399 Forgotten and sinned

Suddenly, when this stranger appeared in the picture and how it was a girl with whom he had to share and compete for Lillian's love, that's when Diego slowly descended to madness. He couldn't comprehend or acknowledge Giselle's love to his own. He also refused to accept her as a competition.

Diego considered Giselle to be a weed in Lillian's life, unneeded.

Who knew that this hostility that always lurked within finally found its voice to fight back against his sense? This madness that he refused to listen to take charge for once in his life. He wondered how he could revert to his old self, enjoying this happy dance with his first love.

Diego's inner demon pointed at the evidence, and his hatred showed up on his sleeves. Amid his joy, the inside voice whispered, asking him to stop smiling like an idiot and look at the reality. Diego wanted to prove himself wrong and opened his eyes, only to find Lillian's gaze surrendering to Giselle's.

Their best performance took a tumble as Diego paused abruptly. Lillian looked at him, confused.

'Now, you see me?'

Diego thought while studying Lillian's face, being curious to resume their dance, but he wasn't. He will not accept this reality. And so, Diego cut off his chance and excused himself to walk away. Soon, he disappeared from the crowd.

Lillian stood alone, lost in thoughts, for a while before stepping out of the space. She returned to Giselle's side. Both stood silent for a minute before Lillian asked why Diego left suddenly.

Giselle obviously knew the answer from being a spectator and seeing the guy go from hallucinating to finding his reality.

However, she didn't answer and let Lillian go with her own explanation.

They danced for one song, but their performance has inspired people around them. The band broke from straight-pop to pop-rock.

Rick Astley's big hits from his 1987 album 'Whenever you need somebody' were performed lively.

Lillian's concern for Diego soon disappeared to her jamming to 'Never gonna give you up.' All that in her mind was being with the girl she loved for a long time. It was perfect. Giselle and Lillian were the few audiences standing far from the dance floor.

There was no one around even to look at them, which gave Lillian a lucky chance to fool around with Giselle.

Poor Giselle couldn't escape from Lillian's undivided attention and constant begging for love. She ended up forgetting Diego as well.

Diego reappeared after a song. He had gone to the bathroom to get a look at himself. He was feeling conflicted and mistreated without an ounce of respect. When Diego saw Lillian being all intimate and playful with Giselle, his blood boiled. Not only was he being ignored, but his feelings got trampled all over by their presence.

After the rocking session with the band and the dancers, the vocalist announced that the band would slow down the beat as the countdown to midnight approaches.

The time was now 11:48 PM.

The dancers quit the stage. They went back to resting, listening to the new rendition of George Benson's 'In your eyes.'

Slowly, people huddled together, in pairs or groups- arms locked with each other, moving head to the sound and in joy.

Anna and Jake stood alone together, immersed in their own world while Lillian was back with her group. She wished to be alone, but Shane refused and joined her, bringing along Jenna.

"We're not going to leave you two alone!" he mumbled at Lillian, who replied with a nasty stank face.

Diego was no were in that group. He wasn't needed by anyone.

Anna had always told him that he would feel lonely if he kept ditching all his dates, and he felt it at last. The aching loneliness despite having people that he loves in the same room.

He lost himself in the end.

He had lost his time in the process to get acknowledged by Lillian Grey.

He was over his first love- without even confessing.

Finally, he failed.

And he became the perfect victim to his inner demon.

****

The time was now 11:51 PM, and people began to get excited.

The fireworks were getting ready somewhere close. Diego looked around and signaled at the nearby waitress. He asked her to carry out his personal request and slid a hundred-dollar bill secretly to her hand that carried an empty plate.

The woman at first looked worried, but under his persuasion and the money, she gave in. She went back to get glasses of drinks on her plate and walked out towards the crowd. She glanced at Diego, and he gave a serious nod, telling her to watch out.

The waitress walked closer until she reached the destination, but a little behind. All of a sudden, she sensed the risk, and it terrified her. She turned back to search if the strange man was still watching.

Diego did. And he waved his head, pushing her to act.

Under pressure, the waitress was trembling as she stood behind Lillian Grey. To her left was Giselle, and to the right, Shane and Jenna.

Before she took another step, she turned back once again, appealing to the strange man, who told her to commit the wrongdoing.

Unluckily, Diego's face was hidden in the crowd. While she searched for him, she also worried if she was the only one providing service. To her relief, there were others too, but all scattered around. She made up her mind and was about to commit the crime when a loud thump disturbed the scene.

The waitress quickly turned around to find the drinks spilled on the guest's coat. At once, the group panicked, and Lillian stopped them.

Shane shot a glare at the waitress and was about to snap at her when Lillian confessed.

"It's alright. It was my mistake. I didn't notice her."

"I'm okay! You're not hurt, are you?" she asked the trembling waitress.

"Don't worry! It's my mistake. Go on, you got it on your hands too," Lillian signaled at her to leave, but the poor girl's trembling wouldn't stop. Lillian worried if she was terrified of spilling drinks on her when it was her fault for not noticing her surroundings.

The waitress walked back. She kept trembling all the way from not committing the crime. She was asked to spill the drink on the lady at the far left, but she failed.

Her shuddering gaze was searching for Diego. He moved far away, waiting in the shadow of the house. But he did catch the waitress foiling his plan unintentionally. He wanted to choke her to death but saw the girl changing her direction upon sight.

Diego gnashed his teeth in rage from watching her escape. He promised himself to find and punish this girl who not only wasted his money but didn't accomplish such a simple task.

The time was now 11:55 PM, and Lillian excused herself for a moment.

"I'll be back. I have to wash this, or it'll get stained," she added before leaving but saw Giselle's face sulking alone.

She came close to her and whispered that she'd be back before midnight.

"I can't miss our first New Year's kiss!" Lillian murmured before taking off rapidly, dodging people to get inside the house.

She met Diego, standing by the entrance to the house. Seeing him as if he had gone missing for a long time, Lillian walked towards him with dozens of questions.

"Diego, where's did you go?

You went missing for a while. What happened to you?

You know you've been acting weird. What's up with you?"

Diego looked at her, lost for words. His silent scowl only confused Lillian as she added more.

"Seriously! What is wrong with you?

You know you can talk to me, right?" she friendly remarked while passing him to get to the bathroom. Since everyone was out to celebrate, the lights inside the house were switched off, leaving only a few to guide his guests.

Shane decided it for the sake of enjoying fireworks at midnight.

Seeing Lillian act all casually, Diego was annoyed.

"Can I?" he replied, exhaling in vain.

Lillian paused to turn back. She saw him in a different light. Not only was he acting strange, but this person standing in front of her doesn't feel like the one she's been friends with all these years. Lillian often caught a waft of this attitude in recent times, which she never associated it take him all over.

"Yeah, We're friends, dude!" Lillian exclaimed.

"Are we?"

Lillian looked puzzled by where this conversation was heading. But she looked at the time and noticed that less than three minutes left on the clock to hit twelve.

"Whatever, man, you're very strange today! I gotta go," Lillian said and left in a hurry.

Diego exhaled again, hopelessly. As he waited another minute, he saw Shane's grandparent's sitting down on chairs just a few inches in front of him. The old lady stood up to inform her husband and walked tiredly, approaching Diego. The husband asked if he needed to give a company. Shane's grandmother refused and slowly stepped towards the house.

'Do it!'

The inner demon insisted.

Diego quivered under its dominance, and he resisted its influence. Every second slowed down as he saw the old woman marching towards him.

'Do it! Are you going to let them have their kiss that easily?'

The voice claimed.

The thought of seeing Lillian and Giselle share their kiss at midnight taunted Diego. But he didn't want to commit a crime.

'Do it! Are you keep going to be a fool? Do it!

'DO IT!'

Diego went inside the house. He had a glass of water in his hand, and he found the way to the bathroom, where Lillian was present. He hesitated a second before spilling the drink all on the marble flooring. By this time, Shane's grandmother entered the house. It was dark for her grey vision, and she struggled to see. She only saw the silhouette of a man.

"Young man, is the way to the bathroom?" she asked.

Diego flinched under the absence of light.

He nodded. And the woman began to approach. The closer she got, she could feel that it was not a young gentleman from his build.

Diego waited no more. He could hear the sound of water, which means Lillian was still inside cleaning her coat. It was time. The countdown began outside for the last minute.

Seeing the old lady coming closer, along with the loud yelling of the nearing countdown, Diego moved. Just as the lady was about to enter his trap, he rushed out like thunder.

Diego had pushed down the lady in his rush to leave. He kept walking without ever looking back. He was terrified of his act that he could hear his heart beating louder to match the countdown.

"15"

"14"

"13"

"12"

Lillian came out in a hurry as well but saw Shane's grandmother down on the floor.

"Oh my god! What happened?" she screamed and went in to help her.

Thankfully, before falling, the old woman was able to get a hold of the nearby support. Her fall didn't end up brutal, but she did wear heels. She hit the ground and felt the aching pain in her back, and she sprained her leg.

"It's nothing, dear! Just a slip and fall!" Shane's grandmother replied as she received support from Lillian.

"5"

"4"

"3"

Lillian looked out in vain, but seeing the injured in front of her, she couldn't ignore and leave.

"2"

"1"

"Happy New Year!"

Loud screams and the crackling of fireworks began as Lillian helped Shane's grandmother to sit down. Once settled, she requested Lillian to take her to the bathroom, and Lillian helped her again.

The screams and cheers for the New Year poured as people wished each other. The couples shared their kiss, the friends hugged, and the newly bonded groups extended hands in welcoming.

There, Diego stood in a corner, away from everyone. His beating heart still haunted him, but amidst the chaos, he was glad to find Giselle, all alone, just like him. He knew his effort meant nothing and was only temporary. However, stealing her spotlight made him feel the slightest happiness.

**

The fireworks burned beautifully in the sky, and Shane looked around to wish everyone. Jenna looked at Giselle and comforted her with a hug.

Shane knew Lillian was running late, so he jumped in to support Jenna, and in the middle of it, those two looked at each other.

Jenna hesitated before extending her hand to wish Shane Ricardo.

Shane was happy and in a celebratory mood that he went in for a kiss. Jenna's eyes gawked seeing him coming close. But unlike a traditional kiss on the lips, Shane planted a sweet kiss on her cheeks.

"Thank you for choosing Keyline, Jenna. Also, for supporting my friend Lillian all this time," he thanked, leaving Jenna flustered.

"I wish you more success in the coming years! Happy New Year, Jenna!" Shane confessed again.

Jenna responded to his wish shyly, but Shane's smile already began to disappear when he got called out.

"I'll be back!" he said and left the ladies alone.

In his absence, Jenna touched her cheeks. They were burning hot from the surprise. However, all that adrenaline she was feeling drained immediately seeing Giselle's sulking face.

Jenna knew the kiss meant nothing. And right now, more than herself, she needed to console for Lillian's absence.

"Ms. Giselle! I'm sure Ms. Grey is having trouble cleaning the stain. Don't worry. She will be back soon."

Giselle was feeling down from missing her midnight kiss. She was anticipating it dearly in her heart. Giselle wanted to stop Lillian leave, but she couldn't do it. As a result, she is now left alone without her midnight kiss.

Jenna's compassion didn't work as she kept feeling gloomy as time passed. The fireworks didn't matter. She looked at it, but it wasn't fun. She heard wishes from others, but it didn't excite her.

What's happening was Giselle felt selfish. It was not a familiar emotion in her life. She had been sacrificing, compensating, got taken advantage of, getting pushed around, etc. The only time or times she gets selfish is for her daughter, Lia. Giselle blamed it on the power of motherhood. She acts selfishly for the sake of her child.

Nonetheless, the individual in her yearned. It was the first time Giselle appeared selfish for herself, not for Lia, not for anyone, including Lillian.

She wanted to be with Lillian Grey.

She wanted to see her Lillian.

And that dummy went disappearing on the main even. All this time of staying close didn't matter anymore, but right now, Giselle felt sad, slightly angry, and selfish.

Going through the mixture of emotions for the first time, Giselle felt a hand press her shoulder, and she saw Lillian finally return to her side.

"Come with me," Lillian invited.