Stranger's Strange Possessiveness

**

[PAST]

Neither did Marina turn out to be a psycho nor a serial killer.

That impromptu meeting had been the best thing to occur for both of them. Often, if she wasn't watching tutorials on making beads, she enjoyed strolling at the beach. In addition, the beach provided some tranquility to her that she didn't fathom most of the time. But alas! It was way better as from the looks of things; it was deserted most of the time.

Her invitation towards Ivy had been weird, and yet she didn't find it that was at all. Seriously, who invites some strangers you meet at the beach? Fortunately, they shared the same feeling toward each other. If Ivy asked her to run toward the fire with her, she would have done so.

Marina hadn't lied, as they reached Marina's condo, which took Ivy by surprise, she asked her if she was comfortable and even provided some refreshments.

Small talks had never been their forte but they found themselves talking about the campus, Marina was ahead of Ivy and they were doing the same course. Happily, Ivy asked her if she would be her friend. Hesitatingly, Marina left while asking why she asked that, and yet she was her beta. Again, Ivy let that slide. Unknowingly if it was subconsciously or consciously.

After that day, Ivy's stay in the new country got better. Somedays, she couldn't wait for the class to finish so she would meet up with Marina. She even made friends from her class, she informed Marina and the reaction she got hadn't been what she expected. "You are my beta, you shouldn't make other friends."

Before she asked again what the term meant, her friends came to her room and asked if they would go swimming. One look at Marina and she knew she couldn't. Politely, she declined and was left behind perturbed as to why she had the huge need to obey Marina. They spent the rest of the day making beads, and the following day when Ivy met her friends, one of them nonchalantly stated "you two are fucking."

"What do you mean?" Confused Ivy asked.

"The girl you were with yesterday, her eyes never left your face, and while her right hand was glued around your waist, her left hand seemed ready to smack us if we pushed." Her friend explained with a surprised tone.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Ivy said with finality in her tone making her friends stop asking.

Her interest grew after Marina almost slapped a barista for spilling coffee on her shoe, Ivy Tanner swore inside her head it was just a droplet. Only for Marina to make it a big deal.

And that was only the beginning.

One year later, with her friends' questions still lingering inside her head, Marina asked her to move in. No, it wasn't fear, but she couldn't bring herself to ask Marina. Moreso, she was waiting for Marina to pull her and kiss the hell out of her, Ivy Tanner wouldn't have minded at all. She only had to deal with her brother's constant's need to be updated on what was happening with her mysterious bestie.

It got worst, Marina became overbearing, and at times Ivy felt suffocated. If Marina wasn't asking her what she needed, she was pulling the door for her. Hell, she even asked Ivy not to cook as she didn't want even a drop of oil to splash on her beta. No miracle worker was needed, Ivy concluded, Marina has fallen for her. "Are you in love with me?" Ivy asked one day.

"What? No. Why would you think that?"

That had been a shocker, for someone who had been studying Marina's body language, she sure as hell knew what she saw. Yeah, she wasn't a mind reader, but seriously, had everyone been seeing their shit? Marina kissed Ivy's nose and whispered, "you are my beta, Ivy Tanner. If it is love, I cherish you."

The explanation was vague but it was something to clear up the confusion she had for a year.

During the break, Marina went home and so did Ivy. Weird things happened after Marina returned, she always looked at a far distance. As if she wasn't hovering over Ivy enough, she got more possessive. Strangely, Ivy never asked.

Marina finished school, graduated, and left. Leaving behind Ivy with endless questions.

During breaks, Ivy returned home, searched Marina, and turned empty-handed. Weird! She too finished college and flew back to her home country with two things in mind, get an internship position and start looking up and down for Marina even if it meant scrapping the whole internet throughout the night.

Emptiness filled her soul as she filled in the internship positions online, she received an invitation email which she had checked late. "Better late than sorry." Her mother had told her and she hurriedly prepared. Reaching there, she apologized to the receptionist and was allowed to get in. She was shocked but didn't complain.

Eyes glued on the paper on her hand, deep lines on her forehead showing how deep she was into whatever she was reading, there she was, Marina Mabel Fisher, Ivy's long-lost possessive friend. The handbag felt with a thud, making Marina raise her head. Their eyes met, and no one would have stopped Ivy. She sprinted and jumped onto Marina while screaming how heartbroken she was she left her and never checked on her.

Getting no response from Marina, Ivy let go, "Marie, it is me."

Marina moved backward, "the who now?"

"Ivy Tanner."

"Oh." Realization hit Marina. Slapping the paper on the table, Ivy stared at her with eagerness on her face. "Sit Miss Ivy."

Quitely and bewildered, she lowered herself to the chair. Wishing Marina would laugh at her face saying she was joking. Well, wishes and wishes, nothing like that happened, "Ivy Tanner, tell me about yourself."

The interview began with Ivy's awkwardness shooting way up, screwing the interview from the beginning. The interview ended and she left with tail between her legs, knowing she lost a great opportunity and a friendship that had died long ago.

Two days later, while crying in her bed, cussing herself over and over about why she didn't nail the interview, she received a call, the job was hers.

The first week had been weird, Marina kept staring at her, digging holes in her back, when Ivy couldn't take it anymore, she asked and only got, "my beta, it is not bad to stare. I need your help at a meeting tomorrow."

A guy played a joke on Ivy, stating she looked more like a janitor than a personal assistant. And before anyone would register anything, Marina was glaring at the man with smoke coming out of her ears. Just like that, the possessiveness returned and the friendship that halted a few years back picked up where they left off.

Ivy became her most trusted employee, and the more Marina became obsessed with her, the more it intrigued her. Ivy got mad one day when she walked upon some employees gossiping about Marina, for the first time, her instincts kicked in and she reprimanded the employees for doing so.

It was the beginning of her need to protect Marina.

**