How Lilies turn Black Chapter 19 - Silvano Giacone (4)

“That’s good, because I’ve been thinking about you a lot since that day.”

 

“…Of me?”

 

“I’ve been thinking about how I never got around to properly thank you, so it’s good to see you again.”

 

My heart started pounding erratically before it could calm down. He remembered.

 

And the look in Wayne’s eyes was so familiar, so sweet, so familiar to her, that she barely held back the tears that threatened to fall.

 

The conversation trailed off in an awkward pause as she shook her head.

 

“…”

 

“Oh, and this.”

 

Wayne hesitated, then pulled something out of his inside pocket and handed it to her.

 

It was a white handkerchief. The same one she’d used to dab at the wound in his side. Her moist eyes widened.

 

“How did you manage to…?”

 

“I always carry it with me, just in case I run into you again by chance.”

 

“…”

 

I was left speechless. He’d been carrying this with him all this time. No matter how much I looked forward to seeing him again.

 

Still, I was more relieved than regretful that I had left such a lasting impression on him, even though I knew I shouldn’t have.

 

“…Thank you.”

 

“I didn’t mean to follow you like a stalker. I actually had some business over here, and I was just passing by–”

 

“I know.”

 

Well then, I know. Better than anyone, I know Wayne wouldn’t do something so sleazy.

 

“Thank you so much.”

 

Lilia squeaked out. It wasn’t that I was grateful for the handkerchief in my hand again, just that he hadn’t forgotten me.

 

Wayne smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

 

“No, by the way…”

 

“…”

 

“That’s surprising. I took it with me, but I never thought I’d see it again.”

 

Neither did she. This must be some kind of God’s joke.

 

But she didn’t accept it. For now, she must remain a passing stranger.

 

Lilia swallowed bitterly and gathered herself once more.

 

“…I guess it’s just luck.”

 

This was not what she wanted to say. Whether he’d been to the hospital that day, whether his wounds had healed, or if he was still rushing into danger.

 

There were many questions I wanted to ask, but I had to keep them to myself.

 

‘But…’

 

Maybe I could be a little greedy, just a little, I thought.

 

“It’s very kind of you to return the handkerchief, but you can keep it. Use it when you need it. You gave me the one you had originally, and I’d love to give it back to you, but I don’t have it with me.”

 

Lilia couldn’t shake the ugly twinge of greed in her stomach, and she placed it in his hands. 

 

Hoping this would make him forget she existed entirely.

 

‘Yeah, no more, no less, just this much.’

 

Wayne stammered as he took the handkerchief back. He hadn’t seen this coming.

 

I don’t know what he had in mind, but I couldn’t continue the conversation by leaving it open-ended.

 

“I have work to do… I should probably get going.”

 

Lilia avoided his gaze and walked quickly to the driver’s seat.

 

“Don’t…!”

 

The moment she got in the car, Wayne lunged and grabbed the door.

 

“Can’t you at least say something?”

 

My heart dropped to the floor with a thud. I wondered if Wayne realized how impulsive and rash his behavior had been.

 

He stepped back, more horrified than I was.

 

“I’m sorry. I’m not like this, but it’s just… I keep tripping over your eyes. I thought maybe I shouldn’t let this go…”

 

That’s right, Wayne, why don’t you just stop being so uncharacteristically gibberish and let me go?

 

Lilia clenched her fists as hard as she could, the agitation shaking her unyielding heart.

 

But,

 

“You never know, there might be another.”

 

“…”

 

There would be no next. No, there shouldn’t be.

 

Wayne’s eyes are sincere, and her resolve crumbles at his next words.

 

“They used to say that third time’s a charm, so if I ask you your name again, will you tell me that day?”

 

Lilia gripped the steering wheel tightly and shook her head.

 

Wayne, Wayne…

 

Come on, there’s no way I could push him away once I said that.

 

There’s no way I could…

 

Another flare of heat in her eyes. Lilia steadied her wobbly breathing and looked up at him. His eyes reflected hers.

 

His eyes looked like they could cry at any moment, but he couldn’t wipe the faint smile from his lips.

 

Yeah, there’s no way I’m going to push you away.

 

“No. What’s your name…?”

 

“Uh, what?”

 

The man stared up, his face dumbfounded, and then suddenly flushed. “Uh, Wayne,” he replied, hiding his blush.

 

“The, uh, Wayne… Wayne Boyd.”

 

Wayne Boyd.

 

Wayne Boyd. The name she’d called so many times, and now she was seeing it for the first time.

 

Lilia smiled a little, remembering the first time she’d said it, so long ago.

 

“I’m… Liliana Boyd– ugh!”

 

But before she could finish, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.

 

Wayne glanced back at her and stammered.

 

“Yeah? W-what?”

 

It’s a mistake. It’s a huge, huge mistake.

 

‘No, why the hell are I tell him Boyd? Am I finally crazy?!’

 

At the last minute, I should have stopped repeating his name to myself.

 

Creatures of habit, she realized, and although she’d become quite familiar with the name Moretti since she’d returned to the past, she’d said the last name she shared with Wayne out of habit.

 

Lilia’s face burned red. She threw her arms out in a flailing motion, but somehow managed to hit the wrong lever.

 

Plop. Plop—

 

The wipers began to wipe the windshield in a steady stream.

 

“What the hell…!”

 

The driver’s seat was unfamiliar to me after a long time, so I fiddled with it, but now the windshield was splattered with washer fluid.

 

“Hahaha!”

 

There’s a clear burst of laughter. Wayne’s eyes crinkle at the corners, and he grabs his stomach and laughs. 

 

Lilia’s face grew grimmer at the pleasant sound.

 

‘This is bad. This is terrible…’

 

I felt like banging my head on the steering wheel.

 

“Haha, oh, I’m sorry. If you don’t mind.”

 

Wayne stifled a giggle and grabbed the driver’s wheel head, then leaned down and extended his arm.

 

“…Ugh!”

 

Lilia froze, her eyes widening. The familiar scent of his body and a light warmth emanated from his unexpectedly proximity.

 

Snap!

 

The wipers that had been fussing came to a screeching halt.

 

He was suddenly quiet. This was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but it was unbearably awkward. 

 

Thump, thump, thump, thump. I feel like I’m about to give away my failing heartbeat.

 

“To turn off the wipers, one downward motion like this. Pull the lever toward you, and the washer fluid. Got it?”

 

Whether he realizes it or not, Wayne’s voice remains calm as he explains how it works. She wondered if she was the only one disoriented by the close distance.

 

As Lilia’s eyes darted from place to place, unable to make out the words, Wayne suddenly looked up as he continued to explain.

 

His voice had apparently regained its composure, but the grin on his face hadn’t completely disappeared.

 

Sometimes, when he was being naughty, he had that look on his face…

 

Her guess was not far off the mark.

 

“And you’ve already thought of that after all I’ve said?”

 

Fire flared in her barely cooling cheeks. Lilia squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the urge to scream.

 

She was screwed. She’d said she wouldn’t get close to him, and now she’d screwed up big time.

 

✨

 

It was nearly five o’clock when Lilia arrived in North Wellington.

 

Stepping out of the car, she stretched, shielded her eyes, and looked around. The waning sun was casting a blinding light, drenching the desolate land.

 

‘We’re later than I thought.’

 

It’s all because of Wayne. Truthfully, she was to blame for losing her train of thought, but she wanted to blame him for her unnecessary grumpiness.

 

How many times had she taken a wrong turn because of his presence in her head? The trip back had taken much longer than she’d planned.

 

“Phew…”

 

His final words echo in my ears again.

 

“Let’s hope for one more fateful coincidence, Ms. Liliana ‘Boyd’.”

 

The voice was soft and low. All she wanted to do was hide in a rathole.

 

Dabbing at her still-burning cheeks, Lilia focused on the landscape before her.

 

The road stretched to the horizon. On either side, the land stretched on endlessly, dotted with small factories and warehouses.

 

I had passed through a small town, barely a town at all, about 20 minutes ago, and since then it’s been nothing but space.

 

No sign of any human activity. Weeds grew in front of the crumbling buildings.

 

【UDG Industrial Products Co】

 

Judging by the iron sign stuck in the swaying bushes, I was definitely in the right place…

 

Something about the atmosphere was off-putting. Lilia swallowed hard and stood in front of the front door of the old brick building.

 

Perhaps I should turn around.

 

Now that she was here, she realized she hadn’t been too afraid. Here, no one would know if she was shot or stabbed.

 

Suddenly, she wonders if Silvano would be too much for her now, and her hand hesitates on the doorknob.

 

‘No, get a grip. You’ve come all this way for nothing.’

 

Lilia wrinkled the bridge of her nose as hard as she could and shook off the thought.

 

Click—

 

She turned the doorknob and the unlocked door swung open.

 

A musty, stale odor and a cloud of dust greeted her.

 

“Hello?”

 

Lilia swallowed back a burst of coughing and took a step into the dimly lit room.

 

“Is anyone here?”

 

That’s odd. The gate was definitely open, and there was a faded red truck parked outside the rusted fence.

 

Inside, the building was littered with unorganized boxes, and there was no sign of life.

 

“Excuse me.”

 

Again, no answer.

 

Whoosh—!

 

A gust of wind blew the door open and closed, casting a dark shadow over Lilia.

 

And then, out of nowhere.

 

A figure, darker than black, appeared out of nowhere and reached for her shoulder.