Chapter 53.1: Would you go out on a date with me?

 When Cassandra sent Ivy home and stopped by for dinner, Sandra was standing in front of the service lift in Ivy's new home, waiting for Ivy's arrival. At the sight of Sandra, Ivy shrieked and pulled her in for a hug.

"Sandra!!!! Oh, how I have missed you!!!" Ivy greeted as both girls were giggling while Andrew came up and Ivy quickly gave him a hug too. "Yo, buddy!! Good to see you both finally!!!" Ivy greeted excitedly.

"Good to see you too Ivy!" Andrew cheered as they all giggled before Ivy realised every one of her family was waiting at the dining table.

"Here, here let me introduce her! This is Cassandra, my twinny's…" Ivy pointed at Jin's direction. "His girlfriend…" Ivy pointed back at Cassandra. Andrew and Sandra blinked in a little confusion trying to understand who Ivy's twin but since they could roughly catch her last point that Cassandra was Jin's girlfriend, they both nodded at Cassandra with a smile.

"They are Andrew and Sandra… My best friends I mentioned from young. They are here for their internship in a different field, psychology…" Ivy explained as she walked them all to the dining hall.

"Ah, the friends you mentioned you wanted to bring along to the boutique!" Cassandra exclaimed as she recalled while Ivy nodded. Cassandra turned around to offer them both invites instead to her boutique. "Come along whenever you're both free. I would make a lot of clothing for you both. Don't worry about the charges. It's all free!" Cassandra chimed as Sandra and Andrew rejected in embarrassment.

"How could we accept such an offer? No, no, this must be Ivy's suggestion! Please don't listen to Ivy…" Sandra rejected politely as Cassandra chuckled.

"Yes, you should never listen to Ivy! She can be so crazy sometimes!" Andrew added on to the tease Ivy as Cassandra couldn't help but laughed out.

"Don't worry, it was all my idea! Take them as my welcome gift!" Cassandra winked as they trailed Ivy to the dining hall leaving Andrew and Sandra in a difficult position as they put aside Cassandra's invite first and joined in the dinner.

"Daddy!" Ivy went to hug Peter. "Honey... Did you have a great time earlier?" Peter asked as Ivy nodded with a wide smile. "Of course I did, daddy!"

Ivy then looked over at Andrew and Sandra standing by a corner next to Casandra. "Well, here's my family… You all have met…" Ivy introduced Andrew and Sandra nodded with a smile at everyone.

Peter nodded in return happily as he urged all of them to take a seat. "Hope the meals are to your liking Andrew and Sandra. Come, come let's sit and start digging into dinner!" Peter laughed as Ivy quickly took a seat next to him as she waved for Sandra to sit next to her. Cassandra went over to take the seat next to Jin while Andrew sat in between Sandra and Ryu. Andrew couldn't help but to ask Ivy about his curiosity on her twin matters as he inched closer towards Sandra and Ivy's direction before he nudged Ivy for her attention.

"One question, why is Jin your twin when you're of different ages?" Andrew asked in a low voice but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. Sandra was the first to burst out in giggles.

"Cause they both can have desserts for a meal and nothing else! Besides, they really think and look alike!" Ryu chuckled as Peter laughed the loudest among everyone while digging into dinner. It's been a while since the brothers last saw their father this happy.

Ray took a glance at Ryu and Jin as the brothers smiled at each other, somehow they understood each other's unspoken thoughts. They were forever going to be in gratitude to Ivy for bringing the family united as one again.

Ivy, on the other hand, was adapting well to her growing family but in mind, her thoughts had always been lingering around Jason. She tried her best to not think about him all the time but her efforts were to no avail, especially whenever she was alone. Hence, having Andrew and Sandra over was a great distraction she had anticipated.

After dinner, Ivy decided to show Sandra to her guest room but instead, Sandra excitedly went to check out Ivy's room first while Ray showed Andrew to his guest room. "Wow! Just wow!" Sandra exclaimed in shock as she entered Ivy's room.

"What?" Ivy questioned as she took a seat on her bed. "This is so not you Ivy!" Sandra chuckled as she joined Ivy sitting on the edge of her bed while Ivy giggled.

"I know right. But my daddy picked it and it was from a long time ago apparently. As for the bedsheets… they will be changed soon." Ivy leaned a little towards Sandra to whisper her last line as the girls giggled.

"Your room… is actually opposite Andrew's room. The middle room here is a music room." Ivy stood briefly wanting to show Sandra her room but Sandra held on to Ivy's right hand to stop her.

"Can't I stay in the same room with you just for tonight?" Sandra pleaded as she recalled if Ivy could really sleep alone already and wanted to test it out but in actual fact, she was also trying to escape being alone with Andrew in a room free from constraints for fear they take their relationship one step too fast.

Ivy shrugged, thinking Sandra wanted to catch up, or perhaps Ivy was also thinking the same as Sandra, that Sandra was trying to avoid some time alone with Andrew in case they haven't reached the intimate stage yet. Ivy sat back on the edge of the bed and decided to prompt Sandra for details of her relationship instead.

"Sure! So… Tell me how're things with Andrew?" Ivy asked as she hugged Sandra by the side of the bed. Feeling comfy as ever, they quickly ended up tucked inside the pink blanket.

"Well… It's been a while since we have dated… Just the same you see…" Sandra explained awkwardly as Ivy went closer to Sandra with interrogating eyes.

"That's not exactly how you wanted me to answer about Jason every time you ask me. So, why are you answering me this way? You know what answers I want…" Ivy teased with a naughty husky teasing voice as they both end up giggling.

"Come on… How far has it been? Are you still a virgin?" Ivy asked bluntly as Sandra's jaw dropped at her question. "Ivy!" Sandra smacked her gently as they both giggled again but Sandra blushed a little.

"Awww… So you both had not to do it I see." Ivy teased as Sandra snarled playfully at her. "Here I thought, you could sometimes share the room with him here." Ivy continued to tease before bursting out in laughter while Sandra tickled her.

"Ivy, you're becoming a menace!" Sandra shrieked as they both laughed while Ray and Andrew who was quite a distance from their room could hear them.

"They must be having a great time again." Andrew smiled to himself feeling glad to see Ivy so happy.

"Was Ivy always this cheerful?" Ray couldn't help but ask which made Andrew frown a little.

"To be honest, not really especially when her grandma passed away… Oh yours as well practically." Andrew corrected as Ray nodded with a smile. "We were all rather worried as Ivy is really good at hiding her emotions." Andrew said as he unpacked his luggage.

"I see…" Ray felt bad for Ivy as Andrew tried to comfort him.

"But luckily, it was only for a brief few months. When Jason came, she was totally a different person." At the sound of Andrew's comfort, Ray smiled recalling tomorrow's arrangements and hoping Jason could make good use of it to reconcile with Ivy.

"And, I'm so glad Jason found all of you for Ivy. The best gift, any of us could ask for Ivy." Andrew smiled as Ray nodded with a smile where both of them at that moment understood what it meant for Ivy to have a family after all that she had endured.

"Have a good rest man! Goodnight." Ray said politely.

"Yea sure! Thanks, man for the hospitality! Goodnight." Andrew said as Ray left and closed the door while the girls were still shrieking loudly. Andrew and Ray both decided to leave the girls to enjoy themselves as they each prepared for bed on their own.

"Alright, alright! I promise I won't tease you anymore! Stop tickling me!" Ivy laughed as Sandra sat back up. "So, how're things with Jason then? Have you finally kissed?" Sandra teased in return as they lay in bed looking up at the ceiling of glow-in-the-dark stars stickers.

"Hmmm…." Ivy hesitated as she wasn't even sure herself. "See! This is exactly what I feel when you ask me how's things in my relationship…" Sandra pointed out as Ivy tried to explain herself while sitting up in bed. "Mine is different! I am not even sure to be honest. Everything was so hazy... "

"Ah, I knew it… So, there was something going on in the jungle that night…" Sandra clapped her hands as she too sat up in bed while Ivy looked down on her lap while shaking her head.

"I am not too sure either…" Ivy mumbled as Sandra raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you ask him?" Sandra questioned.

"I don't really have the chance yet you see. And I don't want to do it over the phone. You know I have been thinking over these few days away from him and I realised…. Perhaps love has many different faces and one of them…" Ivy sighed as she paused a moment.

"... is to let go of the one you love and hope they stay happily with the sacrifice you made for them. If that is how it is between me and him to ensure I keep Nancy away from harm or trouble, I guess I wouldn't hesitate like this. However, I am not sure if this sacrifice is worth it…" Ivy explained as Sandra pulled her in for a hug while Ivy leaned on her shoulder.

"Ivy, love is not about you alone… It's also about him… He needs to be comfortable with your decision and with him knowing what you're trying to do will only make him feel even worse. He would keep blaming himself and who knows what he would do later. It's best if you could speak with him about it. That way, perhaps both of you could come up with a more decent decision rather than this Ivy." Sandra tried comforting but Ivy knew the result if she ever tell him in all honesty.

"And I already know the result of this…" Ivy said in mind.

"Anyway, we should get some rest already! It's going to be a long day tomorrow!" Ivy cheered in between her yawns as both girls tucked themselves in bed excitedly with giggles.

"Ivy, I am so glad you have a better life now." Sandra said as she looked up at the ceiling of glowing stars after switching off the lights leaving the night lamp half dimming the room. Ivy hummed in acknowledgment with her eyes closed while drifting asleep as Sandra closed her eyes with a smile after ensuring Ivy was falling asleep.