Fan Fiction |
by YukLing
Qian opened her eyes again when she heard a small shuffle sound.
"You're awake, how are you feeling?" Ray asked.
"I'm feeling better than yesterday. Did you stay here all night?" Qian asked politely.
It was the first civilized conversation they've had since that dreadful morning after the wedding. There was a sense of awkwardness between the two people in the room as they both looked and didn't know what to say to one another.
Finally Qian spoke first, "Thank You for saving me yesterday."
"I think anyone in that situation would have done the same, Qian." Ray simply stated.
Ray was right, Qian thought, anyone would have done what he did.
Another silence fell between them, before Ray asked, "Why did you want to keep the baby? You know, you could have died considering the risk of the operation."
His sudden question took Qian by surprised. Was he disappointed that she kept the baby?
"Because it's my baby. I think any mother in my position would have made the same decision I made." Qian replied.
Her answer was so simple, yet it startled Ray. Perhaps he was wrong in thinking that every woman was like his own mother -- someone who would desert her child in search for her own happiness.
Ray stood up from the chair and walked to the window. Without looking at Qian, he said, "We will need to pick a date."
"A date for what?" Qian asked with his back facing her.
Ray turned back, looked at Qian for several seconds before answering her with a serious voice, "For the wedding. If you don't mind, I rather it'd be a small wedding."
So he did know that it was his baby, Qian thought. Was this his way of repaying her? She might not hate him now, but it definitely didn't mean she was going to marry him.
"That isn't necessary." Qian simply replied.
"Don't be ridiculous, Qian. Of course it's necessary. You don't think I'm that much of a jack-ass, do you? I might be anything, but I'm not a person who doesn't take responsibility for my mistake."
"Well you don't have to. I'm not asking anything from you, except that you please leave me and the baby alone."
For some weird reason, Ray was offended and hurt that Qian actually did not need him and had flatly refused his offer. Ray paused then finally asked, "Do you really still hate me that much?"
"No." Qian replied truthfully. "But I don't want us both to do something we will regret later on too. One mistake was enough."
It would have been easier if she had just accepted his marriage proposal, but now that she decided to take him out of the picture and have the baby herself, Ray felt an emptiness inside.
"I don't want to argue with you today, Qian. I'm gonna give this conversation a rest now, but this isn't over." Ray replied then walked towards the door. "I need to get back to the office and finalize some contract paper. I'll be back to check on you later."
Qian wanted to tell him it wasn't necessary for him to come back, but he was already gone before she could reply.
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It was definitely a depressing and dreadful day as Qian sat in bed watching the rain drops falling against the window. The existence of the baby has changed her whole perspective on things, on her outlook in life. She couldn't just live for herself anymore but also for the baby. Never did she imagine that her life would turn out to be exactly like Michelle, except that Ray was not like Josh. Qian was thankful for that. With Ray, she wasn't sure what to do with him. It would have been much easier if he had continued being the jerk she once thought he was. But more than once, he had ended up saving her life. She knew she had been childish for putting all the blame on him on everything in the past.
Despite the fact that Qian no longer hate Ray as much as she did, she was still determined she'd never marry him just because of the baby. She could not marry someone who she did not love or someone who did not love her too.
Ron and Myolie came to visit Qian shortly thereafter. Their conversations remained primarily of health-related concerns and questions. Neither of them spoke much about the cause or effect of Qian's pregnancy. Qian couldn't speak without avoiding Ron's eyes or questioning stare. Ron couldn't ask Qian all the questions that were in his mind with Myolie being the same room. And Myolie couldn't ignore the tension and awkwardness between Ron and Qian.
Thankfully, they were all saved by Michelle, Michael and a stranger's arrival.
"Oh my gosh! Qian! I came here as quick as I could when Ron called me this morning. Are you alright??" Michelle asked with great concern as she hugged her friend.
"I'm fine now, Michelle. The doctor just said I needed to stay here for another short while before I can be released." Qian replied. Then she looked up and saw a stranger standing next to Michelle. He was holding Michael in his arms.
Michelle noticed Qian's questioning gaze, "Oh, excuse me for my rudeness. Everyone, this is my boss Mok Man-Wei."
Everyone greeted each other. After a few short minutes, Ron and Myolie bid their goodbye to Qian and her friends and then left. Michelle's boss and Michael also left to go outside because Michael wanted to see the duck pond near the hospital, leaving just Qian and Michelle to themselves.
"Who's he?" Qian quickly asked as soon as everyone was gone.
"Who's the father?" Michelle also asked at the same time.
"I asked first." Qian said.
"He's my boss." Michelle replied.
Qian gave her friend a "I-DON'T-BELIEVE-HE'S-JUST-YOUR-BOSS" look.
"Well, he is my boss. But we're also dating too." Michelle finally admitted.
"Isn't he.....isn't he a bit old for you?" Qian asked.
Michelle nodded, "But that doesn't matter, because he really likes me and he seems to like Michael a lot too."
"Mich..."
"Qian, I know what you're gonna say. But I know what I'm doing this time. Man-Wei is a good man. He's not like Josh. And besides, Michael really likes him too."
"What about you? Do you like him too?" Qian asked.
"I don't know yet. You know it's funny..." Michelle gave a nervous laugh. "I know he's not what us girls normally dream about as our prince-charming when we were little....actually he's very not handsome too, I admit. But somehow he gives me a secure feeling. And I feel happy when I'm with him too."
"Mich, it's only been 2 months. Are you sure it's not moving too quickly?" Qian asked with concern in her voice.
Michelle shook her head, "No. We've been working side-by-side for the last 2 months. Even though he's my boss, but he never treats me as one of his workers. I think I've finally found a really good man this time, Qian."
"I'm just worry for you and Michael."
"But I'm worry for you and your new baby more." Michelle said as she rested her hand on Qian's stomach. "So who is the father, it's not Ron is it?"
"No. It's not Ron." Qian replied and paused for a moment to continue "It's his friend, Ray. It happened by accident on the night of Ron and Myolie's wedding."
"You mean it was a one-night-stand?"
Qian nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me about this?"
"I wanted to, but you were packing to leave at that time. Plus, I didn't actually think I was gonna get pregnant."
"What now? Are you keeping the baby?"
"Yes, I've already decided I'm keeping the baby."
"And what does Ray think?"
"He asked to marry me, but I said No."
"What? Why did you say No, Qian?"
"Mich, I could never marry someone I didn't love."
"So you're just gonna raise this baby by yourself? Qian, you of all people should know how hard it was with Michael....couldn't you reconsider his proposal again?"
"Mich, you know me. Do I ever go back out on what I say?"
Michelle gave a sigh and gave up trying to convince her hard-headed friend. "What about Ron?"
"What about Ron?" Qian asked.
"How does he feel about all this?"
"I don't know. He and Myolie were here before you arrived. But we didn't talk much. In any case, it's not important anymore. I think have more problems to worry about now than to worry about what Ron feels."
Michelle agreed and was glad to hear her friend said that. "So this guy Ray. What is he like?"
"You really want to know? Well, he's quite arrogant and conceded. From what I've heard about him, he dates women casually. Doesn't believe in love and enjoys his bachelor life very much. You know, the very typical playboy type. And every single time that we run into each, he always takes advantage and enjoys embarrassing me. So you see? I don't think he'd be the ideal father for my baby."
Then both girls laughed loudly at Qian's comments about Ray.
"He can't be that bad, can he? I mean, he did ask you to marry him."
"More like it was his duty to ask me." Qian replied jokingly.
"But seriously, Qian. Rethink about his proposal, OK? I'm sure any man who is willing to take responsibility can't be such a bad person."
Qian rolled her eyes at Michelle then gave a great laugh.
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Ray came to visit Qian everyday she was at the hospital after work. One day. he even brought a big basket of fruits.
"Here, I got you this basket fruits. It has several variety of fruits in it because I didn't know which fruits you like."
Qian politely said, "Thank You. You really didn't need to do this, Ray."
After Ray set the basket on the table top, he went to sit next to her bed.
"How are you feeling today?" Ray asked.
"I'm much better. Thank You."
"Good." Ray replied then looked down at his feet before looking back up to Qian. "Have you given anymore thought on my proposal?"
Qian was afraid Ray would bring up this topic again. "Ray. I'm not going to marry you just because I'm having your baby. Please don't ask me this again."
"Then tell me what you want instead."
"I want for you to just go back doing whatever you were doing before this. I appreciate your offer and your visits, Ray. Truly. But it's pretty obvious we have no feelings for each other and you keep trying to do-the-right thing is just making it really awkward for us."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! I'm sure. I've been trying to tell you this all along. I think you've just been very confused with this erupt news that you've not been yourself lately." Qian smiled.
"What do you mean I've not been myself lately?" Ray asked nervously as he tried to keep his cool.
"I'm not sure if I could get use to this sensitive-caring side of Ray. I much rather prefer the selfish-vain-conceded-arrogant-teasing-flirtatious Ray. At least that old-Ray didn't bother me every day." Qian laughed.
It was the first time Qian actually laughed and made funny jokes in front of him, Ray noticed.
"So that is your impression of me?"
Both people smiled with the comfort of knowing that at least now they have a common mutual understand between each other.
====== AUTHOR'S NOTE ======
This chapter took me so long to write becoz I had to decide which direction I wanted to take (i.e. Qian's response). But finally, as you see I've decided to let Qian "grow up" abit more come to a realization and deal with things more maturelly instead of always putting the blame on Ray :)