The next few days, it was Ivy’s second therapy session with Phyllis. Cassandra volunteered to send her to Phyllis’ office. This time Phyllis changed the flower to peonies.
Ivy had grown very close with Daisy and insisted on bringing Daisy to accompany her when they were about to enter Phyllis’ office. She refused to let Cassandra take Daisy’s leash. Phyllis, upon noting Ivy’s unspoken request, instantly welcomed Daisy into the office to sit by the couch with Ivy while Cassandra waited outside for them. Phyllis purposely made the seat facing the window where the vase of peonies was.
“I see you have brought a friend today, Ivy. Do you want to tell me its name?” Phyllis asked as Ivy could feel the urge to speak but still decided to remain quiet. It was because she felt a lump in her throat when she was reminded of Lucky.
“Or perhaps write it down for me using the oil pastel here?” Phyllis directed her attention to the oil pastel and blank papers in front of her.
To Phyllis’s surprise, Ivy moved to pick a yellow oil pastel and wrote Daisy in a lazy cursive handwriting on the blank paper before she sat back. Ivy then noticed the vase of peonies while she subconsciously gently caressed Daisy’s fur. The vibrant deep maroon coupled with the soft violet color of the peonies relaxed Ivy even more as Ivy smiled a little.
Phyllis noticed her improvements as she too smiled. “Do you know, every flower has its own meaning and its color tells different meanings?”
Ivy was curious but remained quiet as she still couldn't bring her voice out. She continued to enjoy the beauty of the peonies while caressing Daisy’s fur.
“Peonies are flowers of hope. Violet represents uniqueness and positivity which is who you are.” Phyllis said as Ivy’s eyes darted to the violet ones.
“Maroon represents love and passion… But in this case, it’s honor and respect.” Ivy’s eyes darted to the maroon ones as they twinkled sadly, understanding Phyllis’s meaning.
“Ivy, there's life and death. It’s part and parcel of the world we live in. It's alright to grieve for the dead but the ones living must keep carrying on, Ivy.” Phyllis reached out to Ivy’s hands.
“As you honor and respect Jason who had left, at the same time he would want you to strive for what you had wanted.” Ivy teared up almost instantly as though waiting for this moment. Ivy felt as though her confusion was finally getting some clarity when Phyllis pushed on to talk about Jason and his departure.
“Keep that hope alive in your heart, Ivy. You’re almost there. You’re close to the end of the tunnel. Cry when you feel like it. Smile all you want and don’t be afraid to think about Jason. Slowly, bit by bit, think about the good times first and the happiest moments you had with him.” Phyllis explained as Ivy continued to tear up remembering one by one of her dreams that she promised to Jason.
From changing law faculty to business faculty.
From thinking she was an orphan to receiving a loving family.
From being a rebellious girl who always loves debates to a fighter who wants to defend his business and also her grandma’s.
From helping her with her studies to getting her to learn different work experiences during her internship and even learning how to waltz.
Only then did she realise Jason’s discreet ways of pushing her out of her boundaries from all the arguments and so-called bully sessions as she thought back then but in actual fact, he was nurturing her endurance and comfort level to expand.
Ivy finally let out all of the grief as she sobbed with Phyllis while Daisy whined by her side. Ivy regretted not appreciating those moments when he was around. Instead, it was too late to even thank him anymore now.
Phyllis could tell Ivy was beginning to accept the reality and they were only on their second session. She knew Ivy had a strong will and couldn’t wait for her to progress toward acceptance sooner than she expected.
Before leaving for Manes for the weekend training that afternoon, Ryu was thinking about whether he should bring Melody to visit Ivy as she had been asking about Ivy’s condition. Ryu walked over to the balcony and snuggled with Ivy as Ivy let herself relax in Ryu’s embrace.
“Sis… When you weren’t around, so many things happened. I used to be so afraid of my fans but now, with Melody around, I have been interacting a lot much better.” Ryu updated as Ivy kept quiet. She was still sorting out her thoughts from the morning session with Phyllis.
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“Ivy, would you mind if I bring Melody to visit you?” Ivy continued to keep quiet at his question.
“She had been keeping track of my activities and visited you while you were in a coma. She cares a lot about you. She even told you if you don't wake up, she will keep visiting you and would only stop when you're awake. But now… I felt bad for her… She misses you." Ryu said as he took Ivy’s phone and scrolled to his fan’s page. Ivy was a little moved by what she just heard but she still couldn't bring herself to say anything.
“Look here. You get to catch up with what happened to me. All thanks to her.” Ryu said as Ivy shifted to look at the picture of Ryu attempting to make a shot. It made her relax a little but Ryu noticed the time and he was running late to catch his flight.
“Sis, I need to leave for Manes for training in a while. Ray would make a trip tonight to see you. Don’t miss me too much, alright? If you do, you could look at these pictures.” Ryu said, trying to act normal after failing to get some response from Ivy.
At that moment, Ivy surprised him by taking her phone and scrolling through the pictures slowly. She could see all his fans’ encouragement cheering on Ryu to do his best and there was always a note at the last line praying for herself to wake up soon. She paused on a picture of Melody holding on to a strawberry ice cream where Melody made an appreciation post after getting a treat from Ryu.
Ivy smiled and Ryu noticed it. “It’s when I first met her when I caught her approaching me. It was so scary, Ivy!” Ryu explained that it made Ivy give a like on the picture on social media.
It sure was going to garner a lot of attention as Ryu didn’t know to be mad or happy that Ivy finally was giving signs of response he had always anticipated. He just didn’t expect her first response to him after so long was to pull a trick on him knowing it was the scariest experience for him to have fans who genuinely like him.
“Ivy…” Ryu smiled as he held her hand and then she intertwined them together and smiled too.
Ryu hugged Ivy as he forced himself to not cry. “Oh Ivy, thank you for making it! I love you even if you want to prank me, I don’t care! We all do love you!” Ryu let her go as Ivy smiled again watching his teary eyes.
“Come watch me soon in my tournaments and training! Help me keep my fans at peace please…” Ryu whined as Ivy smiled even more before Ryu hugged her tightly this time and sobbed. Peter watched the siblings for a moment before gently chasing Ryu to rush for time to catch his flight to Manes.
As Ivy continued to sit by the balcony with Daisy that evening when Ryu left, she somehow felt like she was looking forward to seeing Ray after knowing that he was going to visit her that night. She missed his warm strong hugs and he was the one who made her feel like she had someone she could rely on despite her being the eldest. As Peter was busy in the kitchen preparing dinner, their house’s service lift rang, and they unexpectedly had Sandra and Andrew come by to visit instead.
Peter exchanged greetings with the couple before leading them to the balcony. He then left the trio alone. Sandra’s heart broke at the sight of her cheerful friend who used to be so strong even after she lost her grandmother. Sandra knew Jason’s death must have had a serious impact on her. Andrew patted Sandra’s shoulder to comfort her as though knowing what was on Sandra’s mind. With them both starting a little on psychology lectures lately, they both could roughly gauge the severity of Ivy’s condition.
“Ivy, have you been well?” Sandra asked as she couldn’t help but tear up. She crouch in front of Ivy who was emotionless although Ivy could feel a glimpse of happiness seeing her friends again in her heart.
“We miss you, Ivy… Thank you for returning…” Andrew said sincerely and it was very rare to hear Andrew’s goofy self be serious as he held Ivy’s hand while crouching in front of her.
“We have been well. Don’t worry about us. I promised you before that I will take good care of Sandra and I still am. We are attending psychology classes these days and it’s the beginning of a new semester. We hope to bump into you in college when you start your business faculty, Ivy.” Andrew said as Ivy teared up when she heard business faculty. It’s been on her mind the entire day after she realised it was always a dream Jason had nurtured her for.
Ivy recalled that the decision to pursue business and forgo law was not just because of her family but also because of Jason and the family business merger. As Ivy sobbed in Sandra’s arms, Ivy began to recall one by one the past that she had suddenly forgotten.
The successful business merger between the Ophals and Rahi.
The fallout she had with Jason over the merger only to realise he had been skeptical because he was afraid of losing her.
The act they put to contain Nancy’s overreaction and her depression which ended up being the cause of their deaths.
His countless effort trying to confess to her but again he was afraid of losing her if he did.
Ivy could no longer bring herself to reminisce further at this point.
“Ivy, don’t give up, please. You still have us.” Sandra pulled her away from their embrace and looked at her who was still tearing up while holding onto her heart.
“You still have a legacy that Jason left behind,” Sandra said as Andrew tapped lightly on Sandra’s shoulder to indicate to her not to push too much.
“We are waiting for you to return and fight. Could you promise me you will hurry?” Sandra asked in the midst of her tears as both ladies continued to hug each other as they cried.
Andrew stood gently caressing both of their heads to comfort both ladies while Daisy obediently sat by the ladies and whined sadly. Andrew finds himself missing Jason’s presence too. The reason they all felt so impacted by his death was that he had been a significant figure in their life during their first year of college which was a brand-new experience for all of them. Besides, Jason also slowly introduced them into the workforce which was entirely a huge gap for them to embrace.
Now that he was gone so suddenly and in such a tragic way, it took a toll on everyone and the worse was Ivy as she had been ceaselessly blaming herself. Not only because of his death but also for failing to stay away from Nancy and triggering her. Andrew and in fact everyone, hope Ivy could endure this arduous journey of her mental health.