Little by little, we move forward in our life

A sense of accomplishment hits Ivy as she walked ahead. Bridgette saw her friend swaying left and right comically. She grew worried and caught up to ask if she shall drop Ivy at her place.

Ivy declined, assuring Bridgette that she is not yet fully drunk. She admits to still having some consciousness left to get home safely. Nevertheless, Ivy did request that her friend calls for a cab.

"Are you sure you can get home safe?" Bridgette worriedly asked again to watch Ivy struggle to get inside the cab.

"I'm f- fine. You g- go home safe. Don't roam outside!" Ivy stuttered.

"Look who's talking! Alright, goodnight!"

The ladies bid farewell. And Bridgette watched Ivy's ride flee to her sight, and she turned to walk back home.

****

Leaning against the headrest, Ivy stared outside the city as she silently sank to her volatile state, watching the city doll up, its patrons never retiring the streets to wander all night- such a beautiful city of dreams. Pondering about hopes, all that talk Bridgette gave, replayed to her frail memory, and she wondered if anything that mentioned could come close to the truth.

'Do I like Lucy?' Ivy thought to hear her phone buzz, and she picked up without a glance to answer.

"Hello?"

After a pause came a crisp sound, "It's me!"

"Uh?"

"It- It's me!"

This time the voice quivered to break its sweet tone and exhibit ambiguity that confused Ivy. She knew it was a familiar voice but only couldn't figure it out from her dizzy state.

"Am I speaking to Ivy?" the voice called in doubt.

And then the owner of this voice appeared in her clouded memory.

"Lucy?" she finally guessed correctly.

"Ivy?"

"Lucy?"

"Yeah, it's me, Lucy-" the voice returned to its crisp, sweet sound.

Ivy paused to reply, "L- Lucy?"

'Why do you have to call right now?' - Ivy thought to groan from the coincidence and heard Lucy's soft chuckle to a startle.

"I was calling to let you know that I finished reading all the reference materials you gave me. It was enlightening, and I received a lot of ideas to play Claudia better. Thank you very much!" Lucy happily chirped while Ivy was falling into an existential crisis.

To her shock, Ivy caught a glimpse of herself in the rear-view mirror to discover a flustered reflection of herself. Her voice stiffened, correcting her posture to sit up straight, as she responded with an unease.

"G- Glad to help!"

'I am so not feeling glad right now!' she mused to herself.

'Why am I getting flustered needlessly?'

Lucy went to share the materials and spew details that she found amusing and talked about her new inspirations to portray her character well. All while Ivy kept repeatedly chanting to herself that she is not interested in this new girl in her life.

Lucy paused in-between to anticipate a reaction but only heard dead silence fill in the air.

'I am not interested in Lucy!'

"Ivy? Are you listening to me?"

'I don't like Lucy!'

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

'No- I mean, I do like her- she is one of the actors-'

Ivy ignored the recurring call to indulge in an immense quarrel with herself.

"I- Ivy? Are you alright?" Lucy began to worry as she asked.

Finally fumed with her own argument, Ivy yelled into the phone, "Well, I am not interested, but you have been disturbing me for a while, Lucy!"

Ivy did not care to notice that she yelled her inner voice out loud. Her cry almost startled the driver, and he peeked into the mirror to make sure the drunk lady isn't causing trouble.

Lucy's enthusiasm died on the spot as she got stunned from the way of response.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you. Anyways, I called to thank you for your guidance. Sorry again, goodnight!"

Lucy abruptly ended her call to Ivy's shock.

'Crap!'

Ivy looked at the phone to check and see if Lucy is still waiting, but the call ended long ago. Her mood plummeted to a downfall, and she thought that it shouldn't bother her when it certainly mattered the most to trouble her through the rest of her ride.

Glancing outside, Ivy could no longer muse on the city of dreams but live in a bothering nightmare. The silence only manifested the stress, and the liquor animated her true feelings. It felt as if she's facing a trial with an obvious outcome. Nonetheless, finding a meaning to all those silly emotions sprouting deep inside irritated her.

Even after reaching home and taking a quick cold shower, the senses remained idle, continuing to pester her mind. Ivy lay dormant on her bed, looking into the phone and wondering if sending a text about explaining herself would soothe Lucy. However, the very birth of such thought got canceled by Bridgette smirking her suspiciously.

'I'm not in love with Lucy!' Ivy gritted her teeth in annoyance.

'I'm not!'

'I'm-'

Lucy's voice- and how sad it grew following Ivy's rude response, replayed for the hundredth, advertising her choice to send a message. Living amid a dilemma, Ivy tortured herself both ways, only to lose in-between and fell asleep carrying the phone close to her heart.

All night, she murmured in her sleep, kept repeating her disinterest in Lucy.

***

The next morning, Ivy waited until Lucy arrived at the set. As soon as she saw the actor approach to get ready for her shoot, Ivy left her spot hastily. She motioned at the people welcoming with a friendly wave. Lucy flinched to leave her seat and joined in greeting Ivy at first sight. Ivy returned the gesture. It was clear to both the eyes that there seems to be friction between the two caused by last night's conversation.

Lucy dared not to speak anything unnecessarily while Ivy still lived the nightmare.

"The driver kept talking about random stuff, and I couldn't hear you properly. So- I didn't mean-" Ivy stuttered to connect her words.

"It's alright," Lucy said to aid in her struggle.

Still unsatisfied at seeing the unhappy look, Ivy dares to put everyone in a shock by confessing a strong declaration.

"You are not disturbing me, Lucy!"

"You never will be-" she said to find everyone gawk at her, stunned. Ivy then left the room, letting Lucy succumb to the aftermath of her declaration.

Meantime, Lucy's blue face lightened to hear those words, and Ivy, for the first time, listened to her heart thump so fast from the embarrassment. She also left the place with an unexpected grin, never abandoning her face along with the immense relief she welcomed from all the worry disappearing forever.

Needless to say, that day at the film set, it was quite lively as the people who witnessed Ivy's grand gesture to Lucy kept chatting about it. However, the two involved in this new tale remained botherless as something novel flourished in their broken hearts, and often they found gazing into each other for comfort.

***

The very same day, after delivering another flawless performance, Bridgette entered backstage to experience the change in the air remain the same as she discovered it since her arrival. Everyone treated her with more respect and admiration, all due to Laura's presence from the previous night.

Signing off with everyone who passed her, it felt exhausting to receive so much attention. Bridgette worried if this might follow her everywhere. As she left the building, she found Gavin waiting outside in the cold weather.

Their eyes meet to the familiar spark, and a smile emerged as a formal greeting.

Gavin waited precisely this time, knowing well that no one would get tie-up with Bridgette, for he wanted to meet her alone. Following his wishes on her performance, the two chatted formally for a while. Bridgette noticed his slight tremble to worry about how long had he waited to meet her. All of a sudden, she got reminded of the number of times Gavin had expressed such care. It remains countless to date, and to her selfish desire, she finally thought to respond to his calls.

However, seeing that his purpose got fulfilled, Gavin was preparing to say his farewell when he heard Bridgette stop him.

"M- Maybe, would y- you like to- grab something to d- drink?" she marshaled to ask.

Effectively carried away from her unusual reaction, Gavin continued to remain dumbstruck that he soon noticed her cheeks burn from the cold breeze.

"S- Sure!" Gavin replied to hear his tummy make a loud growl.

Bridgette giggled to witness and asked if Gavin could join her for dinner.

Suspended with second strange surprises tonight, Gavin ended up bluffing as he escorted Bridgette to a nearby diner.