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Ivy sat on the edge of her bed, her lips pressed into a tight line, her gaze fixed on the window as though it held answers to her unspoken frustration. The hurt was evident in her posture-the stiff shoulders, the clenched fists resting on her lap. For three days, she had refused to speak to her brother, Ivan, and her silence was driving him to despair.
Standing in the doorway, Ivan looked at his sister with helplessness. "Buttercup," he started, his voice soft, almost pleading, "I'm sorry na. Please, how long are you gonna be mad at me, hmm?"
Ivy didn't respond. Her head tilted slightly, her lips twitching in an almost imperceptible scowl. To her, Ivan's apologies sounded rehearsed, too easy to say but difficult to mean.
Ivan took a hesitant step forward. "You're really gonna ignore me forever? Come on, Ivy. You know I can't handle this. Just... look at me."
Her silence was deafening. Ivan sighed, kneeling beside her. For a man who stood tall and confident in every aspect of his life, seeing him like this-kneeling, pleading-was a sight that could melt the hardest of hearts. But Ivy was resolute.
"Cheater," she muttered under her breath, her tone sharp and cutting.
"Cheater?!" Ivan blinked, taken aback by her accusation. "How am I a cheater? What did I cheat on?"
Ivy's head turned slightly, just enough to shoot him a glare. "You betrayed me, Ivan. You announced something so big, so personal, without even telling me first. And not just to anyone-at the Christmas party, in front of everyone!"
Ivan sighed, his frustration mingling with regret. "Look, Buttercup, Anya and I-"
"Don't bring her into this," Ivy snapped, her voice rising. She stood abruptly, crossing her arms. "She's my only friend, Ivan. My only friend. Do you have any idea how this feels? Like you've stolen her from me."
Ivan stood as well, his tone softening. "I haven't stolen anyone, Ivy. Anya told me you aren't picking up her calls. She's worried about you. We both are."
Ivy turned away, her back to him. "You wouldn't understand," she muttered. "You have everyone-your friends, your colleagues. And now her. I just... I didn't think you'd leave me out like this. I understand you wanted to keep it private until it's permanent but I don't know but I am feeling a itch that I'm getting to know with others that my lovely old brother found his love that too my one and only friend" she sulked while Ivan's heart ached at her words.
He walked around to face her, gently holding her hands despite her resistance. "Ivy," he said, his voice steady but gentle, "this isn't about leaving you out. This is about love. About taking a big step. And trust me, Anya and I didn't decide this lightly."
Her eyes flickered with doubt, but she didn't pull her hands away. "Then why didn't you tell me earlier? Why did you make it such a spectacle?"
"Because," Ivan began, his voice heavy with emotion, "we weren't ready before. Relationships aren't just about feelings, Ivy. They're about understanding. About patience. About trust. Anya and I wanted to be sure-sure about each other, about us, about everything."
