Meet Me In The Umbrella Garden

Chapter 4: The Lie

Ivy never actually got into trouble for getting home late. And after realizing that the next morning when Luke found out only he got scolded for it, his brows furrowed and a pout threatened to form on his lips.

And that, Ivy couldn't help but smile at, despite her attempts at trying to look apologetic.

"Okay, look. I know I lied... but you can't deny that it would be weird going out with someone you just met, so of course, I had to think of an excuse!" the girl reasoned, but the smile playing on her lips only made her look unapologetic at all.

"Well... I get that," Luke responded, however, as his arms folded infront of his chest and he looked away with his lips pursed. "It's just that... Well, okay. I get it. I look scary."

"What? No, you don't," Ivy lied, yet again, but this time, her expression changed completely as she looked wide-eyed at the boy stood before her. "Look, that's not the reason I lied."

"Then what is it?" The boy looks back at her, and his eyes seem to search hers. "... Unless you're lying again–"

"I just don't like people easily," Ivy responded, almost immediately. Before a brief smile formed on her face and she leaned on her arm propped on her desk. "Isn't it obvious?"

Now Luke's eyes were wide this time, and after a second or so, he looks away again, looking awkward. "Oh... Well, then... I apologize, if I made you uncomfortable–"

"Yeah, it doesn't really matter," the girl only cut him off yet again, however, and Luke turned to her with a clueless expression. "I had fun, anyway! So let's... just leave it at that, alright?"

Once again, Luke is left confused by the girl's words. If she really had fun, then why...

Well, maybe she had her reasons. Maybe she was busy? Maybe she had problems with hanging out with someone new? Maybe she just wasn't that outgoing?

The boy's eyes soon travelled from the girl to around him. And he scanned their classroom, as if looking for something, but when it seems he couldn't find it, he looked back at Ivy.

The girl was now back to slumping onto her table, her face buried in her arms, and Luke couldn't help but look at her curiously.

Just why does she act this way?

The bell suddenly rang, and that prompted Luke to take his seat, beside Ivy as usual.

And as he did, he suddenly remembers a short sentence the girl beside him spoke not so long ago.

"I don't have friends."

Huh. So does that mean she actually just wants things to stay that way?

That's what the boy thought as he turned to her. Her head still remained bowed even after the school bell had rang for the beginning of classes. But as soon as the sound of the teacher walking in caught her attention, Ivy raised her head... only to feel a pair of curious eyes on her.

She turned, and as expected, she met Luke's curious eyes. She only smiled briefly in response, before she looked ahead towards the teacher.

It was odd. To both of them. How yesterday even happened, all of it, and yet... Now, it just seems like nothing happened at all.

But was this really more odd than yesterday?

☂︎

"Let's hang out."

"Huh?" Ivy looked up, and once again, Luke was looking at her with those sparkling innocent eyes of his.

"Actually no. Let's do more than that. Let's be friends, Ivy. I want to be friends with you."

"Now, what are you–"

He was being stubborn. Again. Ivy could sense that. Everytime his eyes sparkled like that, it meant he had an idea and he wasn't going to back down on it anytime soon.

But this was only the third time she's seen this phenomenon, so she wasn't quite sure...

Well, she was right, though.

The boy was adamant about being friends with her. But for what reason, exactly? Unfortunately, not even Luke himself knew. All he knew was that Ivy was the one he wanted to spend his time with... No matter how it may be.

"If it makes things better for you, why don't you choose the place? We can go there after class then and stay for as long as you want." Luke's eyes didn't look away nor did they stop shining as he looked expectantly at the girl. "Well?"

"Well?" Ivy only responded, before she realized that she really had no choice but to go with him.

"Well... I might as well. But I wonder how long he plans to keep tagging along with me... Maybe the place I choose could be key to whether he stays or not..." 

Ivy wondered and thought for a moment, until an idea formed almost instantly in her head, causing a smile to form on her face as she looked towards the boy beside her. "I know just the place."