Hide-And-Seek

"Mommy, don't be angry. You'll get wrinkles if you are angry at me. Look! You'll look just like the poor pig on my slipper if you continue to frown like that. See?" Ivy took off her battered slipper and waved it in the air. 

Selina gasped when she saw the ruined slipper. At the same time, she examined Ivy from head to toe, ensuring she was not injured. "How did your slipper get damaged to this extent?! Gosh, are you hurt anywhere? Did you trip over the sewer or something? How is it possible for your slipper to end up looking like this?"

"I'm fine. I'm really fine. Look! I can spin around perfectly fine." Ivy was relieved to see Selina's worried expression. Though Selina could be stubborn at times, she still cared more about their wellbeing over anything else. 

Unconvinced by Ivy's words, Selina began examining Ivy's limbs and parts of her body in case Ivy was hiding any injuries. Ivy giggled when she felt a pair of hands reach her lower back. "Haha, mommy! Stop tickling me! I am okay. My slipper got tossed out the window, that's all."

"Out the window?! Did you think you were skydiving? How could your slipper fly out of a window? How did this happen? Were you doing the monkey dance again?" Selina threw dozens of questions at her but didn't give Ivy a chance to explain.

"Well, the blind date I met was a klutz. He tried to act cool by ordering coffee that he didn't like. He ended up spitting it out on the first sip because he added way too much salt. I tried to warn him, but he didn't listen. I joked around when he spat it out the first time."

"But then he decided to reorder the coffee and ended up knocking into the waitress. The coffee spilled, and he felt embarrassed to the point where he mistook the tablecloth for napkin. He pulled the tablecloth to wipe his stained outfit. And then, all the food and sauces spilled to my side and ruined my new boots! And then.."

Ivy vividly told her about the entire blind date that led up to Chloe's appearance. "And that sums it up as to why he failed my test. Mommy, I don't want any man who fits the requirements to help me live over 25 years old."

She hooked Selina's arm as she spoke in a coquettish, naive tone. "I don't dream of a Prince Charming or mafia lord from the books I read, but I just wish to find someone I love and spend time with him. If I only have up to 25 years to live up to, I should be doing what I want and like. I should be making it the most wild life I can ever imagine, not going on blind dates for survival purposes."

"I shouldn't be desperately looking for someone to be with just because they meet the requirements. I'd rather spend the rest of my time with my family, and if I'm fortunate enough, I can meet the one for me."

Ivy snuggled up in Selina's embrace. "I know you're worried about me. Since you know about me wrecking the blind date, you should also know how bad this candidate was. He was worse than the last dude you found me. If I had to marry such a person, I'd rather eat dirt and smell a skunk's spray for my entire lifetime. He's a huge meanie! You don't know what he said-"

Ivy hugged Selina's arm and coquettishly complained about the blind date.

However, before she could voice her dissatisfaction any further, Selina stopped her. "Sweetie, I know you don't want to go on these blind dates, but I can't just sit and watch you wait for a miracle to drop from the sky. Even the chances of you getting struck by bird poo is higher, okay? I felt terrible when we found out that you and Chloe had the chance of inheriting our family's illness. I deem it a curse, and I was fortunate enough to not having to go through it. Your grandma did, and she survived it. Now, it is on you."

Selina turned to face Ivy and cupped her cheek. "You're my precious darling. You're mommy's treasure. I just meant well. If you find a guy you like and he fits the requirements, I will happily give you my blessings. But right now, there's-"

"Mommy." Ivy held Selina's hand and squeezed it tight. Her round eyes were slightly reddened, but it dissipated after a minute. "Mommy, I told you, I already have someone special. And he takes an exceptional place in my heart. It would be with him if I had to walk down an aisle or be lost on a stranded island with a man." She patted her chest.

"You've said it many times, but where is he? Honey, he never once showed up." Selina heard her repeat the exact words many times. However, she never once saw the person Ivy was talking about. All she knew was that he was a big brother who pampered her the most during their secluded training in the mountains.

"We are..playing hide and seek. I am insanely good in hiding. And he is ... just not a great seeker. It's been a few years, but he will find me. He definitely will, and we will meet again. I have a strong sense about this." Ivy answered.

Selina sighed after hearing her words. "Alright, your Prince Charming is in a faraway land, attempting to save the princess from the queen, aka me. Before he comes, this queen shall keep you trapped in this household. As for what happens to the blind date's family, you don't have to worry about it."

"WOOO! I love you, Mommy ~" Before Ivy could wrap her arms around Selina's neck, a palm descended from above and stopped her. Ivy blinked twice before looking up to see her dad's face.

"Daddy!" Ivy called out.

Jason smiled amiably at his troublemaker daughter, "Your beautiful victory is now widespread like fire in the social circle, sweetie." 

"So what? They were all born with a mouth and brain. If they don't want to use their brains before speaking, that is on them. It is in no way my responsibility to correct them and their foul manner. It's not the first time nor last time they will gossip." Ivy shrugged as if she was already accustomed to the social media gossip.