Chapter 16 Never Yours To Begin With
“Ciao Princess, I’m officially the girlfriend of a greek god.”
Ivy’s heart exploded with happiness.
Finally, her best friend was with the man she was in ‘love’ with.
Then her heart dropped almost instantly.
He was the same guy she couldn’t get out of her head.
“I am so happy for you, Elsa. Congratulations, you got your man.”
“You make it sound like we are already getting married. Maybe we will. Anyways, I need to go now, Princess.”
She hung up, the line going dead, then a ding.
A notification.
Elsa posted a picture of her hand and someone’s, definitely Christopher’s, interlocked.NôvelDrama.Org content rights.
She even updated her status to ‘In a Relationship.’
Tears welled up in her eyes looking at the pictures. She put the phone away, mumbling to herself over and over again.
“Elsa is happy which means you are happy.”
***
If Ivy had thought that the events of last week was torture, than she certainly hadn’t been ready for this one.
Pictures!
Pictures of interlock hands, legs, hands, shadows and tbe difference places the happy couples stole away to. They would all constantly flood her phone and just so she could convince herself that she was happy for them, she had to interact with each and everyone of them.
“Go couples! That is such a beautiful place and I’m sure both of you made it even super beautiful just by being there.”
“I know right.” Elsa answered back breathless, her face taking up most of Ivy’s phone screen.
Today, after sending all those pictures, Elsa decided to do a video call. It didn’t matter that Ivy was in the office, she didn’t have much to do anyways. Besides, this is another way to convince herself that she was totally happy for them.
Not bothered at all.
Perfect.
“Can’t wait for a knight in shining amour to come and rescue you from that self built prison you call an office.”
“I don’t need that.”
“Silly me. Of course, you want a prince, you spoilt brat. What was I thinking?”
“Go on, keep telling yourself that I’m the spoilt one here, just so you wouldn’t feel bad. Answer this question, who is the one travelling around MoonCity and having the time of her life right now?”
“Moi! You know what, maybe you need Handsome man.”
Her stomach twisted in painful knots. She sat up in the chair, casting the AC a quick glance to confirm that it was working, because why was it all suddenly so hot?
“Please, just stop with that. It was only one night. Don’t you think all these is even weird?”
“Victory! At last, our princess has broken away from the spell the mysterious wizard placed on her.”
Elsa accompanied her words with dramatic acting faces.
Ivy chuckled.
“Hold on.” Elsa said, “I have something to show you.”
Ding.
“Great, another picture of you enjoying with your partner while I slave away.”
It was a picture of them wearing matching clothes, although all she could see were their legs and expensive white sneakers.
She knew that brand, they were the standard.
“Would send his full picture but he wouldn’t even let me take it. He takes all these good pictures of me yet he is terrified of the camera.”
Ivy chuckled lowly.
She could have never in a billion years think Chris to be camera shy. It was funny to imagine of though.
She heard a man’s voice in the background, as he approached Elsa.
“I have to go now. Bye love.”
“You too. Enjoy.”
The screen went black with the words ‘Video Call Ended’ across it.
***
The whole day was agonizing but she immersed herself more in work. That distracting technique had been working lately.
When she got home, she went straight to bed. She had done a lot of work today and she was so tired.
The minute she laid down, she started dowsing off but her phone pinged. She wouldn’t have been bothered to check the message but it was Elsa and she had sent her a picture.
“Make sure you are alone.” Another message came in.
Ivy chuckled.
How misleading that would have been if someone else had sent it.
What could it be? A silly face?
Elsa treasured looking picture perfect that a picture of her doing a silly face would require utmost privacy of her trusted ones, and by her trusted ones, that would be Ivy.
She downloaded the picture and her mood soured immediately.
It was a video of her underwear and a man’s littered across a tiled floor. There was a picture of Elsa looking happy tired alright but it was caption ‘Sex Face’.
Ivy sucked in a deep breath before exhaling.
You are alright, Ivy. You are okay. He is none of your business. Elsa is happy, you are happy.
She assured herself once again.
Then there was another video. Elsa was in bed, a white blanket covering her chest all the way down, or at least to the end of the phone’s screen. She looked tired but the happiness twinkling in her eyes surpassed her fatigue.
‘I finally got laid by the Greek god. Can’t wait to fill you in on the details.’ she whispered and just at that moment, a large hand sneaked from behind Elsa, pulling her back into the blanket.
Ivy blinked before she fired a text back.
‘Yikes, woman! Keep this to yourself.’
There was a ding almost instantly. Ivy hadn’t expected he to reply that fast.
‘I refuse. My best friend must hear it all.’
‘Well, I don’t want to hear this one. It is private.’
‘You told me all about yokes’
‘You’d’
‘*Yours* Damn autocorrect!’
‘Well, I’m freeing you from the obligation of returning the favour. n
Love you. Goodnight. Work was hectic today and I am still not done. Have to wake up early tomorrow.’
‘Just resignnnnnnn. You don’t even need the job.’
Ivy smiled slightly, it was almost as if she could hear Eksa’s frustrated groan in her head.
‘I don’t want to. Goodnight.’
She put the phone down, hoping it would be the end. Carrying on the conversation was starting to become really unbearable for her.
But no! Luck wasn’t finding her irresistible tonight.
Her phone pinged again.
‘I think we are going another round.’
Nah!
She did not need to know that.
This time, she didn’t reply. She just stood up calmly and put the dressing table at the other side of the room before returning to bed.
She looked up at the ceiling, the way it changed its soft colours due to the light.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Repeat.
When she was done, she could still feel her how heavy her heart had grown but maybe this was what she needed to finally get over it.
To know that Elsa finally had him now and there would never be a chance for her.
She stood up, picked up her phone and texted her back.
‘Go a hundred rounds if you like. Just keep it all to yourself. Help me respect your privacy.’
There was no reply.
As expected.