[18:15]

Diana stared at me seriously, waiting for a response from me...

But her question made me startled, and I also wondered for a second whether I liked her or not?

Of course I like her, if not I wouldn't have followed her for such a long time...

However, she seemed so hard to get that my greatest wish was to be her friend...

I'd never thought about taking it further... 

I felt like if I said something stupid, she would push me away, and I didn't want that...

I anxiously answered as my voice cracked a bit, "Ahaha~... I~... Like you~... But, not that way~... And about Ashley, I was just concerned about you~... That's all~..."

When I looked at Diana, her face was so expressionless that I couldn't figure out what she was thinking. Then she said, "That's a relief, Lily..."

My heart throbbed as I heard that...

Something weighed heavily on my heart...

...Relief?!... What's that supposed to mean?!...

"Why did you try to kiss me?" I gritted my teeth.

Diana flinched at my question and said, "Is that why you left yesterday?!... It was just a whim! I'm sorry about that, honestly. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable..." Sighing.

I glared at her as angst filled me inside. She added regrettably, " I was at fault, and I won't do it again~~, so will you forgive me?~"

"It's okay." I said faintly as I clenched my fists. I didn't have another choice than to forgive her and forget what had happened since I was the one who needed Diana's presence in my life.

Diana grinned and said, "Now, we're good~... I apologize again~...

Hurry and get ready! Or we're going to late for dinner!..." and pulled back...

I walked towards my closet silently, wondering what I should wear. 

I searched for a while and chose a long white dress with tiny blue floral patterns, a round neckline, and slightly puffed short sleeves. I also picked up a light blue knitted jacket to wear with it. 

Then I showed them to Diana as she sat on my bed waiting, "Are these okay?"

She had such a poker face and nodded, "Well, if you're comfortable with them, it's okay, I guess." 

I glanced at Diana's clothes, wearing denim straight jeans with her black cotton coat and a white long-sleeved shirt underneath, and I then sighed. 

"Lily, you don't have to compare our styles~... Everyone has their unique tastes, and I think that dress looks more suited to you because you have a delicate feminine side." She said calmly.

I suddenly got flustered and blushed. "You think so?~... So I'll wear this!"

...How does she know what I'm thinking every fucking time?!...

As I hurriedly took out my clothes, Diana turned her head away, playing with her phone awkwardly. The corners of my lips turned upwards as I realized that she also had a shy side. 

Having finished changing, I brushed my hair and put on a bit of makeup, then I said, "I'm ready!"

"Let's go," Diana stated.

~

[18:45]

After picking up Ashley's brother, Alex, we bought a bouquet of flowers with a bottle of champagne and chocolates. We then headed to their newlywed home. 

[19:10]

Upon entering their house, we greeted Sam and Ashley. 

The newlywed home was filled with joy and warmth. The walls were freshly painted in a light cream color, and decorated with romantic photographs of Sam and Ashley. 

The furniture was made of soft, inviting fabrics, and the atmosphere was alive with the energy of newlywed bliss. The house was filled with fresh flowers, and the aroma of freshly cooked meals wafted through the air. 

It was clear that Sam and Ashley had put a lot of love and care into making their house a home.

I said happily, "Ashley, your house looks awesome!"

Then she answered after giving me a hug, "Thank you, little Lily~..." 

Afterward, Ashley squeezed Diana into her arms and said, "Gosh~... I missed my bestieeee~..."

"Haha~... Same..." Diana replied.

Seeing Diana hugging her back while smiling from ear to ear made me feel a knot in my stomach. 

Sam and Alex sat on the couch hanging out, while the three of us walked to the kitchen.

Diana and Ashley were into their own world again as they were preparing dinner while I was standing across them, behind the kitchen's counter chopping tomatoes for salad...

...How is that no one has noticed her feelings yet, when she's literally acting towards Ashley differently?...

As Ashley squeezed the mayonnaise sauce bottle, it slipped out of her hand into the salad bowl. Then Diana grabbed it, smiling, "Let me do it, silly~..."

"You're the one who's silly." I thought and smirked as I was chopping.

The atmosphere got strangely quiet, which made me to look up and see Diana and Ashley staring at me in puzzlement!

And that was when I noticed that I had said my thoughts loudly!!!!!...

I laughed awkwardly and said, "Haha!... I mean, Diana should've done it since the beginning! Not letting you do it since your clumsy~ ... haha~... ehm~..." Then I continued to chop the tomatoes hurriedly as I was frustrated and cut my finger, "Ouch!"...

Diana grasped my hand and groaned. "Are you sure you're not the clumsy one?" And sucked my cut finger out of the blue which made me jolted and pulled my hand back in an instant, "I'm fine!".

"Ashley give her a band-aid." Diana said with her frowned eyebrows.

As Ashley left, she asked, raising an eyebrow, "What was that earlier?"...

I was taken aback, "I~... I'm sorry~..." Dropped my head down since I couldn't look at her eyes... 

I heard that she sighed, completely annoyed and continued her doings.

When Ashley came back and wrapped the band-aid around my finger, they started to set the table as dinner was ready. 

I just stood in a corner, watching them work in harmony.  I should mention that it was Diana who managed Ashley and took care of her, didn't let her pick up heavy things or touch the hot pots... 

~

[19:50]

We were all seated at the table. Diana and I sat next to each other while Ashley and Sam were across us and Alex was at the head of the table. We all began to talk excitedly about our plans for the weekend. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.ext to them.

As we were chatting while eating, I felt annoyed by Diana's actions, spoiling Ashley even at dinner which made me lost my appetite somehow!... 

I'm not sure if it was jealousy or something else, however I was pissed!...

Then I suddenly remembered something from TikTok that was kinda a challenge to test as if someone was caring about you secretly while I observed them...

I pretend to have dropped my fork accidentally in Diana's direction then I bent down to pick up my fork hoping that she'd put her hand at the edge of the table to protect my head... 

As I grabbed my fork, I took a breath and raised my head...

..."BAAM"...

I hit my head against the table stupidly, whining from pain "Waaahhhh..."...

I could hear them all saying, "Oh Lord!"...

I sat straight while holding my head in my hands, "Woo~~...". 

Alex said, "Damn~... You okay?..." 

And Ashley added, "What's wrong with you today?!"

I turned my head towards Diana and glared at her, then she stared at me confused.

I let out a sigh and left for the bathroom. "Excuse me for a moment."

I entered the bathroom and closed the door, looking at my reflection in the mirror.

"Stupid Lily... What were you thinking seriously? She would never treat you the way she treats Ashley... And you know that."

After a few minutes I heard a light knock on the door. "Yes?!"

"Everything is alright?" Diana asked.

I opened the door and saw her standing there with an ice pack in her hand. "Yeah, it didn't hit that badly~..."

She held my head in her hands, rubbing my head, "Let me see..." and then pressed the ice pack against my scalp.

It was so cold that I flinched. "Hang on a bit~" she said. 

+"Thanks~"

-"What were you thinking seriously, bumping your head like that!"

+"I thought you'd protect me~" I mumbled in a low voice.

-"What?"

I lifted my head and said with a faint smile, "Nothing... Let's go back to the table." 

And we walked back.

~

Diana's POV: 

[21:35]

After dinner, they've decided to drink wine and I didn't join them since I had to drive.

Lily is definitely upset about something judging by her strange behaviour, but she won't just say it... 

When she suddenly blurted out that I'm the one who's silly in front of Ashley, my whole body froze in place...  

I felt as if she wanted to warn me, she could've exposed me at any minute...

Then her obvious trick, dropping the fork on the floor, bent down while peeking at me secretly...

I knew what she had expected, however I wanted to take back at her for scaring me to death in the kitchen... 

...Yep, that was childish, and I regretted it later...

By the way, here she is, sitting next to me and leaning against my shoulder!... Drinking nonstop!... 

She was completely drunk!... 

Her face was as red as a strawberry, and she kept mumbling nonsense...

I took the glass out of her hand and grumbled, "Enough is enough! You're drunk!"

She glared at me after a moan and said, "Why don't you like me?!~~... Huh?!~~..."

Everyone's attention was fixed on Lily and I was hella panicking!... 

"Of course, I like you~... Now, get up!... we should go." I said as I tried to help her to stand up, but she pushed me away and yelled, "You're lyingggggg!!~~ The~ .... hic... wayyyy~... You look at~... hic... Ash~... is different!!... You lik~... " 

I covered her mouth immediately with my right hand as I wrapped my left arm around her, and then whispered near her ears, "Lily! Get together! Or I'll kill you seriously!..." 

Then she sobbed loudly, "Waaaah~... Sheee~... Wantsh~ ... To... Killz... Meee~...." 

I was totally dumbfounded!... And everyone burst into laughter... 

I smiled awkwardly and then I held Lily in my arms to lift her up. "We should go back home!... Thank you for inviting us, Sam and Ashley!..." 

Then Ashley said, "You two could've sleep here like Alex..."

"No, I've got work, so I need to be at home... Thanks anyway~..." I refused and then dragged Lily to the car after saying goodbye while Lily was cursing at me. "HEyyyy~~~... You!!! Stone heart!!... How~... COULD ~... killlz ... a ... hic... cutie Liksh~... Meee?!!!" I put her into the car and closed the door.

Then I let out a huff, "Holy cow. What's wrong with her seriously?..." 

~

As Lily was totally blacked out, I took her to my apartment at the end. 

I dragged her to my bedroom and laid her on the bed, then I cleaned her face with a wet tissue while she was still cursing and crying about that I wanna kill her. 

I let out a sigh and said, "I won't kill you... Please Lily, stop torturing me!... "

She opened her eyes and stared at me as her tears were rolling down. "Really? You~ Likee~ Me?~" 

"Yeah, I like you so stop please~" I replied.

Her eyes sparkled anticipating and she then smiled, "Hehe~... Deee~... Likesh~... Me..."

Pulling her toward me, I opened the back zipper of her dress. Then I took her dress off as she was wiggling in my arm.

As my gaze fell on her teddy bear pattern bra and panties, I chuckled. "Just like her!...pfttt~..."

Afterwards, I changed her into more comfortable clothes to sleep in and tucked her into bed. 

"Goodnight, Lily." My smile widened as she drifted off...

.