She waited for the car for hours, but no one came to pick her up.
Thinking she might have to manage on her own, she decided to head back by herself. On the way, she stopped at a convenience store to buy something to eat.
There, she noticed Lea. She quickly turned her face away, pretending not to see her, and continued shopping.
But Lea approached her.
"Hmm… hi. I think your name is Ivy, right? I'm your classmate Lea."
"Ah… yes," Ivy replied simply.
"Do you perhaps find me uncomfortable? I mean… I saw in class that you kept staring at me, and when our eyes met, you looked away. So I thought you might be uncomfortable with me. Did I do something that offended you by any chance?"
Oh no… did I really stare at her for too long? I didn't even notice it.
"Mm… no," Ivy replied.
Lea's expression immediately brightened. "Oh, thank God! I thought you hated me. Then… can we be friends?" she asked excitedly.
"Okay, bye Ivy. It was nice talking to you. We'll meet tomorrow at college." She giggled as she walked away, waving at her.
Ivy waved back.
Now what am I supposed to do? I shouldn't get involved with her… but when she asked, I couldn't just turn her down like that. I've really made a mess… ugh.
She returned home, where her mother immediately burst out at her, questioning why she was so late. Ivy didn't react much she simply remained silent.
"Huh! What time do you think it is? Staying out this late at night… Go back to your room and reflect on your mistakes!"
Without a word, Ivy went straight to her room.
"Thank God I had something to eat earlier," she muttered to herself before jumping onto the bed and falling asleep.
The next morning, Ivy skipped breakfast and didn't wait for anyone. She took a bus and headed straight to her college.
A maid went to her room, but found that the room is empty.
At the dining table, the family sat together.
"Huh! Seriously, that girl didn't wake up yet?" one of them said.
"Yes, Mom. Lately, her behavior has been changing. She's coming late for meals and doesn't even greet us anymore."
"Last night, she came home late. I scolded her and told her to reflect on her mistakes, but she still hasn't learned her lesson."
Laura then asked the maid to call Ivy down. But the maid returned with unexpected news, she wasn't in her room.
That revelation shocked the Roger family. Ivy had never behaved like this before. It was completely out of character, leaving them surprised and unsettled.
A few students were talking about the transfer students.
"That guy, Havey, is quite interesting, don't you think? He's cool."
"Yes! And the other one was quite shy. She didn't talk much, but she seemed sweet."
"Then what about the other one? She speaks way too little… like a 'one-word girl.' She ends every conversation with just a single word."
Ivy entered the class. Lea waved at her, and Ivy quietly waved back.
The students were shocked.
"Someone can actually become friends with the 'one-word girl'… in just a day? Oh my gosh, that's unbelievable. Is that some kind of new charm?"
"Hi Ivy, can you sit next to me? I reserved the seat for you."
Ivy nodded and sat beside her.
From a distance, Anos saw Ivy and gritted his teeth in anger before walking away.
"Hm… maybe I shouldn't ask this, but… do you know him by any chance?"
"No."
Huh… what the heck? She doesn't know me? When she's been living with us for the past 15 years…
The class soon began, and the professor announced that there would be a freshers' fest the following week.
The students grew excited, eager to participate.
Then the professor asked them to elect a temporary class president and secretary.
After some discussion among themselves, they chose Anos as the class president and Havey as the secretary.
"If you have any problems, please go to your class president and secretary. And one more thing—everyone must participate in the program. No one is allowed to skip it. Anos and Havey, I'm assigning this responsibility to you. Make sure everyone takes part."
They nodded and accepted the list from the professor.
Anos asked Havey to organize the names and assign the events, then went to the school president for further discussion.
Havey went to each student, noting down their names and preferred events.
Finally, it was Lea and Ivy's turn. He handed the list to them. Lea signed up for the welcoming event, then passed the paper to Ivy.
Ivy carefully reviewed each option and, after a moment, chose to work behind the scenes ,helping with props and volunteering.
"Are you sure about this, Ivy?" Ivy nodded in response.
"I really can't understand you, Ivy," Lea sighed.
"Hey, are you serious? That's going to be a lot of work. Can you handle it?" Havey asked.
She nodded again.
"Wow! You're tough, bro. Oh, by the way, I'm Havey. I'm excited to work with you—you're really cool," he said with a grin.
"Hey! Wanna be friends? I think we'd make a great trio. Let's hang out—the three of us. What do you say?"
Lea stayed silent, but Ivy answered flatly, "No."
"Bruhh… seriously, bro? Don't reject me so bluntly. Maybe we'll end up being besties later."
Ivy rejected him, but from that day on, he stuck close to them—following them around, constantly asking to be his friends, showing up wherever they went.
Eventually, Ivy couldn't tolerate it anymore and gave in.
"Yohoo! Finally, you guys agreed to be friends with me! You know something? I've never wanted to be friends with someone this badly in my life. Let's treat each other well," he said, grinning brightly.
He wanted to treat them, but Anos called him away for the program.
He left reluctantly, pouting and whining like a sad puppy.
Lea and Ivy found him cute. They both said it at the same time.
Lea turned to her, surprised. "You think so too?" she laughed.
Lea took Ivy out for dinner to a small street food stall and ordered for both of them.
"Ivy, what color do you like?" Lea asked, staring at her expectantly.
"Black."
She continued asking—her favorite food, what she did in her free time. Ivy answered each question simply.
Lea felt happy, thinking she was finally getting closer to her.
Maybe… it's not so bad being friends with her, Ivy murmured to herself, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
They went their separate ways, heading home. Ivy was still smiling, softly giggling to herself on the way back.
But the moment she stepped into the house, her mood shifted.
Laura and her husband, Eric, were there.
Without a word, she started heading to her room.
"Ivy," Eric called out.
She paused halfway up the stairs, then slowly turned back and walked down.
"How was your new college? I hope you didn't cause any trouble there… like you did in your previous one."
She stood there silently, her face unreadable.
"Well… I think you're not angry anymore. I… didn't mean to say that to you. It just happened. I think you understand."
Ivy gave a small nod, then turned to leave.
"What you said is true, though," she said quietly before walking away.
She went straight to her room and lay face down on the bed.
"Hah… the day before Ivy transferred to her new college… she was treated harshly by another student. Someone called her an orphan… said no one loved her."
"Ivy couldn't control herself anymore and beat that student badly. The principal called her parents and complained."
"Ivy tried to explain… but they didn't listen. They only scolded her for fighting."
"She cried and told them they were making fun of her… calling her an orphan…"
Her fingers clenched into the bedsheet.
"...And Eric said, 'What's wrong with that?'"
That single sentence had shattered her heart into pieces.
"Ivy… you're really a fool for expecting their love. They don't deserve it. From now on, I'll make you a thousand times happier."
She took a slow breath, her grip on the bedsheet loosening.
"I thought staying away from everyone would hurt less… but maybe… it's better to have at least a few people to lean on."
"Ivy, you're going to be the happiest girl ever—without them. I'll find good people, make real friends… so you'll never feel sad again."
She let out a soft breath, her voice turning quieter.
"When I read the novel… I kept thinking we were alike. The only difference is… for you, it's your foster parents… while for me, it's my biological ones."
A faint, bittersweet smile touched her lips.
"Don't you think we're similar? I really wish I could meet you… and live with you."
"Ivy, from today onward, I Elosia ,will live my life to the fullest. I'll make myself happy and lead a good life."
She closed her eyes gently, her voice softening.
"I hope you'll be happy too… wherever you are."
She slowly closed her eyes and drifted into sleep. After being drawn into the novel, she finally had a peaceful rest.
1. CAN IVY MAKE A BRAND NEW LIFE FOR HERSELF?
2. DO YOU THINK THAT, HER FOSTER PARENTS REGRET THEIR BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS HER?
3. CAN IVY TRUST LEA AND HAVEY?
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