Waiting under the cold night

Lillian looked around, and because it got pretty late and dark out there, she couldn't recognize. Also, her mind got preoccupied with something else, which made it difficult for Lillian to navigate real-time. At first, she got thrilled and walked carelessly, but after some time, it got lonely for her to roam the streets in such attire.

Lillian chose not to take useless risks anymore. She walked around the streets carefully, not to go too far. Keeping the junction as the marked spot for reference, to return in case if she is not sure of the chosen route, Lillian Grey explored.

No matter what route she chooses, it ends up twisting her memory. When she reaches the point where it becomes like a maze, Lillian retreats to the marked spot. She then chooses another new route.

..

After exploring a few options, Lillian got afraid and tired. She returned to the intersection and waited there while busily working with her phone in parallel.

It was getting cold, and she felt her body get so chill from the breeze. There was a skate park to the opposite of the junction. Plus, she is also starting to get some stares from the passing strangers. Instead of waiting by the roadside, Lillian decides to go to the park where she can rest as she waits.

Crossing the road, she reaches the skate park where the people use it to practice skateboarding. When Lillian entered the park, it was almost empty overall.

The cold night didn't welcome anyone to practice as the park got stranded. However, Lillian noticed a retired man sitting on a bench nearby to the sides while a young boy practiced his tricks on the ramp.

'Wow, at least I have a company,' – Lillian thought.

She found a place with a view of the junction. Also, she did not want to get far away from the two who are already present. Obviously, the aged man noticed Lillian Grey walk past her and took her seat a few benches away. He observed the girl dressed poorly for the cold night.

Remembering his grandson is also dressed plainly to practice his skateboard skills.

"Let's go, Michael, you might catch a cold if you stay out too long," he spoke.

"Grandpa!!! Five more minutes, I'll finish by that time. I am almost there in mastering this move, please," the young boy pleaded.

His grandfather sighed, agreeing to his words.

"Alright, five more minutes, and I'm taking you back the next second. Your mother will scold us both if she finds out that we are even a little late. You know she will not let you practice like this anymore."

Hearing him explain, the boy hurriedly moved without wasting a second. He kept practicing the same move again and again, despite the blunders.

****

Giselle walked alone in the night; her feet moved faster and quicker. She seems to know where she wants to go. Her eyes continually kept searching the surrounding.

..

Reaching the spot, Giselle halted. She pants as she looked around. There was no one except passing strangers. Giselle scanned everyone, spotting their faces with her desperate gaze.

It was a failure that she couldn't find the one she wanted.

Anxiously, Giselle stood arrested for a few minutes, her heart racing faster as she tried to keep her uneven breathing under control. Despite wearing the coat under her sweatshirt, Giselle felt the cold air spread through her whole body.

Feeling the cold sweat on her forehead, Giselle subconsciously felt drowsing off. However, she kept searching and randomly spotted a red dress figure far away in the opposite direction.

'Who is that?' – Giselle whispered as she rubbed her palms together to get some instant heat.

Watching the figure for a few minutes, Giselle suspected to probably check it out, because unlike the strangers who are busily moving around, that red-dressed figure remained motionless at that same spot.

'Maybe it is her,' - she thought.

Giselle's eyes instantly grew as she crossed the road without any hesitation. Rushing to the spot, she found this girl with her backless red dress sitting on one of the benches as she stared up the sky.

'Maybe, it is not her.' – Giselle considered.

After seeing a little bit closer, Giselle felt her racing heartbeats calm down instantly. She didn't feel so hard to breathe anymore except for her soft panting.

**

Lillian felt exhausted from all the dancing, including the unprepared rush. Plus, all the searching wore her out. Soon, she got bored from the silent waiting.

Thanks to the determined kid who wanted to ace this particular move, Lillian watched him. She sensed that the boy's grandfather often glanced at her side. It wasn't one of those creepy gazes but a worried one, she thought that the elder must be concerning about the cold wind and that her exposed dress.

As time passed, Lillian starts to tremble from the chill; her legs go numb and back frozen. She wasn't feeling anything on her back anymore. The colder the breeze grazes her bare skin, the more she felt insensitive to it.

A few minutes later, the old guy called out for the boy. The young boy at first protested, but after a few seconds, he gave in as the two started to walk out. However, after a distance, the two stopped. Only the elder walked back while the boy waited. Even while waiting, he kept moving with his skateboard.

Lillian thought that the elder returned to get something, but that was not the case. He passed and approached Lillian Grey.

Lillian blinked in a daze as she stiffens her back in natural response to respect the elder.

"Are you lost, young lady?"

"I've been watching you for quite some time, are you waiting for someone?"

The old guy's worried question threw Lillian back in surprise. For a stranger, this guy offered his kindness. It moved Lillian.

"Yes, I'm waiting for someone," Lillian replies.

"You look beautiful tonight, young lady,"

"You shouldn't stay out too long,"

"The place is not dangerous, but still you can't stay out too late,"

"That person will come, right?"

The old guy praised and advised as he made sure to help in any way possible for this young lady.

"Yes," - Lillian replied along with a subtle whisper that says, 'I hope so, at least.'

"Alright then, well, take care. You got pretty exposed to the cold breeze. Make sure to check with the person you are waiting for and return home safely. Goodnight," the old man wished and returned to the young boy.

As the two left, Lillian didn't have anything to watch or observe. She looked up in the night sky and kept gazing.

The more she saw, the more she got drawn.

It is not necessarily that Lillian enjoys watching the sky, but a lot of feelings she is experiencing for the first time in her life. At that moment, the only person she was longing to meet was the girl she liked, Giselle.

Coming out of the school, Lillian felt sorry for Diego. She did, but her heart desires to see Giselle. With everyone around her saying to follow one's heart, Lillian chose to listen to their advice. She reached out to Giselle for multiple times, but there was no response.

Lillian got terrified if the growing distance might completely separate them. It has been days without the two girls contacting each other. And seeing right now, how Giselle did not respond, it frightens Lillian Grey.

She got worried if the waiting is going to be fruitful or a failure.

If she is going to meet Giselle or not, her entire existence hoped to meet her. Looking at the sky, Lillian prayed.

..

As she gazed at the night sky, Lillian heard little faint puffs come from behind as she turned to check it out, she found Giselle panting quietly.

SHE CAME!

..

SHE-

..

GISELLE CAME!

"You came," Lillian uttered in awe.

Giselle looks up to see Lillian already facing her.

Giselle's heaving disappears as the two looked at each other in shock.