Fan Fiction |
by Hibiscus
And the cause? A certain bewitching lady, Ariel Lin Yi Chen. Her name alone lit up Mike’s eyes to brilliance and made many a woman sigh. His lips quirked by themselves at his thoughts and a woman staring at him, whispered to her friend, “Dip me in chocolate and throw me to him.”
Sandra was being a very good assistant by introducing him to people she thought could be influential to his future. Mike endured it all with a genial smile, sometimes even a sincere one and charmed many people.
After an hour or so into the party, he gave in to the demands of his hungry tummy and wandered to buffet.
As he stood with a plate in his hand, trying to decide between sashimi and kimchi, a citrus fragrance pervaded his senses. He looked up with a smile and saw short haired Ella grinning cheekily at him.
Mike feigned astonishment. “Is that a dress? Who are you and what have you done with Ella?”
Ella, one third of a very popular girl band, S.H.E and a much celebrated actor, beamed at him and swatted at his hand. “I’ll have you know I can be very girly when I want.” She said.
Mike eyed her appreciatively. “You look absolutely ravishing.” He complimented her and she beamed again.
“You flatterer!” She said with a laugh.
“I’m wounded. You don’t believe my sincere words.” Mike retorted.
“The sushi tastes the best.” Ella said noticing Mike’s indecision.
“Thanks E.” As Mike filled his plate, Ella stood beside him chattering about all manner of things.
Suddenly she said, “How’s Joe? I heard he went to Greece for a month.”
Mike swallowed the tasty morsel of sushi and replied, “Yeah, he’s coming back next week.”
“Yeah? I hope the trip helped him to get over Ariel.” Ella said in a matter of fact tone.
Mike thought he had misheard. “What?” He stopped eating focused his attention on Ella.
“He had a massive crush on her when we were filming Rose,” Ella said, oblivious to the storm brewing in Mike’s eyes. “Kept on denying it but the man could not talk about anything or anyone else. Made me nauseous, it did. I mean, Yi Chen is wonderful but a girl’s esteem WILL suffer when being compared to a paragon. I think he told Winnie that he wanted to work with Ariel in ISWAK and you know the rest.”
Mike put his plate on the table, his appetite completely gone.
“You okay?” Ella finally clued in on Mike’s expression.
“Yeah. The sushi must not agree with me.” Mike smiled tightly. “Listen, I just remembered something I have to do. Sorry to be so abrupt.”
“It’s okay. I’ll go rejoin my ladies and we’ll get together someday, yes?” Ella patted Mike on the shoulder and made her way back to where the rest of S.H.E stood.
Mike bid a curt farewell to Sandra and fled the party, unable to stand one more minute of the joviality that was the essence of the party. Sandra stared after him bewildered as he rushed out.
Mike got home and got dressed in his riding clothes. He got on his bike and started driving, the speed demon in him urging him to go faster and faster.
Fortunately the roads were deserted and Mike could give in to the speed demon. He didn’t know how long he rode for, or where exactly he was when he stopped. All he knew was that the only light was from the harsh gleam of the light from his bike and the sparsely spaced streetlights. There was no moon and the stars were hiding behind bulbous clouds. The road stretched ominously in front of him and behind him.
He could have been the only man in the entire world. His world, the gaiety, the laughter, the diamond sparkle seemed make believe at that time. A story thought up by a man who held on to clouds for comfort not realizing that they would dissipate.
He got off his bike and took of his helmet. He lay down flat on the road, breathing harshly. His mind and soul refused to address the cause of the calamity but finally, finally reason interfered and he thought back to all the times Joe had unerringly given himself away. How could he have been so blind? Why hadn’t he seen?
Mike knew the answer of course.
He hadn’t wanted to see. He hadn’t wanted to believe.
All he had been able to see had been Ariel. She had consumed all the space in his world and he had concentrated on her to the extent that he was blind to everyone else. The gleam in her eyes, the lift of her lips, the sway of her hips and the softness of her hair.
Mike took a deep breath, by that lonely roadside there. Joe had been silent. It must have hurt him too, Mike realized. But he hadn’t said a word and Mike loved Joe unabashedly. He was his brother and after his grandmother left for another world, Joe would be the only family Mike would have. It didn’t matter that they didn’t share blood, they shared souls and Mike would never do anything to break that bond.
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Author's Note: I'll be back, promise. Once I'm finished writing, I'll be back. Just give me some time, anywhere from two days to a week. What happens next? I'll leave you to ponder.