After history lessons, Sandra and Andrew quickly dragged Ivy out of the lecture hall and headed to the park nearby the car park.
“Slow down, you two!” Ivy squealed in nervousness as they both continued to hurriedly dragged her down a hill slope.
“Hurry Ivy!” Andrew urged as they finally reached an empty bench and sat her down.
“Alright, you may start…” Sandra said as they put down their bags on the bench and stood in front of her, ready to listen out.
Ivy looked at both of them amused and grateful for their companion as she held out both hands and pulled them down to sit next to her.
“Thank you for the great genuine friendship I could ever ask for…” Ivy said, smiling at each of them.
“Ivy, know that we are always around when you need us even if you decide not to leave town, we will fly or drive back just to be with you when in need next time…” Andrew emphasised as Ivy looked down on the ground unable to hide her sadness over the topic they just mentioned. She decided it was time to let them know her thoughts.
“Don't worry about that. I will be with you both next year too…” Ivy thought she would be fine to let them know but in actual fact, it was opening up one of her open wounds even wider as she let her head hang facing down the ground in disappointment. Her mind slowly drifted to think about having to leave Jason.
“You have already decided to pursue business instead of law?” Sandra asked after a moment of silence as Andrew and Sandra were both surprised at her choice. Sandra gently rubbed Ivy’s back as a comfort noticing her sad face. Ivy nodded with confidence.
“Yes, this internship made me realise my potential and I think it would be a waste to just centralised with law. Besides, I always have my debate buddy by my side!” Ivy smiled a little while hanging one arm over Andrew’s shoulder. “But law has always been your passion, Ivy…” Andrew reminded Ivy as Ivy shook her head. “I can always come back to it some time in the future when life is more stable… For now, pursuing business is the right choice…” Ivy said with a strong conviction as Andrew and Sandra who both knew how much she loved debates and law, couldn't help but to feel bad for her.
Andrew let go of her arm at the thought of Jason.
“Ivy, what about your relationship with Jason? Don’t use the fake thing as an excuse. It is very obvious you both have feelings for each other. Don’t even ask me how I know. After hiding my feelings from Sandra, how do you think I wouldn't be able to read your situation? What is this pact you made with Nancy you said earlier?” Andrew nagged as he was reminded of Ivy telling them the reason she was sad earlier in class. Ivy hopelessly let him guess all of it as she smirked at herself for letting all of the things she wanted to hide, written all over her face.
In the end, she could only put a thumb up to Andrew. She knew Andrew was smart all along. If only he could channel them to useful things, he would turn out to be brilliant.
“It will end as planned. After all, it was a promise I made with someone who loves Jason and deserves him more than anyone else. The sacrifice she made to make her realise her feelings shouldn't go to waste.” Ivy said with assurance, trying not to worry them both but she didn't expect herself to be betrayed by the sudden crack in her voice.
“But what about yourself? Haven't you wanted to confess? Saying what you want is better than not saying it…” Sandra urged as Ivy shook her head.
“It’s better not said…'' Ivy sighed as she blinked back her tears while both her friends sat by her side sympathising with her situation.
Sandra looked over at Andrew who both looked worriedly at Ivy. Andrew blinked his eyes to comfort Sandra who smiled a little knowing Sandra would probably want to spend more time with Ivy as he nodded.
“Ivy, stay home the whole week? I wanna stay over with you…” Sandra said as she laid her head on Ivy’s shoulder.
Ivy chuckled a little trying to hyphen the mood.
“Jason’s away till Friday… I need to take care of his house and Lucky…” Sandra lifted her head and looked at Ivy with doubts.
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“Awww… Will you be alright? Just let us know if you need company?” Sandra offered worriedly as she snuggled up to Ivy.
Ivy decided it was good enough for them to know and that she didn’t need them to worry for her. Hence, she acted strong in front of them.
“Don’t worry, I feel better after telling everything to both of you. I just need both of you to keep everything to yourself. When the time comes, we will happily leave this place and make more happy memories together!” Ivy cheered as she hung both hands over each of their shoulders.
“Well with that, let’s join a party this weekend. It’s held by one of the pretty rich seniors and invited the whole college to his family’s house. If not mistaken it’s a mansion downtown…” Andrew suggested with a wriggled eyebrow as Ivy thought it wasn’t a bad idea since Jason had blocked out the entire week to be away on business trip and she should spend more time with Andrew and Sandra too.
Ivy nodded with a huge smile. “Sure, why not! We don’t actually have half a year more before finals in fact it’s three and the last two months are meant for us to wait for results while preparing for the next course. Guess, we won't have much time left for parties after this…” Ivy squirmed with a pout which cracked Andrew and Sandra into laughter.
“Alright, alright… We shall attend the party then… Oh yes, we also have an upcoming motivation camp next month right before next month’s exam… Would you go Ivy? They said it shouldn’t be compulsory but we are encouraged to go…” Sandra explained.
“Hmmm… We shall see by then what my schedule is like… First thing first, let’s go for lunch!” Ivy urged as she took out her car keys.
Sandra and Andrew trailed behind her knowing her temporary happiness was only to distract herself and she was running away from her problems again.
“Don’t worry… Ivy always comes around to solve her issues… We will just keep an eye on her from time to time, alright?” Andrew comforted Sandra as he held her hand to ease her worries. Sandra nodded to Andrew’s suggestion before entering Ivy's car.
To avoid dampening the mood, Jason had blasted their favorite songs on the way to lunch as they sang in the car. As it was nearby, they only managed to sing two songs before Ivy parked. On the way while walking over to their favorite fast food lunch spot, they passed by an aquarium store. Ivy’s eyes twinkled with excitement as she instantly walked into it recalling her surprise gift plan for Jason.
Andrew and Sandra who were trailing behind her also end up walking into the store quizzically. “Are you looking for something?” Andrew asked Ivy whose eyes were darting around the store.
“Yes, a gift…” Ivy said as she slowly strolled around the store with eyes glued on the variety of fishes in the aquariums. She finally stopped in front of a well lit tank as she watched the pretty guppies swim in it.
In mind, she noted down to buy two as she continued to walk over the bowl tanks section and picked a few decorations along with the bowl. Sandra and Andrew stood by the cashier waiting for her as they couldn’t keep up with her pace.
“Can I have two guppies from the tank please plus these..” Ivy pushed forward her purchases at the cashier counter. The cashier nodded with a smile as she went to fetch the guppies and packed them in an oxygen filled bag before packing all her purchases and collecting the payment from her.
Ivy happily walked out of the store to lunch thereafter with Sandra and Andrew. “Who are you giving the guppies to Ivy?” Andrew teased Ivy in a playful voice although Andrew and Sandra had an idea it would be for Jason.
“Secret…” Ivy said before hastening her steps to the fast food store trying to avoid further questions from both of them. Buying the gift had lifted her mood the whole day as she quickly assembled the guppies’ home at Jason’s house after sending Andrew and Sandra to their respective home when they were all done with lunch.
As she sat at the dining table in the kitchen with the bowl of guppies, her mind wandered to Jason who hasn’t contacted her at all since last night. She shook her mind to stay positive as she patted Lucky who had just finished his lunch while texting Marcel to ask if there was anything for her to do. After waiting for a while, she decided to finish up her assignments and studied a little as she walked upstairs into her room with Lucky.
While listening to music from her ear phones, she became too engrossed in her study till late evening only to find Marcel replied a few hours back telling her there wasn’t anything for her to do and that all was fine. She was a little disappointed that Jason still hasn’t texted her as she went to prepare dinner for Lucky and herself in the kitchen lamenting on how insignificant she was after all to Jason.
She couldn’t help but wonder perhaps, this was how Nancy felt when Jason and her dated. At the thought of Nancy, she went to peep from the kitchen at the sliding door to see if she was there but Nancy wasn’t. She sighed at being back to alone again as she took her simple oatmeal dinner and walked upstairs to sit by the balcony. As she ate in the enveloping stillness of the dimly lit room, she felt her presence was overshadowed by the street lights.
“I’m back again… I don’t seem to be able to run away from you can I, my friend? Loneliness…” Ivy said out loud to herself as though she could feel the presence of loneliness surrounding her as she blinked away her sudden tear. Reality began to seep in as she began to accept the fact that she was after all an orphan and all she could do was to stay strong till she could build a better future for herself. Lucky sat by her side loyally accompanying her as the only comfort Ivy could find in her moment of solitary.