Chapter 8

Rolan anxiously waits at the lobby of Cela's condo. He's been trying to reach her multiple times but her phone is off. He thought of calling Hyun but decided to just wait.

It's been raining for almost an hour now but the sky still looks dark. Ivy walks fast as soon as she got off the cab and went straight to the reception area of Cela's condo. It didn't take her another second to realize that Rolan is standing next to her. They're both surprised by their second unexpected encounter.

"Ivy," Rolan said.

Ivy hesitantly smiled. "Hello. We meet again," she said.

Suddenly, Rolan's worry over her sister being unreachable has lessened. "Good to see you again," he said with a big smile. He is obviously thrilled.

"Why are you here? Are you waiting for your sister? Is she going down now?" Ivy asked a string of questions but could not hide her awkwardness.

"Actually, I've been waiting for her but she's not in her unit yet. Her phone is turned off," Rolan said. He saw an opportunity to begin a casual conversation.

"Is that so? Let me call Hyun. I knew they're together this morning," Ivy said.

Rolan just smiled. He watches Ivy while she calls Hyun.

Ivy realized she's being watched. "Oh, he's not picking up. I'll just leave a message," she said after deciding to just hang up.

There is sudden silence.

"I better go now. I'll try to check on her later," Ivy said.

"Wait. Do you have an appointment now? Can we have a quick chit chat over coffee?" Rolan quickly asked. His face is turning red.

The next thing they know they are sitting in a nice café within the condo's compound.

"What can I get you?" Rolan asked. He's a true gentleman.

"I'll have this shop's best seller," Ivy replied.

"I'll have the same," Rolan told the waiter.

"I got it," Ivy told Rolan. "Get what" he asked.

"I'll pay for our coffee," Ivy replied.

Rolan smiled. It is the most genuine smile he's had for a long time. Suddenly, the moment feels like one of those few old times.

"Please. I am the guy. I should pay," he said. After a moment, he realized that it was weird to say that.

"This isn't a date," Ivy clarified in a firm tone.

"I know but why do you have to pay?" Rolan asked.

"Please," Ivy insisted.

Rolan gave in. "As you wish," he said. "And thank you."

Ivy smiled at him for the first time acknowledging his gratefulness.

To him, it was more than what he expected. He tries to never expect anything from the situation.

Awkward silence is their constant companion.

Ivy tries to focus her gaze on the shop's beautiful wall while Rolan struggles to think of what to say to her to start the conversation, which is embarrassing for a great talker like him.

"So, when did you start working together?" Rolan finally said something.

"About 3 years ago," Ivy shyly said.

Rolan nodded.

Silence.

"She responded to my ad. I was looking for aspiring writers to join my company," Ivy said.

Rolan is still silent. He wants to punch himself for behaving this way.

"I started this publishing company five years ago," Ivy started narrating. "It was difficult. I was struggling," she continued. "I posted the ad on our second year of operations but I only got a responder the following year just when I was about to close it and give up on my goal."

"And it was my sister," Rolan said.

Ivy nodded. "Yes, it was your sister," she said. "She asked me to read her story and give it a try. She told me that I didn't have to pay her," she continued but a little embarrassed.

"I am proud of my little sister. Always," Rolan said.

"Your mother must be laughing hard from where she is now," Ivy said but realized quickly that it was not a good thing to say. "I'm sorry," she apologized.

"She's not that bad. She liked you. She believed in you," Rolan said in defense of her mother.

"You're kidding, right? But of course, you're a loving son," Ivy said sarcastically.

"Was Cela's book good?" Rolan said to divert the conversation.

"Had you ever tried speaking up for yourself or for someone else to her?" Ivy ignored what Rolan just asked. This time, she tries to look at him.

"How could I possibly do that?" Rolan asked.

Silence.

"There were only two people who would defend me against bullies back then. My mother and you," he said.

Rolan recalls the past.

"Of course, Rolan, Mr. Rich Kid Mama's Boy, will not join us. He can't eat semi-cooked food in the camping site," said one of the boys in the class. The other boys laugh while Rolan almost buries his head inside his locker. The big boys in his class, mostly members of the basketball team always made fun of his proper demeanor. "C'mon, just tell your mom that we are going on a retreat," the other boy said.

Onlookers of the scene suddenly made way for someone. The leader of the big boys stood straight waiting for that someone to come close. "Hi, Ms. Class President," he greeted Ivy with sarcasm.

"Stop what you are doing now. Our school is against bullying," Ivy said firmly.

"What? Bullying? Who does that? Where?" the boy continued to be silly.

"Everyone here saw what you and your friends were doing. Don't make yourselves look more stupid than you already are," Ivy said.

The leader of the big boys easily got pissed. He came closer to Ivy intimidating her with his height. Rolan tried to calm down the tension but the leader of the big boys pushed him to the side making the other big boys laugh even harder.

Ivy was still fierce.

Suddenly, there was a sound of a whistle and all the bystanders disappeared.

"Go to your rooms immediately!" the guidance counsellor announced using a megaphone. She was accompanied by two guards.

"It's this group again?" she said loudly. "Take them to the Guidance Counsellor's office," she said.

Ivy quickly walked to Rolan to help him stand.

"Next time, don't try to defend me. I know the basic of self-defense," she said.

"But they're big boys and you're…" Rolan said but he got interrupted.

"And I am a small girl?" Ivy quickly ended his statement.

Rolan got embarrassed.

"Look at your mom, is she scared of anyone?" she asked him.

Rolan thought for moment then shook his head.

"See? Well, piece of advice, if you don't want anyone's help, at least make sure you are trained to protect yourself," Ivy continued. She impressed him.

"Here's your order," said the waiter. The two were disrupted from looking back.

"Thank you," both Rolan and Ivy said to the waiter .

Ivy took her first sip of the coffee. "Go help yourself," she said.

"Thank you again," said Rolan.

Ivy put the cup of coffee on the table. It was an awesome memory they just recalled but she doesn't want to reminisce any further.

"I am a reserved officer in the army, just so you know," Rolan said.

Ivy's eyes grew big. "Really you are? Wow!" she said.

Rolan smiled. "My mom…she was thankful for your encouragement to study self-defense," he said.

"And you went that far to impress her?" Ivy asked.

"It's for her, for you, and for my sister," Rolan said.

"Was that the reason why she continued supporting my siblings?" Ivy asked.

Rolan shook his head. "She would have helped anyone deserving especially your siblings," he replied.

"It was slap on my face. Every time she would sponsor one of my siblings, it's like hearing her say that my family could not do anything without her help," she said. She then shrugged her shouldiers. "I guess she's right. After all, it's your sister who saved me this time and she is still the main reason why my small company is thriving," she continued.

"I told you, Mama liked you," Rolan said.

Ivy smirked. "So forcing me to take a business course and cutting me off when I refused meant liking me?" she said sarcastically.

"She's not perfect. She had her misgivings and wrong judgements," Rolan continued to explain her mother.

"She went to as far as thinking we would end up together one day so she wanted to shape me into something that fit the mold," Ivy brave said.

Rolan is silent. He certainly understands Ivy but he also understood what his mother's plans were back then.

He recalls that day.

"Why did you talk to Mama like that last night?" Rolan asked Ivy before they entered the classroom.

"I said what I said. I don't need to explain any further to anyone including you," she said.

"Can you just reconsider?" he asked.

The bell rang signaling the start of class.

"It'd be better if we stop talking to each other," Ivy said.

"Well, well, well" said the leader of the big boys upon seeing Rolan and Ivy enter the room.

Ivy wasted no time. She went in front of the class. "Listen, everyone. I know you've all been dying to know so I am telling you now that I am no longer a scholar of the Serrano Foundation," she announced. "Happy now? Satisfied?" she asked her classmates.

Rolan was quietly looking at her.

The leader of the big boys clapped slowly. Everyone looked at him as he walked towards Ivy.

"It's a good decision. You should never be a part of that family," he said. He then placed his hand on Ivy's shoulder. "That also means we can now date," he added.

The class starts to murmur.

Rolan walked fast to the front but Ivy had already grabbed the hand on her shoulder and twisted it to defend herself from the leader of the big boys leaving him in pain on the floor and shocking the entire class.

Ivy raised her head. "Just so you know, I upgraded to green belt," she told the class. "I'm no damsel in distress," she added.

The two are both silent. One staring at the beautiful walls again while the other is looking outside the glass wall of the cafe. It's getting darker outside. Their cups are almost untouched.

"I wonder where that kick-ass girl went?" Rolan broke the ice.

Silence again.

"As a boy who had his first heartbreak, I spent my days thinking why you would not sacrifice for me. Later on I realized that it was selfish to only think of myself. It was your future and we were so young. You just did what you thought you ought to do," Rolan said very clearly but with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Hey, you are getting deeper. That was us in high school. Let's leave it all behind," Ivy said to lighten the mood. Truth is she feels the sadness and perhaps some regrets.

Rolan looks outside.

"That kick-ass girl is still struggling to find her place in the sun. She's struggling but she's not giving up. All she knows right now is she needs a third book she herself can't write and that she has to rely on someone to do it. That's not kick-ass. That's pathetic," Ivy said. She tries to hide her emotion.

Rolan's phone received a message.

"Cela says she's back. Let's meet her at the lobby," he said.

"Okay, I'll get the bill. You can go ahead," Ivy said.

Rolan thanked her for the coffee and immediately walked out of the door.

Ivy has a moment to compose herself before leaving the café. It wasn't the best kind of conversion anyone would want to have with someone who used to be special but it cleared some feelings and gave way for words left unsaid after so many years.

As she opens the door of the café, she knows now more than ever that there is no other way but to move forward.

"Ivy." The voice that has always made her heart beat fast called her name once again.

She turned around and there's Rolan with flowers in his hands.

"Oh, they're selling half the price at closing hours. Good that you're at the right place and time," Ivy said.

"These are for you," Rolan said.

Ivy is speechless.

"You know, I've always wanted to give you flowers. It's just a shame that I have no idea until now which ones do you like or if you ever liked flowers at all but I think you deserve them," Rolan said.

Ivy is still speechless.

"Please," Rolan begged her to receive the flowers.

Ivy accepted the flowers. She turned around without thanking Rolan. It isn't pride or rudeness that stops her from doing it but she knows that one more move from him will make her fall for him again and she doesn't want to hope anymore.

"I want to see that kick-ass girl again," Rolan said.

Ivy continues to walk pretending not to hear anything. She smiles freely.

"But maybe, if it isn't too much to ask, a little sweeter this time," Rolan said. He smiles freely as well.

Both walks forward.

"What's this all about? Cela asked. Has my place turned into your meeting room?

Rolan and Ivy look at each other.

"I came by to…you know…." Ivy could not mention the third book. "I couldn't reach you so I decided to come here," she said instead.

Cela knows what Ivy is really after. "I'm really sorry, Ivy. I'll be honest. I think I'll be needing more time to come up with a concrete plot for this. Right now, I have zero idea," she explained.

"It's okay. I realize it's really rush," Ivy said. "I'll talk to our sponsor about the time we need for this one," she added.

Cela can't believe what she just heard from her.

"Perhaps, I can ask for some pointers on how to negotiate?" Ivy surprisingly turned to Rolan and asked.

Both Rolan and Cela look surprised.

"I'll go now. Have a good evening," Ivy bid them good bye.

"What's that and is she carrying flowers?" Cela asked her brother.

"I don't want to define anything at this point but let's say it's a good start," Rolan replied.

"A good start?" Cela asked. She is confused. "And how about Joyce?"

"What about her? She's a friend," Rolan answered.

Cela smirked. "Make sure she knows exactly the same thing," she reminded him.

"What if you create a character based on me?" Rolan suddenly suggested.

"You? It'll be boring," Cela said.

They rode the elevator while talking like they used to.

There's a good start even for them.