Fan Fiction |
by YukLing
{Flashback}
Message 1 @ 11:23 PM - July 11:
"Ray, where are you?? Qian just got hit by a car. Come quickly. We’re at the St. Marie Hospital."
Message 2 @ 2:54 AM – July 12 :
"Ray, I've been trying to call your house but you're not there. If you get this message call me back. Qian's in the emergency room now."
Message 3 @ 4:15 AM – July 12:
"Damn it! Ray, where the hell are you?? Qian just lost the baby."
Upon receiving the three messages, Ray had immediately took the next flight back to Hong Kong and rushed to the hospital. It was 6:15AM when he got off the plane in HK, and that was when he received the 4th message from Ron.
Message 4 @ 5:20 AM – July 12:
"Just want to let you know, she's in stable condition now but is still sleeping. We’re in Room 104.”
When Ray arrived at the hospital, no one was there in the room. He walked slowly up to Qian’s bedside and sat down near her. He could not even recognize her when he saw her lying in the hospital bed covered with bandages. Ray wanted to touch her but was afraid he’d harm her, so all he could do was stare her and the monitor, which measured her slow, but rhythmic heartbeat. He could not believe so much has changed in one night, in one short moment. With some hesitation, Ray placed his hand slowly onto Qian’s stomach. And then for the second time that day, Ray cried as he rested his head on her bedside. What was Qian doing down at the streets when she was supposed to be in her apartment already, he thought.
And then his cell phone beeped. He had received a missed call from Ron. Because Ray did not want to disturb Qian from her rest, Ray left the room and stepped into the hallway to use his cell phone.
“Excuse me, Sir. Please don’t use the cell phone in this part of the hospital. It will have interference with our equipment.” A nurse said.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Where can I go to make a phone call?” Ray asked.
“Downstairs or anywhere outside of those double doors, Sir.”
Ray tried to call Ron but did not get through, and so he went back to Qian’s room. But as he was about to re-enter the room, he saw Ron already sitting next to Qian’s bed.
Ron was holding onto Qian’s hand.
“Qian, can you hear me? Please wake up. You can’t leave us like this. Please wake up.” Ron pleaded. He gently strokes her hand and brought it up next to his face. “I’m sorry you have to go through this. I should have taken better care of you.” And then he placed a gentle kiss on her hand.
Maybe this was fate -- so that Ron and Qian could be together alas.
And that was when Ray also stepped back out from the room and closed the door behind him quietly.
{End of Flashback}
It was only 1PM when Ray looked back up at the clock. The days seemed to pass by slowly. He thought that by being this far a distant from Qian, he’d be able to concentrate on his work more and that time would go faster. But the last one-month has been the longest month of his life. He didn’t have to stay in Japan; he could have performed his consultation duties back in HK. But he decided to go and stay in Japan because he could not bear being near Qian and knowing he could never have her. And now that she no longer carried his baby, any connection or relation they had with one another was gone.
{Sound: Knock Knock}
“Mr. Lam? I have received a package for you. It’s from Miss Jessica Hsuen.”
“Thank You, Mioko. Just leave it on the table for me.”
Mioko looked around curiously after she handed him a large yellow package.
“Is there something else, Mioko?” Ray asked, wondering why she was still standing in his office.
“Uh…no, it’s past lunch time and I have not seen you eaten anything. Are you not going to lunch today, Mr. Lam?” Mioko asked curiously.
Mioko, was a part time employee at Yahami Inc. who was assigned to be Ray’s personal secretary during his stay in Tokyo. She was a pretty, cute small Japanese girl in her early twenties. Probably only about 1 or 2 years younger than Qian, Ray thought as he analyzed her. He could tell that she was already developing a little crush on him because every time he spoke to her, she’d blush and look down shyly.
“Is it past lunch time already? I had hardly noticed.” Ray lied. He didn’t want to disappoint the young girl if he had said that he really didn’t care for much lunch or had no appetite for it.
“Yes. Would you like for me to go buy something for you?” Mioko asked shyly.
Another thing which Ray noticed today that he never realized before, Mioko also had a tiny mole on her upper left lips.
“No. That won’t be necessary, Mioko.” Ray replied with a gentle smile. He couldn’t help but wonder why looking at Mioko reminded him so much of Qian. Perhaps because of their same size and features. Even her lips were slight quivered up like Qian when she spoke. The only thing that was especially different between her and Qian were their eyes. While hers were soft and tranquil, Qian’s eyes were vivid and luminous.
Ray could see the disappointment in her eyes upon hearing his reply.
“On second thought, I am a bit hungry.” Ray said.
Mioko’s eyes shined up brightly again and then she smiled, “Then I’ll go buy some food for you right away.”
“No, I think I’ll go down to the cafeteria instead.”
“Oh.” Mioko sounded disappointed again.
“Have you eaten, Mioko?” Ray asked.
Mioko slowly shook her head, “No, I haven't eaten either.”
“OK, then how about joining me for lunch downstairs?” Ray smiled.
Mioko nodded enthusiastically. It was the first time that Ray seemed to have noticed her ever since she has been working for him.
As they both were about to leave for lunch together, Mioko reminded Ray about the package from Jessica.
“She told me to hand it to you personally and that you should open it as soon as possible.
“Yes, Thank You. I’ll take a look at it when I get back from lunch.”
---
Ray and Mioko had pleasant lunch together. They talked about many things, many of which they had mostly in common. As Ray found out, the reason her Chinese was very fluently was because she had studied in Hong Kong for several years before coming back to Japan.
“Thank You for lunch, Mr. Lam” Mioko said when they got back to the office.
“You’re welcome. Thanks for joining me, Mioko.” Ray replied with a smile.
Mioko immediately blushed again then she trotted away back to her desk as Ray re-entered his office room.
Ray sat down at his desk and picked up the yellow package from Jessica. When he opened the package he was surprised to see what was inside it. It was Qian’s final draft manuscript for her book. From looking at the date stamp on the cover, it looked like she has finished it just 3 days ago. Ray wondered why did Jessica send him Qian’s final draft version? Was she asking him for a second opinion again?
And so Ray spent the rest of his afternoon reading Qian’s 28 chapters. By the time he got to the end of 27th chapter, it was already past 6pm.
”Mr. Lam? Are you still here?” Mioko asked after poking her head inside his office. “Hi, I’m sorry. I saw your office light was still on, and so I wanted to see if you were still here. Everyone’s already left the building, Sir.”
Ray looked down at his watch and was surprised that he had been so caught up on the readings that he had almost forgotten the time.
”Oh. It’s 6:35 already?” Ray said, then he looked up and asked her “Why are you still here if it’s passed working time?”
“I….I had to finish up on some paper work, Sir.” Mioko replied. “Aren’t…aren’t you going to leave yet?”
Ray knew that Mioko was probably waiting for him so that they could leave together. Half of him wanted to put down Qian’s manuscript and leave too. After reading the last 27 chapters of her book, it only made him more depressed and reminded him too much of Qian and her used-to-be Single Mom status. But if he left now with Mioko, he might be giving her a false impression. He noticed that after their lunch together, Mioko was already having too much hope on them. He did enjoy her company and they did share many things in common. But something just didn't feel right..something was still holding him back.
“Not yet, Mioko. I have to get this reading done today. Boss’ order, you know. You go on ahead. Have a good night.”
After Mioko left and closed the door behind her, Ray picked up the last chapter and began reading.