Chapter 287 - Unsettling conversation (1/2)

”Did you know that Giselle returned?” Lillian said to Diego.

Not sure what prompted her to ask such things to him, but she was genuinely curious to know if Diego knew about Giselle.

Meanwhile, the guy had trouble time answering her. He contemplated whether to agree to his awareness of Giselle's return or not. At first, he did learn about it through his confidential resources. However, Anna, who went to the party that Giselle invited, sent him an elaborated text, expressing her delight in meeting Giselle after several years.

”Hmm... I heard it from Anna,” Diego replied finally.

'What? It's weird.' - Lillian thought after reading Diego's offhanded expression. Nonetheless, she ignored to continue.

”She returned home after several years, but only meets Anna and invites her to the party,” Lillian said, sulking on top of the counter, pouting to her childish side.

”Hmm.”

Diego hastily finished his Gimlet and signaled for Rum.

'Ah! He is doing it again!' - Lillian could see it clear to her sight of the shift in Diego's expression as he listened to her and replied. Disregarding it for a random pretext, she returned to chat.

It wasn't that Lillian failed to connect his attitude to her centered subject, but she yearned for a friend to listen to her rant. Diego was still closer to her and being drinking buddies, sometimes Lillian shares her deepest thoughts with him more willingly. It made Diego feel special, and he was all ears to her tales. Though, this time was different because the topic wasn't to his interest.

At first, he felt exhilarated from getting invited by Lillian. But seeing her talk about Giselle started to agitate him. Diego endured to his best. With the help of liquor, he maintains his patience to continue to listen to her.

”Did you know that she has a kid now?” Lillian said to startle the pre-occupied Diego.

”Yeah,” Diego exhales as he admits.

'I don't like this.' - he thought to himself.

The reason behind such a feeling is that Lillian never talked about Giselle to him specifically, but suddenly hearing, it probably meant that something happened.

Diego became curious to dig for more.

”Why are you suddenly talking about it?” he asked, still maintaining his cool-headed state.

'Why? I wonder!' - Lillian's inner voice echoed inside.

”Just so-” she replied to her questioning.

Diego watched Lillian fall into deep wondering. He wanted to push her to the edge and assumed it to be the right choice to do so if it means he could scoop out some details about his opponent.

”What happened? Did you break up already with that model? What was her name, Lucy, isn't it?”

Diego's casual inquiry threw Lillian's busy mind to another bitter recollection. She stayed soundless, not exposing herself to her dear friend. It was excruciating to endure, but Lillian followed nonetheless.

”What happened? I'm asking you, Lilly!” Diego forced himself again to the abandoned soul.

His high raise in his tone startled the bartender serving them. He jarred from the sudden yell and took a step back to glance at the two, readily waiting to signal the security anytime if anything irrational occurs.

'Why is he behaving like this, all of a sudden?' - Lillian almost questioned her choice of meeting Diego today, to be a failure.

”Nothing happened. I was only interested to know if you are aware of the news.”

She smartly returned the ball to the other side, hoping to cease the topic at once.

Partly when Lillian called for Diego tonight, she was hoping to share with him about meeting Giselle, her shocking visit to Edwin's place with Lia, and maybe touch upon breakup with Lucy for the climax. However, his responses and reactions were considerably unexpected, and to her strange feeling, she chose not to go down the road knowing that it is going to end roughly.

Diego waited. After a pause, he checks at Lillian's distressed state of aloofness. It only elevated his doubts and anxieties higher.

”D- Did you meet her?” he asked. Only this time, his suspecting intentions stayed away, and he forged genuine care to listen to her.

”Who?” Lillian asked, almost forgetting what she was addressing him.

”You know who I'm asking! Giselle, did you meet her?” Diego asked.

His eyes are deadset at Lillian's. Behind those gentle gaze was the stinging sensation to the return of his insecurity from overhearing the name that he hated to hear. His sharp ears waited to catch anything that will come out of her mouth regarding this returned foe.

”Hmm...” Lillian admits to his devastation.

'What?'

'She met Giselle already. No wonder she speaks about her. Why? When did it happen? What did they talk and who met whom first, was it, Giselle?' - Diego's mind piled multiple questions at once.

'Giselle!' - The name made him sore.

He was living in peace in her absence. However, this miserable feeling of falling apart and drifting away returned to haunt him to his nerves.

**

Though Lillian's wild dating life initially scared Diego, he was able to digest her attitude and gave her space, hoping that she would eventually retire to his side. But it never happened. Lillian kept continuing her irresponsible conduct.

When he would get drowned into his fear of losing Lillian, Diego would receive the news of her breakup.

A relationship that bloomed and ended so soon that it truly relieved Diego. He was not under the control of his fears anymore and let Lillian lose herself for a while so that he can always be the one she would end up choosing. He was willing to allow her to date others freely. Since the absence of Giselle is influencing Lillian to her devotion to loving someone. After all, Diego did felt glad at Giselle, for secretly tying Lillian from moving on.

He had it in him that lingering worry of seeing Giselle again after all these years. To live in a day where his fear takes its first form through words, Diego could hardly be in charge of his emotions.

His eyes widen in shock, and his anger at Giselle rebounds as well.