Chapter 26.2: I do not want to wake from the sweetness of this dream
A text message came from his friend asking where he was for their breakfast gathering. He wanted to reject them but was reminded he should pack lunch for Ivy that he cleaned up himself and left for the restaurant after arranging for Marcel to pick up Lucky.
"Hey bro! Alone? Where's your girlfriend?" His friend, Alfred, who was the groom last night, asked.
"She isn't well and is resting. I can't stay long for breakfast in fact. I am here to pack for her." Jason explained as Nick stood and approached him.
"Is she alright?" Nick asked with concern as Jason nodded.
"She caught a cold and is having a fever. I have given her some fever tablets. Hoping she would recover a little to take the flight later…" Jason explained with worries as Nick patted his shoulder.
"Otherwise, you can just change the flight to tomorrow?" Nick suggested as Jason nodded.
A waitress came to Jason with a packet of porridge as Jason excused himself and went back to the room.
Ivy was sniffing and coughing as she sat up in bed.
"Hey…" She greeted followed by a sneeze.
"Oh dear… Are you alright?" Jason quickly gave her more tissues and helped her wipe her runny nose as he sat by the bed.
"Hmmm… A little…" She smiled but he was still worried seeing her pale face.
"Let's fly tomorrow so that you can rest?" Jason said.
"No… Don't. Let's fly today as planned. I am fine…" Ivy pleaded while holding on to his hand trying to convince him. He gave up holding her back as he made a trade with her.
"In return, finish this porridge…" He said while unpacking. Ivy grunted and rolled in bed in protest as she hid herself under the blanket.
"Indeed she dislikes eating when she is sick…" Jason thought to himself in surprise, half amused at her reaction.
"You're so strange… Who doesn't eat when they are sick? How are you going to get the energy to recover?" Jason nagged as Ivy smiled under the blanket but didn't barge.
Jason waited patiently for her next move but instead decided to threaten her.
"If you don't eat, we are flying tomorrow…" That made Ivy guilty as she sat up in bed with a pout while Jason fed her. He noticed she would grimace each time after he fed her as though she was in a lot of pain as he passed her a bottle of water.
"Is it too dry at the throat?" Jason guessed as she nodded while drinking half of the water from the bottle.
"Next time drink more water before a meal when you're sick. That way, you won't feel uncomfortable from eating… it would be worse if you don't eat." Jason went on nagging.
"I will just sleep then I won't be hungry." She retaliated which took Jason by surprise.
"I wonder if you're really sick. You could still argue with me…" He teased as he fed her another scoop of porridge. She smacked him to tease him.
"What's that for?" He asked as she put her tongue out and laughed.
"Quick.. finish up a few more scoops and we will be home to see Lucky. Sandra called to say he is a little sad. So I have arranged for Marcel to pick him home…" Jason explained as he watched Ivy's tired pale face grow livelier in glee at the sound of Lucky.
She even snatched the plastic bowl of porridge and finished up by herself as Jason went to pack up.
"Indeed like Sandra said… She is a child when she is sick…An adorable one…" He told himself as he continued to pack and got ready to head to the airport with Nick and Nancy who came into the room not long after Ivy finished up her porridge.
Despite recovering a little, Ivy still felt weak and every time they had a chance to sit, she couldn't help but to fall asleep in Jason's arm. Jason was watching over her worriedly that even Nancy lent Ivy a scarf when she was asleep in the plane.
This time Nancy and Nick sat the seats in front of them and they would occasionally turn around to check if Ivy woke up only to find her soundly asleep in Jason's arm.
Ivy stirred a little when the plane was having a slight turbulence. It made her stomach flip as she opened her eyes to catch Jason watching the skies outside the window intently.
"What are you thinking of?" Ivy asked as she turned around to face the window and saw the breathtaking view of sunset.
"Nothing… just how peaceful it is up here with such a view…" Jason said as they both enjoyed the view of the sun setting on the horizon.
"Wow…" She said as she moved closer to the window pane. She let out a sneeze as the air-conditioner was blowing at her.
Jason passed her some tissues and turned off the air-conditioner.
"There, there.. Can you be more careful? You're still sick…" Jason nagged and with that her stomach grumbled.
She sniffed as she giggled which eased his anger easily. He waved at the stewardess to order food for her.
She noticed Nancy turned around to check on her. Nancy waved at her as Ivy sniffed and noticed she was wearing Nancy's scarf. Ivy wanted to take it off and return to her but Nancy waved at her to stop her.
"Keep it on… You need it…" Nancy smiled and turned around in her seat. Ivy noticed Jason was still trying to get the attention of the stewardess.
"It's alright. I still have some buns." She dragged a bag of cranberry bun and munched on them while she watched the sunset.
"You know, what if sunset is actually sunrise and sunrise is actually sunset?" She randomly came up with a theory.
"Did you have a fever so high that you are having permanent brain damage?" Jason asked as Ivy giggled.
"Why are you always so serious? Can't you just let me spew my nonsense awhile?" She coughed a little as he offered her a bottle of water in front of her. Next to it was her fever medication which Jason popped out two pills and let her swallow.
"Then you should be awake instead of sleeping again after your medication?" Jason played along as he tucked her close to him so that she could still watch the sunset.
"Hmmm… Some people's body clocks worked that way. I used to after grandma left me…" Ivy said as her mind wandered back to grandma who watched her dance the ember dance with Phoenix in her dream. Her thoughts went on to think about her parents and remembered what Jason said last night.
"Oh yeah… You said something about looking for my father last night… Have you been searching for him?" Ivy whispered not wanting Nick or Nancy to hear about it. Jason was surprised as he slowly recalled he must have said out loud his thoughts before falling asleep when he was high.
"Ivy… It's…" Jason tried to explain but Ivy stopped him. "It would be too hard on you. Besides, you have a lot to do on your plate now in the office. Don't waste time on this alright?" She patted his head and turned to continue enjoying the sunset view.
"It felt so good to be up here with you… I just wish these moments wouldn't end, you know. Just you, me, the skies and sunset and no one to bother or bug me over the phone. It's just so… peaceful…" Ivy was mumbling away while watching the sunset in his arms, slowly drifting back to sleep.
"Then, would you please be my girlfriend?" Jason whispered his question which was half a joke which made Ivy fly open her eyes. She turned around and smacked him.
"Are you crazy? Your love rival is in front… You know perhaps you should seriously consider giving her a chance again… Everyone has their own timeline. Give her some time… She will get by… Perhaps by then you will like her again?" Ivy mumbled at his ear so close that Jason couldn't resist kissing her cheeks. Ivy turned around to watch the sunset after snarling at him for kissing her.
"Delusional…" He teased her as he smiled pondering on her words.
"If I am delusional, then you're beyond words can describe a sort of sound mind fella." Ivy giggled.
"Just how can a sick person talk so much?" Jason pinched the tip of her nose.
"That's because I am mumbling… Oh, so if this sunset is at sunrise then the sun rises from the west. Wow, that would be so amazing…" She continued her theory again.
"Someday, you should just be a psychologist might as well… You're so good at manipulating facts and twist them as though they are real. A psychologist needs such skills." Jason praised.
"So rare to hear you sing praises of me… Hmm, maybe. Maybe not. Besides, my science subjects aren't that great. It's gonna be tough to fight my way in psychology. Perhaps law would still be what I do best." She lamented.
"Silly girl… Whoever said you need to do it right after foundation in college? You could always study it in the future when you're a lawyer and perhaps would like a career switch then have a double degree. By then, they would just see your first degree results. Anything is possible, especially for you. You just need to focus and put your mind into doing it. Just like playing the drums." He explained as he rubbed the tip of her nose while her eyes were closing to sleep.
She managed to giggle before stealing a quick peck on Jason's cheek which was just inches away. It took Jason by surprise but by the time he looked down at her, she had drifted to sleep. He smiled as he returned her kiss on her forehead.
Sometimes he wondered if they were constantly on interlude acting as a couple that they had grown comfortable with each other and all these petty actions didn't bother them much anymore. He told himself to control his feelings and ensure he was just treating her as an acting girlfriend. Besides, he was bound to reveal her identity soon to her father and by then, she might hate him for being selfish.
When they landed, she once again was awoken by a rough landing and fumbled her way through the aisle before they saw Marcel waiting for them at the arrival hall.
She was too drowsy when they got into the car but didn't fail to greet Marcel cheerfully and caught up with him on his days as she patted Lucky who was sitting on the front seat.
She sat in between the two front seats behind facing the air-conditioning.
"Has it been raining? Was it always this gloomy these days?" Before Marcel could reply Ivy moved on excitedly to her next topics.
"Oh, you know there was such a pretty sunset up in the sky earlier. I can't get used to the gloomy days here now. There was so much seafood to eat too. You should have come with us on every trip. It will be so fun!" Ivy chirped as she sniffed from her runny nose occasionally.
"Yes, Miss." Marcel replied.
"Oh stop being formal would you? I don't pay your salary. He does." She pointed at Jason who was partly enjoying her tormenting Marcel and was also annoyed at her for doing so.
"Just call me Ivy please." Ivy instructed as she patted Lucky.
"Yes Miss Ivy…" She pouted. "Marcel! Ivy. Try saying just that."
"Ivy." Marcel said quickly to please her.
"There.. Perfect! Call me that from now on alright?" She giggled as Marcel nodded and Jason shook his head in disbelief.
Ivy sneezed a few times but it didn't stop her from continuing their conversation as she continued to sit in the same position. Marcel had to turn the air conditioner higher as Jason nodded from the rear mirror agreeing to him to increase the temperature.
"Sorry, sorry. You didn't have to turn the air-conditioning higher. It will be too warm for both of you." Ivy said as she stood a little to tilt herself closer to the air-conditioner in front of her and turn the temperature lower. Jason couldn't stand it any longer as he pulled her into his arms so sudden that it caught her by surprise.
"Could you just sit back and relax? Let Marcel drive in peace. You're still unwell…" Jason nagged as he draped his coat over her angrily while she pouted.
Soon she gave up fighting the drowsiness and fell asleep in his warm comfortable coat and embrace.
"She isn't well is she?" Marcel asked.
"Yes. She has had a fever since last night…" Jason explained.
"Did the reception go well?" Marcel asked as Jason pondered awhile and nodded.
"Yes… Luckily there was her otherwise I don't know how I would survive the torture of being drunk." Jason explained while Marcel smiled knowingly that Jason must have been forced to drink too much strong liquor that Ivy was smart enough to care for a drunkard.
When the car pulled in front of his house, Ivy was still asleep. Jason signaled Marcel to leave for the day as he wanted to carry Ivy into the house but she stirred awake and noticed Marcel had left.
"Aww, why didn't you wake me before Marcel left?" Ivy pouted in disappointment.
"It's Sunday. He should be resting…" Jason got down the car watching her sulk while alighting.
"I am working too technically. I helped to take care of a drunken boss and got myself sick…" She complained and sniffed as Jason smirked and pinched the tip of her nose.
"Stop sulking would you? You will see him again…" Jason pulled her into his arm while unlocking his front door, letting Lucky to enter first as Ivy tickled him in revenge.
"You know you have just turned into a terrible two when you fall sick!! From now on I will ban you from falling sick!" Jason yelled in between laughter of being tickled as he closed the main door and went on a showdown with her tickling each other.
A part of him was beginning to enjoy the new changes they both adapted mutually as he told himself to appreciate every moment he had with her before it's over.