Strawberry

23.0 - Run, Summer, Run!

Jung Household Parking Lot, 12:45am

"LILY!! STOP THE CAR!! STOP!!"

Summer ran after the car, and stood in front of it, causing it to halt with a screech. "Summer Jung, what the hell are you doing?!"

lily's head popped out of the window. "i could've ran you over!" summer flailed her hands. "let's talk! please!" her voice was hoarse from screaming, but she didn't care.

"lily, please!" summer patted her pockets, until she found the small box. "i..i wanted to give this to you! if we didn't fight, but i thought that it was the wrong time because i..i fucked up."

it was silent, except from the muffled music of the ongoing party and the humming of the engine of lily's car. "please, i'm sorry.."

"get in." summer looked at lily. "w-what?" lily sighed, opening the shotgun seat to her car. "get inside. let's talk in my apartment."

summer reluctantly gets in, closing the door beside her. as soon as she fastened her seatbelt, lily drives away.

summer notices little bits and pieces of lily's personality in the car, smiling at it. from the pillow that looked like her dog cherry,

from the hints of pink, the fluffy blanket, and the vanilla air freshener and the hints of her perfume in the car. summer sighed, leaning back into the seat.

"your car is nice." summer tries to break the ice between them, as lily nods. "my parents bought it for me when i went to japan for work."

"are you going soon? alice just mentioned it offhandedly so i'm not sure." lily hums. "i have to go back the day after tomorrow. i had some prior commitments."

"will i get to see you again?" summer asks, just as they had stopped on a stop light. "i don't know, summer. maybe, maybe not."

"what about us?" lily looked at her. "you were a great chapter of my life. but i think all good things must come to an end." summer looks at her.

"is this your way of breaking up with me?" the car was set to drive once more, as lily lightly shrugged. "i just think we should see other people."

"what about what I think, lily? did you just assume i'd like to break up with you?" lily sighed. "there was nothing like that."

"you're getting married, summer. i don't want to be a hindrance to what you want to do for your parents." summer's eyebrows knitted as lily parked the car.

unbuckling her seatbelt, lily goes to open the door. "come on. let's talk in my apartment." summer only follows the older woman, not uttering a word.

-
Lily's Apartment, 1:15am

"make yourself at home. i'll make you some tea."

summer sits on the couch, her eyes roaming around the penthouse. "i didn't know you owned a penthouse. our house can barely keep up with us."

"i bought it a few months ago. usually, my friends stay here, but recently, they all moved out so it's just me." summer nods. "didn't you have a dog?"

"you mean cherry? she stays with my parents. my brother just brings her over from time to time." summer hums, leaning back into the couch.

"so..what now?" lily gives her a cup of tea. "we talk..and decide where this is going." summer sighs. "what if i want to marry you?"

"i-i'll talk to my parents, i don't care about them. please..i just—" "summer, i can't leave my work in japan." lily says, but summer shakes her head.

"you don't have to! please, lily. i don't want this to end..i don't want us to end. i know it's hard but i..i love you, lily. i can't let you break up with me like this.."

"summer, look." lily cups her face. "you can't give up family for me. i don't want that. i want you to be happy." summer shakes her head again.

"i'm happy..with you. and i don't care about ethan or my family. we got kicked out years ago. please lily..i have one more year. please.."

"Summer, I.."