The Most Beautiful Flower

Maria sat on her living room couch. It was noon, and she had the day off.
She stretched. "I wonder what Lily's doing... she's probably still at work thoughー"

*Bzzt bzzt*

"Huh?" Maria sat up straight and looked at her phone. She had gotten a text from Lily.
"Speak of the devil," she said to herself with a smile.

Lily:
<Heey hru? :3>

Maria:
<HAAIII>
<I'm goood hbu? 💕>

Lily:
<Not bad just chillin' :D>
<Just got off work hehe>

Maria:
<Noice>
<So ur free tonight? :D>

Lily:
<Mhmmm>
<Why? Did u plan something? :3c>

Maria:
<Nooo but we can plan rn :3>
<💕>

Lily:
<🤭>
<Where u wanna go?>

Maria:
<Ehhhh>
<idk :'3>
<Diner? :3>

Lily:
<Oooo sure sure>
<Sounds nice>
<5pm?>

Maria:
<Okieeee :3>

***

Lily and Maria got to the diner at around 4:35PM. Maria was wearing a red dress, which was a bit of a change for her, as she usually wore what she considered casually fashionable, like jeans an blouses.
Lily, on the other hand, was wearing jeans and a blouse this time ー usually she would wear the dress when the two of them would go out.
Basically, the two had their styles swapped for the night.
"You're super cute today," Lily said, "but then again, you're always cute~"
"Aww stooop," Maria said, blushing.

After ordering their food, the two sat down at a booth. Maria looked out the window at the evening sky. It was early August now, so it was still relatively light out at the current hour.
Meanwhile, Lily seemed distracted. She was just swiping on her phone. Her wavy red bangs were half in her face, and usually she would've adjusted them to be out of her face. This time, she didn't. That made Maria worried.

"Hey, babe," Maria said quietly. "You OK?"
Lily looked up from her phone.
"Oh, uh, yeah, I'm just tired," she said awkwardly.
"I know that's a lie," Maria said dryly. It was obvious, since whenever Lily lied, her ears would get red.
Lily grinned sheepishly and looked down at the table. "Well... yeah, you're right."
"So then what happened?" Maria asked.

Lily fidgeted with her blouse. "I... it's just that, today at workー y'know how I told you about that kid? She's been doing a lot better lately, but todayー it's not that she's gotten worse or anything, but..."
Lily sighed. "Why does a 12 year old kid have to be the one to get cancer? I meanー I mean why can'tー why can't a tree get it instead, y'know? And why can't I justー just like, fix it right away? Like, get it fixed in just one day... cuzー cuz that's just a kid, y'know what I mean?"

Maria bit her lip. Then she saidー
"I can't fully understand, since I'm not in that situation. But I can say this: you're doing a lot. Without people like you, that kid wouldn't be able to even hope for a future."
Lily looked up from her glass.
"So," Maria continued, "don't feel bad about it. You're doing good."
"But," Lily said, "I get that, but like, why can't I just explode the cancer?"
Lily and Maria laughed a bit at that last bit.
"I get what you mean," Maria said, "but everything takes time. You said that once, you know. Something like, uhh... 'even strong medicine takes at least an hour' or something?"
Lily laughed a little. "Yeah, that's the one."
Maria nodded. "So, just don't be so hard on yourself. And also talk to me. I'm literally your girlfriend."
"Hehe, OK OK," Lily giggled.

***

Maria stretched.
She was back in her apartment now, and it was around 7:30PM.
'Well, I'm definitely glad Lily seemed to be feeling better,' she thought calmly. 'I hope she'll tell me next time when something like that stresses her out again thoughー'

*Bzzt bzzt*

"Ayy, I literally just got home," Maria groaned. 'I kinda hope it's not mama... I told her I'm eating just fineー'
When Maria looked at the notification, she smiled.
It was Yukito!

Yukito:
<Heeey twin I have a question>

Maria sat down and replied:

Maria:
<Hey Yukito, what's up? :3>

Yukito was typing for a bit, then stopped, and then typed again.

Yukito:
<So like>
<Yk Ishigami?>
<The dude I met at work?>

Maria smiled to herself.

Maria:
<Oh yea>
<Ur bf>
<;3>

Yukito:
<NOOO WE'RE JUST FRIENDSSSS>
<I mean don't get me wrong but like>
<likeeee>
<He said we're friends so yea :3>

Maria:
<lolol OK srryyy>
<Anyways>
<What abt him?>

Yukito did the start-stop-start typing thing again.

Yukito:
<OK so like>
<I was gonna ask him out after that karaoke night>
<Right>
<But uh>
<I got nervous and couldn't say it>
<BUT THEN HE SAID HE'D BE FINE WITH WTV I WAS GONNA SAY>
<He said smth like>
<"I'm pretty sure I'll be fine w/ it">
<So like>
<Should I tell him later??😭>

Maria furrowed her brow.
"Hmm," she mused to herself. "I mean..."

Maria:
<I mean if u want to?>
<I would personally go based on if u just have to at least try to date the guy>

Yukito:
<I do I do>
<Like I wanna date him>
<But like>
<I mean>
<I'm scared he's gonna say no😭>

Maria stopped, then smiled at the screen.

Maria:
<Welllll>
<Sometimes u gotta go into the thorny bushes to get the most beautiful flower>

Yukito:
<Wait wdym>
<WAIT>
<WAIT WAIT WIAT>
<*wait>
<DID U MAKE THIS UP FROM SMTH TO DO W/ LILY>

Maria:
<Hehe maybe>
<:3c>

Maria giggled to herself, and after a while the two friends finished texting and Maria started getting ready for bed.

But, little did either of them know, this calm would only last so long...

... before a giant storm.

Like, giant.