Of all nights, tonight Ivy longed for a companion in her solitary. She sighed at the thought of heading back to the room sleeping in the dark or sleeping another night with Nick and Nancy around.

In the midst of being lost in her own thoughts, she thought she was hallucinating hearing footsteps from afar as she ignored what she heard. However, as the footsteps grew closer, she turned her head and saw that one person who had been on her mind for the whole week, walking towards her. She pinched herself on her left cheeks thinking she was dreaming at first.

When she realised she wasn’t, she could tell Jason was rushing his steps towards her which made him wobble a little midway. She knew he must have drank too much. Another round of thunder rumbled as she turned her attention back to the sky briefly only to be pulled by Jason towards the car he parked nearby the main entrance of the ballroom earlier as the sky began its’ heavy downpour.

She quickly hopped into the car before him who was panting heavily. She was right about Jason drinking too much as she watched him fighting to stay sober but she knew he was a good drinker. Hence, it didn’t bother her much until his breathing grew faster and heavier as he took off his coat.

“Jason… You’re alright?” Ivy took the coat from him as he held on to his pounding head. His body was so hot that Ivy panicked that his body could overheat. She helped him to loosen his tie and decided to run back to the hotel to request for towels and perhaps some water and food knowing he didn’t eat much during his emcees jobs.

He grabbed on to her arm to prevent her from leaving when she wanted to open the car door. “Stay…” He mumbled in a raspy voice.

“It’s alright… I will be back quickly… I will get you some stuff… Rest here alright?” Ivy comforted as she patted his arm and touched his cheeks. When he tried to open his eyes and see her, she had already dashed through the car’s opened door.

Ivy rushed to the reception and made her request for the things she needed. As she watched the rain grow heavier, she remembered to add on blankets and an umbrella. When she had everything on hand after telling them her room number as verification, she ran back to the car and quickly poured the big bottle of mineral water over the tower to put it over Jason’s burning head who was lying down.

He stirred a little, noticing she was back as he held her arm as though for comfort.

“Are you able to sit up and drink some water or you’re too dizzy?” Ivy whispered gently as he tried to sit up but instead he opened the car’s door quickly and vomited on the road.

Ivy sheltered him from the rain with the umbrella she got from the reception counter earlier. When he was done, Ivy quickly closed the car’s door and patted his back while he lay back on the seat as she handed him some tissues.

“How much did you drink? You aren't a bad drinker…” She was half complaining while she wiped away the rain stains.

“It was… a strong cocktail… They… made me drink it in one shot…” He said slowly as Ivy handed him some water. Ivy continued to wipe his body with the wet towel which was on his head as Jason held his hand half way bringing her to a pause. They looked into each other’s eyes before Ivy quickly removed her hand to fetch the hot drink she brought along.

“Better now?” Ivy asked as she handed him a warm cup of drink.

“What’s this?” He asked as he sat feeling uncomfortable. “Hot chocolate… I have a sandwich I managed to grab on the way here…” Ivy explained watching him calming down from his body heat as he removed his shoes.

“Drink it… you will feel better… Take a bite too. You had too little during dinner, that's why it’s easy to get so high… You should know better than this…” Ivy nagged as Jason sipped the hot chocolate but couldn’t help but grin as he watched the rain by the window panel and secretly thanked them for pouring down on the right time.

Ivy placed the blanket over his lap but instead he left the hot chocolate on the cup holder by the car’s door and pulled her into his embrace. Only then he noticed she was drenched from running under the rain earlier.

“Why didn’t you dry yourself first?” He scolded as he took another blanket to wrap around her and some tissues to wipe her dry. She stopped him halfway and pushed the sandwich on his hand to his mouth forcing him to take a bite.

“Eat first…” She instructed as he obediently took a bite and she held up his hand to hold the sandwich for himself while she continued to dry herself.

She couldn’t help but to sneeze a few times as Jason quickly wrapped the blanket around her. “You’re catching a cold already…” He pinched her nose.

“I will be fine… You’re alright now?” She raised her hand and felt his forehead wasn’t burning as before anymore as he nodded while finishing up the sandwich and his hot chocolate.

Feeling relief as she smiled at ease, she turned to the left side of the passenger’s door and enjoyed the sight of the rain.

“You should rest awhile. The rain won’t stop anytime soon…” She mumbled as Jason was already slowly drifting to sleep at the sight of her enjoying the rain.

While he was subconsciously asleep, he unintentionally mumbled what he was thinking. “Ivy, I promise I will find your father for you…”

At first Ivy thought he was talking in his sleep but when she registered what he just said, her eyes widened in shock.

“You’re helping me to find my father? Why? It’s going to be so tough to find him…” She whined only to be ignored as Jason had fallen into a deep sleep and fell on to her lap.

Nonetheless, she was still so touched by his deed that she didn’t stop herself from kissing his forehead before wiping away her happy tears and sharing with him her blanket.

"Come. Try touching it... I don't think the heat from the ember hurts you, Ivy. So you could really join in with me on the ember dance! It would be pretty since this feather crown fits you…" Phoenix was persuading Ivy as she hesitated.

"Are you sure?” She hesitated as she squatted while a few puppies surrounded her. She could feel the ember’s heat touching her palm but they weren’t hot as she drew closer and held them. They glow even brighter as though her palm was heating them up. Her beautiful dandy wings spread out which mesmerised Phoenix who instantly led her up into the sky. Her wings naturally led her as she took the first step to dance the ember dance steps with Phoenix

All of her dogs and grandma were dazzled by the amazing pretty glowing sky above them. Phoenix led her in the dance as they both flew and twirled, resonating the fire of love which had sparkled within them. Another thing Ivy had inherited other than Lentils’ healing powers was the strength of love between Lentil and Phoenix which had enabled the ember dance to be such a success.

Although Phoenix knew in time to come he could be assassinated for his deed of protecting his twin sister who now has traces of his wife from another life whom he wanted to spend all of his lifetime with, he didn’t bothered and wanted only the best for Ivy as he had vowed to change her destiny in this life.

Instead of her sacrificing for him in every life, for once, he wanted to switch places with her and let her enjoy all the goodness he always had even if it meant he and his wife had to cease to exist.

Ivy was extremely thrilled to be able to fly with wings and fulfill their ember dance ritual which commemorates her bond combination with Phoenix as one. At the end of the dance, all her dogs and puppies were howling as grandma beamed in happiness.

It was the first time Jason ever saw Ivy sleep with a smile spread over her face as he held her in his arms watching the glowing sun rise in the car. The thought of telling her about her family lingered as he decided after this week he will fix a meeting with her father and reveal to him her identity. As he pulled the blanket wrapping her, he felt her body was burning and knew she must have caught a cold.

He felt a vibration from his phone as he checked and was glad that Nick told him he could use the room. He carried Ivy out from the car wrapped in a blanket up to their room. She stirred a little but she couldn’t open her eyes as she held tightly onto Jason's chest.

“Where are we going?” She mumbled in the lift.

“To the room… Feeling weak?” Jason asked as she nodded and whimpered. “Don’t worry, you caught a cold. I will take care of you. There’s no one in the room now…” Jason explained as she tried to open her eyes but could only see his blurry face.

“Put me down? I will walk by myself…” Ivy mumbled faintly but Jason ignored her as he rushed into the hotel room and put her down in bed. He rummaged through his bag for his emergency medication and made her swallow the fever tablets before putting a wet towel over her head.

She was too drowsy to retaliate with him as she whimpered. A part of him was worried as it was his first time seeing her so sick. He nearly wanted to send her to the hospital only to be halted by a phone call from Sandra.

“Hello Sandra?” He answered.

“Oh, Jason? Where is Ivy?” Sandra asked awkwardly.

“She is resting… She had a cold… Anything urgent?” Jason asked.

“Oh no! Is she alright now? Make sure you make her eat… She rarely falls sick but when she does, it can last a few days and it’s bad. She will lose all her energy and sleep the whole day. You need to ensure she doesn’t skip her meals and make her take her medicine…” Sandra explained.

“I will… Anything else to take note of?” Jason asked.

“Hmmm… She whimpered a lot because she dislikes feeling weak.. she had been like this since a little girl…” Sandra said as Jason smiled, touching Ivy’s cheeks.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

“Alright, I know what to do… Is everything alright at your end?” Jason asked, reminding Sandra of the reason she called.

“Oh yes, I was wanting to check what time your flight so that we know when you will come to pick Lucky? He is a little sad… Maybe he is missing both of you…” Sandra explained as Jason thought of getting Marcel over instead.

“Don’t worry… I will get my assistant, Marcel, to pick him up. We would be reaching by dinner time but I would like to keep her at my place tonight so that it’s easier to take care of her…” Jason said.

“Oh yes please do… Don’t let her go to college tomorrow either. She usually takes two to three days to recover… Alright then, we will wait for Marcel to pick up Lucky. She will need him more than us.” Sandra giggled as Jason smiled.

“Thank you Sandra… I will get Marcel to call you up and make arrangements.” Jason said as Sandra said goodbye and hung up.

Jason sat by the bedside watching Ivy asleep. True enough, she had been whimpering a lot as she tossed holding on to his arm. He patted her with his right arm to comfort her.

“Ivy…What should I do about this feeling? Would you rather be by my side or have your family?” He asked in his heart as he touched her cheeks which were burning from her fever.

A text message came from his friend asking where he was for their breakfast gathering. He wanted to reject them but was reminded he should pack lunch for Ivy that he cleaned up himself and left for the restaurant after arranging for Marcel to pick up Lucky.

“Hey bro! Alone? Where’s your girlfriend?” His friend, Alfred, who was the groom last night, asked.

“She isn't well and is resting. I can't stay long for breakfast in fact. I am here to pack for her.” Jason explained as Nick stood and approached him.

“Is she alright?” Nick asked with concern as Jason nodded.

“She caught a cold and is having a fever. I have given her some fever tablets. Hoping she would recover a little to take the flight later…” Jason explained with worries as Nick patted his shoulder.

“Otherwise, you can just change the flight to tomorrow?” Nick suggested as Jason nodded.

A waitress came to Jason with a packet of porridge as Jason excused himself and went back to the room.

Ivy was sniffing and coughing as she sat up in bed.

“Hey…” She greeted followed by a sneeze.

“Oh dear… Are you alright?” Jason quickly gave her more tissues and helped her wipe her runny nose as he sat by the bed.

“Hmmm… A little…” She smiled but he was still worried seeing her pale face.

“Let’s fly tomorrow so that you can rest?” Jason said.

“No… Don’t. Let’s fly today as planned. I am fine…” Ivy pleaded while holding on to his hand trying to convince him. He gave up holding her back as he made a trade with her.

“In return, finish this porridge…” He said while unpacking. Ivy grunted and rolled in bed in protest as she hid herself under the blanket.

“Indeed she dislikes eating when she is sick…” Jason thought to himself in surprise, half amused at her reaction.

“You’re so strange… Who doesn't eat when they are sick? How are you going to get the energy to recover?” Jason nagged as Ivy smiled under the blanket but didn’t barge.

Jason waited patiently for her next move but instead decided to threaten her.

“If you don’t eat, we are flying tomorrow…” That made Ivy guilty as she sat up in bed with a pout while Jason fed her. He noticed she would grimace each time after he fed her as though she was in a lot of pain as he passed her a bottle of water.

“Is it too dry at the throat?” Jason guessed as she nodded while drinking half of the water from the bottle.

“Next time drink more water before a meal when you’re sick. That way, you won't feel uncomfortable from eating… it would be worse if you don’t eat.” Jason went on nagging.

“I will just sleep then I won't be hungry.” She retaliated which took Jason by surprise.

“I wonder if you’re really sick. You could still argue with me…” He teased as he fed her another scoop of porridge. She smacked him to tease him.

“What’s that for?” He asked as she put her tongue out and laughed.

“Quick.. finish up a few more scoops and we will be home to see Lucky. Sandra called to say he is a little sad. So I have arranged for Marcel to pick him home…” Jason explained as he watched Ivy’s tired pale face grow livelier in glee at the sound of Lucky.

She even snatched the plastic bowl of porridge and finished up by herself as Jason went to pack up.

“Indeed like Sandra said… She is a child when she is sick…An adorable one…” He told himself as he continued to pack and got ready to head to the airport with Nick and Nancy who came into the room not long after Ivy finished up her porridge.

Despite recovering a little, Ivy still felt weak and every time they had a chance to sit, she couldn’t help but to fall asleep in Jason’s arm. Jason was watching over her worriedly that even Nancy lent Ivy a scarf when she was asleep in the plane.

This time Nancy and Nick sat the seats in front of them and they would occasionally turn around to check if Ivy woke up only to find her soundly asleep in Jason’s arm.

Ivy stirred a little when the plane was having a slight turbulence. It made her stomach flip as she opened her eyes to catch Jason watching the skies outside the window intently.

“What are you thinking of?” Ivy asked as she turned around to face the window and saw the breathtaking view of sunset.

“Nothing… just how peaceful it is up here with such a view…” Jason said as they both enjoyed the view of the sun setting on the horizon.

“Wow…” She said as she moved closer to the window pane. She let out a sneeze as the air-conditioner was blowing at her.

Jason passed her some tissues and turned off the air-conditioner.

“There, there.. Can you be more careful? You're still sick…” Jason nagged and with that her stomach grumbled.

She sniffed as she giggled which eased his anger easily. He waved at the stewardess to order food for her.

She noticed Nancy turned around to check on her. Nancy waved at her as Ivy sniffed and noticed she was wearing Nancy’s scarf. Ivy wanted to take it off and return to her but Nancy waved at her to stop her.

“Keep it on… You need it…” Nancy smiled and turned around in her seat. Ivy noticed Jason was still trying to get the attention of the stewardess.

“It's alright. I still have some buns.” She dragged a bag of cranberry bun and munched on them while she watched the sunset.

“You know, what if sunset is actually sunrise and sunrise is actually sunset?” She randomly came up with a theory.

“Did you have a fever so high that you are having permanent brain damage?” Jason asked as Ivy giggled.

“Why are you always so serious? Can't you just let me spew my nonsense awhile?” She coughed a little as he offered her a bottle of water in front of her. Next to it was her fever medication which Jason popped out two pills and let her swallow.

“Then you should be awake instead of sleeping again after your medication?” Jason played along as he tucked her close to him so that she could still watch the sunset.

“Hmmm… Some people's body clocks worked that way. I used to after grandma left me…” Ivy said as her mind wandered back to grandma who watched her dance the ember dance with Phoenix in her dream. Her thoughts went on to think about her parents and remembered what Jason said last night.

“Oh yeah… You said something about looking for my father last night… Have you been searching for him?” Ivy whispered not wanting Nick or Nancy to hear about it. Jason was surprised as he slowly recalled he must have said out loud his thoughts before falling asleep when he was high.

“Ivy… It’s…” Jason tried to explain but Ivy stopped him. “It would be too hard on you. Besides, you have a lot to do on your plate now in the office. Don’t waste time on this alright?” She patted his head and turned to continue enjoying the sunset view.

“It felt so good to be up here with you… I just wish these moments wouldn't end, you know. Just you, me, the skies and sunset and no one to bother or bug me over the phone. It's just so… peaceful…” Ivy was mumbling away while watching the sunset in his arms, slowly drifting back to sleep.

“Then, would you please be my girlfriend?” Jason whispered his question which was half a joke which made Ivy fly open her eyes. She turned around and smacked him.

“Are you crazy? Your love rival is in front… You know perhaps you should seriously consider giving her a chance again… Everyone has their own timeline. Give her some time… She will get by… Perhaps by then you will like her again?” Ivy mumbled at his ear so close that Jason couldn’t resist kissing her cheeks. Ivy turned around to watch the sunset after snarling at him for kissing her.

“Delusional…” He teased her as he smiled pondering on her words.

“If I am delusional, then you're beyond words can describe a sort of sound mind fella.” Ivy giggled.

“Just how can a sick person talk so much?” Jason pinched the tip of her nose.

“That's because I am mumbling… Oh, so if this sunset is at sunrise then the sun rises from the west. Wow, that would be so amazing…” She continued her theory again.

“Someday, you should just be a psychologist might as well… You're so good at manipulating facts and twist them as though they are real. A psychologist needs such skills.” Jason praised.

“So rare to hear you sing praises of me… Hmm, maybe. Maybe not. Besides, my science subjects aren’t that great. It's gonna be tough to fight my way in psychology. Perhaps law would still be what I do best.” She lamented.

“Silly girl… Whoever said you need to do it right after foundation in college? You could always study it in the future when you're a lawyer and perhaps would like a career switch then have a double degree. By then, they would just see your first degree results. Anything is possible, especially for you. You just need to focus and put your mind into doing it. Just like playing the drums.” He explained as he rubbed the tip of her nose while her eyes were closing to sleep.

She managed to giggle before stealing a quick peck on Jason's cheek which was just inches away. It took Jason by surprise but by the time he looked down at her, she had drifted to sleep. He smiled as he returned her kiss on her forehead.

Sometimes he wondered if they were constantly on interlude acting as a couple that they had grown comfortable with each other and all these petty actions didn't bother them much anymore. He told himself to control his feelings and ensure he was just treating her as an acting girlfriend. Besides, he was bound to reveal her identity soon to her father and by then, she might hate him for being selfish.

When they landed, she once again was awoken by a rough landing and fumbled her way through the aisle before they saw Marcel waiting for them at the arrival hall.

She was too drowsy when they got into the car but didn’t fail to greet Marcel cheerfully and caught up with him on his days as she patted Lucky who was sitting on the front seat.

She sat in between the two front seats behind facing the air-conditioning.

“Has it been raining? Was it always this gloomy these days?” Before Marcel could reply Ivy moved on excitedly to her next topics.

“Oh, you know there was such a pretty sunset up in the sky earlier. I can't get used to the gloomy days here now. There was so much seafood to eat too. You should have come with us on every trip. It will be so fun!” Ivy chirped as she sniffed from her runny nose occasionally.

“Yes, Miss.” Marcel replied.

“Oh stop being formal would you? I don't pay your salary. He does.” She pointed at Jason who was partly enjoying her tormenting Marcel and was also annoyed at her for doing so.

“Just call me Ivy please.” Ivy instructed as she patted Lucky.

“Yes Miss Ivy…” She pouted. “Marcel! Ivy. Try saying just that.”

“Ivy.” Marcel said quickly to please her.

“There.. Perfect! Call me that from now on alright?” She giggled as Marcel nodded and Jason shook his head in disbelief.

Ivy sneezed a few times but it didn’t stop her from continuing their conversation as she continued to sit in the same position. Marcel had to turn the air conditioner higher as Jason nodded from the rear mirror agreeing to him to increase the temperature.

“Sorry, sorry. You didn't have to turn the air-conditioning higher. It will be too warm for both of you.”Ivy said as she stood a little to tilt herself closer to the air-conditioner in front of her and turn the temperature lower. Jason couldn’t stand it any longer as he pulled her into his arms so sudden that it caught her by surprise.

“Could you just sit back and relax? Let Marcel drive in peace. You're still unwell…” Jason nagged as he draped his coat over her angrily while she pouted.

Soon she gave up fighting the drowsiness and fell asleep in his warm comfortable coat and embrace.

“She isn't well is she?” Marcel asked.

“Yes. She has had a fever since last night…” Jason explained.

“Did the reception go well?” Marcel asked as Jason pondered awhile and nodded.

“Yes… Luckily there was her otherwise I don’t know how I would survive the torture of being drunk.” Jason explained while Marcel smiled knowingly that Jason must have been forced to drink too much strong liquor that Ivy was smart enough to care for a drunkard.

When the car pulled in front of his house, Ivy was still asleep. Jason signaled Marcel to leave for the day as he wanted to carry Ivy into the house but she stirred awake and noticed Marcel had left.

“Aww, why didn't you wake me before Marcel left?” Ivy pouted in disappointment.

“It's Sunday. He should be resting…” Jason got down the car watching her sulk while alighting.

“I am working too technically. I helped to take care of a drunken boss and got myself sick…” She complained and sniffed as Jason smirked and pinched the tip of her nose.

“Stop sulking would you? You will see him again…” Jason pulled her into his arm while unlocking his front door, letting Lucky to enter first as Ivy tickled him in revenge.

“You know you have just turned into a terrible two when you fall sick!! From now on I will ban you from falling sick!” Jason yelled in between laughter of being tickled as he closed the main door and went on a showdown with her tickling each other.

A part of him was beginning to enjoy the new changes they both adapted mutually as he told himself to appreciate every moment he had with her before it’s over.