Chapter 8: "The Final Illusion"

Though she had barely eaten in days, Lily didn't know where she found the strength to run so fast.

But David was faster.

He caught up to her, his hand wrapping around her wrist, forcing her to stop. With a gentle but firm pull, he turned her to face him.

"Lily, what's wrong?" His voice was filled with concern. "Why are you crying? Why are you running away from me?"

Lily's heart pounded, but she forced herself to stay composed. She sniffed and wiped her face quickly, trying to erase any evidence of tears.

"No, no, I'm not running away from you," she said, her voice steadier than she expected. "I'm just… I'm feeling sick and tired, so I decided to go home quickly."

David's eyes studied her carefully. "Lily, you and I both know that's a lie. Please, just tell me what's wrong."

"I said it's nothing," she snapped, her voice carrying a sharp edge. "I have to go, David."

She took a few steps away from him, desperate to end this conversation, but then—

That word.

"Green."

Lily froze.

The air around her felt different. Heavy. Suffocating.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched long and unbearable.

Then, suddenly, laughter filled the space between them. But it wasn't just laughter. It was mixed with something else—something raw and broken.

Lily was laughing and crying at the same time.

David took a cautious step forward. "Lily…"

But before he could say anything else, she started clapping.

"Wow, David. Wow." She shook her head, a bitter smile twisting her lips. "You are one hell of an actor. In fact, the Grammy Award for Best Actor of the Year 2025 should have gone to you."

David blinked, caught off guard. "What… What are you talking about?"

Lily let out a short, humorless laugh. "What am I talking about?" she repeated mockingly. "So I still look that easy to you, huh? Still look that foolish, that stupid, that gullible? You thought I would quiver or melt just because you said 'Green'?"

David opened his mouth, but Lily didn't let him speak.

"Of course, I know I was foolish three years ago," she continued, her voice calm but edged with something sharp. "But I'm not that baby girl anymore. I'm not foolish. I'm not blinded by… God knows what. And I know—" she jabbed a finger at her own chest "—I know you never thought I was beautiful. I know you never liked me as a girl. And I damn well know that you never fucking respected me."

David's face darkened. "Lily, that's not—"

"You, Divine, and Destiny still betting on girls..... Huh?" she cut in, her voice laced with quiet fury.

David flinched.

Lily let out a slow breath, steadying herself. "From the beginning, I knew you were a player. I saw how you dated two girls at once—both from your class—and yet, somehow, you still came to me." She scoffed. "And like an idiot, I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Because you were nice to me. Because you were calm. Because even when your sister and brother, Destiny and Divine, would tease me—when they laughed at me for having a mustache and a beard—you never did. I thought… I thought you genuinely saw me. As a somebody. As a girl."

Her voice wavered for the first time, but she steadied herself, lifting her chin.

"But no," she whispered. "You planned it with them. You planned to fool me."

She took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. "Congratulations, David. It worked. You guys won. You played me like a ball and scored so damn good."

She took a step closer, closing the space between them. She looked him straight in the eyes, her gaze unwavering.

"But let me tell you something." Her voice was cold now. Unshaken. Unforgiving.

"I am not falling for your lies and trickery a second time."

Lily turned, about to walk away.

Then—

"Okay, fine. You got me," David said, his voice suddenly shifting. "I was tired of faking it anyway."

Lily paused but didn't turn back.

"You're right. I never liked you," he continued. His voice carried a smugness that made her skin crawl. "I always watched how you smiled at every little thing—how you laughed too much, played too much. It made you look stupid."

Lily's hands clenched into fists.

David let out a low chuckle. "Anytime we played outside, you were always the one who laughed the most, who got carried away the most. It made you look easy… highly unattractive... and extremely childish."

Her back was still to him, but she smirked unhappily, swallowing the lump rising in her throat.

"That's why we decided to play games with you," he said, laughing mockingly. "And trust me, it was fun."