The Ugly Duckling

Chapter 4

Ivy was working when she received a page from Vicki. She answered the page and it was an urgent voicemail from her friend “Ivy come quick! I’m at the mall, level three by the flower shop!”

Curiosity took over as she hung up the call “I’ll be back, old man.” She said to her father who was scrutinizing her with his glasses.

“Where are you going? It’s noon time, our busiest hour.” He asked calmly.

“I said, I’ll be back.” Ivy widened her eyes and rushed out of the diner.

Tyler overheard as he smiled at his dad “It’s probably an emergency.”

“I sure hope so.” He sighed tiredly.

When Ivy reached the mall, it wasn’t hard to spot Vicki who was leaning over the balcony of the third floor staring at someone. She walked behind her friend and tapped on her shoulder “Need some binoculars?”

Vicki gasped as she clutched her heart “Don’t do that!” she scolded. But when she remembered why she called Ivy out, a smile appeared on her face “Look! It’s Mr. Perfect.”

“Who?” Ivy snapped “Who the hell is that?” her hands on her hips.

“Remember? The guy I told you about the other morning.” Vicki reminded her.

“Oh shit…” Ivy shook her head “You called me out here to look at some freak that probably knows you’re looking at him?”

Vicki looked defensive “He does not! He’s just having coffee and watching the people walk by.” She pointed to the handsome stranger in a suit “Isn’t he handsome?”

Ivy squinted her eyes to have a better look but she didn’t “You want to meet him?” she asked Vicki, who widened her eyes in horror. But before she could decline, Ivy leaned over the metal bars and screamed at the top of her lungs “HEY!!!!!! YOU!!!! In the suit!!! You want to meet my friend??? She’s single!!!!”

The entire floor of people turned up to the voice as they looked annoyed. The stranger set down his newspaper and looked up at the girls, who looked like they were wrestling with each other. Vicki pulled her friend to the side “What are you doing?” she covered her face with her hands; they were burning hot.

Ivy laughed at her reaction “I’m helping you, what does it look like I’m doing? Come on, you want to meet him right?” She reached for her friend’s hand and dragged her towards the escalators. Vicki's feet slid against the smooth floor while people stared at the petite girl trying to drag her friend away.

“NO!!!” Vicki moaned over and over. Suddenly, she looked up “Look, its Tyler and a girl!” she pointed.

The plan worked as Ivy let go of her friend’s hand and turned her back “Where? I just saw him at work…” she didn’t realize she had fallen for the trick until she turned back to Vicki, who was already running towards the parking structure. Ivy crossed her arms with a smile on her face as she jogged after her friend.

**************

That night, Ivy came home early because there was a soccer game she was following. She found Tyler and Tara studying in the dining room table. She didn’t greet them as she rushed into the kitchen, slipping against the wooden floors in her socks. She popped the bag of instant popcorn into the microwave and tapped her foot impatiently.

Tyler walked into the kitchen as he pulled out two drinks from the refrigerator “Home so early?” he asked.

She put up a hand “Don’t talk to me. Game on, no time to concentrate.” She said hastily. When the microwave beeped, she pulled out the bag and ripped it open. It was scalding hot as she poured it into a bowl and tossed the bag carelessly to the floor “Move it, gay boy.” She pushed him aside when they exited the kitchen at the same time.

He rubbed his arm that hit the door “Excuse you.” He mumbled and walked back with the drinks for Tara.

“What’s with her?” she whispered.

“I don’t know. Something about a game.” Tyler replied “Let’s get back to studying.” She nodded in response as the two concentrated on their books.

Ivy looked like a wild goose as she turned on the TV only to find out it was broken “Oh come on!!” she cried with a mouth full of popcorn.

Tyler looked up when he heard his sister yelling “It’s broken.”

“Really, genius? How long did it take you figure that one out?” she snapped. Suddenly, her eyes caught on outside the window of the dining room, she could see Ben’s TV from where she stood. He was watching the game too. Ivy got an idea as she moved the couch so it would face the window. She quickly settled down and grabbed her bowl of popcorn as she stared out the window.

Tyler and Tara looked at each other, from their view, it looked like Ivy was watching them like they were putting on a show. Her popcorn in hand while she giggled every once in a while “Ga Jei…” he began only to be hushed by her.

“Zip! No talking…” she pointed a popcorn at him.

“Just ignore her.” Tyler advised as the two began studying again.

After fifteen minutes, there were popcorn crumbs all over the floor while Ivy looked ready to jump in the air. When her team made a goal, she jumped up screaming “Yeah!!!! Oh my God, that was great!!”

Tyler took in a deep breath while Tara was startled, she was writing notes when her pen fell out of the page. He turned to his sister with a grim expression “We’re trying to study.” He grit his teeth together.

“Well, go inside the room.” Ivy replied smugly “I won’t tell dad…like anything’s gonna happen.” She muttered.

“What?” Tyler asked.

She laughed at the look on his face “I said, nothing aint happening…you squeaky clean virgin.”

Tara hid a smile while Tyler blushed. He stood up to face his sister “Do you want to take this outside?” his voice trembling.

Ivy rolled her eyes “Oh damn, here comes the water works! Boo hooo…just go crying to daddy like you always do.”

“I do not!” he shrieked.

“Do to!!” Ivy stood up on the couch to be taller than him.

“Do not!” Tyler stood on the couch too as he towered over her.

“Do too!” Ivy stood on the arm of the couch, suddenly, her eyes caught on Ben’s who was looking at her strangely “Oh shit…look what you did. The freak saw me!” she spun around and jumped on the ground while racing to the door. She locked it and then turned to Tyler “If he comes over, say I went to sleep! Don’t let him in.” she cautioned.

Tyler narrowed his eyes strangely at the figure that ran into the room “I swear there had to be a mix up at the hospital. She can't be related to me.” He said to Tara. Before he got to sit down, the doorbell rang. He straightened up to answer it, Tyler found a handsome man standing in front of the door “Hi…can I help you?”

“Hey. I’m your new neighbor.” Ben smiled “Is your sister home?”

“Uh…um…” he was never good at lying.

“My name is Ben, by the way.” He reached out a broad hand to shake Tyler’s.

Tara walked over to them “She’s not home.” She answered for Tyler.

“Yeah, you just missed her.” Tyler advised but his head was twitching towards the hallway “She just left.” His eyes widened as he twitched again.

Ben looked at him strangely “Are you okay?”

Tara stifled a laugh while Tyler continued to shake his head. When Ben was about to leave, he pulled him inside. He put a finger to his lips as he waved for Ben to follow him. Tara closed the door as she gently followed the guys to Ivy’s room. She was kneeling on the bed staring out the window at Ben’s apartment “Is he gone?” she asked.

“Yeah.” Tyler replied.

“Good…if that freak finds out I was watching the game from his TV, he’ll never let me hear the end of it.” Ivy replied without turning back.

“Not necessarily.” Ben replied with his arms crossed.

Ivy turned slowly towards the room door to find Tyler laughing hysterically and Tara smiling at Tyler’s reaction. Ben looked sternly at her with raised brows “You little snip!!” she yelled at Tyler as she picked up a pillow and hailed it across the room at him.

She missed completely as it hit Ben straight on the face and it only made Tyler laugh harder. She got up and charged after her brother who was already running out to the living room with Tara behind him. He had tears of laughter in his eyes, he used Tara as a shield “Don’t come near or she’ll beat you up.”

Ivy pulled up her sleeves as she pointed a fist at him “Come here little girl…you need a good beating!!” she bounced towards them while Tyler pushed Tara playfully at his sister. She giggled deliriously while Ivy pushed her onto the couch and ran around to chase Tyler. The two ran in circles around the house while Ben watched with a smile on his face. They were like kids and it only reminded him how much he wanted siblings. Unfortunately, he was the only child.

After about 20 rounds around the couch, Ivy took a short cut as she stepped over the cushion and over the couch as she tackled her brother with ease. She sat on him with her feet pinning his arms down. He was laughing too hard to fight her “No…it tickles! Stop…” he laughed while he struggled to get her off him.

“Good, that’s what you get.” She flicked him on the forehead with her fingers “Brat!!” She cried over and over “Don’t mess with me boy.” She said after a few minutes of torturing her brother.

He was too tired to fight but his giggles had calmed down “Okay…truce…” he said calmly.

Ivy nodded with a smile “Sure… over my dead body!!” she put her feet on his cheeks “Smells good huh?”

He was used to her antics as he sucked in a mouthful of air. Tara looked worried when Tyler began to turn red “Hey Ivy…I think he’s looking a little blue. Maybe you should stop.”

She crossed her arms “No…he likes it. Don’t you, Ty?” she asked while his cheeks got puffier.

Eventually, he could not take it anymore and pushed her off as he coughed out the lung full of air. He gasped for fresh air while his sister rolled on the floor laughing. He climbed to his feet while Tara helped him up “Must…get…to…face…wash.”

“I’ll help you.” She said while supporting him to the bathroom.

Ben walked over as he took a seat on the couch arm and peered over the edge looking at Ivy “Are you done?”

She made herself comfortable on the floor “So? What’s it to you?”

“You know, I could sue you for invading my privacy.” He said casually.

“That’s not true.” She snickered “You had your curtains open, it was almost like…a welcome. You wanted me to watch the game.” She said with much logic.

He smiled “You’ve got an argument for everything don’t you?” he stood up as he walked around the couch and put out a hand to help her up. She hesitantly took the hand as he pulled her up with ease “If you wanted, you could have asked to join in the game with me.”

Ivy arched a brow up “You need to rephrase that sentence.” His brows knit together as he thought about what he just said while she jumped over the back of the couch and landed on the cushion “Anyways, I don’t want to owe anyone anything. It’s just a game that I wanted to watch, I didn’t HAVE to watch it.”

“Yeah and you didn’t HAVE to sneak to watch it from my TV, but you did anyways.” Ben pointed out.

Ivy rolled her eyes “Well, I’ve lost interest, you can go home now.” She motioned her hand towards the door while sitting up “Just lock the door when you leave.” She skipped her way back into her room without seeing him to the door. He titled his head with interest as a smile crossed his face before he left.

Chapter 5

Vicki returned to the mall the following day to see if she could catch the Mr. Perfect again. But to her disappointment, after two hours of walking around the mall, she couldn’t find him anywhere. She admit defeat and headed towards the exit. Suddenly, she saw a crowd of people hovering over someone. She got closer and found her Mt. Perfect giving CPR to a young girl who had fainted “Call the ambulance.” He said randomly while continuing to try to save her.

Vicki stood on her toes to get a better look at the guy but it was useless, there were too many people around. Soon the emergency people came and took the girl away. She was waiting on the sidelines patiently to get a glimpse of Mr. Perfect, only to realize that he had disappeared. Looking disappointed, she left the mall.

Ivy was waiting on two customers when she saw her friend walking in. She looked a little down. Since she was busy, she nodded to Tyler to take over “Hi Vicki.” He greeted.

Vicki nodded with a grim expression “Hi Ivy…” she said without looking up.

“No…it’s me, Ty.” He looked at her strangely “Is anything wrong?”

“No…” Vicki said sadly “Can I get some food?”

He nodded with a smile “Sure, what would you like?”

“I don’t care.” She replied shortly.

“How about chicken and rice? You like that.” He was a careful observer.

She nodded carelessly “Sure…whatever you say.”

Ivy passed the order to the kitchen as she crossed paths with Tyler, he shrugged his shoulders at her while glancing at Vicki. She walked over and took a seat across from Vicki “Okay, what is it now?”

Her friend looked depressed as she shrugged “I’m never gonna find him, I might as well give up.”

“Oh crap…” Ivy frowned “You’re still stalking that guy? Damn, you need help!”

“But he’s so perfect…this morning, he helped save a life.” She gushed.

“Yeah? So?” Ivy shrugged it off lightly “I save lives every day of my life.”

Vicki wrinkled her brows “You do? How?”

Ivy counted it off in her finger “I help people from starvation, running into my fist, dying from dehydration and my favorite mistreating the less fortunate.”

Vicki had to laugh at the ridiculous nature of her comparison to her Mr. Perfect’s life saving methods “But he saved a life…I mean really saved a person who was probably dying.”

“We’re all dying.” Ivy said nonchalantly “Some just leaves a little faster. And there are some that I want to help die faster, but Ty won’t let me.”

“Hey, speaking of Ty….he seems a bit…well, I don’t want to say it.” Vicki was hesitant “There’s not a good word for it…”

Ivy grew impatient “Just spit it out!”

“Fruity?” Vicki flinched hoping Ivy would not be offended.

“Are you freaking kidding me?” Ivy asked in shock causing some people to turn to them, but she ignored it “How long have you known me?”

“A couple of months…” Vicki replied slowly, not sure where the conversation was going.

Ivy nodded “And you know my family, if you barely noticed that, girl…you need to get out of your little bubble more often. He’s been fruity since the day you met him.”

“I am not!!!” Tyler argued when he over heard the girls.

Ivy pointed to her brother with her eyes widening at Vicki “See? He’s got ears like a woman…how could you not tell?”

Tyler walked over to Vicki as he dropped her plate in front of her harshly “I’m not fruity, just a little feminine.” He spun on his heels while Ivy slapped him on the butt with her hand.

“Well at least he’s got a butt.” She cracked while her brother gaped at her with embarrassment written all over his face. She rolled her eyes “Don’t look at me like it’s the first time you heard that.”

He arched his lips up “I know my butt is cute…but don’t hit it in front of people.”

Ivy raised her brows as she pointed at him with her thumb “Listen to Mother Theresa.”

Vicki smiled shortly “Are you sure he’s not…” she glanced around and then leaned in closer “gay?” she whispered.

Ivy turned her ear towards her friend “What?”

“Gay…” she whispered louder.

“Girl, I can’t hear you.” Ivy said again.

“Gay!” Vicki cried too loud when suddenly everyone turned to them. She covered her face with her hand.

Ivy turned to her brother and growled “He better not be. The old man’s been drooling over Tara as his future daughter in law. Ty’s gotta pass on the family sperm."

"Don't you mean name?" Vicki asked with a funny look on her face.

"Same thing." Ivy said casually.

“So he does have a girlfriend?” Vicki asked in shock.

Ivy bounced her head back and forth slowly “Well…kind of…the girl is in love with him but he is in denial. Personally, I think he just needs a woman to de-gay him.” Suddenly her eyes beamed “Hey…you’re a woman!”

Vicki frowned “Some how, I sense that’s not a good thing coming from you.”

She laughed, “No, no…it’s perfect. He’s never been with a woman. You should get him in bed and-”

She didn’t get to finish as Vicki blurted out “EWW!!! That’s disgusting…he’s like a little kid.”

Ivy threw her hands up “Well, there goes the idea. Good job, big mouth.” She said sarcastically.

After another hour, it was noon which meant time to close up. Tyler pointed to his watch “Ga Jei, time!”

She looked up with a nod “I’ve gotta go lock up. You want to stay?” She asked Vicki, who nodded.

“Sure. I have no where to go…no one to find.” Vicki sighed dreamily.

“Get some help…please!” Ivy cried while she locked up.

Vicki watched as Tyler set up a chair while he pushed the tables away. He took a trash bag and poked a hole inside it as he squeezed the head through it. Her eyes looked curious as she asked “What are you doing, Ty?”

“Cutting my hair.” He said casually.

“You do it by yourself?” she asked in shock.

“No, Ga Jei does.” He replied “You didn’t know?” Vicki shook her head “She’s been doing it forever. But one time, she cut it so bad that I had to shave it all off. But I think she’s got it down now.”

“Wow…I didn’t know your sister was so talented.” Vicki was surprised.

Ivy walked out with a bowl and a pair of paper scissors, she took a glass of water in one hand and poured it over Tyler’s head “Damn boy, do you use enough gel?” she asked.

“I was in a rush this morning.” He giggled when the water trickled down his neck to his back. Ivy rubbed the water into his hair.

Vicki watched with interest “What’s the bowl for?”

Ivy laughed “You’ve never seen this huh?” her friend shook her head “The bowl is for the shape.” Ivy combed his hair down with her fingers as they fell over his eyes and back “You look like a shaggy dog.” She chuckled at her own joke while her brother snickered.

“Oh my gosh…you cut his hair like that?” Vicki asked in shock “Haven’t you people heard of a hair salon?”

Ivy snapped her eyes up “Haven’t you heard of saving money? We can’t afford a hundred buck haircut every month. He’s a poor student…you mistaken us for the rich florist next door.” She began snipping at Tyler’s hair.

Vicki clamped her hand over her mouth while Tyler looked casual “Actually, Ga Jei is really good.” He nodded convincingly.

“You hear that?” Ivy asked without looking up. If you ask me nicely, maybe I’ll cut your hair.”

She laughed with her head shaking “No thank you…I think I want to look presentable.”

Ivy sighed “I guess some people are just stuck in the 80’s era, huh Ty?” she nodded to her brother who was chuckling.

Vicki touched her hair in defense “It’s not 80’s…I got it from Vogue Magazine. Ada Choi had the same hair cut last month.”

Ivy laughed “Since when are you so into the entertainment world? I thought you only cared about Mr. Perfect?”

Tyler moved his eyes up at his sister “Who’s Mr. Perfect?”

“Some freak she saw in the mall that saved children and young girls for a living.” She sighed dreamily but it was out of sarcasm.

“Well, he did!” Vicki argued.

“Done!” Ivy pulled off the bowl as she used her hands to turn his head at Vicki “Doesn’t he look cute? Please, take him home. He only eats and poops, you don’t have to clean after him, he’ll do it on his own.”

Tyler laughed at her lame attempt to sell him off while Vicki shook her head “I don’t know how you take it, Ty. I would have gone crazy from having Ivy as my sister.”

He shrugged “She kinda grows on you.” He looked at his sister with obvious admiration.

Ivy rolled her eyes “Like a fungus right?” she put out her hand “Gel.” Tyler handed over the bottle in his ready hands as she squeezed out a little and began ruffling his hair up until it was spiky clean. Vicki had to admit that it was cool looking. She nodded in approval while Ivy smiled “He cleans up nice huh?”

Vicki grinned “Not bad. I’d take him home now.”

Tyler blushed as he looked down at his hands “Aww…he’s blushing!” Ivy teased as she squeezed his pink cheeks together. A second later, she patted him on the shoulder “Now clean up this mess. I’m starving!” she walked over to her seat with chefs and her father.

“Aren’t you gonna clean your hands?” her father asked disgustedly.

Ivy looked at her gel clump hands “Okay. Ty, come here!” she commanded. He walked over to her and without notice, she wiped her hands on his shirt. He opened his mouth with a shock expression while Ivy turned to her dad “Clean.” She smiled shortly and began eating.

Tyler turned to Vicki with narrowed eyes “Cute, isn’t she? I pity the fool that finds the balls to marry my sister!” he said and quickly rushed to the kitchen before Ivy could chase him down.

“Yeah, you better run!” she growled “And the guy won’t have any balls left after he marries me!!!” she cried. She could hear his laughter while Vicki shook her head with a smile.

Chapter 6

It was Friday finally, which meant Ivy gets to sleep in on Saturday. But it also meant that she was going to close out the restaurant for Friday. When she returned home feeling tired, her energy boosted when she saw Ben sitting with her father on the couch talking. Tyler was mopping the floor nearby but Ivy knew he was trying to eavesdrop.

She narrowed her eyes “If you’re going to talk about me, say it a little louder so I could hear too.”

Her father looked up with a stern expression “No one is talking about you. Don’t talk so highly of yourself.”

Tyler began waving the mop hysterically while Ivy wrinkled her brows, it was a sure sign good old Daddy was lying. The elder man turned around and Tyler instantly dropped his mop and began cleaning. But Ivy knew better as she threw her keys on the coffee table and sat down on the long couch across from Ben and her father “Don’t be putting things in my old man’s head.” she warned Ben.

Ben smiled “I wouldn’t dare. Anyways, I’m sure he knows what you’re capable of doing.” He got up and prepared to leave “I won’t tell him that you peeked over to my apartment to watch a soccer game.”

“You what?!” her father grumbled.

Ivy rolled her eyes while Ben covered his lips with his hand “Oops, did I let that out?” he laughed while walking towards the door.

“Leaving so early? Aren’t you going to freeload first?” she asked.

“Ivy!” her father cried as he got up to walk Ben to the door “I’m sorry, I didn’t do a good job about teaching my daughter any manners.” Ivy snapped her head at Tyler who snickered at her father’s comment.

Ben shook his head with a smile “It’s alright. After I’m done with her, she’ll never lift her leg on the chair again.”

“You’re a saint!” Mr. Yung praised as he walked Ben out.

Ivy took her chance as she hopped over to the couch nearest to Tyler “What the hell was that all about? And what did that freak mean by that?”

Tyler shook his head with a sigh “I feel so sorry for you right now.”

“Why?” she asked suspiciously. He continued to mop and sigh at the same time but he didn’t tell her what he had found out. She reached out and yanked the mop from his hands “Tell me, you little twirp or I’ll shave you bald like last time!!”

He placed his hands on his hips “Dad wants to marry you off.”

“What?!” her voice screeched “Wh…why…why would he do that?” she sat back looking shock.

Tyler grabbed the mop before it fell to the floor “Because it’s a natural part of life, girls will marry off one day.”

“Well, I don’t see you getting married!” she snapped “Crap…I don’t need this crap. And don’t tell me he wants to marry me off to that freak over there!” she pointed to Ben’s apartment.

“He has a name!” Mr. Yung frowned at his daughter with his head shaking “Freak is not appropriate for a lady to use.”

“Find a lady and I’ll tell her that!” Ivy snickered. She turned to her father suddenly “Why do you want to marry me off? What have I ever done to you?” she gave him the guilty puppy eyed look.

Mr. Yung smiled “You say it like it’s a bad thing. Tyler, go to your room.”

“Why?” He gaped at them in shock.

“Because you could hear better in there.” Ivy quipped as she nodded to the room “This is an adult conversation.” Tyler wrinkled his nose but he eventually walked out of the room. The minute he did, Ivy turned to her dad as she rushed over to him “Please daddy…I’ll be good. Don’t marry me off to that fre…I mean Ben. I don’t like good looking men, I want to marry someone just like my daddy!”

Mr. Yung shivered from the syrupy sound of her voice “Don’t talk like that, it gives me the chills.” He pointed to the couch as she slumped back and sat down.

“How does Tyler do it?” she asked more to herself.

“It’s called being sincere, dear.” Her father said with total sarcasm.

“Well he sure didn’t get it from you!” Ivy snapped as she sat cross-legged on the couch “So what is this all about? What’s with the sudden urged to marry me off?”

“Do you know what your mother’s wish was before she died?” Mr. Yung asked, thinking of his wife made his eyes tear up.

Ivy snapped her head back suddenly as she rolled her eyes away “For me to take care of you for the rest of your life.” She said bluntly.

“She said that?” he asked in shock, it was the first time he’s heard it.

She nodded “It was the last thing she told me when I saw her in the hospital.”

Mr. Yung couldn’t help as he let the tears fall and quickly wiped them away “Your mother has a heart of gold.” He sighed “But she told me before she passed away that she wanted you to find a good man and a good home that will support you for the rest of your life. Ivy, you’re 26 years old, you need to find a new shelter.”

“Why do I suddenly feel like a stray dog? Find a good home…hmph!” she snickered “You just want to get rid of me. All you have to do is tell me and I’ll be out of the house quicker than Tyler realizes that he’s gay.”

“Hey!!!” Tyler cried from his room.

Ivy and Mr. Yung smiled to each other “Come on out, Mui Mui!!” Ivy yelled down the hall.

Tyler walked out of his room with his face long down to the floor “I can still hear you.” He grumbled.

“With your ear pinned to the door?” she asked teasingly.

He instantly forgot about it as he walked around the couch and took a seat next to his sister “So, what does Ben have to do with it?” he asked eagerly.

Ivy turned to her brother slowly and then back to her father “Looks like your other daughter is ready to marry off. Maybe you should start with him.” She pointed her thumb at Tyler.

Mr. Yung smiled “He will in due time. But this is your time. Ben is actually an image consultant, he can help a person change their entire appearance. I hear he does miracles.”

She arched her brows upwards “Really?” she asked without interest “So, who did you hear this from? Ben? Daddy, he’s just trying to make money off of you.”

The elder man shook his head with wide eyes “He’s doing it for free. He said you would be a challenge to change, so in truth he is doing it for himself not for me.”

Tyler nudged his sister in the back “I think you should go for it!” he pushed.

“Yeah, well I think it’s about time you come out of the closet.” She snapped and then turned to her father “There’s not such thing as free. He wants something in return.”

“Have a little faith in men.” Her father said wisely.

“Yeah, you’re telling me. I’m living with a widowed man who’s been raising two kids on his own and can’t find another woman that wants him for the past 20 years. I’ve got a brother who’s so gay but can’t admit it. Yeah…I have every reason to have faith in men.” She winked sarcastically.

Tyler crossed his arms “I’m NOT gay!!”

Ivy turned to him as she imitated his crossed arms “Really? What’s with the nice clothes? And the cologne you always have on? If you’re not gay, why don’t you have a girlfriend? Boy, you need to wake up and smell the lily fragrance…you’re gay. Dad and I don’t mind, so why should you?”

Mr. Yung nodded in agreement “As much as I hate to agree with your sister, she’s right. You have to be true to yourself before you can be truly happy.”

“Words coming from the old and wise.” Ivy nodded at Tyler.

He shook his head again “But I’m not…” he was whining by now “I’m not!! I’m not!!”

“Okay!!” Ivy put up her hands in defense “Sheesh, stop throwing a tantrum, you know I can’t take it.” She laid her head down on his lap, making herself comfortable. She chuckled “So…you gonna give Tara a chance?”

Tyler frowned “Why? She doesn’t like me.”

Ivy widened her eyes “Boy…you need help.”

Mr. Yung patted his daughter on the leg “That will come in due time. Now it’s you first, Ivy. Ben has agreed to start the process tomorrow. I agreed to give you a month off from work so he can work on you.”

She quickly sat up “A month?!!!” she blurted “A whole month with the freak?? No…no…I’ll end up killing him.” She stood up on the couch only to be pulled back down by Tyler and her father.

“Hold onto your dirty underwear.” Tyler rolled his eyes “Listen to dad, I think it’ll be good for you.”

“Traitor.” Ivy snarled at her brother.

“Will you do this for me?” Mr. Yung asked “I’ve never requested anything from you.”

“And you shouldn’t start now.” Ivy said reasonably.

“How about for your mother?” Mr. Yung asked.

He knew her weak spot. Ivy narrowed her eyes “You’re evil!” she whispered.

“No, just smart!” Tyler pointed out.

Ivy turned to Tyler “You don’t have to kiss up, he already likes you the most!”

“Ivy…” her father’s stern voice called her back.

She was hesitant to answer “I…I’ll sleep on it.”

“Good! I’ll take it. Tomorrow morning, Ben will be over at 10am. You can tell him then. I know I cannot push you, so I will leave the decision to you. But remember, your mother’s last dying wish was to see you happy. You are her only daughter, she only wants the best for you…remember, she’s in heaven watching you right now.” The man looked up towards the ceiling with a content smile as he got up and walked towards his room.

“Damn, he’s good!” Tyler complimented.

“Shut up!” Ivy snapped as she began biting her nails, a sure sign that she was nervous.

Tyler wrinkled his brows “That’s such a bad habit.” He shook his head as he placed an arm around her shoulders “Maybe it won’t be that bad? I mean…maybe he can change you into a girl. The way God intended you to be.” He was teasing her. She could tell because he was trying unsuccessfully to hold his laughter inside.

“One more quip like that and I’ll tell Tara you have a mad crush on her!!” she pointed at him threateningly.

His eyes widened fearfully “You wouldn’t dare…” he breathed.

“Would I?” she tested as they both glanced at the phone and jumped up simultaneously to reach for the phone. She tackled him when Tyler got a hold of the phone first. They wrestled until Ivy eventually beat him out with her feet on his face. She dialed while he tried to push her off but she clung onto him like glue “Hi, Tara? It’s me Ivy…I have something to tell you...”

“NO!!!!” Tyler cried as he used all his strength to flip over his sister. He grabbed the phone from her hand “Tara?” but all he heard was the operator’s voice telling him what time it was. He looked down at his sister who was cackling like a chicken “You’re sick.” He spat with disgust.

“Thank you.” Ivy managed to say “Now get off me before I stick my toe in your nose.” Tyler rolled his eyes as he got up and pulled his sister up with his ready hand. She let out a yawn “It’s time for my beauty sleep.”

Tyler snickered “Beauty sleep? Then you’ll need like 10,000 hours or something.” She sneered at him like a tiger on it’s prey as he raced down the hall with her close to his heels.

SIUBINGLIBRARY