her to let you take a break today."

At that, I already knew that Madeline told him about yesterday. I decided to just gloss it over, but they seem really concerned about me. I now find myself feeling guilty for thinking that they'd neglect me at one point.

"You!"

At that familiar voice, both Ruben and I swerve our heads around in bewilderment, only to find the same blonde guy who saw me minutes ago. Flabbergasted, I just watch him pant heavily as if he just ran a marathon.

"Are you really a girl or what?!"

I then jolt in flummox while Ruben only gives me a deadpan look.

"What did you do this time, young lady?"

With one guy glaring at me and the other staring, unamused, I find myself suddenly feeling pressured.