(Tristan) Confession?

Ever since then, however, I never had the opportunity to properly confess again. Either some demanding customer comes in to interrupt or Scanta barges in and kills the mood.

I also noticed that Lolita’s been brushing me off everytime I’m about to confess. I think she’s holding something back, but then again, I could be overthinking this whole situation.

I hope she’s just as nervous as I am.

The one good thing that’s happened is Father Keith. He’s been coming in everyday to talk to me about Lolita, and give me some pretty good advice about her. He says he thinks she’s a great person, and apparently they’ve known each other for some time now.

He basically forced me to tell him that I liked her, but ever since then, he’s been urging me to confess to her. He claims that Lolita likes me back, but I needed to let her know explicitly.

Father Keith also says she needs to tell me something. Something that may change the way I see her. It must be a pretty big deal, because he’s been very insistent about how, “She’s different, but she’s still the one for you.” Kind of a big statement, but I appreciate his concern.

Looking at the big picture, this whole situation is completely messed up. I have an exorcist acting as a mediator between me and my crush, and we’re all treating this situation like 3rd graders.

It’s immature, but honestly, I’d do anything to get with Lolita.

At around 3pm, Father Keith left the cafe after his daily lecture on why I should confess to Lolita.

A couple minutes after he had departed, started to clean the counters. There were quite a few people in the cafe, but everyone was seated at their tables already. When I looked up, Lolita was standing right in front of me with a sly smile on her face.

“Oh my god! L-Lolita! You have to stop sneaking up on me,” I jumped. A few people turned to see what the commotion was all about.

She laughed, and I couldn’t help but laugh with her. Her laugh was just as pretty as her.

“How do you sneak in, anyways? It’s like the chime breaks everytime you come in… I should probably get it checked out or something…”

Her face turned serious, “Um yeah, about that… I need to tell you something.”

I gave her a confused look, “Yeah of course. Maybe you could wait until my break at 6? Is that too long? I know you probably want some privacy.”

“Actually no, I think I can just tell you now. I need to tell you now.”

Damn, it must be very important. “U-um yeah, sure. Go ahead.”

She took a deep breath. “Tristan, I think we’re both painfully aware of our chemistry, right?”

I chuckled a bit, “y-yeah, I definitely am.”

This seemed to ease her up and she laughed softly. “But before you say anything, I need to tell you the truth. I’ve been hiding something from you, and it will probably change the way you see me, and I completely understand-”

I opened my mouth to protest but she stopped me with the raise of her hand.

“Tristan, I…”

Yes?????

“I’m…

...

A ghost.”

I let out a small laugh, “Very funny Lolita. Now what did you want to tell me?”

She didn’t laugh with me and just stared.

“This is a joke, right…?”

She looked like I had kicked her. “I wish it was.”

WHAT?

“Hold on, so you’re telling me, you’re a ghost? Like a dead person who’s soul or whatever is stuck on earth?”

She looked down, “Yeah. I guess.”

This is impossible. Whatever this prank is, it’s going too far.

“Lolita, please just say what you wanted to tell me before.”

“I told you. I’m a ghost.” She was starting to get angry, but there were tears in her eyes.

The more I stared at her, the more I started to notice. Her skin was oddly pale… Almost translucent. I’m a goddamn design student. How did I not notice this before?

Does that explain all the weird happenings that go on in the cafe?

Is she the reason why Greg Gory called Father Keith?

Wait, she also never lets me touch her. At first I thought it was because she was uncomfortable, but maybe…

I reached out to wipe away a tear that ran down her face.

My hand went straight through her, and all I could feel was cold air.

“What the-”

A couple people in the cafe had turned to watch, some looking in amazement and some in horror.

She looked around the cafe, “That’s right. I’m a ghost! Laugh all you want, or run away for all I care!” She said in-between sobs.

Tears were running down her face when she looked back at me, “I told you you’d think differently of me.”

She started to run towards the back room, and I tried to grab her arm to stop her. My hand didn’t grasp anything but cold air, and I cursed at myself. How did I already forget, I can’t frigging touch her!

I scrambled out to get to the back. She was openly sobbing now.

“Lolita! Wait!”

She paused, and slowly turned around.

I huffed, catching my breath. “Lolita, do you really think that badly of me?”

She looked up in confusion, “what?”

I took a step towards her. She took a step back.

“I guess I haven’t made the best impression then, have I?”

“Tristan,” she hiccuped, “I don’t think I understand.”

Another step forward. Another step back.

“Did you really believe that I’d see you differently?”

I crowded her against the wall. She started disappearing into the building, but pulled herself out once she noticed.

I slammed my hand against the wall beside her head. She let out the cutest squeak.

Her eyes looked up at me, sniffling, “Tristan?”

Crap, that move was way too bold of me! I’m panicking, should I confess now? What do I do? She’s clearly expecting something.

“Lolita… I… I- um, I- Idon’tseeyouanydifferentlysopleasedon’tworryaboutbeingaghostbecauseIdon’tcare.”

How cool of me. Great. Nice one, Tristan.

Her eyes widened for a split second before she let out a full-belly laugh directly into my face

It was the most beautiful laugh I’ve ever witnessed.

I smiled and waited for her to calm down. I tried to be romantic and rest my forehead against hers, but ended up face planting into the wall.

She laughed even harder this time, “Some cool moves you got there Tristan!”

I sighed in defeat. I really have to stop trying so hard.

Then again, if it made Lolita happy, then I guess I was happy too.