Fan Fiction |
by Carmen Yip
and little Flora n Gallen...
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[10 June 1999 – Saturday – hospital]
He opens his eyes slowly, and the appearance of the lightings gets more apparent under his eyes. He blinks his eyes in instinctive discomfort, trying to adjust to the intensity of the lights by seconds. It took him more than a while to realize he was back to the cold and scary place with the uneasy scents of medicine.
Tim’s thoughts had frozen for a second or two, in sight of the crowd of people surrounding him like a group of audience. He moved back and sits up a little, laying puzzled views across the people.
Both his parents and younger brother were evidently fretting over the emotional instability Tim had landed himself in recently. They could do nothing but heaved heavy sighs and direct feeble glances towards Tim. Deep down, he appreciated their concern, but there was something more within him which he thought they could not apprehend without experiencing it themselves. They said nothing, he spoke nothing; none of them uttered a single syllabus, and the whole room was in wintry silence. Finally, Tim drew in his breath and display a forceful smile across, patting his mother’s shoulder steadily, seemingly to secure their worries in him, hoping to assure them that he’ll be alright.
Knowing their son’s temper well enough, his family members excused themselves and leave the three other youngsters to talk to him. Meina and Chi Keung were there as usual, as expected, but the presence of an old time acquaintance was certainly not much to Tim’s anticipation. He was rather wrong, she used to be more than merely an acquaintance, she was!
Ironically, it took Tim more than a minute to notice the absence of his little daughter, yet took Keung a couple dozens of seconds to observe the former’s behavior. Perhaps it was too obvious, indeed.
KEUNG: (kindly reminded) Flora is still in nursery, the school organized a picnic today; I’ll fetch her up later!
MEINA: (coming forward) Tim ah, do you know you had slept for almost a day? I was so worried.
Tim only replied with a faint smile, whereas his attention was on the new girl.
TIM: Ah Ling? Is that you?
LING: (smiles) You haven’t forgot me?
TIM: Why would I? But since when did you come to HK?
LING: I’ve been working in Lik Tin Century for a month, Tim.
TIM: (sighs) I’m sorry!
KEUNG: Tim, you better pull yourself together as soon as possible, we need you for the Taiwan deal, I can’t handle that, you know!
TIM: (suggesting) What about getting Ah Ling to help you?
LING: You certainly think too highly of me, Tim, I’m just a secretary!
TIM: Well, Keung, Ling, just help out for a while, I need some time!
KEUNG: But…
TIM: (closing his eyes and breathing out heavily) Please…
KEUNG: (forcing a smile helplessly) Ok, but next Saturday we’re going to sign the contract, so…
TIM: (pressed his lips) I’ll be there!
MEINA: (concerned) Tim, are you hungry? Are you thirsty? What do you feel like eating? I’ll go down and get something for you?
TIM: It’s ok, Meina!
MEINA: It’s not ok, you need to recover, and it’s not good to…
TIM: (insisted) It’s really ok, Meina! I appreciate your kindness… I really do! But can I have some moments off? (apologetic) Thanks!
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[an hour later]
Tim’s thoughts were disturbed by some noises coming from the corridor; he opens the door and found two little children running about. The little girl was undeniably his little Flora, while the little boy seems to be the neighbor’s son Keung was talking about the other day. Tim had wanted to go forward and give his daughter a little hug, but their little conversation had somehow caught his attention. Flora was now seated on the bench, her little legs swinging back and forth, and her little lips were pouting sulkily…
GALLEN: (trying to cheer her up) Little girl, why are you so unhappy? Tell Gor Gor and let me share your troubles!
FLORA: (still pouting) I miss Mummy terribly…
GALLEN: Silly girl, but you still have your Daddy with you!
FLORA: You won’t understand, I never had both Daddy and Mummy with me… it’s either one or the other…
GALLEN: (took out a lollipop from his pocket) This is for you, Flora!
FLORA: I thought Auntie bought you that?
GALLEN: Yah, but you’re sad, so maybe this will help!
FLORA: (grins) Thank you!
GALLEN: Orh! You took my lollipop, so you must marry me when you grow up!
That scene just look so familiar to him, his memories jerked again…
*FLASHBACKS*
[Year 1972, public garden]
Little Tim was passing by the garden as usual after his school, when on this day he saw a little girl sitting on a bench, crying. He approaches her…
LITTLE TIM: Little girl, why are you crying? (looks around) You lost your Mummy?
LITTLE GIRL: (shaking her head) No…
LITTLE TIM: You lost you way home?
LITTLE GIRL: No…
LITTLE TIM: (confused) Then what happened?
LITTLE GIRL: (pulled out a drawing from her bag) This… I got B…
LITTLE TIM: And what’s wrong?
LITTLE GIRL: Mummy will scold me, I didn’t get A…
LITTLE TIM: (felt a little amused) And that’s why you cried? (laughs)
LITTLE GIRL: (pouting) Why are you laughing at me?
LITTLE TIM: Ooops, sorry, I’m not! Hmmm… (takes out a candy from his pocket) This is for you!
LITTLE GIRL: (receiving it) For me?
LITTLE TIM: Yes, this is called ‘Happy Candy’, hope it will make you happy!
LITTLE GIRL: Thank you Gor Gor!
LITTLE TIM: (patting her head) You are so cute, what about marrying me in future, since you took my candy?
The little girl just grins and blushes lightly as she lowers her head a little and looks to her left…
LITTLE GIRL: (stood up) Mummy!
LIZA: (hurrying over) Oh my Helen, here you are!
LITTLE TIM: Auntie?
LIZA: Oh… Tim? You still remember me?
LITTLE TIM: (forcing a smile) Yes I do!
LIZA: How has your father been?
LITTLE TIM: He’s ok, we’re ok!
LIZA: (to little girl) Ok, Helen, say goodbye to Gor Gor, we got to go home now!
LITTLE GIRL: Bye bye!
LITTLE TIM: (smiles) Bye!
*END OF FLASHBACKS*
Though the memories were quite vague, considering it to be more than 25 years ago, somehow the way the little girl tumbles still leaves a very deep impression in his mind. The way she turns around and waves her hand at him, that little ‘goodbye’ sign, it hurts now!
Tim hurries over and carries little Flora up.
TIM: Flora, how can you agree to marry someone over a lollipop? Return this to him; Daddy will get you a dozen tomorrow!
FLORA: No, Daddy, I want this!
TIM: I said no!
FLORA: (crying) I want! I want!
TIM: (carrying her inside) Be good, Flora! you’re the only precious asset I have now! I can’t afford to lose you sweetie!
With that, he carried Flora into his arms and hugged her tightly, mumbling a word or two…
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PS: Okie, this is a little extra I know... but Ah Ling's appearance is not there by chance!
Happy birthday to my dear Ka Jai, sansan the cuteee little piglet! Hehe... (pls dun cry over the chp!)
26/11/2004 ... VNT 0010 (10 mins late though, u know why!)