How Lilies turn Black Chapter 15 - Coincidence or Fate (2)

The blood trickled down his side.

 

What she thought was warmth coming from Wayne was actually his own blood.

 

“Hey, your wound…”

 

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

 

When I step closer, Wayne takes a step back and laughs softly. I don’t even have time to feel my stomach turn.

 

Since when had I ever smelled blood?

 

Lilia was even paler than Wayne, frantically digging through her purse. Then she pulled out a handkerchief and lunged for him.

 

“I’m fine–”

 

“Hold still.”

 

His voice was strained with sobs, even though he was trying to hide them, and the pure white handkerchief clutched to his side was quickly turning red.

 

It wasn’t the first time this had happened to him; he’d always gone out without sparing himself, only to come back with a stab wound, and Wayne’s steadfastness was unwelcome.

 

“I think you need to go to the hospital.”

 

“I’m fine, it’s not like I’m going to die or anything.”

 

“You’re talking nonsense!”

 

Wayne’s mouth dropped open at the shout, and he looked down at his side, unable to shake off Lilia’s touch.

 

The bewilderment in his eyes was gradually replaced by resignation, and after a moment, he muttered, “I’m surprised you were even in this remote alleyway… and you’ve been so helpful to a total stranger. Here I thought today was going to be a bad day.”

 

Lilia flinched as if she’d been hit in the head. Suddenly, she came to her senses.

 

‘Uh, we’ve never met…’

 

The realization that she had nothing to do with Wayne hit her like a ton of bricks, and the willpower that had held her to him through thick and thin slipped away. 

 

The strength in her fingertips began to drain away.

 

It was wrong, I shouldn’t have jumped out of the cab to see him again. What was I supposed to do?

 

Haven’t I told myself that the only time I would see Wayne was after everything was over, and we were both safe?

 

‘All I can see now, anyway, is Wayne, who won’t even recognize me.’

 

Heat rushed under her drooping head, and her eyes burned. 

 

Lilia pushed the handkerchief into his hand, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over.

 

“I think I should go, but I want you to see a doctor.”

 

With that, she turned away quickly. If she faced him any longer, she might end up crying, even though Wayne didn’t even understand her.

 

“Wait!”

 

Wayne grabbed her arm as she fled. Lilia sucked in a breath, her heart sinking.

 

As she came to a stop, Wayne handed her a green checkered handkerchief.

 

“I apologize for the bloodstains… I realized I’d stained you earlier.”

 

Until then, Lilia hadn’t realized that dark blood had soaked into her clothes. 

 

Now the freshly dressed robe was stained beyond repair, just like her hair, which was a mess. She rubbed the corners of her eyes as hard as she could.

 

‘Stupid…’

 

If there were a handkerchief, it would have been for the bleeding wound at his waist, and there’s no way I’d be able to get the stain out of my clothes if I tried now.

 

His kindness cut through my heart like a knife. 

 

A man so needlessly sensitive.

 

Unable to deal with him any longer, Lilia stomped out into the main street, forgetting to return the handkerchief he’d offered her.

 

“Ah…”

 

The back alley she’d disappeared into. 

 

A short sigh escaped his lips, his pupils darting around in panic, then narrowing.

 

“Oh, hell.”

 

Wayne rushed out onto the main road after her, but all he could see were dozens of cars speeding up and down the road.

 

“…I didn’t even get a chance to thank you.”

 

His muttered words were drowned out by the sound of the highway’s honking traffic.

 

All that’s left are the lingering scents that still linger on the tip of his nose. And the soft handkerchief in his hand.

 

✨

 

— Kiss me once, then kiss me twice, then kiss me once again. 🎶

 

Kiss me once, then a second time, then once again.

 

A faint voice echoes through the darkened bar.

 

Following the sound to its source, I find a small stage, a down light, and Lilia standing under a cloud of floating dust.

 

She’s wearing a wine-colored halter-neck dress and holding a stand-up microphone.

 

— It’s been a long, long time. 🎵

 

Been a long, long time.

 

Her uncharacteristically melancholy voice mingled with the bright melody and sweet lyrics, creating a strange atmosphere.

 

But no one seemed to feel awkward or unfamiliar with the charming incongruity. 

 

The group sat around the bar, sipping their drinks and enjoying the melodies, or just chatting amongst themselves in a languid state of mind.

 

It had been a week since Lilia had stood on De Lucia’s small stage.

 

Her voice, like the night fog, has been filling the place without a murmur.

 

Except that Lilia herself was lost in another world, singing Kitty Kallen’s It’s been a long, long time. 

 

As she sang the lyrics, which were so evocative of her situation, she was reminded of the moment she and Wayne reunited not long ago.

 

‘I never thought I’d see you like that.’

 

The reunion wasn’t as beautiful and dramatic as the lyrics suggest. It left a bitter aftertaste in her mouth.

 

As she replayed Wayne’s words and actions in her head, the green eyes that roamed the air darkened.

 

Back in 1961, when she first returned, she was convinced that if she ever saw him again, things would be back to normal. 

 

On second thought, I was sorely mistaken.

 

‘Things have changed, but how can I…’

 

The reasons that brought them together had changed, the reasons that drew them closer had all but disappeared, but could they still fall in love the same way?

 

Lilia thought back to their first meeting all those years ago.

 

“Are you Miss Liliana Moretti?”

 

Those were probably Wayne Boyd’s first words to her.

 

It was November 4, 1962, a rainy day. On the day Angelo was buried and laid to rest, I sat in front of the tombstone, too busy to use my umbrella.

 

Suddenly, the rain stopped drenching her hair and she turned around to see him standing there. 

 

His large black umbrella tilted toward her.

 

The line of his smooth lips was all she could see beneath his tightly pressed bowler hat, but then he knelt on one knee.

 

And then she met his eyes, faithful eyes that shone calmly. The flat bridge of his nose set firmly in the center of his face.

 

For a moment, she forgot about Angelo and stared at his face as if enchanted.

 

“It’s cold out.”

 

He held out his hand. She pulled it back, prickling with a sudden desire to feel warm.

 

“Who are you?”

 

At the sound of her sharp voice, he caught her off guard most simply and effectively. He flipped open his coat to reveal the badge tucked into his inside pocket.

 

“FBI investigator, Wayne Boyd.”

 

“…”

 

“I need to speak with you regarding the death of your brother, Mr. Angelico Moretti.”

 

That was their first meeting. A woman who had lost her only remaining family member to the Mafia, and a man who was determined to fight the underworld.

 

‘Maybe it was inevitable that we chose to stand by each other then.’

 

At the time, he was the only one who believed in Angelo’s murder and tried to uncover it, and he felt sorry for Lilia’s plight and wanted to help.

 

And she relied on him more than anyone.

 

But things are different now. Angelo being alive and well makes all the difference.

 

‘And yet, here we are again, coincidence or fate…’

 

Lilia wanted to believe it was inevitable so that her seemingly hopeless love might have some hope.

But the rational side of her mind screamed that it had to be a coincidence, because if it was, it would surely disrupt her plans for the future.

If she wanted to keep him… there shouldn’t be a second meeting until everything is sorted out.

 

‘Because my greatest wish is that you don’t become entangled with this place somehow.’

 

For that, I guess I must endure.

Lilia blinked once, hard, and opened her eyes. She pushed away the thoughts of Wayne that kept trying to cling to her.

 

‘I made this decision for myself, and I hate it.’

 

But knowing what was right and what was wrong, Lilia tried as hard as she could to focus on the De Lucia bar.

 

It was at this moment that she forced her eyes to look straight ahead. 

 

Suddenly, her gaze locked with Theodoro, who was sitting in the distance.

 

“…!”

 

Theodoro’s eyes were completely black, with no light. Lilia’s shoulders twitched as she realized that her thoughts had been revealed.