"Ivy another bouquet for you…" Ryu brought it in from the delivery man for Ivy who was reading on the couch at their grandma's house.
"Hmm… Give it to new mother down there…" Ivy said absentmindedly referring to Sandra. Ryu rolled his eyes as Ray stepped in from the glass house.
"Ms. Ophal, just up till when will you sit around and not fulfill your promise?" Ray teased as he sat next to her while she frowned in annoyance but continued reading. He tickled her right foot with his left foot as she squirmed and giggled.
"Ignoring me again?" He asked as she laughed while Ryu attempted to tickle her waist.
"Quick go on a blind date… It's no wonder Jeremy didn't want to come out 'cause you never fulfilled your promise." Ryu teased as she laughed trying to stop him.
"In your dreams… You have no idea how he is…" She shrugged her shoulders while Ryu sent her a message.
"Hmm… You go ahead by yourself. Not going." Ivy said after checking the details of the set-up date place sending the brothers chuckling.
"See carefully. You know him and it's set up by Dad. Just go." Ray urged as the brothers knew they were given a nearly impossible task.
"I will see…" She once again nonchalantly replied meaning it was highly possible she would not turn up. Hence, the brothers had no choice but to turn to their last card prepared in advance. Hazel was in charge of dressing her and Ray was chauffering her while Ryu guarded the entrance of the restaurant with his fans to ensure she stayed through the date.
Ivy laughed at herself while sipping her tea at the cafe she was forced to head to. She sighed wondering who it was she was set up with cause she had no interest at all so she only saw the name and the look of the person who was a psychology professor named Chat See Vin.
Previously, she always had many ways to dodge a date request but since this round her dad was so determined, she half hoped Ryu was right that Jeremy would agree to the release if she sat through this date. Amidst the chaos at the entrance of the cafe, a rather good-looking gentleman walked in swiftly and saw her instantly but she was busy browsing on her phone. He reached out his hand to her.
"Good to see you again, Ivy…" His charming voice was captivating but Ivy was not moved as she kept her eyes glued to her phone catching up on the news before humming in acknowledgement. When he finally sat and crossed his legs, his slender left leg caught her attention. Only then did she looked up cause she recalled the professor was not tall based on the passport-size picture she saw.
"I'm sorry who are you?" Ivy threw a look of irritation not recognising his look either which impressed him that she knew instantly it was not him whom she was supposed to meet.
"I'm filling in for your date. He couldn't make it…" He sat calmly watching Ivy roll her eyes.
"Alright, let's call it a day then…" Ivy wanted to leave only to be stopped by him with a cliche pickup line.
"Have you not a clue who am I at all?" He asked as Ivy studied him closely though he did look familiar but she still had no clue as she shook her head.
"I think I sent you a confession message somewhere in our first year of college. We went to high school together. I'm Brandon. Brandon Katswana." He introduced himself and a smile appeared on Ivy's face instantly because of his last name.
On the confession part, she briefly recalled Jason was teasing her about it but quickly shoved that memory away as her eyes sparkled on a new business opportunity. Katswana's family had been very well known in the hotel business industry and she wanted to grab the opportunity to build a rapport as she put out her hand for a handshake.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Katswana…" Ivy said flashing her trademark business smile.
"Nice to meet you too, Ivy." He ended with a gentle note while saying her name but Ivy instantly jumped into her motive, ignoring his intention to recall his sentimental memories.
"Let's face this. You know I am not interested whether it's your friend or you…" He stopped her from explaining as he raised his hand.
"Me too… I am here out of courtesy… The old memories were just helping you to recall me…" He quickly explained.
"Good… Let's keep in touch for business's sake from now on. Here's my name card." She gave him her welfare home name card and he gladly accepted it.
"So, how's business lately?" She asked him to prompt on the Katswana business position.
"Not too bad. We are diversifying into the homestay area as it's a trend lately… What about you?" The conversation was heading to a new unexpected height for Ivy as her mind went back to the old town of Manes.
"Oh I have just launched phase two of Manes' old town with an award won and the crowd is overwhelming but I have seen reports of some negative feedback related to the welfare work I am doing. Of course, it isn't related at all. I have always kept all these best interests separately…" Ivy explained with conviction and could tell Brandon was comfortable.
"Totally understand but it's the public sentiments so it's always out of control. You have very good PR after all this while." He praised while pointing at the door, indirectly referring to Ryu's fan club as she chuckled.
"My apologies for the exaggerated setup. Anyway, I have been wondering if your team would like to collaborate with any of my businesses and perhaps consider a good start by investing in Manes?" She questioned as Brandon gave it a thought and finally, he understood her motive all this while was to strike a business deal with him. He did not appreciate her devious move but the business offer was tempting.
"Definitely we could work out something…" He concluded as Ivy took another sip of her tea.
"Perfect! I will introduce Mr. Lahau to you soon…" Ivy concluded but Brandon frowned.
"It's due to the sentiments on my welfare work, so you should collaborate with the key people in the business itself. Worry not, my welfare work would not require your involvement but we always welcome charity and volunteers." She quickly explained as he was very impressed by her eloquent self.
"On See Vin, he is actually dating someone else his family did not approve. Of course, it's discreet and I thought I should at least explain this…" Brandon changed the topic quickly before he forgot again as their business conversations were getting intriguing.
Ivy shrugged nonchalantly. "Not an issue. Everyone knows about my love life too anyway. I'm surprised if he would still turn up. How's your love life like?" Ivy asked randomly as she sipped her tea. He smiled trying to admire the beauty of once his crush. "Taken as well…" He said watching her smile and switching back to their business topics. The more he stayed, the more they ended up indulging in many potential business discussions and propositions thereafter making him hard to resist leaving.
Over the next few days when Brandon's family finally gave their feedback to Peter about the date, Peter was dumbfounded to learn of Ivy's moves. Though Peter ended up nagging Ivy, he could not stop laughing off to himself for his wishful thinking with James and John during their chess play. It was another year gone and passed, John began to think it was probably time for him to step in and get Jeremy to yield to the early release bail to help Peter worry less about his gem.
4 weeks before a new year -
That's right, it's another month before the new year and it's been four years since you left, Jeremy…
And that's also how long Nick had found his happiness. I am so glad that I finally received his wedding invitation and the bride is none other than Phyllis. In this life, she is my life savior and also his. No words could express my gratitude for her.
It was better than losing another life carelessly. I wish you could come and be my date. Oh if you think I still have not gone on a date I promised you back then… I did months ago and am not going to tell you the outcome.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I don't think I have time to write again after this. Too many events! But I love you, always Jere.
Ivy got up from the desk and prepared to visit Phyllis that afternoon from the new bar in Landsfield she launched alongside Henli. She had a question in mind she had long to ask Phyllis but she had not gotten the chance to visit her much. Ivy felt bad when she arrived at her office empty-handed too but Phyllis never minded.
"Thank you for stopping by… It's been so long since I have seen you." Phyllis greeted as she poured Ivy some tea.
"I'm so sorry for coming absentmindedly without gifts. I was over-excited." Ivy apologised as she took a seat on the couch she once sat on aimlessly. She saw the flower arrangement to be violet hydrangeas.
"Not at all… We felt bad sending you the invitation by post cause we had been too busy with the preparations as well. Besides, I am training more new ones and he has been busy with the programs for the old town." Phyllis explained.
"Suitable for the occasion after all." She pointed at the vase of flowers. "Abundance and congratulatory. Congratulations indeed!" Ivy toasted with her cup of tea as Phyllis smiled proudly at Ivy.
"I'm so glad you found your path, Ivy." Phyllis praised as Ivy nodded.
"There's one thing I had not been able to sort…" Ivy started with hesitation. "Feel free to tell me. I do have time and I won't charge you." Phyllis teased as Ivy smiled.
"Remember the little world I had?" She asked as Phyllis nodded.
"It's where you said I put my loved ones in there. But there were times when I also saw my nightmares in there. Then again, I had never seen those who had wanted to harm me before… I do see some who had passed on and who were significant to me but never those who were to harm me even if they were significant…" Ivy tried to explain her best while not wanting to directly say it was Charles or Xylo she meant but Phyllis knew very well who she meant.
"That's cause the world you created in your mind is your body's defense against your mental state. It's up to you to put who you want in there and of course, it wouldn't do anything that will harm you by all means. You saw your mother trying to push you off tall buildings because it's a memory and you see her because a part of you loves her. It's different with your enemies who had no space in that world." Phyllis explained as Ivy realised it made sense.
"It's a good thing that you don't see him… or them…" Phyllis quickly corrected herself to not make Ivy uncomfortable.
"I wish I did. I wanted to try confronting and vent on him…" Ivy said absentmindedly as Phyllis reached out to her hand.
"Some things are meant to be in the past…" Phyllis comforted as Ivy smiled sadly.
"Hey, could I get your band to perform at my wedding?" Phyllis changed the topic as Ivy smiled brightly.
"Definitely! Anything for you and Nick!" Ivy cheered while looking forward to the wedding on New Year's Eve.
Ivy walked down the aisle at the beach wedding with Sandra and her baby girl, Gina on Phyllis and Nick's wedding day. Jonathan and Joseph were accompanied by Lucky and Daisy as the flower boys. Despite much training and practice, there were unavoidable mistakes that sent everyone laughing as working with animals and children can always be unpredictable.
Ivy fulfilled her promise to the couple and performed with her siblings. They even planned a surprise tribute to the Burning Ember band members who were present by playing an instrumental version of their winning song. Every band member was touched by that gesture as Ivy winked at Nick who toast to her with the other band members at the end of the song. A part of her knew she was toasting on behalf of Jason to all of them as she looked out at the pretty sunset by the beach and acknowledged the peace she felt.
That night in her paracosm….
"It was mesmerising… She walked down the aisle last and the look on Nick's face is just so unforgettable… I cannot stop myself from being jealous. And the tribute on your behalf, they were all so touched. You should have been there, Jason!" Ivy whined as Jason gently combed her hair while she lay on his lap.
"Enough whining… come have some tea and freshly baked cookies…" Her grandma's voice was heard as she pouted with a smile, feeling happy to still be able to hear her.
"Come here, darling… I made some of your favorite mung bean cake…" Permisla's voice was heard as Ivy sat up and smiled gratefully. She felt Jason's palm on her head gently patting her.
"Go… Have some… You will have your chance soon. So stop being jealous. And thank you for the gesture…" He coaxed as Ivy wanted to turn around to see him only to find herself awake in her room in Jason's house alone as the boys went to accompany Peter for the night.
She sat up and blinked away her tears. She sat by the balcony, embracing solitude while reminiscing the past she once had with Jason while missing him.
Merry Christmas 2024!