| Fan Fiction |
by Suki Chan
He wanted to make Ivy happy.
“Ivy’s boss is bad and made her to work overtime on such special day.” Matt peeked at his watch, “She said she’ll be back home around 10pm and call me…maybe come out for a drink or something. Now is only 9pm. Will give her a surprise when she sees me waiting for her right here.”
Matt was waiting for Ivy on the street by her apartment. He looked sweetly at the bundle of red roses in his hands, “She must be happy to see these flowers. Expensive huh especially a rip off by the flower shop today…but once a year and that’s ok. Want to see her smiles. She’s so cute when she smiles.”
The weather was so cold tonight. Matt dragged his jacket and shivered under the wind.
A car slowly approached and stopped across the street. A guy hopped off the driver’s seat and went to open the door of the passenger’s side. A girl in long dress steadily walked out, with a large bundle of red roses in her hug. The guy, in well-groomed suit and tie, immediately took off his jacket and wrapped it around her. She smiled sweetly and snapped a kiss on his cheek.
The couple turned around and were about to cross the street.
Matt’s smile froze.
The girl saw Matt and stunned.
Matt just stared at them. His mind was all blank out.
The guy did not look too surprised. He realized what happened and told his girl caringly, “I will wait for you in the car.” He had a glance at Matt and walked away.
“…Matt.” Ivy whispered.
“…oh hi.” Matt squeezed out a smile, “Wow nice flowers! Did you get them from your colleagues? That’s the nice thing about working in a big office haha…”
“I asked you to come here at 10pm, because I didn’t want to run into that embarrassing situation. I wanted to talk to you tonight about it…just the two of us. But *sigh*…now you saw it. You found out what happened.” Ivy sighed.
Matt avoided it, “…you got off work early? Your colleague gave you a ride huh? I’ve been waiting for you here since 9. Surprise hey? And these roses are for you! Happy Valentine’s Day, Ivy.” He handed her the flowers.
She held onto her other bundle of flowers in her hug and did not move. She said calmly, “Matt, you know what happened. We have to face it.”
“…face what?” Matt’s voice trembled.
“I’m so sorry Matt.” Ivy dropped down her head, “Let us breakup.”
“…what breakup?!” Matt was astonished, “…no you’re kidding, Ivy! Why…”
Ivy looked away to the guy in the car.
“…because of him? Who is he?” Matt could not believe it.
“…my colleague. He’s an insurance agent.” Ivy bit her lips, “I’ve been going out with him. It’s been a couple months.”
Matt stared at her, “You’ve been going out with another guy behind my back.”
“…I tried to talk to you so many times. I wanted to tell you since the first time he bought me flowers and said he likes me.” Ivy looked at Matt sadly, “But I never got the chance, because you’re impatient every time. You never bother to listen.”
Matt finally recalled: yes there had been a few times that Ivy said she wanted to talk to him, but every time he was occupied with something and did not listen to her. He thought it was not something rush and important and he can deal with it later. There’s always next time.
Next time.
“…Ivy I’m so sorry. I haven’t paid much attention to that. You must be really mad at me! Sorry! Give me another chance! I know my wrongs and I promise I will change! I will be good to you from now on!” Matt grabbed her shoulder.
“It’s too late, Matt.” Ivy said calmly.
“No!” Matt turned agitated, “It’s not too late! You must be mad at me and so you go out with him! That’s ok and I understand that. You and him just began for a while! But you and I have been together for over a year! You love me. I know you love me, Ivy!”
Ivy softly pushed him away, “Sorry Matt. You and I just can’t stay together anymore.”
“WHY?!” Matt screamed.
“What I am looking for…you can never give to me.” Ivy looked away.
Matt scanned her, “…I understand. He was the one who bought you those nice handbags! And he has a car! He makes a lot of money huh? Since when do you become such material girl?!”
“Not only for money.” Ivy whispered, “But he’s so caring of me. He puts me as no. 1 in his heart.”
“I also do!” Matt did not let go of her, “I always do! Can’t you feel it at all!?!”
“You don’t, Matt. Your no. 1 is always your family, your brother, not me.” Ivy shook her head.
“That’s crazy thought! How on earth could you be jealous over my brother?! You’re leaving me because I love Danny over you?!” It was ridiculous to Matt, “You don’t like Danny. You always want me to dump him behind to stay with you only! You think I am stupid to bare a retard brother on my shoulder! How can you be so cruel and cold-blooded?!”
“You really think I am a material girl. You really think I am cruel and cold-blooded.” Ivy sighed and looked up the night sky.
Matt regretted to have spit out the words abruptly because of anger. He nervously apologized, “I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have said that. I know you can’t get along with Danny! Let me think of a way to sort that out! I’m sure there are ways. I know it’s not easy to take care of him and you must be concerned…like in the future if we get married what will you do. Don’t worry…there must be ways to solve that!”
Ivy felt bad.
“How about…hiring a maid to take care of him? I know I can’t afford that now….but I will try hard to make more money! I can find more part time jobs…one or two or even more! You don’t have to worry about money, housework…anything! I will take care of everything! I promise!” Matt made commitments.
Ivy covered up her ears and did not want to hear, “No, Matt.”
“I’ve been saving quite a bit in the bank! I am serious to you, Ivy! I really have plans for our future!” Matt begged sadly, “Please don’t leave me Ivy!”
Ivy knew well Matt was a good boyfriend. He could really do a lot of her. He really loved her.
But Ivy’s heart was not with him anymore.
“Please don’t leave me Ivy.” Matt’s eyes turned red.
“Matt, I don’t expect you to be rich and make lots of money. I never do.” Ivy puffed out and gazed at him, “I just want a boyfriend who cares about me. Not only that, but I also want him to have ambitions. I am willing to start from scratch with him. I can go through difficult times with him, and the two of us will walk together and look forward to advancements in life. Unfortunately, I can’t see such future with you, Matt. You have a strong sense of responsibility to your family…too strong sense of responsibility. You can never give me what I’m looking for. If I stay with you, I can totally see what myself will be like 5 years from now, 10 years from now…”
“You think I’m wrong in taking up the responsibility to my brother.” Matt uttered.
“No. Of course not. You did nothing wrong at all. That’s your personality and values in your head. You decided to live your life like that.” Ivy stepped back, “But not the kind of lifestyle for me.”
“Since the first day you met me, you knew what kind of person I am. You knew how my family is like. Why are you regretting now?” Matt felt the pain stabbing his heart.
“Maybe I’ve changed. But Matt, I never regret to have stayed with you.” A tear rolled down Ivy’s face, “You’re a very nice guy. But…sorry.”
Matt quieted down. He realized there was no point of return for Ivy. No matter what he did now, he will not get her back.
She had made up her mind. She was leaving him.
Ivy sniffed in her tears.
Matt peeked over to the guy in the car. He was attending there patiently for Ivy, just in case Matt started causing trouble to her. “He’s been good to you?” Matt whispered.
“Yes he’s been very good and caring to me.” Ivy turned around and looked over to the guy. A soft sweet smile glowed on her face.
Matt read the expression on her face. He understood.
Ivy gently opened her bag and took out a scarf.
Matt dropped down his head and bewildered at the flowers in his hug.
“This was supposed to be Valentine’s Day gift for you. You said you always wanted a girlfriend-knitted scarf. It might not turn out well, but I did put in the effort. I really tried.” Ivy touched the scarf.
Matt was heartbroken.
“This scarf is the last thing I could do for you.” Ivy softly wrapped the blue scarf around his neck, “Thank you for loving me, Matt.”
***************************
“…ok it’s bedtime.” Matt sighed and mumbled. He went to turn on the heater.
Danny lied on the bed and wondered. He noticed his brother looked so down and quiet since he went to pick him up at the adults daycare center an hour ago.
Didn’t he just have a Valentine’s Day date with meanie Ivy? What happened?
“…gosh stupid heater is not working again.” Matt was grumpy and slapped on the thing.
Danny wrapped himself inside the quilt. It was so cold tonight. The wind seemed to have turned even stronger after midnight.
Matt shut the windows tightly; the wind was blowing hard and making wheezy noise outside.
Danny was shivering on the bed.
“It’s freezing tonight.” Matt rubbed his hands and arms, “And heater is broken. Danny are you keeping yourself warm there?”
Danny hid his head inside the quilt.
Matt went to touch Danny’s hand and found he was definitely not warm enough. He reached the upper bunk and grabbed his own quilt to cover up on Danny.
Danny felt much better.
Matt turned off all the lights. He threw to his bed his jacket, Danny’s jacket, a few sweaters and towels…anything that can keep himself warm for the night. He slid inside that pile and tried to go to sleep.
In the middle of the night, Matt softly climbed down the bunk bed. He barely went to sleep, but it was not deep and he seemed to have some rough dreams, though he could not remember them clearly. Maybe because it was too cold, maybe it was because of his relationship with Ivy. He just could not go to sleep well tonight.
Matt wrapped himself with the jacket and curled in front of the windows, bewildering at the neon signs swinging back and forth in the strong wind.
Ivy’s scarf was still around his neck, but Matt did not feel any comfort and warmth. He felt his body was chilling down. He felt his heart was dying.
He missed Ivy. He really missed her.
A strip of tears rolled down his face.