Warning: This chapter contains content that may not be suitable for some readers
As promised, Ryu brought Melody to visit Ivy when Peter was back home to rest during nighttime. Ryu ensured he sees Mr. Jin drive off before he led Melody up to Ivy’s ward.
Melody couldn’t believe how much Ivy’s physique had deteriorated from the coma. Her scars from the accident were healing but her appearance was so frailed that Melody had to force herself from crying in front of Ivy and Ryu.
Ryu too was overwhelmed as he didn't realise it’s been a long while since he came to visit Ivy ever since he was busy with his national training.
He walked closer to pat Melody’s shoulder seeing her shocked and disbelieving reaction.
“We could go if you want,” Ryu whispered as Melody shook her head and force herself to be brave as she smiled. She knew she waited for a long time for this chance. So, she was determined to stay with Ivy for a while.
She walked to Ivy’s bedside and held her hand. “Ivy… Do you remember me? I am Lily. We met during the fans' event you held for Ryu. I guess I never told you I like to be called Melody. I hope you won’t get angry that I came to see you 'cause it was me who begged Ryu to bring me to see you.” Melody tried saying it cheerfully while Ryu was moved to tears.
“I miss you, Ivy. We all do. Could you come back quickly? I have so many pictures of Ryu’s progress to show you. And you don’t have to worry about him. He has been getting along well with his fans. We all are waiting for the day for you to come and cheer him in his tournament again!” Melody smiled as she held on to Ivy’s hand while Ryu couldn’t take it and went out of the room. Melody forced herself to not break down.
“Don’t give up alright, Ivy… Promise me… You will wake soon. I promise I won’t come to disturb you if you wake soon…” Melody’s voice cracked as she couldn’t hold back her tears either. She half wished her words could have woken Ivy but she knew it was just her wishful thinking.
“I will go check on Ryu now and come see you next time if you’re not awake. I really hope I don’t have to. Ryu will be very happy if you do, Ivy.” With that, Melody rushed out of the room and went around the floor looking for Ryu who was in a hidden corner by the garden. He was squatting as he cried quietly.
It broke Melody’s heart to watch her idol cry that way as she went to his side and patted his back gently.
“Don’t worry. You have a very strong sister. She will be awake soon.” Melody comforted him as he leaned into her arms and cried.
“It’s alright. It’s alright. It must have been tough for you to endure all these alone. It must have been tough on your family too…” Melody comforted as Ryu began to calm down a little.
“Let me accompany you to visit her more often is that alright? In fact, I promised her I won’t visit her once she is awake. Meanwhile, I should visit her to bother her to wake up faster,” Melody said as she made Ryu laugh at her innocent self.
“Silly…” Ryu patted her head while sitting up. “Thank you, Melody.” Ryu hugged her as he took a moment to enjoy the comfort of her warm hug.
“We all believe that my sister will recover and that she would have wanted all of us to continue and strive for the best. That’s the will that is pushing all of us to move on with our daily life. So you…” He helped her to take a seat on the stone bench.
“...shouldn’t be too sad about it either. I am sure she will be very happy to know you have kept track of me,” He said as Melody helped to wipe away his tears. “Speak for yourself…” Melody chuckled.
Surprisingly, Ryu held her in his arm and gently pat her shoulder to comfort her. “If you would like to visit her, let me know. I will bring you again. We should bother her till she is awake.” Ryu agreed as Melody smiled and nodded.
Somehow seeing her smile made Ryu felt butterflies in his stomach. It also made him feel better. He knew something had changed, but he was still trying to deny that he had feelings for her as it wasn’t the right time to start a relationship. Instead, he was glad to have her by his side as a companion in times like this. He secretly hoped they could remain that way for a long time.
In Ivy’s paracosm, she led Jason down to the next room, number 8 as she read all his thoughts while he embraced her.
“How am I to explain to you?”
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“What should we do now?”
“Should we just go to the next room instead of room eight?”
“Or do you want to know about all that happened?”
She quietly let him go from his embrace and smiled as she led him to the room and turned the door knob. He stopped her momentarily as Ivy looked at him assuringly and nodded.
“Wait... Wait…” He said in mind as Ivy smiled comfortingly.
“Trust in me.” She said before leading him into the room.
This time, they were born as strangers just as little Jason promised back in the previous room. As Ivy catch her breath, they saw a teenager Jason walking down an empty street with a much younger Ivy on the opposite side end of the road. They crossed paths as strangers this time and she was nearly knocked down by a bicycle when the teenager Jason saved her. She had a scratch on her knee and he helped her to clean the wound at a nearby bench after he went to buy some bandages from the convenience store.
That simple gesture made Ivy smitten that she thanked him by giving him her mobile number. He was startled for a moment as Ivy forced it into his hand.
“Thank you for saving me. I’m rushing for time. Call me and I will treat you in return.” Ivy smiled before rushing off.
Jason at present thought to himself that at least there wasn’t any tragedy perhaps this round. However, he concluded a little too early as the scene then changes to a dark alley where the teenager Jason was punched and knocked down with Ivy’s number dropped out from his pocket.
The bullies then called her number to extort her money in exchange for his safety. The teenage Ivy panicked as she worried for him but being smart, Ivy coaxed herself to be calm and collected as she marched into a police station and made a police report. She instructed the team of policemen to follow her to the scene as she attempt to save her savior.
True enough, her smartness managed to save Jason who was heavily injured. When he regained consciousness, Ivy was very delighted by his side.
“You’re awake! I am so glad!” Ivy said as Jason was a little flabbergasted. “Where am I?” He said.
“The hospital. I saved you. By the way where are your parents?” Ivy asked as Jason recalled the entire bully and shook his head as his expression turned into cold stone.
“I’m an orphan. Thank you for saving me. You can now leave me alone. We are even.” Jason said as Ivy felt a little hurt but she knew he was rejecting her help to avoid troubling her. She had already set her mind to being by his side from the first time he saved her and to now knowing that he too was an orphan. So what’s there to lose for two orphans to count on each other?
She lifted his face to face her. “I am an orphan too. And I am staying here to take care of my savior till you recover.” Jason was speechless at her sudden bold actions.
The scene then changed to her riding a bicycle and heading to a shabby home where Jason lived at that time. She cared for him daily till he recovered but as though they had anticipated his recovery, the bullies came again. This time, she stood bravely in front of them defending Jason.
Only then did she learn that the bullies were always extorting money from Jason and taking advantage of him. Little did she know that in the day when she fought them, her demise arrived that night. The bullies wanted to teach them a lesson and came to burn down Jason’s house with the both of them trapped in it.
“Wake up Jason! Wake up! Run! Run! Now!” Ivy screamed as she jolt Jason from his sleep and smashed a window for him to slip out. She was quickwitted to notice the smoke was from the main entrance of the house earlier and the only safe way to get out was by the window.
As Jason turnaround wanting to help her out of the window, he panic as he watched how fast the fire caught up to the roof which was flaring and before he knew it, the entire roof collapsed directly onto her. Jason managed to slip out the window and stumbled to the road as he frantically ran to the main entrance of the burning house trying to save Ivy only to no avail. The firefighters stopped him from barging into the flaring house as they put out the fire while he wailed for them to save her. When the fire was finally put out, the firefighters carried Ivy’s burnt body out from the scene and she was pronounced dead.
“Ivy!! No!! Don’t go! I will love you as you wanted, alright?! Come back! Ivyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!” Jason wailed and cried out full of regret as he held her in his arms.
The present Ivy began to recall the same feeling where she had once felt the same agony as though she had watched the scene many times. She held her heart trying to endure the piercing pain as Jason supported her from behind. Jason couldn’t stop himself from crying watching her sacrificing for him again.
“Jason… If it’s my destiny to protect you. I will always do it willingly. So, all you should do is to live happily and that will suffice for me.” Ivy said in his embrace as Jason kissed her to seal the deal.
“You do the same too when I protect you.” He said in mind while they kissed as Ivy's tears trickled by the side of her eyes.
This time Ivy didn’t want to open her eyes, hoping the moment stopped in time but her last bit of memories and feelings were all flowing into the pouch Jason was carrying. Jason could tell the amount was increasing as Ivy remained her eyes closed.
“Ivy, you’re alright?” Ivy heard his thoughts as she scrambled to hold his hand.
“I …” The moment she began to talk, she realise she couldn’t recall a thing or feel a thing anymore. She opened her eyes to stare at Jason with that lost look and Jason knew what to do as he led her to the next room without question.
“Let’s hang on and head into these last three rooms alright?” Jason said in his mind as Ivy looked into his eyes to seek assurance before nodding in agreement.
Jason opened the next door number four this time but instead of having them both enter together, Ivy was transported out to the lobby instantly. She sat by the door, spacing out being very lost and confused as she struggled to recall what had happened.