Why Lily Bothers Me So Much
Lately, Ruby had been in a foul mood. There were plenty of reasons for it. First off, the weather. The sweltering summer heat and humidity kept tormenting her body. Next, she'd bombed her finals. Her score fell way short of what she'd aimed for, and she still hadn't come up with an excuse to give her parents. Third, her relationship with her girlfriend, Citri. It was sweet and hazy, yet precarious, like it could crumble any second—how long could a same-sex romance like theirs really last? Ruby kept worrying about it.
But none of those were what really soured her mood the most. The true culprit, the one that made her chest tighten like indigestion just thinking about it and her head throb, was a classmate in her class.
Ruby glanced sidelong at the girl sitting in the far corner by the window, scanning her surroundings with a huhu chuckle like she was about to drool. Why did it bug her so much, the way she panted haah with ragged breaths, staring wildly at the girls in the classroom? Yeah. Ruby just didn't like Lily.
It hadn't always been that way. Looking back now, it was infuriating, but there had been a time when she'd vaguely wanted to get close to her. The reason was nothing special. She just stood out. That notion shattered within a month of starting high school, though.
Anyone who didn't feel disillusioned watching her suddenly weeeek spit out the cookies Serina had poured her heart into making, then nag that they tasted awful, would be the weird one. Especially since those cookies had been a gift to Lily from Ruby's close friend Serina. Ruby would probably never forget the look on Serina's face from that day, not for the rest of high school.
And after that incident, any fondness she'd felt for the picturesque sight of cherry-blossom-like hair fluttering in the breeze had gone up in smoke.
But that wasn't the only reason Ruby disliked Lily. Sure, there might be some backstory. Ruby wasn't childish enough to judge people as good or bad based on a few actions—she knew others weren't either. The rumors and speculation about Lily that spread through the grade after that day didn't blow up, largely thanks to Ruby.
She was in a bad mood that day. Serina didn't think much of it. She apologized. She spat it out but realized her mistake right away and ate it back up, so she knows she was wrong... Conversations like that with her friends naturally led to letting it slide. Anyway, that was then, and Ruby's current discomfort with Lily was a more recent development.
Serina likes Lily. More than just as a friend. Ruby had realized it from Serina's behavior toward her all along, confirmed during that counseling session at the aquarium.
Even though they were both girls. Ruby had felt a deep sense of solidarity—and a bit of excitement—knowing her best friend was just like her. But things didn't unfold smoothly.
Lily was, to put it bluntly, a demonic woman. Ruby thought the phrase sounded a bit outdated, but she couldn't find better words to describe her. Lily drew people in just by existing. Her hair and eye color were exotic. Her face was pretty. Her figure was unreal. But it wasn't just her looks.
There was something more. Like she was emitting pheromones—invisible yet undeniably there, an aura that enveloped her, making her even more mysterious and alluring. The problem was she didn't stay still.
Mysterious, pretty, whatever—no matter how you sliced it, when she hunkered in the corner exuding a creepy vibe, leering at other girls' faces and bodies like a perverted old man before mumbling to herself, any illusion of pheromones shattered.
Come to think of it, if she didn't act like that, by now—half a year into school—the whole class of girls would've swarmed her like a pack, turning the place into chaos.
Does she know that on purpose? Ruby had thought it before, but watching her lately, it seemed plausible. She didn't like overhyping people she disliked, but maybe.
Lily knew how charming she was. Ruby followed that chilling thought. She's definitely doing it on purpose. What the hell. It's normal to want people to like you. She's deliberately pushing them away because she hates the attention—ugh, so annoying.
Maybe something bad happened in the past. With looks like that, trouble's inevitable. Fine, then pick one. Either fully commit to scaring them off, or actually seduce them for real.
Ruby quietly observed what was happening to Lily. Pretty girls attract other pretty girls, huh? Like something out of a fairy tale, the golden-haired class topper approached her, picture-perfect.
Lily just smiled innocently, looking troubled, even as Alicia casually plopped her on her lap and hugged her tight. How was that smile so pretty? Alicia's eyes narrowed, and suddenly her hand landed on Lily's thigh, pressing down hard like stamping a seal.
Lily went haah, her back straightening rigidly as she squirmed like she was in real distress. If this weren't school—if it were somewhere less visible—would she have gone further? Ruby doubted it.
Their relationship was a bit funny. More precisely, not just those two—every girl tangled up with Lily had this weird dynamic. Lily was always treated like a toy, but she wasn't purely passive.
Like now. If Alicia's hand moved just a bit more between those pressed thighs, Lily's eyes would cool ever so slightly—but unmistakably—staring Alicia down coldly.
Then Alicia would back off like a scolded puppy, freezing in place and awkwardly withdrawing her hand. The lofty crane of a girl, whom even teachers wouldn't dare touch, was uniquely weak against Lily.
Anyway, if she'd just dated Alicia, Ruby wouldn't feel this uneasy about her. Starting with Alicia, three gathered around Lily in total. The other two were Dana and Serina.
To Ruby, who deeply rooted for Serina, it was a painful sight. The atmosphere radiating from them was dizzyingly tense. Anyone would think she was two-timing—or three-timing—the affection was so tender yet so murky.
Don't they get jealous of each other? The question arose naturally. No way they didn't. Ruby knew that best. She'd snapped at girls hovering near Citri before, irritated for no reason.
Lily was like she was holding herself hostage. If you don't get along, this relationship ends. It even felt like that's what she was saying. How long could that tightrope last? That powder keg of four, ready to explode any second—and her best friend Serina stuck right in the middle—left Ruby anxious and displeased.
Lily was a pro. Drawing lines like that, but if you left, she'd act heartbroken, clinging desperately. Even Ruby, who wanted no part in that mess, found her pure smile captivating enough to steal her gaze unwittingly. No way those three, already head over heels, could escape.
At least, that's what Ruby thought. Sly vixen. Think a pretty face gets you everything? Big tits, tiny waist, fat ass—think that's all it takes?
Poor Serina. Argh. So frustrating.
What pissed Ruby off most was that even she sometimes caught herself staring blankly at Lily. It was absurd. Impossible. Yet Lily's very existence forced it on her.
"Ruby. What're you thinking about."
"…."
"Answer me right now."
"C-C-Citri. When'd you get here…?"
"Around when you were staring at her face."
"From the start?"
"Like ten minutes ago."
"………."
"So, did you like it?"
"Like what…."
Ruby snapped out of her daze into harsh reality. Oh no. Citri was the jealous type. As much as Ruby. And scary perceptive. Sharp enough to see right through every thought Ruby had while watching Lily.
Panicking like her soul might flee, Ruby thought under her girlfriend's piercing glare: No sleep tonight. No excuses. But she cursed Lily for causing this.
Damn you. It's all your fault. I'm gonna get chewed out because of you. Fail at your harem management. Let your pond explode. Get torn apart by all three at once till you're shredded. Stupid vixen…!
As if her curse stung, Lily happened to look Ruby's way right then. She glanced between Ruby and Citri, then grinned ehehe.
And that did it. Ruby zoned out a bit, Citri's jealousy erupted, and Ruby blamed Lily again for no reason.
I-It'S aLl YoUr FaUlT…!