As I opened my eyes in the morning, there were so many notifications on my phone:

[Employer Jay: Have you finished the coding yet?

Replied: I'll finish until tomorrow morning!]

[Ashley: Thanks for everything, Dee♡ We're heading for our honeymoon now... Take care.

Replied: No problem, Ash. Have fun there♡]

[Faith: I'm coming to your place. We need to finish our work!... The wedding is over, so no excuses! Eat something and be ready until I get there!

Replied: Fine!... Stop nagging!... ]

[Lily: Good morning (^-^). The weather is really pleasant today.]

I stared at Lily's text for a minute. How should I answer?!... Morning?!... And what's with the weather cliché talk?...

Since my dark navy curtains are closed, my room is too dark to see anything, and I'm not even interested in checking the weather outside. 

However, that emoji thing is kinda cute, just like her... I grinned unknowingly and replied: [Morning, Lily. Have a nice day.]

Then I jumped out of bed to start my hellish day!... I headed to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face to wake myself up. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, thinking, "I don't wanna do anything~... But I'm already behind on my tight schedule because of Ashley. It's pretty depressing that I don't even have time to grief~..." I sighed. 

~

My doorbell rang as I spread strawberry jam on toast while drinking my coffee and sitting in the kitchen. I walked to the doorway and opened the door, "Hey, Faith... Come on in..." 

Faith stood there shocked, her eyes widening. I asked, "What's wrong?"

"That's what I should ask!... Why are you looking like this?!..." She said as she stepped inside and turned on the lights. 

I headed back to eat my toast. "Looks like what?!..." 

-"There's a dark aura around you as if you're possessed by an evil spirit or something!... Wasn't the wedding fun?!..."

+"I'm just drained physically since I've been helping her out with no breaks." 

-"You poor thing~... always give in to her demands easily ~... " She sighed and walked to my office room, where we work together on our projects. 

I picked up my coffee and sat behind my desk, starting our work. "Let's do it, Faith!..."

We worked and worked, AND WORKED!!!... 

~

[4:48 AM]

It was around dawn when our work was finally done. I stretched my whole body out of exhaustion and said, "Faith~... I feel like dying~..."

"Saaaaaameeee~~~... Girllll~... Let's just pass out on your bed. I can't stay awake any longer~"... 

We both stumbled into my bedroom and just collapsed onto the bed. As we lay down, Faith fell asleep instantly. I checked my phone and saw Lily's messages: 

[ 18:07 : (Sent a meme)

18:46 : (Sent a meme)

19:32 : Hey, are you busy?...

19:34 : I was wondering when you would be free?

20:14 : (Sent a photo)

20:14 : I want to give your jacket back.

23:20 : ((T_T)) 

24:03 : Seems you're really busy. Goodnight :-( ]

I rubbed my face, frustrated, and put down my phone. "She's indeed persistent!... I'll message her later..." and fell asleep right away...

~

[10:32 AM]

As we were still sleeping, my phone rang nonstop... Faith grumbled, "Shut down that damn phone!" And fell back to sleep. 

I unconsciously slid the answering button while my eyes were still closed, and groaned, "WHO THE FUCK KEEPS CALLING ME THIS EARLY?!..."

I heard a scared voice mutter quickly, "I~... m~... sorry~... go back to sleep~..." and ended the call. 

The voice seemed familiar, so I opened my eyes and glanced at my phone's screen. It was Lily... 

I shoved my face to the pillow and mumbled, "Damn... I scared her again...". 

I sent her a text: [I didn't know it was you. My bad... I'll call you later, Lily.] 

I closed my eyes again, trying to sleep, but her innocent gloomy eyes kept flashing back in my mind and wouldn't let me sleep... 

I got out of bed annoyed. "She wouldn't tell Ashley anything just because I grumbled at her!~ Wouldn't she?!... Right?!... That would be unfair~...

Is she trying to blackmail me by constantly calling and texting me?... 

What does she really want from me?!...

I should figure it out... I can't act stupidly or I'd be dead..." I wondered as I was walking outside of the bedroom to not wake up Faith, then dialed Lily's number. 

She answered after two beeps, "Hello~... (sniffled)..." 

I was taken aback by her voice. She's been crying!... Why?!...

I said, "Hey~... "

-"I apologize for waking you up~... (hic)... I'm so sorry... (sniffled)..."

+"Don't cry~... I'm the one who should apologise... It's just been a busy day since yesterday morning and I have been up until 5 a.m., which is why I wasn't able to answer your messages or phone calls. I didn't mean to ignore or be rude to you, okay?~..."

-"...(sobbing)..."

+"Lily?~... Why did you call anyway?..."

-"I forgot what I wanted to say~... Waaah~~... (Sobbing)..."

Gosh~... Why is she crying so much?... I can't get it... 

I ran my hand through my hair frustratingly and said, "Can you stop crying, please?... I'll buy you dinner if you stop it right now..." 

She suddenly got quiet for a moment and said, "Really?..."

+" Yep... if you don't cry anymore." 

-" I won't~..." 

+"Then I'll come to pick you up around 7 PM, okay?"

-"Okay!... Then~... l'll see you!..." 

She suddenly got excited again... She's indeed a baby! Maybe I've been overthinking about the whole thing. She doesn't seem malicious at all...

+"I'll call you. Catch you later." 

-"Bye~..." 

I hung up the phone... "Convincing her was easier than I thought!" I smirked and crawled back to bed... 

~

[18:15]

After having a light supper with Faith, we lay down on my couch, talking about our next project, making plans as I was busy with my university assignments and so on. 

While Faith was talking, I glanced at my phone's screen and noticed that it's already past six! 

I cut Faith's words, and said anxiously, "Sorry Faith, but let's continue later~ I gotta get ready~" then I sprang up. 

Faith asked shocked, "What's gotten into you suddenly?!~..."

I walked to my bedroom to pick up my towel to take a shower. "I have to meet someone at 7!..."

-"Who?!" 

+"Lily..."

-"Huh?!... where's this new girl coming from?..." 

As I was taking off my clothes, I replied, "She's Ashley's neighbour and I met her during the wedding process."

Faith entered the room, leaning against the wall and looking at me suspiciously, "Hm~... Why would you see her then?... Are you two friends or whatsoever now?!"

I stood there half naked and said, "Eh~... em~... Kinda?... I don't know either..." 

I opened the bathroom door and paused, "We're going to have dinner... wanna join us?"

-"Nope... It'd be awkward... drop me off home on your way then"

+"Okay." 

I quickly took a shower and wore black baggy sweet pants with a black long sleeve sweet shirt, drying my short hair hurriedly and applying a lip balm.

Then I picked up my car keys and wallet, "Let's go Faith" 

~

[19:15]

I finally arrived at Lily's house after dropping off Faith. I picked up my phone and dialed Lily's number. She picked up instantly, "Hello!" 

"Come down. I'm in front of your house." I said.

-"I'm coming~"

Lily reached to my car less than a minute. Guess she was ready and waiting for me~...

She opened the door and got in with a big smile on her face, "Hiii ~~"

There was a sweet scent coming from her something like peach mixed with cherry~

Lily wore a black turtleneck ribbed knit jumper with a white denim jacket on top, light blue mom jeans, and black loafers. 

She had a pair of small gold hoop earrings that glittered in the light. Her hair was styled in a messy bun, with strands of hair framing her face and a light make-up as usual.

"Sorry for being late~" I stated. 

She looked at me with twinkling eyes, "It's okay~"... 

+"What would you like to eat?"

-"I'm fine with anything~" grinned. 

I started the car and drove off, "Pick something up, I need to know where I should drive to"

She answered awkwardly, "Em~... Italian, maybe?!"

+"Okay"

~

[19:53]

We arrived in front of my favourite Italian restaurant, and after parking the car in the street, we walked towards the restaurant. Then I suddenly noticed Lily had stopped on the sidewalk instead of following me. I turned around and asked, "Why did you stop?" 

She stared at me with frightened eyes and said, "There's a cat~ standing beside you~"

I looked down at the white and gray cat wandering around my leg. "What's wrong with the cat?" 

The cat stepped towards Lily, as she was panicked answered loudly, "I'M AFRAID OF CATS!!!... STOP HER FROM COMING TO MEEEE~... WAAAAAH~~~...", she was frozen in fear. 

I approached the cat and shooed her away, then walked to Lily, grabbing her hand and dragging her with me. "It's okay... She's gone now... Let's get in, Lily."... 

I could feel her hands were cold and trembling slightly out of fear. She linked her opposite hand to my arm, sticking to me tightly, causing me to laugh. She frowned and said, "Don't laugh! Cats are scary..." 

+"How can you be scared of your own species? Haha~"

-"Huh?!..." she wondered. 

+"I don't mean it in a bad way so don't get me wrong but you do look like kittens... Especially your eyes..." I smiled.

She flinched as I said this. Her cheeks became more red and she said annoyed, "I'm not!~... just thinking about it gives me shivers!~..." then pouted, which made me laugh even more!... 

~

[20:30]

As our food had arrived, we started eating silently. My phone's notification sound kept bothering us, so I put it on silent and groaned, "Let me eat!~..."

Lily asked hesitantly, "Are you still busy?!... Am I interrupting your work?!..."

+"I've finished what I had to do today, don't worry about it. It's about tomorrow's class."

She dropped her head, looking dispirited...

As I wanted to change her mood, I explained, "I assume Ashley told you that I'm studying to take my master's degree in CS and working on programming and development projects as my job which is why my life is a bit chaotic now. However, I do have time for something like having dinner with a friend, so don't feel guilty..." 

She forced a smile and said, "Okay."

I asked, "What do you study anyway?..." 

She stared at me blankly and replied shyly after a minute, "I dropped out in the first year of high school~" 

I was taken aback by what I heard. My eyes widened in shock. The only thing that came to my mind was, "I shouldn't have asked... It must've been a tough time for her...I can't even dare ask her why while we're eating!" 

I tried to act normal but screwed up again because I was anxious. "Is that why you don't have friends?"... 

Lily's fork slipped out of her hand...

I screamed internally, "My foul mouth!!! Please stopppp~~... Just Go Die! Mean Diane!..."