24 Emily
As Emily prepared to leave, she handed Lilly a mysterious card with a phone number. Lilly accepted it with a warm but puzzled smile. Emily, the enigmatic visitor, then gracefully stood, pulling her hat lower to obscure her face, and bid farewell with a gentle, "Goodbye, Lilly."
Lilly watched Emily's exit, holding the enigmatic card and the cherished photograph of her parents in her hands. She absentmindedly placed them in her pant pocket. Her thoughts swirled with a maelstrom of questions and self-doubt. "What really happened to my parents? Why has this fate befallen me? Why do my memories remain elusive? Could I be responsible for my parents' tragic end? I miss my dear friends, and I wonder about my brother and sister. What became of them?" She wrestled with these unanswerable questions, desperately attempting to unearth lost memories that seemed to slip through her grasp
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Meanwhile, Leo approached the shop, but a mysterious woman veiled in shadow had crossed his path, her face concealed by a deep black hat. Politeness was his initial reaction as he said, "I am sorry," but her unsettling and enigmatic smile sent shivers down his spine.
Unable to quell his curiosity, Leo glanced at the mysterious woman once more, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu. "Did we meet somewhere?" he inquired, his voice laced with intrigue.
"Oh, did you forget me that easily?" she replied in a tone that left Leo stunned, his heart pounding with unease.
For a surreal moment, Leo stood there, frozen, as if the world around him had lost its grip on reality. "Ha ha ha... I knew you would never forget me," the lady remarked before walking away, leaving Leo bewildered and seemingly alone in the bustling city.
Jennie, attentive to Leo's apparent distress, approached him with genuine concern. "Baby, what happened? Why is your face so flushed? Are you crying?"
Leo managed to regain his composure, wiping away any stray tears and offering a reassuring smile. "It's nothing, baby. Something just got in my eye. It's all fine now. Let's go."
Together, they entered the charming flower shop, and Jennie noticed that Lilly appeared to be lost in thought. On the other hand, Leo cast an inquisitive look in her direction. Jennie, known for her empathy, approached Lilly and gave her a friendly shake. "Hey, Lilly."
Snapped back to reality, Lilly looked at Jennie and Leo. "Oh, when did you two arrive?"
"We just got here. What's on your mind, Lilly? Are you missing your parents and friends?" Jennie asked, her voice filled with genuine compassion.
Lilly responded with a warm smile and then turned her attention to Leo. "Hey, Leo, why are you looking at me that way?"
"What way?" Leo inquired, captivated by the mystery of the earlier encounter.
"Like I've done something wrong. I'm diligently doing my work," Lilly replied playfully, attempting to shift their focus away from the perplexing visitor.
Leo couldn't help but grin upon hearing her words. "Alright, Lilly. By the way, who was that woman who just came in?"
Lilly pondered for a moment, then finally responded, "Oh, she's just a customer. Right now, she's not looking for anything specific. She came in to browse, that's all," she said while skillfully avoiding Leo's intense gaze.
Despite his unspoken questions, Leo chose not to press further. Jennie, ever the peacemaker, sauntered over to the coffee maker in the back of the shop. After brewing three cups of coffee, she returned to Leo and Lilly, who were deeply engrossed in conversation, their laughter echoing through the cozy shop.
"Oh, it seems like you two have teamed up now. What's all the secrecy and laughter about?" Jennie teased, her playful tone infusing the room with even more merriment.
Leo, ever the charmer, couldn't resist and gently touched Jennie's nose, saying, "Oh, my baby, we were just discussing some very serious matters."
Lilly joined in, "Yes, we were planning how to improve our business."
Jennie playfully pretended to be offended. "Oh, so I'm left out now? You guys are secretly plotting to enhance the business without informing the owner? And all while laughing about it?"
Lilly chuckled, thoroughly entertained by their playful banter. "Jennie, don't be upset. Leo was just saying you have a unique way of doing things."
Jennie raised an eyebrow, turning to Leo with a challenge in her eyes. "What unique thing have I done, Leo?"
"Lilly, you promised you wouldn't tell!" Leo responded, his voice tinged with mock anger.
"Lilly is always on my side, Leo. Don't try to change that. So, what unique thing have I done?" Jennie insisted, a playful glint in her eyes.
Lilly burst into laughter, thoroughly enjoying the friendly disagreement between the couple. Leo, who had been looking at her with feigned irritation, couldn't help but smile at the joy that radiated from Lilly. Their playful tiff ended with Leo kissing Jennie, prompting Lilly to playfully cover her eyes and quip, "I didn't see anything."
The atmosphere was light, and it seemed like a perfect time for a change of pace. Jennie suggested, "Let's play truth or dare. Who's ready?"
Lilly and Leo, finding the idea appealing, readily agreed. "So, let's start," Jennie said, setting the stage for a fun and exciting game that promised to add a new dimension to their day.
