384 Everyone's Christmas Morning - Part 8

Parker and Bethany returned home just in time for dinner. Parker's mother generously packed meals for everyone to enjoy. Initially, the team had planned to go out for dinner, but after seeing the bulk boxes of homemade meals from Parker's mother, everyone's opinion changed. Also, under David's guidance, Ivy cooked glazed pork chops and mashed potatoes for lunch. Although the dish itself was simple, they still have leftovers. Adjusting to the circumstances, the four comrades chose to stay at home for dinner.

Bethany was taking a hot shower since she was the last one to return home. She demanded to get cleaned up first from traveling aimlessly. Meanwhile, the rest of the group unpacked the boxes and arranged the food on the table. They set up a camp in the living room to enjoy dinner while watching television.

"Ivy! I got a copy of the book you asked," Parker announced, fishing out a book from his backpack.

Ivy remembered requesting him to get her a copy of a recently released novel. Her face rejoiced upon seeing the book, and she urged Parker to put it in her desk drawer. Parker stepped away for a moment.

David was busy transferring the food from boxes to pots and bowls. Ivy took care of heating up the food in the oven. Meantime, Bethany finally finished showering. She moved around, lazily drying her hair and taking all the time needed to groom herself in a relaxed manner.

Parker entered Ivy's room or the main workspace, where everyone has their own desks and belongings. He approached Ivy's table and opened the drawer to store the book when a fancy little box caught his attention. It was open wide already to reveal what's in it.

'What the hell!' Parker blurted from the sight he witnessed.

He lifted the item from the box to inspect it, wondering if it is the actual piece or a fake one.

"Holy-" he gasped halfway from concluding his examination.

Rushing out to the kitchen, Parker held the valuable item in one hand, carefully holding onto it while his gaze pursued Ivy, who busily placed the bowl of hot soup straight from the oven to the countertop.

"Where did you get this?" Parker asked. His eyes transfixed at Ivy without budging an inch.

Parker was quick to identify the value of the item he found inside the fancy box. When David suddenly heard Parker's voice, he shuddered to glance at him and then at the object in his possession.

"What- Is that a camera?" he asked.

"That-" Ivy gaped, looking around anxiously just as Bethany emerged out from the bathroom, who quietly joined the ongoing scene to listen.

As Parker's gaze intensifies, and so does everyone else, Ivy's focus grew fragile, and she confessed.

"That- was a gift!" she admitted out of necessity and turned away at once, returning to heat the food David lined up.

"What?" Parker grunted.

"Yeah- What's happening?" Bethany followed. Since she was far from everyone, Parker lifted his hands to reveal the item he held tightly. Bethany became the second person to pin down its value distinctly.

"Isn't that a vintage collection?" she inquired.

"Yes! It's a vintage camera, and someone gifted it to our Ivy!" Parker confirmed.

"Wow! I heard it's expensive. Senior, you lucky dog! Who gifted you this?" Bethany sought to ask enthusiastically.

David still hasn't a clue about the situation, so he remained quiet to watch the others confront Ivy. Cornered by two stern gazes and their never-ending pursuit, Ivy resisted surrendering without a fight. She knew these people would soon jump to teasing if they came to learn the truth.

"It's a gift- from someone," Ivy replied plainly to dodge the topic.

Her feigning ignorance didn't work on her comrades, who began to compel Ivy to reveal the secret.

Amidst the heated investigation, David finally comprehended Ivy's predicament, which threw him in serious doubts.

"Wait- when did you get a gift? I was with you the whole time," his voice intruded in between Parker and Bethany.

"You miss almost everything, grandpa!" Bethany remarked, for which she received beatings as well.

Distracted by those two, Ivy tried to seize the camera from Parker, but he escaped by his wild instincts. His swift retreat alarmed the other two to stop bickering. Altogether, the three now faced Ivy, whose luck ran out before it even had a chance.

"Tell us who is it or-" the three demanded through together.

"Is it from your friend Bridgette, that actress?" Bethany charged unintentionally. David, who stood by her side, tugged Bethany to shut her mouth at once. He silently whispered about their secret being already exposed.

Bethany showed a trace of shock at first, but soon she couldn't care less. Right now, a new mystery is getting unfolded, and that intrigued her interest. She sided with Parker to confront their director.

"Tell us, Senior! Who gave you this?" Bethany asked.

Ivy withheld for a while before she grew tired of them holding her up like a hostage. No longer able to keep up with their pursuit, she chose to confess.

"It's from Lucy!" she revealed.

At once, the uproar settled, and their storming gazes stiffened in awe.

"What?" they all snapped at once.

"I knew it!" David burst out from the group with his theory.

"I was wondering why did you come back home so late yesterday. You were with Lucy after we left the party," David disclosed.

"Is that true?" Bethany asked.

"Wait, you went somewhere else after Bridgette's party? And- you weren't there? And- you met Lucy?" Parker directed his question to both Ivy and David.

"Wait- where did you go after the party?" Bethany hopped curiously.

"I was at the park!" Ivy admitted.

"Did you meet her there?"

"No, she called me!"

"What- why?" Parked charged.

"To thank for the reference material that I gave her!"

Ivy began to respond left and right, answering all of Parker and Bethany's running interrogation.

"Oh! So did you ask her out then!" Bethany inquired doubtfully.

"No! She came herself."

"Why?" Parker interrupted.

"I don't know!"

"Why would she meet you so late?" Parker followed.

"I don't-"

"Why would she want to meet you so late?" Bethany joined as well.

"Something must have happened!" David muttered audibly.

The three went on presuming within themselves that they forgot even to expect an answer from Ivy, whose patience seems to be

running out.

Unable to tolerate the erupting madness, Ivy finally exploded.

"Because Bridgette introduced me to her boyfriend! Alright!" she shouted to put an end.

As if the air got sucked out of the room, the atmosphere turned to a deadly silence. It left no scrap of life within. Parker, David, and Bethany couldn't open their mouths anymore, for Ivy's answer sealed them to shut tightly.

It was David who stirred from the frozen state. He realized that they were pushing her to a limit, and now it has shattered.

"Since you are already aware of my feeling for Bridgette, you should understand that I was hurt- deeply. And Lucy happens to call me at that time. I don't know what made her come to find me, but she did- I even asked her to leave several times, but she didn't listen to me. What else could I do? Push her away?" Ivy confessed, leaving all three guilt-ridden.

Parker was especially reproachable for unnecessarily instigating this interrogation. He felt sorry for his friend and grew devastated.

No one uttered a word subsequently, and Ivy turned around to continue heating the remaining dishes.

David signaled the other two to walk away as well.

"There's nothing to hide from you guys anymore!

That girl came by herself and tried to comfort me, and I took it. That's all!

Oh- And that gift- she was grateful that I picked her for the role, so I had no choice but to accept her kindness selfishly," Ivy added before choosing to stop herself from ranting.

"That's very nice of her!" Bethany noted to leave. She volunteered to get the alcohol out while Parker silently retreated to return Lucy's gift to its place.

The four then sat down to have dinner. Bethany held the remote control and chose the program while David served everyone food.

Parker and Ivy still haven't spoken a word to each other. Ivy could see him writhing in guilt. Hence, to lighten the mood, Ivy proposed a toast, wishing for their movie's successful shooting and its eventual release.

***

Once dinner was over, Ivy excused herself to step outside. It was clear that what happened earlier affected her mood. Bethany suggested if they should follow Ivy, but David insists on leaving her alone. Parker silently listened, only to sneak out when the other two were distracted. He came down to find Ivy smoking in a corner. It was a rare sight to behold since Ivy is not a serious smoker. However, Parker knew that she would only retort to such a habit only when she gets emotionally volatile. He suspected if his little intervention earlier caused her to perpetrate such a bad habit. He approached with caution, gradually closing the distance with an apology. His voice attacked Ivy with a startle, unexpectedly. She turned around to sigh in relief from recognizing that it was Parker.

"I'm sorry!" Parker repeated.

"For what?"

Parker's gaze fell to the ground, feeling burdened for ruining the holiday mood. Ivy's intense glare melts from watching her dear friend struggle.

"That cat's out already!" she muttered, distracting him away from feeling guilty.

Parker appeared confused at her remark. He looked slightly dazed, not knowing how to respond.

"I'm talking about how David and Bethany are secretly aware of my unrequited love!" Ivy reminded, shocking Parker again. He grew flustered from accidentally spilling the secret behind Ivy's back.

"I- Ah- I- It was not my fa- fault. In my defense, Bethany heard it when- we-"

"I get it! I'm not necessarily mad or angry at them finding out. It's only a matter of time that they came to know."

Ivy extended her hand to Parker, inviting him for a smoke. Parker refused gently. Instead, he threw a surprise question at her.

"So, did you get comforted?" he asked.

Ivy glanced down the ground to admit.

"I did!"

"Oh!" Park said to descend into silence.

Amidst the tranquility, he perceived that Ivy is not in her usual self. In the

past, whenever the topic about Bridgette came, Ivy would get anxious and becomes unsteady. But right now, she seems to be cool about handling everything. She even casually overlooked David and Bethany's knowledge of her tightly protected feelings. Parker pondered over this shocking change and realized that it must be due to meeting Lucy last night. He's been quietly discerning the effects Lucy has on Ivy during recent times. Although they aren't necessarily influential, still, it does leave an impression on Ivy subconsciously. Parker assumed that whatever is going on between these two is sure to create meaning in the future. Thus, he envied to offer his wishes to his good friend.

"It's just my opinion, but if you want things to move forward with Lucy, then keep it steady. You don't want to repeat the same mistake. Be more open to her and express your feelings boldly."

Parker's words scarred Ivy to realize if he is assuming something on his own.

"You think I might fall for Lucy?" Ivy asked.

"Aren't you on the way already?" Parker defended.

Ivy ceased to take a puff. She didn't wish to follow the question and ended the conversation right there, except expressing her emotions precisely.

"I don't want her to be a replacement for Bridgette."

Parker appeared stunned for a second. He had not expected such a profound reaction, yet Ivy went on to admit if what she's feeling for Lucy has the chance for a new prospect, then it better be something original and not a substitution for a sad rejection.

Having heard Ivy's answer and her clear perception on the matter, Parker understood that he has no more to offer and decides to return.

"I'm going inside! Don't stay out too long, and-" Parker pauses to seize the cigarette away from Ivy and grunts, "Stop smoking! You're strong, so don't smoke. It's bad for your health."

Startled and left speechless from his conduct, Ivy remained still and watched until Parker disappeared from her sight. She fished out the pack of cigarettes from her pocket, glancing at them strongly and feeling puzzled.

Parker's advice restricted her from going for another round of smoke. She successfully resisted and returned the pack inside her pocket.

Ivy stood outside for a while as Lucy's thoughts occupied her mind and made her go soft in heart. It was similar to what she had felt for Bridgette in the early days, but this time, it's only more earnest with newly found faith.