Chapter 192: Wish Upon A Star
Lola had seen "fireworks" before. She still remembered the first time she had seen a different kind in her previous life.
***
[Short Flashback: Lola’s First Life]
The rhythmic sound of the mechanical heart monitor echoed in the quiet, small ward where Lola had been admitted. The room was dark—too dark for a paralyzed person to be in. Yet, it was something she was already used to.
Her entire life, after all, had been filled with nothing but darkness, misfortune, and utter loneliness. A whole life of fighting for her life, her rights, and what was hers, but here she was, paralyzed on the bed, waiting to take her last breath.
While those who had caused her suffering were enjoying a life of freedom and luxury as if they didn’t take away the only thing she had left: freedom. But a question kept running through her mind.
Was she ever truly free?
And the more she thought about it, Lola realized she was never truly free. She was always shackled: by her fury toward her own father, her desperation to get back what was hers, and her deep loathing for herself.
Nights like this always made her wonder a lot of things. Or rather, she always wondered a lot, especially since she was paralyzed and couldn’t do anything but think about her life.
A tear quietly rolled down the corner of her eye, her throat bobbing as she swallowed the building tension.
I want to die, she thought. I want to die.
Those words played on repeat in her mind, her lips quivering.
Just let me die...
What was the point?
What was the point of living if she couldn’t even get up from this bed? Couldn’t pee herself? Eat? What was the point of any of it?
Lola was tired; she had been exhausted even before she ended up like this. Her life was just too tiring, and to be honest, she never felt like she had lived. She had just existed to survive. It was unfair—too unfair.
But as Lola was drowning in sorrow in the quiet ward her father had thrown her into to die, something caught her attention from the corner of her eye. Moving her head very slowly with its limited movements, her eyes landed on the open window left for her to shiver all night.
"Huh?" Her lips parted, her gaze lifting to the distant sky. "A... firework?"
There, up above, was a beautiful meteor shower. Streaks of light flashed across the night sky, making it glitter. It was so beautiful, so magical—the most phenomenal thing she had ever seen in this godforsaken life.
Lola held her breath, staring at the sky. Just for tonight, she was glad the nurse had neglected her and left the window open.
They said that if there was a meteor shower, one could make a wish and perhaps the world would grant it. It was a superstition Lola had heard from her mother in the past. She had already forgotten about it until now, when she was seeing one for the first time.
If I make a wish... she thought as another tear rolled down the side of her face.
Believing a wish would happen so magically was foolish. However, in this state, what else would she lose? She had already lost everything: her life, her name, her mobility—everything.
Her eyes softened as the beautiful sky reflected in her dull, empty eyes. If this had happened on a different occasion, she would probably wish for a lot of things. But right now, she only had one in mind:
I wish... I wish... I wish to live. I want to live and not just survive... because I want to be happy, too.
***
[PRESENT TIME]
"Mhm," Atlas hummed, looking at her. "Pretty."
The smile on her face faded slightly, replaced by surprise. She held her breath, her heart hammering in her chest in a slow, heavy rhythm. It wasn’t racing; rather, it was loud—louder than the fireworks or the crowd’s cheers and applause.
Was this some kind of "attack, attack, attack" advice he got from his sister? Because surely, he kept catching her off guard.
Atlas held her gaze and very slightly moved his face closer. When she didn’t move away, he moved closer carefully. Tilting his head, he noticed she was still staring at him without protest or any of her usual antics.
Instead, she gulped and stayed rooted in the same spot, hugging Second on her lap. When his breath brushed along her upper lip, Lola slowly closed her eyes. No protest, no questions—nothing of the sort. If anything, it felt... right.
This moment, this ambiance, these feelings in her heart... a kiss just felt right under these beautiful fireworks.
"Ah, Daddy, look!!"
Just as Atlas leaned in and Lola had her eyes closed, Chacha—who was sitting on her father’s lap—jumped a bit and pointed at the sky.
"Look! Look! Look!"
Surprised, Atlas drew back just to secure his hold on his daughter. The second she heard Chacha’s cheerful voice, Lola snapped her eyes wide open.
"Look! Dad—" Chacha paused as she looked back, blinking innocently when she caught the awkward look on her mother’s flustered face and then her father’s dead glare at her.
Second, who was too immersed in the fireworks, also looked back. Seeing the expressions of both Lola and Atlas, he cocked his head to the side.
The children were confused, staring at the adults who were supposed to be watching the fireworks with them. Little did they know, they just interrupted and sabotaged their own mission.
Lola and Atlas’s lips were so close, after all.
"Mommy, Daddy... what are you doing?" Second blurted out, making Lola’s face flush even more.
"Ah, nothing!" Lola blurted, now with her heart drumming against her chest. "Haha! What—what is it?!"
"The firework... it’s a frog shape," Chacha pointed out, making Atlas and Lola look up at the fireworks. "See?"
When the twins turned their heads back to where they were watching, it was gone. For the next few seconds, they waited for the next set of fireworks. But alas, it was over, and they missed the grand finale.
The twins: "..."
Lola: "..."
Atlas: "—"