Chapter 21.2: A mission

"Ohhhh I am so happy! I am nearly finishing my exams and Ms. Ivy decided to treat me to ice cream! What a great catch!" Andrew cheered while skipping around as Ivy smiled watching his usual traits return. She pondered if she should tell Andrew yet about Sandra's relationship.

Andrew noticed Ivy was usually quiet and something was not right as he tried to pry. "So, tell me… What's up? What are you trying to trade with me for ice cream?" Andrew smirked while Ivy chuckled.

"Nothing… just to celebrate the end of my exams for the month…" Ivy cheered but accidentally dropped her ice cream spoon. "Oh man!" Ivy whined while Andrew laughed.

"How clumsy of you?" Andrew teased while Ivy decided to lick from the container and had some stain on her nose which made Andrew laugh even more. She knew he would and was glad to see him that way as she continued to make funny faces.

When they calmed down, they sat by the bench at the park they walked past before reaching home.

"So, how's things with Jason?" Andrew asked casually while he passed his spoon to her upon finishing his ice cream. "No, it's alright. It's melting so I drink it instead…" Ivy smiled trying to ignore his first question.

"So… Jason?" Andrew pestered on the topic. Ivy sighed. "The same… I haven't spoken or heard from him since Saturday night…" Ivy pouted as she reminded herself to think of ways to resolve the matter since she would be seeing him tomorrow.

"So, how's revision with Sandra lately?" Ivy asked, trying to change the topic while they enjoyed the breeze. Andrew was taken aback as he was weary with Ivy bringing up Sandra and decided to be careful with his answers to not give himself away but he couldn't help but to wonder if he should clarify with her on his doubts.

"Ivy, can I ask you something about Sandra?" Andrew asked as Ivy nodded.

"Is she seeing someone?" Andrew asked without hesitation, which was also what Ivy had expected and prepared herself for.

"Not that I am aware of. Why? Do you know any insights? Oh ho… or are you jealous cause you actually like her?" Ivy teased but didn't expect Andrew to admit it.

"Yes… but I can't seem to bring up the courage to confess to her. What if she doesn't feel the same and what if in future it didn't work out? What will happen to the three of us? Our friendship is more worthwhile than the confession… But…" Andrew sighed as Ivy patted his shoulder knowing Sandra was right to not tell him about her relationship with Jeremy.

"Take it easy, Andrew… Time to grow up and think it through…" Ivy comforted him. "How come you aren't upset?" Andrew asked.

"Me? Upset? For what? I'm glad you like her. I know she will be in good hands when she is with you. So I suggest, take it slow and talk it out with her only when you're sure yourself." Ivy advised while Andrew pondered as they both sat in the serenity of the breeze pondering on their own problems at hand. Ivy wondered how Nancy was doing and somehow, she caught herself missing Jason. She shrugged the thought away thinking she must have thought too much about their fake relationship.

Jason had been checking on her every night discreetly by the winding road corner. He was worried she would have nightmares every night that he sent Lucky to accompany her. He would leave when he saw the table lamp from her room's window was lit. He began to accept her idea of recruiting Nancy after he spoke with Nick who informed him that Nancy's psychiatrist suggested for Nancy to have a fixed routine to keep her mind occupied. He decided to make up for his mistake with a surprise dinner for Ivy on Thursday night considering he would be busy with the setup of the two weekend events at the respective event venues that he wouldn't stay in the office to meet her.

After Ivy sent Lucky home on Thursday morning, she focused on helping Ann with the month-end filing and closure of monthly accounts. The entire team in the office were at the event venues except for Ann and herself. She wondered if he arranged this in such a way to avoid meeting her and her suspicions grew when Ann passed her urgent documents for his signature which was needed by tomorrow.

When evening came, she dreaded the idea of meeting him but she had sent Lucky home and he might be home too late to feed Lucky. For the sake of Lucky, she forced herself to drive to his home and told herself to leave the documents on his table with a note after feeding Lucky and leave immediately. She decided it would be a good idea to come back again the next morning to check on Lucky and collect the documents instead.

However, the moment she reached, she saw his car parked at the porch and had no choice but to finally meet him due to the urgent documents. She told herself to quickly pass them to him and leave but instead a surprise was awaiting her.

Ivy unlocked the door to Jason's house and stepped into a room filled with mac and cheese aroma wafting. She was never fond of surprises as she raised an eyebrow walking past some lighted candles on the dining table. The smell of mac and cheese wafting was tempting and making her stomach growl as Lucky pounced on her.

While carrying Lucky and walking towards the living room, she squinted her eyes as she turned around to look at Jason in the dark house, who was folding his arms while standing crossed leg by the kitchen door. She scolded herself for not leaving the documents on the table and leave but instead played with Lucky and is half worried Jason was still upset.

"Surprise!" He winked.

"You know I despise surprises… what's all this about?" She put down Lucky on the ground and her bag and keys by the side table of the sofa in the living room. He walked over closer enough for her to hear him whisper. "She's here. It's a show." Ivy became tense for a moment, recalling she was indeed, after all, in an act with him for Nancy.

"Aren't you my girlfriend after all? What's wrong with a dinner date?" He teased as he eyed the curtain behind her before slipping his arm to her waist and guiding her to the dinner table.

Ivy being quick witted quickly put on an act. "Well then, a dinner date shall we?" She winked as he led her to the table but stopped midway. Jason, seeing Nancy was watching them decided to add on more acts. He stared into Ivy's eyes. "I miss you…" Ivy's eyes widened at his words as though he meant it. She could feel her heart was resonating to his words as he kissed her forehead before leading her to the dining table. In the midst of being stunned, Ivy felt butterflies in her stomach as she struggled to calm and assured herself that it was only an act.

He went into the kitchen top to grab the bouquet of irises he bought with the ingredients and handed them to her.

"Thank you…" She was taken by surprise again at his detailed preparation. The smell of the irises wafted at the dining table, reminding her of the fields of irises by her grandma's cottage which she had placed her dearly in her dreams.

"How did you know?" She asked quizzically while inhaling the scent of the irises.

"Know what?" He asked as he took a seat opposite her.

She pointed to the bouquet. "That I like irises?"

He wanted to tell her it was the dreams she always told him about but was worried it might trigger anything to upset her.

"Secret." He smiled as he dug into his meal while she snarled at him.

"Thanks anyway, I'm touched." She winked indicating it was an act as she took her first mouth of mac and cheese.

"Do you like it?" He asked as she nodded.

"I was afraid you wouldn't…" She couldn't help but smile. "You're a great cook!" She complimented as she raised her glass of water to toast with him.

"I'm sorry…" He whispered before he clanked his glass of water to accommodate to her act which caught her by surprise. "I'm sorry too…" She smiled and quickly whispered in return. "You don't have to … We will talk later…" He whispered as she nodded and continued eating.

"Are classes doing well?" He asked while switching topics as he peeped at the shadow behind the curtain who was seated on his backyard chair and table. Ivy held onto his left hand to stop him as he stared at her with a burrowed forehead. She shook her head to indicate stop peeping.

"Classes are fine… In fact there are several issues I wanted to discuss with you over tutoring later. Perhaps over some cuddling too…" She giggled as she took a mouth full of mac and cheese. Her eyes were trying to signal to him not to worry.

He understood her silent gestures as he played along to her well thought verbal act. "Sure… It's a dinner date after all..." He teased as he chuckled.

"Finish up then I will start cuddling…" He said as he finished up the last bit of mac and cheese on his plate.

"I will do the dishes so you can shower. By then it would be just nice timing." She offered.

He paused thinking for a moment before agreeing. Before he could tell her, the sound of thunder interrupted him. "You should shower too. Stay the night. I will send you to the office tomorrow."

She was pondering on his suggestion but was also worried for Nancy who was outside by the backyard and definitely would be under the rain in no time.

He noticed her worried face as he walked over and held onto her free arm. His sudden gesture by her side, startled her from her thoughts as he patted her to signal her not to worry. She smiled and nodded but in her mind, she couldn't get over it. Every gesture he put on felt so surreal that she couldn't differentiate which was an act anymore.

"Oh yes, there are also documents for you to sign which Ann needs it tomorrow…" At the back of her mind, Ivy tried to clear her conscience by getting back to serious business. "I know…" Jason whispered before kissing her head and left for shower.

Instead of clearing her conscience, Ivy seemed to get more confused as she washed the last bit of crockery and cleared the table. The rain started to pour heavily as she looked at the sliding door's direction and quickly prepared a glass of warm milk instead. She took her favorite butter cookies from her bag to place a few pieces on a plate. She went to the guest room and took a blanket. She even thought a book would be a good distraction as she randomly took a thrilling crime novel from her reading collection in the guest room and quickly placed everything in a tray.

Once she was satisfied with everything she assembled, she packed the rubbish and used it as an excuse to deliver the tray of goodies to Nancy who was fuming by the backyard and was stuck due to the rain. She remembered to put on Jason's thick coat hanging by the side of the door to protect herself from the rain.