WHITE CAMELLIA

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: HEY BOY ~ SIA & BURNA BOY]

On getting home, Lily slumped on her bed, with her hands on her chest. She needed to calm her nerves before her date night with Jeffrey, but her mind won't stop replaying everything that happened. Lily couldn't believe she had just witnessed a scene she had seen sometime in a movie; she was so glad she came out unharmed and she remembered her promise to disappear from the town.

"The moment Fred comes out, we are leaving this place for good. Maybe the countryside," Lily muttered to herself. When she finally got on her feet, she rubbed her hands on her face as she walked towards the bathroom to have her bath. She wasn't able to get her dress, so she needed to find something decent from her old clothes before the time for the date arrived.

"Argh!!" Lily shrieked, the moment she walked inside the bathroom, she saw her reflection in the mirror, a part of her eyes had blood stains on it.

"I'm bleeding!! My eyes!" She shouted dramatically while bringing her face very close to the mirror. But when she checked it properly, there was no wound, but the blood was on her hand. Lily pulled the tap nuzzle and allowed the water to wash off the blood stain on her hand. While she wondered where she got it from, it wouldn't be the man who tried to squeeze her neck; she didn't remember going close to him after the devil smashed his head on the mirror. Then who could be? Lily stopped washing her for a moment.

"No, it won't be that devil; he is so cold even if a needle should poke him, he won't bleed." Lily nodded her head, before she shrugged the thoughts off and continued with what she was doing.

When evening finally arrived, Lily was now dressed in the old gown she used for her prom when she was in high school. It was a little tight at her bosom and waist, but it still looked good.

"Did it grow that much?" Lily tried to hold the gown sleeves that kept falling off every time she dragged the gown up trying to cover her chest. It was so uncomfortable, but she didn't have any choice; she wanted to look good for her crush. When her phone beeped, it was a message from Jeffrey, and he was waiting downstairs. Lily fixed her glasses on her face, picking up her clutch bag, she stepped out of the room.

"Good evening, Lily," the young officer greeted on seeing the girl, "You look very beautiful tonight." He remarked, opening the car door for her to step in.

Lily blushed at how gentlemanly the man was, as she got into the car. It was a little difficult for her to breathe, and this was as a result of the tightness of the gown on her chest, but she had to bear with it.

Jeffrey finally entered the driver's seat, putting on his seatbelt; he drove off to the restaurant they had reserved.

The ride was a quiet one, Lily decided to engage him in a conversation. "I love your car; it's very comfortable." She decided to start with a compliment.

"You do? Not mine to keep anyway, it's for my duties." Jeffrey replied with his eyes on the road, as he drove carefully like a good citizen.

Lily nodded her head, "Did you see Fred? How is it going?" She asked.

"He is fine; I saw his lawyer before I left the station. The man is really taking his job seriously; it must have cost you a lot to get such a good lawyer." Jeffrey said.

Lily shook her head, "It was actually my boss who found the lawyer for me. I'm really grateful to him."

Jeffrey twitched his lips, "He is a good man, your boss. But you also have to be careful; these days most men don't appear as what they really are. Wolves in sheep's clothing waiting for a chance to attack." The man said in a mean voice.

It was almost like Lily didn't know Jeffrey with the way he just sounded. Just like something snapped inside of him, and it got her scared. She pressed her lips and gulped softly.

Jeffrey noticed the silence, and he moved his eyes from the road briefly looking at the girl, "Did I scare you? I'm sorry; you know with my line of work. I've met a lot of men, I'm sorry if I sounded a little extreme." He replied, focusing on his driving.

Lily finally smiled, "No, it's not a problem. I understand perfectly well. Your job requires a lot. I'm fine." The girl pushed her glasses up her face as she looked outside the window.

Lily got down from the car when Jeffrey parked in front of the decent-looking restaurant that they had already made reservations for. They walked to their table directed by a nice-looking waiter who kept a smile handy.

"What would you like?" Jeffrey asked Lily when they finally settled down.

Lily took out the menu, and her eyes sparkled with excitement. "I heard that their steak is the best; let's have it with pasta and maybe coleslaw." She pointed out. Food always made her blood flow well.

Jeffrey's face changed, with the smile no longer on his face, "Are you really going to have all of that? Well, it's good to eat okay. I will have Flaky filo pastry filled with a savory spinach and feta cheese mixture." He dropped his menu and noticed the look on Lily's face, "Oh maybe you didn't know, but I'm a vegetarian."

Lily gulped, a vegetarian? She loved meat so much how was she supposed to! It's okay she nodded. "Then, I'm going to have what you're having." Lily said this word through her teeth. It was a hard decision to make.

"Excellent choice! You'll understand the importance when you start eating better." Jeffrey remarked waving for the waiter to come and get their orders.

Lily sighed, who leaves their home just to go have spinach and cheese for a date night. She cried internally while trying to maintain a happy face, but it was impossible for her. It was okay, Lily reassured herself, as long as she got to stay with Jeffrey, she would have to adapt and change for him.

When the food finally arrived, Jeffrey was the first to dig in as he savored the meal like it was his last.

"You're not eating?" He asked, raising his face up to look at Lily.

Lily clapped her hands, "I'm appreciating the beauty first; I'll be eating now." She leaned forward to pick up the food, but with her dress being tight and another pressure applied, both Lily and Jeffrey heard the ripping sound of the dress.

Lily's face flushed in embarrassment as she held the side of her dress tightly.

Jeffrey handed Lily his jacket, "Don't worry; it's too much fatty foods you take. If you start watching your diet, everything will be just fine." He replied with a sweet smile that Lily couldn't even get mad at him.

"Let me use the washroom." Saying this, Lily grabbed the jacket and held her dress walking inside the ladies' room. She wished the ground could open and swallow her whole.

"It's okay; I guess I should lose some weight. Jeffrey's right." Lily nodded to herself. "Why is my date night not going as planned?" Lily cried out, and all she could think of was the devil she met in the afternoon. It was his bad luck that was no rubbing off on her date night.