Giselle learns to defend her feelings

Having been there already once, Lillian knew which one was Giselle's room.

Slowly nearing the place, Lillian peeks a little from the outside.

Giselle was resting on her bed, holding the mobile with her hands up in the air, she intensely stared at it.

'I thought she was busy enough to not reply to me. Look what we have here?'

The mission to surprise Giselle gets postponed for another few minutes to keep an eye on the target. Lillian watched Giselle gawking at her mobile, without averting her gaze.

..

'I'm not getting bored, that's surprising. Well, Giselle is amusing to look at!'

Lillian mutely sighed.

She got tired from leaning for a while, observing Giselle. The fact that she rushed to Giselle's place also adds fatigue.

"Staring at your phone, what an interesting hobby you have, Giselle!" Lillian greets with her appearance.

**

Since Giselle declined Lillian's invite to hang out, she felt a little sad for turning down on her. Assuming that Lillian would definitely respond with a snarky comment, Giselle anticipated.

However, there was no response. Suddenly it became quiet, and the silence suffocated Giselle. Her melancholy played in a loop until she caught the familiar voice.

Thinking it was Lillian who replied to her text, Giselle rolled up and peered at her phone.

Nothing happened!

"I'm here, sweetheart,"

Hearing the voice sound again, Giselle flinched. She had goosebumps all over her body.

How come she hears Lillian's voice?

"I said, I'm waiting outside your room, you dummy!"

Following the words, Giselle turned to see Lillian Grey standing outside her room.

Appalled from the sudden entrance, Giselle flung backward in horror.

'Have I gone mad or what?'

'Is it an illusion?'

'I've have gone crazy to the point of hallucinating about Lillian Grey!' - Giselle exclaimed.

"Hey, Hey, Hey, enough blabbering on your own. I came here to meet you. I'm not any ghost or your imagination. Well, I am pleased to know that you dream about me," Lillian gloated as she entered inside.

"I am not dreaming?"

Giselle pinched herself and felt the twinge hit the spot sorely.

"Yes, I am not dreaming. What are you doing here?" She yelped in surprise.

"You don't dream of me!" Lillian bewailed sadly.

"How come you are here?"

"Well, you said that you were hallucinating about me; I got excited. It must be true, then."

"Why are you here?"

"Why are you lying about dreaming of me?"

Giselle's nerves popped crazy from the absurdity going on.

"You shouldn't lie about your feelings, Giselle," Lillian taught.

Enough of taking her gibberish, Giselle shouted to stop the girl from daydreaming.

"What? You are normal now?" Lillian inquired.

Giselle cooled down.

**

Both seated away from each other, Lillian took the study table while Giselle remained on her bed, often glimpsing towards Lillian.

"What are you doing here?" she asks.

"Why can't you meet me at the weekend?" Lillian returns her with another question.

"I asked you first!"

"I answered yours with mine already! Now, answer me,"

"I told you already that I will be unavailable. Did you come all the way here to ask me that?"

"I did. And because I can't accept your answer."

"..."

"Look, it is not like I don't want you to focus on your future. I'm serious about the weekend plan, and I really- really want you to hang out with me..." Lillian practically pleads.

"..."

Giselle seems overwhelmed because the ever proud and bold Lillian is nearly begging for just hanging out.

"I-"

Giselle hesitates, almost getting convinced with Lillian's expectant gaze.

"I-"

'I wish you know your place, Giselle,' Diego's words struck Giselle once again.

When she was on the verge of giving into Lillian's plead, Diego's words slapped Giselle. Like a stain that can't get erased, Giselle's humiliation hits her a million times, especially the very thought of Lillian gets followed by Diego's hurtful words.

"I can't, Lillian. I'm sorry. I can't-"

"Also, you shouldn't be hanging out this time. You should focus on your future too."

Giselle's gaze drops.

"You said that you would become an Author."

Giselle smiles from the memories of the two spending time in libraries, chatting about books, and discussing the beloved characters.

"I believe that you can become a famous author. Rest assured, I will read your books!"

Giselle beams, signaling a victory symbol.

Lillian remembers it as well. Those were good times for her. Frankly, when Lillian struggled within to choose a career path, Giselle's gift inspired her to think about literature and becoming an author, encouraging Lillian to agree to it willingly.

Both shared a loving smile.

Lillian used the emotional timing to plead again.

"Then, hang out with me this weekend?" Lillian shrewdly asks.

"That is not possible," Giselle remained composed, not giving in to the temptation.

"Why?"

"I already told you. Now, come on, you can't appear out of anywhere like this. Your dad will be expecting you," Giselle said while pulling Lillian to leave.

Lillian's face frowns from the repeated flopped attempts.

"Say, Giselle, you are lying, right?"

Giselle's stopped moving.

"Please, just this once, come hang out with me! Please, I promise not to bother you after that!"

'By that time, you will officially become my girlfriend!' - Lillian smirked within.

"Please think of it as a refreshing therapy. I won't take up too much time, trust me. We will go somewhere nice and then return!"

Lillian earnestly appeals.

Unable to surrender, Giselle struggled within. Every time Lillian speaks, Giselle overhear Diego's voice; the humiliation kills her every second.

"You shouldn't hang out with me often, Lillian. People might also mistake you for being gay!" Giselle says.

Lillian pulled back Giselle for a second to see because the usual Giselle would often smile and agree to whatever Lillian proposes. Now, seeing her being pessimistic, Lillian sensed that something different going on with Giselle.

"What happened to you?"

"Why are you like this suddenly?"

Lillian charges.

"I'm only stating the facts here. Whatever in the end, I might become a bad influence for you if you keep hanging out with me," Giselle replies while biting her tongue.

"Do you think so?" Lillian asked.

Giselle's eyes flutter in terror.

"I am asking if you think that you are a bad influence for me," Lillian raised her voice, yelling.

..

"Answer me, Giselle," Lillian yelled again.

"Why are you so nosy suddenly?"

Giselle tries to leave, but Lillian pulls her back and shuts the door harsh.

Startled from the loud bang, Giselle quivers.

"Where are you going when I'm still talking to you?" Lillian calls.

"Which means you are justifying those words, or are you simply scared to face your feelings directly?" she claims.

'Scared of my own feelings?'

..

Giselle clutches her heart tightly.

'Because the feelings she desperately tried to leave behind every time is refusing to give up. Without realizing, her love kept fighting all this time. It won't stop even if Diego humiliates her. Likewise, if the world is against her, what Giselle feels for Lillian will dwell forever.

What triggered as a mere spark, developed into an ablaze without Giselle acknowledging. It is now too late for her to try and put out the burning flames.

It kept rejecting anything that lets it quit.

When Lillian inquired Giselle, she couldn't keep hiding behind the mask as it began to tear in front of Lillian's presence.

She thought of running away, but with no openings to escape, Giselle utterly failed yet again.

..

"Tell me, Giselle, do you really think being gay is contagious? Are you telling me that if I hang out with you, then I will catch your disease?"

"Did you perhaps had such a thought all while spending time with me?" Lillian asked.

"No- never-" Giselle replies at the speed of the light.

"There is the answer to whatever nonsensical thoughts you possess right now,"

At a flick of a second, as if the clouded thoughts dissolved into the air, Giselle exhales.

"Why are you-" Giselle questions the reason why would Lillian go so far to help her.

'Why would Lillian keep supporting her?'

"Why means- Why? I'm going to stay here until you agree to come with me on the weekend."

"Stay? Stay!!!"

"Yes,"

Lillian said and hopped on the bed, resting leisurely with her legs crossed.

Just then, Giselle heard her mother call from downstairs.

..

"Wow, Dinner! what are we having?" Lillian asks nonchalantly.

"You're staying for dinner?" Giselle groaned.

Melanie calls for Giselle once again.

"Lillian, come on, you can't be joining my family dinner all of a sudden,"

"Well, isn't it a perfect opportunity to finally meet your family?"

"What, meeting my family?"

Giselle feared that more than anything. She can't let Lillian meet her family out of the blue.

"No way, Leave right now,"

Giselle beats Lillian and urges her to leave the place immediately.

Both struggled in Giselle's room while Melanie calls for her daughter again, this time even louder.

"Lillian, I beg you, please leave right now. Also, it is not like I don't want you to meet my family. I'm more happy to introduce you, but right now is not the time, please," Giselle explained.

Lillian stood stiff, refusing to move an inch.

"Lillian Grey, please, understand me," Giselle used all of her strength to push Lillian. However, the girl is not even budging a little.

"Call me, Lilly then,"

Lillian took advantage of the situation.

Giselle gritted her teeth, thinking how much Lillian is enjoying this.

"Li- Lilly, please, please,"

Hearing Giselle calls her with that name, Lillian loosened her body, letting Giselle's efforts succeed in dragging her inch by inch.

"I called you, Lilly, leave now," Giselle demands.

"I didn't agree that I will leave if you call me Lilly! I only asked you to do it for free,"

Lillian witty remarks only enraged Giselle.

"Then what should I do for you to leave now?" Giselle begged.

"Ask me more nicely!"

"Please, Lilly, pretty please tell me what to do, and I will do it," Giselle vows while pleading.

"Alright," Lillian took time to think about it, enjoying the scene every second, slightly feeling happy from the close encounter.

However, watching Giselle struggle too much, Lillian finally decides to give up.

"I want you to come with me somewhere this weekend, will you?" Lillian asks, most sincerely.

Giselle hesitates to answer.

Lillian stopped moving as well. As the two stood one behind the other, Lillian pleaded for the final time.

Unable to resist her anymore and finally acknowledging her true feelings, Giselle answers.

"Okay, I will come with you," she replies.

Working hard to convince Giselle is one thing, but hearing her agree after many failed attempts, Lillian appeared shockingly terrified.

"Why are you suddenly spacing out right now? I did agree to come with you, leave now," Giselle uttered.

Almost on the verge of tearing up, Lillian gives up. She walked out of the room briskly.

"Care to send me off," Lillian made a final request for the night.

Giselle followed her behind.

**

Coming downstairs, the two meet the rest of the family.

"Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt you two, but it is almost dinner time, so-"

"Would you like to join us, dear?" Melanie greeted Lillian to stay for a meal.

"Mom, she won't, today. Lillian is leaving right now. She is busy."

Giselle said and dragged Lillian towards the entrance.

"Giselle, what are you doing to your friend?" Melanie called.

"It smells delicious in here, what's for dinner, Melanie?" Lillian asked while being dragged.

Shocked from the ongoing scene, Melanie responded that they prepared the girl's favorite dishes.

"Oh, so Giselle is having baby corn and water chestnut crisps! Hmm, no wonder I smell it in the air," Lillian casually responded while Giselle exerted all of her strength in drawing Lillian away as soon as possible.

"How can you tell that is Giselle's favorite?" Melanie asked in surprise.

"Mom, please stop it. And, Lillian, you are leaving now," Giselle pleads.

"Hey,"

"Go away, Lillian Grey,"

"Fine,"

With the last push, Giselle sent off Lillian.

One can only imagine when she returned, Giselle got blown off by her mother for being rude to the visiting friend. Gigi didn't intervene and let the two argue. It was great entertainment for her while Eric learned the incident from Gigi a few minutes ago.

***

That night returning home, Lillian thanked Giselle over a call for agreeing to her plan.

She then texted her friends, Anna and Diego, reveling that finally, her plan is back in action and that she couldn't get more fortunate.

Reading the message, Anna wished Lillian for good luck and informed that the two should go shopping for Lillian's big night.

On the other hand, Diego couldn't believe what he just read.

Giselle agreed to meet Lillian.

..

After warning Giselle that day, Diego thought he went back to being himself, living in peace. However, right now, to imagine that the situation returned the way it was, previously, infuriated Diego.

After all the trouble he went through to stop Giselle from being with Lillian, his efforts still failed, and he is mad right now.

Mad is just a word. Diego felt deceived by Giselle. Speculating that Giselle only acted in front of him as if she is going to get away from Lillian Grey while behind his back, she accompanies Lillian.

Diego's anger peeked to another level that he literally wished to throw Giselle away with his brute force.