Ill at ease

"Tomorrow is her birthday! What's your plan? I want to make it a memorable day for her."

"But why you are so concerned about her? She is our friend just like others, so why you are paying so much attention to her."

James smiled and replied to Lily.

"She is not just my friend...rather holds a special place in my heart. I have been hiding my feelings for a long time but I think now it's the perfect time to reveal my feelings. "

"Feelings? What do you mean?"

"I mean to say that, I love Elsie from the core of my heart."

Lily was stunned to hear his words. She couldn't control herself and ran to the room. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she screamed.

"How is this possible? James is mine and I love him. How could he love Elsie instead of me?"

James, Lily and Elsie were university friends. Lily and Elsie were living in a hostel room which was beside the university. Lily was secretly in love with James but she never confessed it to him, while James was in love with Elsie. So when James confessed his love for Elsie in front of Lily, she was stunned.

"I wouldn't let this happen." She said to herself.

After a while, she received a call from James.

"Lily! Are you okay? What happened? Why did you run without listening to me?"

"Yes, James! I am okay! I was having a migraine, so I ran to take my medicines. "

She lied to him and didn't let him know, what was running in her mind. After a while, Elsie came to the room and was out to buy some books. She noticed the reddish eyes of Lily and asked him the reason.

"Lily! Did you cry? Is everything okay?

"Yes! I am okay! It is just due to the hot weather. " She replied.

"Alright! Have you taken your lunch?"

"Yes! I had it in the canteen."

Lily couldn't sleep the whole night. The next day, James again asked her about Elsie's birthday but she said, she didn't have any plans. So James said, he would bring Elsie to the beach and will confess his love for her. She was unable to do anything as Elsie was her friend too. So she kept silent and agreed with what he said to her.

In the evening, James brought Elsie to the beach and he asked her to close her eyes. When she opened her eyes, he was sitting on his toes with a ring in his hand.

"I love you, Elsie! You are my heart and I can't leave without you. Will you marry me?"

Hearing this Elsie was surprised. She couldn't say anything for a few minutes. But after a while, she smiled and said,

"James! I value your love, but I don't make any big decisions in my life without my parents. I want them to be with me at every step of my life. If you don't mind, can I ask my parents first?"

"Sure, Elsie! I would be glad!"

"Thank you, James! I will go to my parents tomorrow."

When Elsie returned home, she screamed with happiness.

"Lily!....Lily! Where are you?"

But Lily was not in the room. She searched her everywhere and called her but she was not responding. After a while, she received a call from her parents. They asked her to come immediately to the home.

"Home? At this time? I will come tomorrow Dad!"

"But I want you now!"

She got worried and asked James to arrange a taxi for her. James told her he would accompany her as it wouldn't be safe to travel alone at this time of night, so she agreed. After one and a half hours, Elsie reached her home. She and James entered the house. She was surprised to see Lily already in her house.

"Lily! Are you here? How it's possible? What are you doing here?"

Everyone was silent and gave her a terrible look. She felt Ill at ease, as the situation was odd.

"Mom! What happened? Is everything okay?" She asked.

"Elsie! My daughter! Look what your friend is saying!" She replied with teary eyes.

"What?" She looked questionably towards Lily.

Lily was appalled to see Elsie and James in front of her, so she couldn't utter a word. Elsie's Mom told her that her friend was saying bad things about her and James. She told Elsie's parents that their daughter was having a bad relationship with James. Elsie and James were shocked to hear this. They couldn't believe that their best friend was behaving differently in their absence.

"How could you say this Lily? Are you in your senses? How could you say this ill about your best friends?" James asked her.

Lily ran towards the door, but Elsie held her and asked the same question. She angrily replied.

"You are the root of contention! I love James, but he loves you. You came between me and James. I will not let this happen. "

James, Elsie and her whole family were shocked to hear her confession. They understood that she was saying all the filth just because of this reason. James asked her to leave immediately. She went outside.
Elsie's family welcomed her and James.

After dinner, James and Elsie told her everything to her parents. James confessed his love for Elsie and her parents agreed to this proposal. They got happy and decided on their engagement date with Elsie's parents.

Thanks for reading.
Image source
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