Chapter Nine

Lily • Rosa • Jeanine • Park

•The whole phone call is spoken in Italian.

"Renée?" I aswered the call.

"Lily? Hello my love," She responded the same way as me; by calling my name. But just the way she said my name made me lose all my worries; she send them away. Just like that. Okay, I feel relieved now that I hear her voice.

"Ooh, my love is calling...how are you dear?"

We are used to be called 'love', 'babe', 'baby', 'darling' or whatever, even though we don't have any romantic relationship going on between us. We were raised like this. She was always there for me. My whole life. She is my older cousin, so she always stood up for me together with Teo. Only with the difference that Teo stood up even for her. As her older cousin as she didn't have any siblings. So we were raised like one. Matteo, Renée and me.

"Well, firstly, very relieved," she started off, relief heard in her voice. Very straightforward and open. She's always been like that.

"As you're already there, and safe." She declared the fact that she was worried about me. And wanted to make sure I arrived okay. My sweet soul. (Referring to Renée)

"But I hope you'll make it to my wedding." She finally added, releasing a calm laugh at the end. Yes. She's getting married. Soon. With Han-seok; her fiance. A week after my arrival, after my first semester.

"Don't worry, baby," I assured her.

"I'll make sure to come on time, no matter what, I promise." I knew I had to make it. She was one of the most important people to me, in my life. I couldn't afford to miss the most important day of her life. Never. That's not me.

"You know I can't miss your bachelorette party." I laughed as I mentioned this. Yeah. Bachelorette party. Two days after my arrival. Still not impossible to make it.

"Yes. True." She laughed with me. Acknowledging the fact.

"But now, you only focus on your school and your studies," she kind of warned me.

"Because I'll brag about you to my friends if you'll graduate from college," she added, admitting. "I will,"

"You will be my little clever cousin-"

"You-"

"So these are your plans, my love?" I asked, dramatically. I pitched my voice as I was asking, making the situation even more dramatic. I won't even mention that I might have attracted a little attention. Not on purpose of course. Accidentally. But still, I spoke in Italian so that reality could have made the whole situation even more mysterious.

"I thought you loved me." Okay. I made the whole situation even more dramatic. Unfortunately. My dramatic soul.

"Ayy, what are you saying..." She laughed softly.

"Of course I love you. More than you can even imagine." She added to give her words even greater meaning. But she wasn't wrong. I knew she loved me more than anyone in the world. Because nobody will ever be able to understand what kind of emotions we were going through, together. From the saddest and most depressing emotions, to the happiest and the most beautiful ones.

• • •

"I'll call you later...when you won't be so dramatic...!"

"What the-" She didn't let me finish my words...again.

"Ah, really... I'll call you later." She spoke, reassuring me. And with a feeling that she had to make it quick; that she already had to go. But she still continued.

"Take care of yourself, so I can introduce you to someone when you come back-"

I had to interrupt her in her speaking, because the young waiter headed to my way, almost reaching me, with food in his hands. I quickly interrupted Renée, excusing myself, telling her to wait for a minute. What I didn't know was, that she continued on speaking. She talked to herself, she took advantage of the situation, that I couldn't hear her.

"~when you come back-"

"Renée, sorry. Can you wait for a second?"

• • •

"Okay, I'm here. I'm sorry. The food came so I had to... Were you saying something? I think I heard something when I picked up the phone...?" I suspected.

"No, no. I wasn't saying anything."

.

.

.

.

"Oh, okay." I said after a moment of confusing silence.

She knew that I knew she was lying, right?

• • •

"Okay, baby. I'll have to go now." She announced after a while.

"I'll call you, okay?" She added, finally.

"Yeah, okay. I love youu." I said goodbye.

"I love you more." She objected. I smiled and she hung up.

• • •

After she hung up, I started eating. It was all so good looking. I almost drooled over the food.

• • •

When I slowly was finishing eating, reaching out for the tissue under my plate to wipe the traces left behind by the food on my mouth, the young waiter came to take care of the empty plates. Leaving a satisfying look.

I couldn't stand the fact, the Renée lied to me. Why though? Did I interrupt her while saying something important? But, why was she saying something while I wasn't listening?

What was she saying when I picked up the phone?

While I was busy thinking about Renée, the young waiter was busy taking care of the dirty dishes. When our eyes met.

He stopped what he was doing for a second, our eyes searching for a reason. We stared at each other, feeling the tension and calmness all at once. The influence of other guests was really noticeable. I felt their stares. Words leaving their mouths. Gossiping. But at that right moment I didn't care.

I again came to my common sense when a group of people in suits and dresses entered the restaurant, causing the night breeze to make its way, flowing through my hair. Loud words entering the air; echoing in the room. Which bought me back to the world. I looked away; broke the intense electric border of our stare. I stayed silent, looking away. Awkward silence filling the air.

If I continued staring, I think I would lost my mind. He understood that it was inappropriate and again started collecting the plates. I think that he even understood the mood of the situation. I was glad he finally left. Left me some space.

• • •

I spared myself a few minutes and then asked for the bill. I needed to be alone. All by myself. Just me, myself and I. Safe space.

For a change, I headed to the bar, deciding to pay the bill there. The young waiter handed me the device to pay with my credit card. I attached my card, the device accepting the payment. I took the purchase note and slowly started heading towards the exit. When I almost reached the door. When I nearly walked away, he stopped me.

Breaking the safe amount of air, he grabbed me by my hand, causing me to turn around immediately and completely. Now facing him. The moment, after he looked me, after he searched for hope, and I searched for an answer, he handed me a folded, little peace of paper. I glued my eyes to him, exploring, sweat running down every inch of his beautiful face, I stood silent.

Waiting.

When nothing seemed to be happening. I very carefully trailed my eyes from his face, to the thing in my hand, then back at him. Confused. And he knew.

"Call me."

To be continued...