[21:35]

Lily stared at me with a hurtful expression and then said, "I've already bothered you enough. I don't want to become a burden to you more than this..." 

+"You're not a bother, Lily. And I don't think you have any other options right now, so just stay here." 

 As Lily dropped her head silently, I realised I said something stupid again.

 I sighed and kneeled down in front of her feet, then held her face in my hands while I was incredibly nervous about what I was going to say, but I wanted to let her know about my feelings. 

"Listen, I really like you, Lily~ and I don't want you to get hurt~... So, you don't have to worry about these silly things and consider my home yours, okay? We can just live together." 

Her eyes widened in response to what I said, and she smiled as she spoke. "Thank you for comforting me and saving me every time I got into trouble~... I'll stay here until I can find a place to rent or something~..." 

I wondered at that moment as I remained silent, "Eh?~... Did she just ignore my confession?!..." 

Lily added with tearful eyes, "Also~ I apologize for what I said today~ I know you wanted to protect me~... I'm really lucky to have a friend like you~" 

She paused a second and then continued after letting out a breath, "And for the last night's matter~... I know you made a drunken mistake~ and lied because you didn't want us to get uncomfortable with each other~... So it's fine."

As she talked, I felt my heart sink in sadness more and more... I got up and gritted my teeth in frustration, then replied calmly, "Thanks for your understanding! I'm glad we're fine now, even though I'd also like to apologize for what I've done these two days... It won't happen again."

I reached the doorway and turned off the lights. "Get some sleep... I still have work to do."

~

After closing the bedroom door on her, I walked to my office, lit a cigarette, and sat there in my chair. 

"I see now~... You really want us to stay as friends~... I guess I made a mistake..." I thought as I took a deep drag of the cigarette and exhaled a long trail of smoke, pondering my situation. 

Maybe I shouldn't have acted impulsively... 

I should've waited longer to find the right time to confess...

It wasn't a good idea to say something like that, especially when she wasn't in her right mind...

I muttered, annoyed, "I always calculate things to not embarrass myself... Why did I rush about this one? I guess I lost my mind after meeting her~... "

I finished my cigarette and tossed it in the ashtray. Then suddenly a thought came to my mind, "Don't tell me she likes that red-haired guy?!... Which explains why she was so mad at me!!!~..."

My jaw dropped out of shock, thinking it actually made sense!"That son of a~..."

~

[22:15]

...'Knock'... 'knock'...

As I heard the knock on my door, I opened it and found Lily standing there, trembling. "What's wrong?" I asked with a puzzled face.

She slowly grasped my hand and mumbled, "I~... Can't sleep~... It's too dark and scary to be alone~ and~... When I close my eyes, I keep remembering the things that~... My parents did~..."

+"You can let the lights on if you want... I can sleep in the living room. If that's what you're asking..."

-"Hug me!!!... Until I fall asleep!!!..." She said flusteredly...

My heart skipped a beat as I gulped nervously. "Fuck..." I muttered in a low tone.

"What?" She asked confused. 

"Nothing. Let's go back to bed..." I said and walked into the room holding her hand in mine. 

We both lay down on the bed and I pulled Lily close to me, wrapping my arms around her. "Goodnight."

She snuggled her head into my chest, "Good~... Night~... "

Although she eventually drifted off to sleep in my embrace, I was wide awake. I couldn't stop thinking, especially when she's right here, clinging to me, but I felt as if she was distant from me. 

And I know the blame was on me since I was the one who screwed up everything... 

While I was wandering around and denying my own feelings for her or even hurting Ethan's feelings in the meantime, another guy has stolen Lily's heart already...

Is there going to be another love failure?...

~

[01:00 A.M.]

I sneaked out of the room as I couldn't sleep...

Frustrated by the thoughts running through my head while I moved back and forth in the living room, a sudden idea came to my mind in order to release my anger...

"How about a sweet taste of revenge against her family and the red hair guy?... "

I smirked devilishly and walked back to the office, turning on my PC, finding their accounts and information so that I could send a few little viruses as a gift to their phones anonymously~...

..."Hehehe~ You've got the wrong person to mess with~..."...

 I started coding the virus and typing in the server addresses. I couldn't help but chuckle as I thought about how they'd react when they noticed their phones had been hacked. I finished up and hit send, feeling satisfied with a job well done.

As I was smiling at the screen and being satisfied with what I'd done, I suddenly heard a voice behind my back, saying, "What are you doing?"

"Aaaahhh~..." I let out a scream as I got jolted and turned around, seeing Lily standing behind my seat.

"You scared the shit outta me, Lily!!!!" I grumbled.

She whined, "Sorry~... I~ opened my eyes~ you weren't there~... and the door was open~..."

I huffed and got up. "Nevermind. I had something to do here... "

I took a glance at Lily as she was sweating and her face was completely pale, so I nervously put my palm on her forehead. "You have a fever!!!" 

She looked at me puzzled as if she can't comprehend what I was saying. I dragged Lily to the bed and helped her lie down. Tossing the blanket away while she tried to cover herself with it, "It'll make your fever worse!"

She grumbled as she was still trembling, "But I'm cold!~"

I dialed Faith's number with my phone, mumbling, "Please... pick up the call..."

-"Do you have any idea what time is it?!!!"

+"Faith!... What should I do? Lily has a high fever... Should I take her to the hospital?..."

-"Huh?! How does a smartass like you not know this? Did you measure her temperature?..."

+"Because I barely get sick!... No, I didn't!... Just tell me what I need to do!"

-"Gosh~... "

Faith explained to me all I had to do and after hanging up the call, I quickly grabbed a bucket of cold water and some towels to make a cold compress. Then I put the compress on Lily's forehead and rubbed the other wet towel on her legs and arms. 

After giving her an aspirin pill, I made her drink lukewarm water while swallowing it...

~

[1:58 A.M.]

Within minutes, Lily's fever was subsiding and she stopped shaking and was able to fall asleep again...

I sat down on the bed next to her after I was relieved, and then texted my cousin, "Lily is sick and needs two days off... Don't dare deduct her salary or something!"

He texted back right away, " What? Why are you bringing this up so late? I swear to God you'll make me into bankrupt in the end!..."

[+"Because she just got sick less than an hour ago! Duh!... Hey! Don't forget I was the one who invested in your business when you didn't have a penny!"

-"Fine!!! She doesn't have to come!... Is she alright, now?"

+"Not really, but she'll. Thanks, Dan!... "]

I put my phone down and then closed my eyes, trying to sleep...

These two days were hectic...

~

[8:10 A.M.]

Lily's POV: 

I opened my eyes slowly, noticing Diana lying down beside me. I put the towel on my forehead away, staring at her as she was in deep sleep.

Yesterday was like a nightmare for me... 

Everything was overwhelming me to the point that I couldn't bear it if I was alone... 

I sat up cautiously not to wake her up, rubbing my face with my palms, but Diana flinched and said with her whispered voice, "You awake?" 

I glanced at her, "Yeah~... Go back to sleep. You must be tired~" 

She grabbed my arms and pulled me close to herself, putting her hand on my forehead. "Thank God, you're not hot anymore." 

I answered anxiously, "Yeah~ Thanks to you~"

Diana wrapped her arms around me, making me lie down again. "Let's sleep a bit more~ I can't get up now~... " 

-"But I need to rush to work! I'm already late!"

+"You don't have to... I informed your boss. So close your eyes~"

"Okay." I replied obediently as I was nervous in her arms and my heart was beating so fast. 

Although, I wasn't sleepy anymore, I stayed still...

Thinking about last night, Diana told me some sweet words to me out of pity, trying to calm me down as I was so pathetic. 

If I hadn't known who she's in love with, I'd have definitely thought she meant it in a romantic way when she said, "I really like you, Lily..."

I wondered, "Could that day ever come when she falls in love with me? Forgetting others~... I know I don't deserve someone like Diana... But still my heart yearns for her..." 

I drifted to sleep again as her embrace is always a sedative making me drowsy and calm...

~

[10:45]

"Lily~... Lily~..." I was woken up by Faith's voice calling me. 

I sprang up and said, confused, "Oh! Hey!..." 

-"Are you better? I heard you had a fever!..."

+"Yes! I'm totally fine now!... Where's Diana?"

I looked around to find her...

-"She's in the shower. I brought you guys some porridge to eat for breakfast..."

+"Thank you so much, Faith!... You're so nice~..."

In the meantime that Faith patted my shoulder slightly, Diana stepped out of the bathroom in her gray robe and her wet hairs, "Don't touch her, Faith... Your weirdness will infect her..." 

Faith grumbled, "Don't start a fight with me! I'm mad at you for disturbing my sweet dream last night!"

Diana pushed Faith out of the room. "Let's get out and let Lily use the bathroom comfortably..."

Then she glanced at me for a moment and said, "Come quickly to have breakfast together."

I answered right away, "Okay!..."

~

[11:00]

I stepped out of the bathroom after a shower and then changed into my own clothes that I'd put in my sack yesterday. White cotton shorts and a pink T-shirt decorated with little white hearts. 

I walked to the kitchen as Faith and Diana were whispering about something that I couldn't hear. 

When they noticed me, they stepped away from each other awkwardly.

Diana said, "Come and sit!"

I nodded and took a seat without saying more and Diana placed a bowl of porridge in front of me. "Eat. You need energy..." 

She delivered me a warm smile as if she wanted to tell me that everything would be alright which made my heart fluttered like a fool.

Nevertheless, I could not help but feel broken on the inside...

I lost my family, my home, my room, and everything I had in the blink of an eye...

The fact that you can lose everything in a second is indeed terrifying...

They've never cared about me, but I've still had hope they might like me just a bit... 

However, I was wrong. I was unrealistically optimistic...

And now I feel abandoned...

I stared at the bowl while the spoon was still in my grasp, and tears rolled down my cheeks unconsciously. 

As Faith noticed me crying, she reached to me and hugged me hard while crying with me, "Lily, you have us~ Don't cry~... Waaaaahhh~... Think of me as your real sister~..."

I got up, wrapped my hands around her and sobbed loudly. 

Then Diana came and embraced both of us in her arms and let out a sigh, "You guys need to accept that all of us are alone in this world actually, instead of crying like babies... Gosh!~" 

As we stayed in each other's arms, Faith grumbled, "Can you stop acting like a heartless bastard philosopher for a moment and let us be?!" 

I chuckled as I heard this. "Pffffttt~~ hahaha~..."

Both Diana and Faith stared at me, puzzled and then I smiled with tears in my eyes, "I'm really grateful that I have you guys in my life~~ You are like God's gift to me~..."

.

.