Chapter Sixteen

Lily • Rosa • Jeanine • Park

His image was so clear that I realized something.

I know who it is.

The man watching the stars in the meadow and the guy from the dorm.

And I knew it all along.

I walked closer to him. Now that I was one hundred percent sure, I stood silent, next to him. Then turned my gaze the same direction as him, and finally was able to see the beauty. Millions of seemingly small, luminous bodies that made me feel out of place in this infinite space of the never-ending universe. I just stood there, motionless. I didn't need anything else. The breeze swirled around me and the night sky glowed through my pupils.

I've never seen something so beautiful.

And suddenly I felt his gaze land on me. His eyes had it's own glow, I would recognize them everywhere. Especially after the incident in Léo and Tai's dorm. Dark, sharp eyes traveled up and down my presence. They measured me from head to toe. Until his eyes carved holes in my body. I managed to look away from the night sky and meet his, distinct, intense gaze. Our gazes, they fit into each other. Like puzzle.

I searched for something in him. Maybe it was the reason. Maybe it was the question I wanted to ask so badly until it hurt me. If I myself was not able to understand the result of his actions, how could I stand next to him, convinced of the fact that he was the one who broke into my life without any permission?

"What a coincidence." I began, determined to uncover the truth that lay beneath the surface. If I don't start now, then never again.

"You really don't believe in coincidences, do you?" He concluded, probably from the way I looked at him when I suddenly blurted out.

His words made me admit the way I felt about this situation. "I don't believe in coincidences, I never did. There was always some logical explanation for an unanswerable question. Although it sounds a bit unrealistic, I was always hit by the harsh reality that I had to deal with in the end."

"What made you realize?" He suddenly spoke, defeated. His eyesight turned into the ground under his feet. "Where did I make the mistake?" He was curious.

"At the very beginning."

He looked at me confused. Questions poured from his eyes. "Our first meeting. In the plane."

"The flight attendant you tripped over and fell into my lap." He was trying to remember. Then his eyes lit up. "When I met you hours after, she was there. She was the one that insisted that I leave. But her eyes sparkled just like yours are sparkling now. In that, you rolled in like a big water and played the hero." I was explaining.

"You are aware that all this was not planned and just purely random, right?"

"So much so that it did not give me peace, and I had to think." He waited for me to continue. "The move you made when leaving the plane was not a wise one. I have to admit that. Sending the same flight attendant, with a chauffeur and two bodyguards after me was a bit presumptuous." He smirked a little but remained silent. "And the time in my school, that decided everything. Plus, I hope you don't still think I believe that you don't know who Léo is, like you said, do you?" Now he grinned openly and without any attempt to hide it.

"No. I don't." He decided to continue. "Well, at least not after what happened, as a reason why you're standing here now."

"But a few things I have to admit. That were never part of a plan, was the affair on the plane. I've never thought I'd end up being so turned on by your presence. Then at my house. You made an impression on me, Park. That gun movement said a lot of things about you. That's when you started to get my attention. Even though I still don't know a lot things about you, I'm interested in discovering them. Especially if it means to get to know you better."

"I don't think it's the best idea."

"Me too. But I think it's worth the effort."

"I have no idea how far we can go with this knowledge. I don't know what awaits me beyond that gate of ignorance, and I know for sure that I will never be completely ready for it."

"A good start."

"Victor." I called out his name, as a signal, that I wanted to put an temporary end to this conversation.

"Lily Rosa Jeanine."

"Lily is fine." I snapped.

"Then let me correct myself; Lily. I hope I'll meet you soon."

"You will. Certainly."

Instead of leaving, Victor stepped closer, making his way, reaching my hand, slightly placing a kiss on the top of my palm, looking into my eyes. He ignited a flame in me that I extinguished after our last meeting and I had no plans to rekindle it, even though I knew it deep down, it couldn't be helped.

And without a word, we each went in the opposite direction and did not turn around. Because we both knew, that if we did, with the biggest possibility, we would end up in either of ours bedrooms.

I haven't asked about the night in Léo's dorm. It was not appropriate, at least for tonight. But be ready for next time. He won't escape again.

That's when I remembered Tai. I should have let him know how it turned out. I mean it with Léo. I reached into my purse for my phone to talk to him. It couldn't wait until home, he was too insistent that I call him as soon as we finished. And I should have also let him know if he can come home now. I dialed his number. He accepted the call immediately after the first ring. "Lily?" He shouted at me out of curiosity.

"Calm down. Everything went perfectly smooth. You know, I gotta tell you, sometimes I think, Léo is too good for you." Tai stayed silent and let me continue. "He told me everything." I could feel he was embarrassed, maybe even blushing. "Everything?" He asked, carefully, hoping I was kidding.

"Everything."

"Is it weird?" He slightly caught me by surprise.

"What? No. It's not weird at all. You both have your own preference and sence of love. There's nothing wrong about that. And if someone wants to talk to me about that, send him up to me, Imma explain it to him, with some Mafians behind my back." We laughed mutually. At least I made him smile. "Thank you, Lily. For the effort, interest and patience. I love you." He warmed my heart with these simple, yet meaningful words. "Our feelings are mutual. I love you, Tai. And don't worry about anything." We hugged virtually. I'm so glad they always listen to me and don't let the crowd drag them down.

"Good night, Tai."

"Good night to you too, Lily."

• • •

Relief filled me inside. The feeling of good feeling engulfed me and I finally had space to relax, so I started running. In the middle of my space-out, something caught me off.

Suddenly my phone rang. Taking it out, out of my pocket, I was convinced that it's either Léo, calling about something that I might have forgotten at his place, or Tai, who could forget to ask something, or wanted to make plans. I was so convinced that I picked out the phone, without any other expectations. Only to find out, I was wrong. My endless swirl of thoughts was busy again. Wondering who could the "unknown caller" be. My brain started working, non-stoppingly. Victor was always unpredictable, but I was sure, it wasn't him. The moment I saw him off, it would have been obvious. But it wasn't.

I picked up.

"Haló?" Short silence woke hope in me, maybe a wrong number.

"Haló?"

"Is this the young, red-dressed, pretty lady from the restaurant?"

Crap. Now I knew who was calling. The young, attractive waiter from the restaurant back then. The one with the number on the piece of paper. The piece of paper that laid on my desk for a good three weeks. I have already completely forgotten about it. It haven't crossed my mind since. But one question echoed in my ears.

How did he get my number?

To be continued...