All of Ivy’s effort in preparing for the debate has undoubtedly paid off when her team won the competition again with Andrew as her second speaker as always. Despite who was their third speaker, it was always sufficient with this duo to beat their opposition team. Jason stopped by briefly to spectate her debate session and enjoyed her conviction. He managed to record the last bit of her debate before rushing off to meet the college’s dean for another career talk.
As Ivy and Andrew walked out of the hall and were greeted by Sandra, who decided they should celebrate, Ivy realised it was her first time heading home with no one to share her good news with. On the way to Ivy grandma's old noodle stall, Sandra and Andrew began to pester Ivy about her secretive activities lately.
"So, tell us now. What have you been up to?" Andrew threatened playfully with an action of pointing an invisible knife at Ivy's neck while walking backwards.
Ivy giggled. "You're so funny Andrew! Nothing… just work."
"Are you that desperate for money?" Sandra pestered. "No I am not. I just needed some experience to decide my next faculty…" Ivy explained as they boarded the bus and headed for the back seats.
"So you're not doing the job for the sake of paying off the birthday parties expenses?" Sandra asked sternly. Ivy shook her head and placed her arms on her shoulders. "Extra income won't kill either.” Ivy peeped at Andrew who seemed to ignore them. “By the way, I still need to shop for some formal wear. Would you help me?" Ivy whispered to Sandra while Andrew was still busy playing games on his phone.
"Alright!" Sandra giggled while the girls started scrolling the website they frequently shop for clothing all the way till they reached Ivy’s grandma's stall.
“What exactly do you do at work?” Sandra casually asked as they both took a seat on their favorite corner when Andrew went to the kitchen to greet Auntie Soh. “Hmmm… started with some accounting work and preparing proposals to meet clients.” Ivy replied while they were scrolling through the pictures of the formal wear.
"Hmm… pretty. Add to cart." Sandra said as Ivy nodded to a primrose peplum midi dress. “Sounds very administrative but at least the job scope could help with your accounts subject.” Sandra complimented as Ivy nodded. Ivy moved on to another formal wear picture of a plain white blouse which was the same price as the dress earlier.
"Not bad." Ivy said as Sandra swiped left." "Why? It looks good!" Ivy exclaimed.
"Expensive. Not worth it." Sandra explained as Aunty Soh appeared with their noodles with Andrew.
"Hey why aren't you both helping out? Not hungry?" Andrew teased the girls who were busy looking into Ivy’s phone.
Both of the girls shook their heads to indicate it wasn't true that they were not hungry. "Too late! All mine!" Andrew moved their bowl of noodles closer to him as both girls snarled at him and snatched each bowl in a nick of time.
"It's ours! Don't steal!" Sandra scolded as Andrew chuckled while slurping his noodles. Ivy continued to navigate on the clothing app and added another one blouse and a skirt while leaving her noodles to cool down first.
She beamed looking at a midi dinner dress which she thought would look great on Sandra as she added it to the cart and quickly checked out her shopping cart. Sandra noticed what Ivy did as she nudged Ivy.
"That's not formal wear… discard." Sandra said while swallowing her noodles and blowing on the next chopsticks of noodles.
"It's for you." Ivy whispered as she smiled and started to dig into her bowl of noodles.
"You don't have to…" Sandra retaliated quietly to avoid Andrew who was eating noisily from noticing.
"I want to. It's a gift. Too late, I checked out and shipped them too. "Ivy giggled watching Sandra rolled her eyes as they both ate another mouthful of noodles.
"Thank you…" Sandra smiled while munching as Ivy winked when Andrew caught them in the act.
"What's going on?" Andrew questioned as he put his empty bowl down.
"You have stains all over your face…" Sandra teased to distract him as both girls giggled and he quickly wiped his face.
"Cleared! I'm going for the second round!" He said while giving the girls funny faces as they both laughed at their secret still being unknown by him.
After dinner, Ivy headed home and stepped into the glass house instead. She lay on the plywood bed she made in the glass house with her grandma previously. She knew if she entered the house, it would only make her feel worse.
As she enjoyed the sight of the stars glittering the dark sky, she heard footsteps outside and scolded herself for not locking the glass house’s door. She wasn't in the mood to greet anyone after the celebration and just wanted to enjoy being alone for the night as she tried to hear if the footsteps would walk away but it didn't. Her mobile lit up with a text message and it was from Lance. She knew whoever was outside would have noticed her in the glass house with a sudden light appearing in the dark as she sat up to read the message telling her he was outside her house.
She forced herself to greet him as she stepped out of the glass house. “Hey…” Lance greeted Ivy who was trying to force a smile.
“Hi… What are you doing here?” Ivy asked as she folded her arms and stood aside watching him fumbling to tell her something he was struggling with.
“I.. erm… I was at the debate. Congrats… queen of debate…” Lance gave an awkward chuckle as Ivy relaxed a little and smiled.
“Thanks… It was a friendly match anyway. It’s getting late. You should head home and you should just text me. You didn't have to come all the way here just to congratulate me but I appreciate the gesture.” Ivy wanted to walk away to the side entrance of the house when she felt Lance catching her by her right arm.
“Ivy… Wait… I have something I wanted to say and it’s been a long while since I have been trying to tell you.” Lance explained as he was holding on tightly to her wrist.
“What is it?” Ivy asked while trying to let loose her wrist but Lance kept holding on to them.
“Ivy, I know many would have mistaken me and Laura. It’s not like what they have been speculating. I have never had any feelings for her…” Lance looked down on his feet in guilt as Ivy knew he was trying to confess as she looked up to the sky thinking of ways to stop him from the embarrassment.
“Lance…” Ivy said as he stopped her from saying anything further by standing closer to her.
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“Ivy, you’re a smart girl. I’m sure you know what I felt for you all those years. I like you and I…” Lance confessed as Ivy was trying to find chances to stop him but instead a loud voice was heard from behind them calling out to Lance.
“Lance!” Laura stood in anger and jealousy watching both of them standing so close to each other as Ivy quickly let her wrist loose from Lance’s grip and went back into the glass house to collect her bag and phone.
“Laura, what are you doing here?” Lance asked as he walked over to her and held her hand but she harshly pushed him away when Ivy came out from the glass house. Ivy decided to walk towards the winding road where she parked her grandma's vintage car and go for a drive leaving the both of them to themselves to sort out stuff. Before she could step any further, she could hear a slap but she didn't bother to look back at who slapped who as she decided to mind her own business.
Her evening had just gone from bad to worse as she drove aimlessly and recalled it might be a good idea to drop by Jason’s place since she would be starting her first day of part time internship the next day in his office. She could at least get an idea of her tasks as an excuse.
She parked her car next to his as she went to ring the doorbell since he stayed on a two floors unit but the main door was on the ground floor.
“Ivy?” He greeted as he opened the door and Lucky was already pounding on her. Lucky was standing on his own two feet leaning onto Ivy. Ivy picked him up and cuddled him. “Hey… I have some questions to ask before I start tomorrow. Am I disturbing?” Ivy asked gently as he opened the door wider inviting her in.
“Here, come upstairs instead.” He led her as she followed with Lucky still in her arms. The view she saw the moment she stepped up to the second floor was spectacular. There was a balcony overseeing the streets and there were three rooms. She walked into the balcony and saw he was enjoying his glass of wine. “Can I have a glass of wine too?” Ivy sat and sighed as she patted Lucky who was sitting on her lap.
Jason could tell something was bothering her from her gentle and tired voice. He thought of giving in to her request but remembered he should try prying a little of information to get to know her more.
“Not till you…” He said but was interrupted by Ivy. “... tell me what happened.” She sighed as she turned facing the night sky instead. “Does everything come with a price when it’s with you?” She mumbled. Jason decided to pour her a glass as he walked over and offered it to her.
“No, not everything has a price tag but it wouldn't harm you to share your problems to a listening ear?” Jason coaxed as she grabbed the wine glass and wanted to take a sip but Jason halted her as he clinked their wine glass.
“Congrats for winning the debate.” He smiled while taking a sip and slowly watched her smile. “This was unexpected…” Ivy mumbled to herself before enjoying her first sip.
“Thank you.” She sighed again while her smile quickly disappeared as Jason squatted next to her. “This isn’t the reaction of someone who just won… What’s up?”
“It’s the first time I went home and…” She paused as she looked into Jason’s keen eyes, eager to know. “... figured there was no one to share the good news with although Sandra’s mother, Sandra and Andrew threw a celebration at my grandma’s first noodle stall. It’s just… trying to accept the fact.” Jason patted her shoulder as Lucky fidgeted on her lap and stood on her as though knowing she was sad. She held Lucky’s body trying to put it back on her lap.
Jason watched in awe at how Lucky, his beagle, was once a protector of him from strangers but could sit with Ivy as though she owned him. He mustered up his courage to ask Ivy about her sleep disorders.
“Ivy… I have been wanting to ask... About your nightmares…” Jason paused as Ivy paid attention to him. Ivy knew she should explain to him since he was there when she injured herself in sleep the first time.
“Yes, it was a disorder which I grew up with. I do fear the dark and snakes as I would wake to a portal with serpents hovering around me… Sometimes, it will take me a while to feel my muscles and move them again but that night, it was my first time waking up to an injury. I’m sorry about that. It must have scared you but I’m fine.” Ivy explained as she finished her wine in one shot.
Jason shook his head. “It’s fine. But have you tried to seek help medically?” “I don’t think it was necessary as it was under control when I had my grandma as a companion. Now, I just have to avoid dark places. That’s why I usually need a table lamp.” She explained as she twirled her empty glass wine.
He kept quiet awhile as she patted her shoulder. Ivy thought she should give him some assurance that she would be fine. “I’m fine. Don’t worry. Guess I will be even more fine tonight after having a confession from someone unexpected.” She said in a much relaxed voice.
“Confession? Tell me about it?” Hearing the change in her tone, Jason played along. “Hmmm… Do I get another glass of wine?” She teased him with her empty glass.
“That would depend on how worthy your piece of news is…” Jason teased back as she rolled her eyes. “I wish I didn’t tell you that…” She said as she put down the empty wine glass on the table and decided to just tell him.
“Lance, one of the friends in school who always was a hot topic among the girls for being a hot couple with Laura, another friend, had turned out to actually be just a rumour. That hot guy was confessing to me earlier and was caught by Laura.” Ivy explained. “And? Why didn’t you accept? It’s a hot guy…” Jason teased.
“Of course I won’t. He is just not my type and out of my league!” Ivy exclaimed. She knew Jason was teasing her as she smacked him lightly on his right arm before continuing her explanation while he chuckled.
“I used to cherish our friendship and from now on, I guess things will turn awkward.” She sighed as she recalled her purpose of coming over to find him. “Oh yes, speaking of which, could you brief me on my task in your office? What exactly am I to do?”
Jason was catching up with her train of thoughts as he acknowledged how fast she could change topics in conversations. “Don’t worry. It’s stuff which is manageable for you similar to the ones during the trial sessions… You know, preparing the payment vouchers for claims and knowing which accounts to post them to. That would be for a start. In time to come, I will integrate business management skills into your program…” He stood to fetch the bottle of wine after seeing his glass was empty too.
“Meaning?” Ivy asked. “Meaning, there are chances for you to join me in meeting clients and listen to our discussion to learn business management skills. Speaking of which, you know a lot about business management for a young college girl like you.” He praised her as he remembered how she mocked him the first time they met as he poured them both another glass of wine.
“I have to… I intend to help manage my grandma’s business when I graduate.” She said as she took the glass of wine he offered.
“Are you sure you can handle this much alcohol in one sitting?” Jason checked as she nodded.
“I used to accompany my grandma’s drinking session with her old buddies in her stall late at night to stay by her incase she was too drunk but she never once was drunk before. I will sneak a glass of wine every time she gathers and it is quite often, say at least three times a week.”
Jason nodded in satisfaction as he changed the topic. “But you’re a queen of debate… shouldn’t you take on law instead?”
Ivy sighed. “That’s the reason I decided to do an internship during my foundation year. Am still deciding.”
Ivy realised she spoke a lot about herself but she knew so little about him. “What about you? You have known so much about me but I don't know much about you… Rahi’s business management is your only business?” She asked.
“Yes.. established six years ago. I’m expanding the business as more roadshows requests are coming in and they bring in a lot of revenue compared to normal talks or fairs.” He explained.
“And the emcee job?” Ivy asked. “That’s a hobby. I love being on stage and in fact I started to counter my stage fright with the emcee jobs.” He replied as he sipped his wine.
“I thought this would be a family business of yours…” Ivy said. “I decided to not meddle with my family’s business. I just wanted to build something of my own and even if they were to perish, I wouldn't have any regrets as it’s all mine.” He said while being reminded of the times when his parents were against his decision on starting up his own business. He rebelled, causing himself to leave the family house. Occasionally his mother will come by his apartment to check on him and he would be forced to attend family dinners because his grandma missed him but his father had given up hope on him which drove him to prove himself even more.
Ivy was enjoying the company of Lucky who was so gentle and playful while Jason watched them. He decided he should own up to his promise of tutoring her. He stood to fetch his extra house keys in his room and passed them to her.
She raised a questioning eyebrow at his gesture. “What’s this?” She asked. “My house’s spare keys. You can drop by anytime you want and there is an extra room which you could stay in when our tutor session runs overtime.” He explained as she recalled his promise to tutor her on accounts.
“Oh yes! I nearly forgot about that. Well, you don’t have to really tutor me since my job scope would cover accounts…” Ivy said. “But I want to tutor you and ensure you can pass your accounts since you don’t attend classes and I have the experience. If you have any questions, you can just drop by anytime to ask and we can go through the syllabus together on every Thursday and Friday nights if you want or either nights?” Jason offered as she pondered on it. “It’s not a bad idea.” She thought at least she had alternative resources.
“If there aren't any weekend jobs then we can resort to twice a week but if we need to fly then it would be on Thursdays only?” She tweaked his offer as he instantly nodded in agreement at the arrangement and smiled. He gave her the house keys as he sat next to her, enjoying the last bits of wine while she played with Lucky. “You could stay tonight for a start. I am worried about your tipsy self driving home so late.” Jason teased as he pinched the tip of her nose while Ivy smacked him.
“I don’t intend to head home for the night in fact… This is not a bad idea…” Ivy thought to herself as she continued to play with Lucky.