It had been a week since Lila was discharged from the hospital. Before she left, the doctor had made it very clear that she needed complete rest for at least a week, insisting that her body needed time to regain strength after everything it had been through. Grace took those instructions seriously and made sure Lila stayed home throughout the entire period, even when Lila complained that she was already feeling better.
Surprisingly, staying at home turned out to be more enjoyable than Lila expected. The quiet, the comfort, and most especially Ethan's constant presence made the days pass faster than she imagined. Every afternoon after school, he would show up without fail. Sometimes he came straight from practice, still in his basketball gear, slightly sweaty but smiling like he had just won a game. Other times, he brought snacks, random stories, or simply himself, and somehow, that was always enough.
The only time Lila ever felt bored was when both Ethan and Cassandra were away at school. Those hours felt longer than usual, almost dragging, but she endured them, knowing that by evening, Ethan would walk through the door again like he always did. At first, Grace had been hesitant to leave her alone during those hours, constantly worried about her health, but after much persuasion, she finally agreed, though not without strict warnings.
By the time Monday arrived, Lila woke up with a level of excitement she hadn't felt in days. She was finally going back to school, and more than that, Ethan had promised to come pick her up so they could go together. That thought alone made her get out of bed faster than usual. Within thirty minutes, she was fully dressed, but instead of heading downstairs immediately, she stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her outfit more than necessary, fixing her hair repeatedly, and studying her reflection with unusual care.
"Lila, relax," she muttered to herself quietly, trying to steady her racing thoughts. "You're not the first person in the world to have a boyfriend."
Even as she said it, a small smile crept onto her face.
When she finally went downstairs, she was humming softly to herself, her mood light and cheerful. The moment she stepped into the dining area, she noticed that her mum and younger brother, Noah, were already seated at the table.
"Good morning," she greeted in a sing-song voice.
Noah looked up immediately, his eyes narrowing slightly in amusement. "You're excited today," he said with a grin.
"I'm just happy to go back to school," Lila replied, trying to sound normal, though her tone gave her away.
Grace didn't say anything at first, but she observed her daughter carefully. There was a certain glow about Lila, something soft and radiant that hadn't been there before. It made her smile quietly to herself, relieved that her daughter had finally found some peace of mind.
Breakfast turned out to be lively, filled with small conversations and laughter. Lila found herself enjoying the moment more than usual, occasionally glancing at her mum and brother with a quiet sense of gratitude. She loved them deeply, and in that moment, she silently thanked God for her little family.
After helping with the dishes, she stepped outside to wait for Ethan. The morning air was cool, and she stood near the gate, occasionally glancing down the street. She checked the time, then her phone, then back at the road again. The urge to call him crept in, but she quickly stopped herself.
"Lila, hold on," she whispered. "He'll be here soon. You're not the first person in the world to have a boyfriend."
Just as she finished saying that, a car drove in smoothly and stopped in front of the house. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise. She hadn't expected him to come with his car.
"Wow…" she whispered under her breath.
Ethan stepped out, and before she could say much, he walked straight toward her and pulled her into a warm hug.
"I missed you a lot, kitten," he said softly.
Lila laughed lightly. "But we saw yesterday."
Ethan pulled back, making a mock jealous face. "I wish to see you every second of my life."
Lila immediately turned away, her cheeks heating up. "Ethan…"
He chuckled and opened the car door for her. "Come in."
She was about to step in when a voice stopped her.
"What about me?"
They both turned to see Noah standing there with his arms folded across his chest. "I want you to take me to school," he said seriously.
Ethan laughed and walked over to him, bending slightly to ruffle his hair. "Sure, kiddo. I'll do that."
Lila hesitated. "Won't it inconvenience you?"
"Not at all," Ethan replied easily. "Anything for my brother-in-law." He winked.
Noah cheered excitedly and quickly got into the car, leaving Lila shaking her head with a smile before following.
The ride to Noah's school was anything but quiet. Noah bombarded Ethan with questions, one after the other, barely giving him time to respond.
"Do you really like my sister?"
"Are you going to hurt her?"
"How long have you known her?"
Lila groaned in frustration. "Noah, stop it!"
But Ethan only laughed, clearly entertained. "It's fine," he said. "I like him."
"You like this?" Lila asked in disbelief.
"Yeah," Ethan replied with a grin. "He's making sure I'm a good person."
By the time they dropped Noah off, Lila let out a dramatic sigh of relief as she climbed back into the front seat.
"Finally," she muttered.
Ethan glanced at her. "He wasn't that bad."
"Not that bad?" she repeated, staring at him.
"I enjoyed his company," he said with a smirk.
Lila gaped at him, completely speechless, and in that exact moment, Ethan leaned in and kissed her quickly.
She froze, then immediately pulled back, her face turning red as she fanned herself. "Eyes on the road before you get us killed," she muttered.
Ethan bit his lip, smiling as he started the car.
When they arrived at school, the reaction was immediate. The moment Ethan stepped out and walked around to open Lila's door, students began to notice. Whispers spread quickly, turning into soft gasps when he held her hand and led her into the school. By the time they reached the main building, it was clear that everyone already knew.
Throughout the day, Lila only saw Ethan twice, and somehow, she found herself missing him more than she expected. By the afternoon, she was seated alone, her phone in her hand as she waited for Cassandra, who had gone to the restroom. When her phone buzzed, she checked it instantly.
A message from Ethan.
I know you're missing me badly, and just know that the feeling is mutual. I can't wait to see you again and take those lips into mine.
Lila's eyes widened as she quickly looked around to make sure no one saw. Her cheeks flushed deeply, and she clutched her phone slightly, her mind drifting back to the morning—the car ride, the way he held her hand, the kiss.
Meanwhile, Cassandra walked through the hallway completely distracted, her attention fixed on her phone. A picture of a Korean model filled the screen, and she zoomed in slightly, biting her lip as she admired it.
"Geez… look at those abs," she muttered under her breath.
Still scrolling and not paying attention, she suddenly bumped into someone walking in the opposite direction. The impact caused her phone to slip from her hand and hit the ground, the screen going blank instantly.
Cassandra froze before slowly looking up.
"You."
Marcus stared at her just as shocked. "You?"
"What have you done?" Cassandra snapped, stepping toward him angrily.
"Hey, calm down," Marcus said quickly, raising his hands.
"My phone!" she shouted. "You've spoiled my phone!"
Marcus glanced at it, then back at her. "I'll get you a new one."
"I want it now," she said, her voice calm but firm.
"Now?" he repeated.
"Yes."
Marcus hesitated before nodding. "I'll get it after school."
Cassandra held his gaze for a moment before nodding slightly. "Better."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving the broken phone on the ground as Marcus stared after her, sighing quietly.
The day carried on like any other, but beneath the surface, things had already begun to shift, setting the stage for everything that was yet to come.