Follow your heart

Coming out of the shop with a happy grin, Anna felt it in her stomach.

It was growling.

Anna moved like a jaguar, one after the other shop, searching for that perfect dress. Now that she found it, fatigue took over.

"I am tired and hungry. Let us get something to eat."

Lillian wordlessly accepted as her tummy growled as well.

"Hmm," she agreed.

"Huh? So much excitement for working my ass off to find you a pretty dress," Anna commented.

"Hmm…" Lillian hummed.

"Argh," Anna went nuts from starvation as well as Lillian's entire mood drop.

Speed-walking ahead of Lillian, Anna hunted for a place to eat.

Luckily, she noticed a food-truck nearby the parking lot. The place was empty, with only passerby's stopping to get food. There were also benches surrounding the truck for people who want to sit down and eat.

Anna's eyes widened from the sign on the food truck.

It included street Tacos, Korean style popcorn chicken, Sliders, perfect southern fried chicken, Mexican style street corn, snow cones, loaded Nachos, sweet potato fries, and koeksisters.

Anna was in the vicinity of reading the entire menu. As she read one by one, her mouth got filled with saliva.

"Lilly, I found us a place to eat," Anna shouted.

"Also, we're using the leftover money Edwin gave you," she added.

Lillian Grey did not mind; She went in and joined with Anna.

Anna let Lillian save a seat while she places the order and gets their food.

…

Soon, Anna returned with the food. She saved some money from the dress allowance and thought of using it on their meal. However, she did not go overboard to spend it all and kept a few bills.

The food was not pricey, and so, Anna went a little crazy while ordering.

Street Tacos and Korean style popcorn chicken for both, one loaded Nachos and two snow cones different flavors; Lemon-lime and Blue Raspberry.

..

"Here, it smells delicious."

Anna said and placed the food carefully spread on the table.

Sitting down herself, Anna picked the popcorn chicken and started munching on it.

"Hmm, wow, this tastes so great," Anna moaned with every kernel of the chicken.

Looking at Lillian, who is still hesitating, Anna commanded at once to start eating.

Lillian picked the loaded Nachos first.

The two ate together, satisfying those hunger pangs.

…

In between their way to gobble down the tacos, Anna paused eating and took a sight at Lillian Grey.

She didn't speak and only ate silently.

Anna found it to be disturbing. The Lillian she knew would never sulk when eating, no matter what kind of trouble she faces in her life.

Nevertheless, Anna got reminded of Edwin's worried face.

Clearing her throat with her Lemon-lime snow cone, Anna took a deep breath.

"Say, Lilly, what happened to you?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" Lillian inquired.

"You exactly know what I mean?"

"What is going on?"

"Did something happen between you and Giselle?"

"I noticed the rift on that day as well. You two were distant. Knowing you, I thought you already resolved it, but what happened?"

Anna questioned all that was in her head.

The silent treatment Lillian gave upset Anna.

"Fine, I get it. It is your personal life. Who am I to interfere?" Anna blurted knowingly.

Regardless of her emotional outburst, there was no reaction from Lillian's end. The girl silently ate her popcorn chicken.

'This girl- I must know already that she is a strong contender when it comes to getting triggered sentimentally.'

'Ugh, if it were Giselle, it would be a different scenario.' - Anna thought.

..

She sighed loudly.

"What were you thinking, Anna?"

"We are not kids anymore. It is not our same old Lillian who would come bawling to me because she lost a game against Diego in arm wrestling," Anna grumbled to herself.

Anna's attempts failed yet again with Lillian not even stirring up a second from her talk.

Sighing once again to herself, Anna finally gave up. She didn't try anymore to pry. Feeling lost and getting concerned for Edwin, Anna took a giant bite out of the taco.

The silence refilled the air, but not too long.

"You know Anna," Lillian spoke at last.

"She wished to go to the prom with me," she finally spits out.

Anna flinched. She did not expect an answer right after giving up the will to confront Lillian Grey.

Anna watched Lillian flash a weak smile as she spoke.

'She?'

'Giselle?'

'Giselle wanted to go to prom with Lillian?'

Anna froze.

'Well, it is expected since she is in love with Lilly.'

'But how?'

'Did she say so to Lilly directly?'

'Why?'

Anna's mind exploded from the number of questions arising. She didn't know how to react and hence remained still.

Lillian Grey heaved a sigh of relief from sharing it with her best friend, Anna. Her weak smile slipped to a soft chuckle. She took a bite of the taco, munching to gather more strength so that she could go back to being herself.

For a minute, both didn't speak, indulging in the weight of the information that got revealed.

"So, you are sad because you can't make that wish come true for her?" Anna asked, finally breaking the silence.

Lillian denied.

'What, she is not? I thought she would be sad.' - Anna mused.

"She said that she should not have had any hope."

Lillian spoke again.

The soft chuckle disappeared, and distress took over her.

"By the way, did she tell you herself that she wished to go to the prom with you?" Anna asked.

Lillian nodded.

"What made her say those words, I wonder-" Anna mumbled.

'Crap, she saw Diego asking out Lillian." - Anna found out the reason.

'Uh-Oh! That was the trigger to all of this. I get it. Even I would feel choked if the guy I love gets asked out in front of me by someone else. Wait, I would go crazy- Now, I get why Giselle said those words.' - Anna sighed as if she solved a tough math equation.

..

"Lilly?" Anna called.

"Do you perhaps like Giselle?"

"Answer me, honestly."

Anna's question threw Lillian back. When hit with such a straight point on her face, Lillian Grey panicked. If it were someone else, she would hide it, but seeing Anna in front of her, Lillian hesitated.

Anna waited patiently, hoping that her friend would open up.

Just as she expected, Lillian seemed defenseless.

"I do," Lillian responded with no delay.

"..."

"You mean you love her for real?" Anna asked again this time sternly.

Lillian admitted.

"I love being with her, talking to her, and- I wish it would never end, I- I like her very much, Anna."

"I hate it when she doesn't talk to me or being distant with me. I don't like the idea of someone being closer to her than me."

Anna watched Lillian admit to her feelings honestly.

"Finally, you admit it," Anna expected.

"Then what is the problem?" she asked.

Lillian paused, tensing her fist.

"I'm not sure if the feelings I grew are the result of me protecting her from the bullying because of the confession tape, which I'm involved with, or is it my real emotions, which is that I love her truly."

"What does that make me now?" Lillian's grip tightened.

'Lilly- she is struggling.' -Anna grieved.

..

"At first, I thought you helped Giselle because unconsciously you felt responsible for the girl getting bullied."

"I got excited because another girl is joining our gang, but that was not the case, Giselle loved-" Anna paused and corrected her words.

"Giselle loves you, she does. I mean, if the boy I like lets me hang out with him, then, believe it or not, my feeling would secretly grow on its own. It would never die."

Lillian's eyes squinted vigorously.

'Shit,' - Anna cursed to herself from mentioning the harsh truth.

"However, watching you two from aside, I noticed how much you grew fond of Giselle."

Anna's words loosened Lillian's crease.

"It is difficult for one to confront their feelings, particularly in your case, it is even more difficult-" Anna expressed.

She was aching to help her friend desperately.

'I get it. You are struggling to justify your emotions.'

'Having feelings for Giselle means you should face your sexuality. I can understand that it is not easy.'

'It is not like you wake up one day, and then you began shouldering the title of being gay. It is not easy to accept or understand such emotions as the society itself hates on it.'

'I'm sure Giselle went through the same struggle to confronting herself, to understand herself, and finally to accept herself.'

..

Anna had enough reasoning to herself. She sighed and took a deep breath as she plans on not letting her friend struggle anymore.

"Lillian Grey, I'm sure you are in a state of confusion, whether your feelings for Giselle is from your heart or your conscience. However, I'll say this:"

"Let's say that your love is out of your conscience, then you must face it until it fades, but-" Anna paused, staring deep into Lillian's gaze.

"If your feelings for Giselle come from your heart, then I suggest you move forward by confessing your love to her."

"You don't want to stay like this forever. You are our Lilly, and I don't want to see my friend in pain."

"Look at me!" Anna caught hold of Lillian's bloodying fist.

"I don't care if it is a boy or a girl. If you, my best friend, Lillian Grey, love someone truly, then I will support you with all of my heart."

Anna declared.

***

Lillian returned home that night a little late after 9 PM. Edwin waited for her desperately.

As soon as she returned, Lillian showed her father the dress that Anna fought to buy. Edwin complimented the dress and how beautiful it would look on Lillian. Also, he let Lillian thank Anna for helping his daughter out with the dress.

"Dad,"

In the middle of their dress appreciation, Lillian called her father.

Edwin looked.

"I know that I made you worry, but-"

Lillian paused. Taking in a deep breath, she resumed talking.

"I promise to tell you all about it one day, until then can you let me be?"

"I need to figure it out myself," she pleaded.

Edwin loosened. The time he worried about his daughter all seem to exit from her honest words.

"How can I not worry about my child?" he patted Lillian's head as he spoke.

"I can only manage it because Anna is with you to take care."

Edwin spoke while tearing up.

"Alright, whatever it is, I'm sure you are mature enough to handle. However, I'm still here as your father, so if you ever feel down or distressed, you can always come to me."

Lillian Grey smiled from his words.

Such great affection, she knew it already that her father is the coolest guy in the world, but still, she troubled him. It made Lillian pout.

Edwin comforted her with a hug.

"Look, honey, I know you are facing something. I'm not sure what it is, but the only advice I can give you is,"

"Follow your heart."

Edwin's advice shook Lillian; her eyes widened from surprise.

…

Anna's declaration of support encouraged Lillian Grey not to let her feelings affect her state of mind.

"Follow your heart, Lilly," Anna said on their way back after eating.

"I already know that you won't let others affect your life. But Love is dangerous. It is sweet as well as salty."

Anna laughed at her words.

"I mean, I'm not experienced to advise you, but when dealing with emotions, follow your heart. You can take time, but not too much. You don't want Giselle to fall in love with another girl, do you?" Anna joked.

Despite the playful tease, Lillian shot a glare.

"Alright, alright, Jesus, if you don't want that to happen, then listen to what your heart says."

"Who knows it might even say something opposite." Anna joked again.

"Still, I want you to fight for what you seek," she remarked.

..

Anna parted ways after pouring all of her words of comfort.

Lillian watched her go while waving goodbye.

'Follow my heart, uh!'

'If it were that easy, then I could,' – Lillian thought to herself.

***

Hearing those same words from her father surprised Lillian. That night, she vowed to face her feelings before letting this get out of control.