Lilian wiped her tears. Joseline didn't realize how much her story made her heart ache. She turned slightly and looked at Jefferson, he too was swallowing hard and inhaling deeply.
He was also enduring the pain of listening to his friends' bad fate but he didn't know how to stop this cruel fate. All he could do now was to console Joseline, to make her believe that everything would be alright.
Joseline burst into tears again which made Jefferson and Lilian surround her immediately in a hug.
"Shush. That's enough now." Jefferson coaxed her, stroking her hair gently as she wept.
Jefferson urged Joseline to stop but Lilian said, "No, Jeff, allow her to release all of it. Go on sis, release it all. Don't leave a portion of it in your heart."
Joseline sniffled, taking a quick breath before she said, "Now it's a day to my wedding day and this thing had to happen to me. Everything about life is out there to punish me."
"Don't say that Josie. Your friends are here for you."
Lilian leaned forward, dabbing her face with her handkerchief.
Joseline nodded and said, "But despite all that has happened to me, I'm so grateful to have the two of you close to me. You two have shown me what it means to truly love someone."
Joseline took Jefferson's and Lilian's hands into hers, she could feel the warmth of their love in her palms.
"Jefferson is the only friend I managed to secure since my school days and you sis, accepted me the way I am."
"I can remember when I asked you two why you never gave up on a frail being like me who has nothing to offer to the people around me other than to make them spend money on drugs and make them afraid of losing someone. You two had answered that you felt something more about me like we have a bond we share that can't be broken. A bond of true friendship. I remember it all and I can't forget about it."
"And I promise you friend, that bond will last forever." As Jefferson said this, a cool breeze from the open window swept on their faces and they realized that they had been sharing their sweet pain till evening.
"Jeff, you have to be heading home now. You know how dangerous it is to go home late." Lilian said and raised Joseline's face to let her rest her head on her chest.
Jefferson turned around and saw the sky was almost covered with darkness, he turned back to look at Joseline.
"Joseline Pedro," Jefferson called her name in full which made her smile. That was one of the ways he made her smile.
"I'm going to appear in my best suit tomorrow. I will take thousands of pictures with you. I will post it on all social media platforms to show them how proud I am to have a pure-hearted friend like you. Tomorrow is your special day, I'm proud that that young girl I protected from high school to college is now a grown woman ready to have her own life and family."
"I'm proud that I've been blessed with spending a good time with you. Those who distanced themselves from you should be ashamed because they didn't get the chance to be with a pure sweet soul like you. So Joseline," Jefferson called, initiating how deep he felt in the words he was about to say.
"Josie, make us proud tomorrow."
Joseline nodded, stared at him as he brought out his index finger and locked it with hers then made their thumb click together and Jefferson said, "Never give up. Fight." Jefferson gave her a comforting smile.
Joseline repeated the same. The three burst into a sweet calm laughter that lighted the room.
Jefferson stood at the doorway and took a last look at Joseline before he waved at them and disappeared into the hallways.
"How do you feel now?" Lilian asked.
"It seems the herb Jeff made is very effective. I feel much better now."
Lilian nodded.
"Do you mind taking me out for a walk in the garden?" Joseline asked and leaned forward to stand.
"Are you sure? Will you be okay? You know it's cold outside today."
"I'm sure." Joseline stood, she didn't feel as much pain as she had felt before. It would allow her to take a walk outside and hopefully, she would be completely safe for the occasion tomorrow.
Lilian held the door open and they walked gently out of the room.
Outside, the moon was illuminating the sky, casting a crystal glow over the city. For the first time in Joseline's life, the gentle air she felt on her skin soothed her soul.
"Josie," Lilian called as she walked gently beside her. Lilian's soothing smile paired with the sweet scent of the flowers and the gentle breeze swept now and then, bringing a loving chill as they whispered in the dark garden.
"Do you remember the first time you bought the Lavender flower from the flower shop?"
Joseline nodded for an answer and they stood in front of the wide bush of lavender flowers. Lilian bent and touched them, making the sweet scent envelope the area.
"It was only a flower then, but now look at the wide bush, they look so beautiful. You kept watering it, in the hot season, during winter, and in summer. I can remember how you cried so hard when the little cat bit off the small branch and that was the sweetest moment I had with you then. I can remember how much your sweet voice cried to sleep in my arms that I couldn't help but smile."
The two giggled. That day, it was a sad night for Joseline but remembering it now Lilian talked about it, she couldn't help but wipe the cool tears on her face.
"I remember I was only able to sleep because you told me a story about the beauty and the beast. The princess who married the beast not knowing he is a charming prince." The two burst out laughing again. It was no longer a whisper as their voice rose in the silent night.
"Yes, that's right." Lilian laughed one more time. She took Joseline's hand and intertwined it with hers. They squatted and lay on the floor facing the sky.
"The story of the beauty and the beast is a fairy tale but sometimes it can reflect on our lives. I can remember in the beginning when I married Desmond. He was the type that they called a cold CEO," Lilian made a small laugh, and Joseline listened attentively.
"But look at the two of us now. Loving, caring, sweet and always there for each other. I never knew that Desmond's heart of stone would be melted to this point. Why am I saying all this?"
Joseline faced Lilian to understand her point.
"Even if Raymond is cold as the ice, love him till your warm heart melts his ice. You are strong Josie. You don't know how much I admire you. Despite how life is, you're still strong, you're still struggling to live a normal life.
I was surprised when Dad told me you went to market yourself. That's to prove that you are not weak. If you can survive your health threat and you still let a smile appear on your face now. There's nothing that you won't survive. So please don't make yourself inferior. Never again should you under-rate yourself. As Jefferson said, make the best of your marriage. Make us proud."
"Thank you, sis. I will make all of you proud."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
"Joseline Pedro,"
"Yes,"
"Tomorrow is your wedding day. It's going to be the most blissful moment in your life."
Joseline inhaled deeply and nodded. 'Everything is going to be alright' She repeated inwardly.
"After your wedding tomorrow I have a secret I want to tell you and it's very important."
Joseline's heartbeat picked up. Whenever Lilian had something important to say, it was always something that wasn't pleasant.
"Did anything happen?"
"Your best tomorrow will guarantee if I will tell you that."
"But you can tell me now."
"No way. I won't."
Joseline couldn't help the curiosity, but suddenly a strange howl came from a close distance.
"Did you hear that?" Joseline tapped Lilian's shoulder.
"What?"
"A howl, like someone is in deep pain."
"No, I don't. We should better head back to the room and sleep." Lilian urged.
"Not until you have told me what it is." But again the strange howl came and this time, she saw something behind the iris flowers.
"Lily look behind the iris flowers,"
"What's there?"
"It looks like a wol—" Joseline stopped herself from calling it a wolf. "I don't know the animal, but it's staring at me." Though it was not very clear in her eyes, it seemed like a vision.
"Stop scaring me Josie, there's no animal there. We better get back now before your illusion gets the best of you." Lilian grabbed Joseline's hand, pulling her as she kept looking at the strange creature that seemed to be calling her.
Inside the room, Joseline drew the curtain to stop the moon from entering the room, all she had in mind was her wedding day.
But then, when the night grew deeper and silence was comforting, Joseline couldn't keep her eyes open for long. She was tired, anxious, curious...
With sleepiness that she couldn't control, she curdled herself under the bed sheet like she did when she was at the age of 12.
"Don't you dare let anyone know that you have been deflowered until after your wedding." Having a wonderful moment with her sister some moments ago didn't stop her from pondering her father's warning. She knew that it was why her sister kept letting her know she had to make the best of her marriage.
The rest of the night was a blur as her eyes shut close, keeping in mind that tomorrow is her wedding day.