Chapter 48: Confrontation: The Truth About Lily
Chapter 48: Confrontation: The Truth About Lily
I heard a faint whisper, and I turned to the person driving. I heard a faint whisper, and I looked at the person driving– Kiro. As I gazed at him, I noticed the sunlight on his face, making him look warm and relaxed. His eyes were a deep brown, and they seemed to hold a quiet mystery. "Why are you so quiet?" I asked in a soft voice. He looked at me and smiled softly, like he appreciated the question. Instead of answering directly, he chuckled softly. "Is it necessary to make noise while driving?" What's going on with him again? I tried to understand what he was feeling, but it was hard to tell. I stared at Kiro for what felt like an eternity, my gaze fixed on him with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation. Deep down, I was secretly hoping for another response, something more than just his gentle smile and amused chuckle. I wanted to hear the thoughts that he kept hidden, to understand the emotions that lingered behind his calm facade. "Hmm. Are you angry?" he asked. I felt a jolt of surprise shoot through me, catching me off guard. I instinctively averted my gaze, looking away from him. "Why should I be angry? What should I be angry about?" He chuckled gently, and I couldn't help but notice the softness of his laughter, like a gentle melody. His eyes crinkled slightly at the corners, adding a touch of warmth to his already captivating gaze. But as quickly as the warmth settled in, a tinge of concern crept into my thoughts. I realized that he had turned to me while driving, and a surge of worry washed over me like a sudden gust of wind. My mind raced with thoughts of potential dangers and accidents that could befall us on the road. "Why are you like that? Aren't you eager to go home to the mansion? Or is this what they call 'beating around the bush'?" I scolded him, but he only responded with laughter. I found myself secretly shocked at how my attitude towards answering Kiro had changed over time. Initially, I would have been timid and hesitant, careful with my words, and always mindful of my position as one of the housekeepers. But now, as I talked to Kiro, it was as if an unspoken transformation had taken place, and I spoke to him with an ease that surprised even myself. "Seriously, I can't figure you out. It's fine, though, if you don't want to tell me that you are angry," he said while keeping his eyes on the road. I just smiled at him, but then I noticed the handkerchief IAll text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
had seen in his car before. Now maybe I have the right to ask about it, right? I sneezed softly, hoping to catch his attention. It seemed like a comical attempt, but it worked, and Kiro turned to me with an asking expression, his eyes reflecting both amusement and curiosity. "Since you were the one asking a bunch of questions a while ago, can I ask questions now? Is it my turn?" I ventured, surprised at my newfound courage and wit. It felt as though a spark of boldness had ignited within me, compelling me to seize this opportunity for genuine conversation. I saw him blink, taken aback by my sudden assertiveness, but he quickly nodded in agreement, encouraging me to proceed. Gathering my thoughts, I returned my focus to the intriguing handkerchief that had caught my eye earlier. I spoke with genuine intrigue, "This handkerchief, I saw it before, but you immediately took it and hid it… Who owns that?" A soft sigh escaped Kiro's lips before he replied, "You've been wanting to ask that for a long time, right? Ask me questions, and I'll answer them all honestly, and for that..." The atmosphere in the car seemed to shift subtly, as if an unspoken understanding had settled between us. I felt an openness and vulnerability, as though we had both entered a space of trust and transparency. He continued, "The name of the owner, Lily, is engraved on the handkerchief." Lily. I repeated the name silently in my mind, trying to make sense of the significance it held for Kiro. A name, but undoubtedly more than just that. His tone carried a sense of nostalgia, and I couldn't help but wonder about the memories the two have shared. "The name of that owner, Lyka, is engraved on the handkerchief," he said, his voice soft and gentle. "Hmmm, ‘Lily’ is a nice name," I murmured, trying to hide the curiosity in my voice. "Our names have something in common... it starts with the letter 'L' and has four letters, right?" I tried to make it sound casual, but my heart fluttered with anticipation, eager for him to fill in the missing pieces. "Oh, you noticed that amazing coincidence, too!" he chuckled, and for a moment, his laughter eased the tension that lingered between us. But my curiosity was not so easily satisfied, and I couldn't contain the question any longer.
"Who is Lily?" I blurted out, my voice betraying my eagerness. The sudden stop of the car caught me off guard, and my heart lurched in my chest, as if it had been wrenched from its steady rhythm. In that split second, time seemed to slow, and the world around me blurred into a whirlwind of emotions. My hands instinctively shot out, gripping the edge of my seat with an intensity that matched the surge of anxiety coursing through me. "A-are you okay, Lyka?" Kiro asked with concern, his eyes searching mine for any signs of distress. "A cat suddenly passed by on the road, so I stopped," he explained, and I followed his gaze to the black cat strolling leisurely in front of us. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart, and nodded, "It's okay, I’m f-fine." Kiro's words spilled out in a flurry, his concern evident in every syllable. "Are you really okay? The fuck, I'm such stupid for stopping the car that way. Are you really okay?" he repeated, his brows furrowing with worry. "Yes..." I reassured him, my voice barely above a whisper. "Who is Lily?" His eyes held a mix of emotions, memories resurfacing in the depths of his gaze. "She was my ex, she’s dead. She killed herself," he finally answered. At that moment, the air seemed to be sucked out of the car, leaving me gasping for breath. My heart broke for him, knowing that the wounds of loss still lingered, fresh and raw. My hand reached out, and I gently placed it on his, offering a gesture of comfort, a silent reminder that he was not alone in his grief. – Kiro and I managed to make it back to the mansion without any interruptions on the road. The journey had taken on a somber tone, weighed down by the revelation of Lily's past and the sorrowful truth of her demise. I mustered the strength to thank him for being honest with me, but my heart ached for him, knowing the pain he must carry. It turned out that Lily was his ex-girlfriend, and she was dead– she committed suicide. The words echoed in my mind like a haunting refrain. I couldn't help but feel a surge of shock and sadness at the tragic tale he shared.
As he continued with his recollections, I noticed the intensity in his voice when he spoke of Lily, the depth of emotion evident in every word. "You see, I used to love her so much," he began, but I knew he was being modest. It was more than just fondness; he had loved her deeply, and his feelings for her were etched in the way he spoke about her. My chest tightened as the weight of his emotions settled upon me. He had loved Lily, and even now, the memories of their time together still held a powerful hold on him. Despite the pain, he mustered a small smile, turning to me as if seeking comfort in my presence. "H-hey, Lyka... If you find this uncomfortable, you can tell me... And it was all in the past now. I found... someone now," he said, his words tinged with uncertainty. "It's okay, continue your story, I'm listening," I reassured him, wanting him to feel free to share without any worry. But even as I encouraged him, a pang of jealousy tugged at my heart. I wanted to be the one he found comfort in, the one he leaned on, but I knew that I couldn't replace the memories he cherished…the memories they both cherished. As Kiro continued sharing the fragments of his past with me, I felt a mix of emotions swirl within me– curiosity, empathy, and a pang of envy that I tried my best to conceal. He spoke of falling in love with women of a certain kind, and my heart couldn't help but wonder what made those women so special, and how low I am compared to them. "I courted her in college.... took her out to eat, bought flowers and gifts for her, made efforts and many more," he reminisced, and I couldn't help but imagine the joy and excitement that colored those early days of their relationship. It was a chapter of his life that I had not been a part of. But Kiro's voice turned tender as he spoke about the blossoming of their love. "As time went on, I knew she was also slowly falling for me-- I could see that in her eyes, words, gestures, and movements," he said, his voice tinged with a mixture of fondness and longing. "When she finally told me that she was already mine, I was probably the happiest man in the world." His smile, as he recounted those cherished moments, was beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. I wanted to be the one to evoke such happiness in him, but instead, I found myself grappling with the painful realization that I could never replace the memories of a love that had once been so deep. "I introduced her to my Mom and Miss Linda, as well as to the rest of us at home, as well as to my
friends and acquaintances," he continued, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of their shared experiences. I wonder if he could freely introduce me to everyone…but, I guess, it won’t happen. "We graduated together and dreamed of life together," he said, and his words painted a picture of the future they had once envisioned, a future that now seemed so far away. "Even though I knew I had nothing to worry about for my own future because of my parents' company, Lily and I still planned. We wanted to set up our own business, just the two of us." His dreams with Lily were a stark reminder of the life they had mapped out together - a life that would now forever remain unfulfilled. My heart ached for him, knowing that the dreams they had held so dear had slipped through their fingers like sand. "We are starting our dreams… but soon after... It seems like something has suddenly changed," he confessed, his voice heavy with the weight of the unknown. "I don't know, but all of a sudden, we didn't talk... Suddenly there seems to be a wall between the two of us... It seems like her love for me suddenly disappeared, and the love that she almost shouted at the world yet suddenly did not reach the end."