| Fan Fiction |
by Hibiscus
“What are you doing here?” Ariel said gruffly.
“I came to talk to you about Mina.” Patience replied taking off her glasses and rubbing her eyes.
“What’s there to talk about?” Ariel feigned ignorance.
“The same thing that kept you awake more than half the night, Ariel.” Patience smiled softly.
“Look, I spoke to her. She doesn’t want to listen. End of story.” Ariel yawned deeply. She really wanted to go to bed.
“It’s your fault she met him in the first place.” Patience replied, a note of steel in her voice. “If anything happens, I will blame you.”
The sleep faded from Ariel’s eyes and she turned to Patience. “You do Mina a grave injustice. You think she’s not able to think for herself. She’s hell-bent on getting destroyed. There’s nothing I can do leave tie her up and send her out of the country.”
“You can call Chun and see what his intentions are.” Ariel cringed at these words. Chun would hardly welcome her interrogations.
“You know him. Is he capable of hurting Mina?” Capable? Oh yeah. Hell yeah. Would he? Now that was the billion dollar question.
“Patience…” Ariel started to say but Patience held up her hand.
“Ariel, you don’t understand. Sam broke her apart, her self-esteem from the two years of verbal abuse, her own idea of her worth…it suffered. She’s a shell of what she used to be. And if Chun hurts her, I’m not certain she’ll be able to survive it.” Patience looked appealingly at Ariel. “She’s a wonderful person and somehow she always ends up getting shit on. Always. She was the one who fought Rosalinda, who fought to let us have you stay. She fought for you without ever meeting you, knowing you.”
Ariel sighed. Chun was bad news. “She gets lost in these idols because they let her forget her own life, her own pains. Because with them, she can pretend she is protected from heartbreak. Please, look out for her.” Patience finished then giving Ariel another look left the room.
Ariel flopped down on her bed and lay looking up at the ceiling.
“Damn it to hell.” She got up again and grabbed her cell phone. Getting back in bed and stifling her yawns, Ariel dialed the one number she had never wanted to dial again. Ever.
The phone rang. Twice. Then he picked it up.
“It’s 3:30 am in the morning. You’d better have a damn good reason for calling.” His voice was husky with sleep.
Ariel considered hanging up.
“The hell you are waiting for, Ariel? Did you just want to hear my voice? Are you jealous?” Chun said lazily.
“Why are you going out with Mina?” Ariel finally said.
“Jealous?” He repeated.
“Hell no. I had my chance, remember? I didn’t want it then, I don’t want it now.” She was curt.
“Mmm…you keep on saying that. Why am I going out with Mina? Why wouldn’t I? She’s beautiful, smart, sensuous and nice…I could go on and on.” Someone said something beside him. It was a woman’s voice.
“What the hell, Chun? You have someone beside you?” Ariel felt her fingers clench.
“Mina and I are hardly exclusive, baby.” Chun drawled. “Mmm…I have to go…” And he hung up.
Ariel flung her cell phone across the room and it crashed into wall. “Ah shit.” She muttered as she realized she had destroyed her fifth phone in as many weeks.
---------
Ariel started to make an effort to talk to Mina more, to be awake at the time she got up and be awake when she came back home. Within a week, Ariel was suffering from lack of sleep and sheer exhaustion. Arron noticed and nagged at her incessantly. Finally Ariel snapped at him. “You know, if your band members were nicer, I wouldn’t have to bloody babysit.”
Arron looked confused. “Did you take Jiro cow-tipping again?”
“No!” Ariel scowled. Jiro hadn’t talked to her ever since the cow incident. “Don’t you have a life? Go home or something.”
Arron was playing video games at the house while Ariel did her homework. No one else was around.
“Can’t. Chun’s having a party this Saturday so he has decorators in setting up. It’s apparently a big thing. All his closest friends are invited.” Arron replied making whirring noises to go along with the game he was playing.
Ariel looked up curiously. So far Mina had been floating around like a cloud, a pink cloud. It made Ariel nauseous. She was waiting for Chun to mess up. Hopefully it wouldn’t be too bad of a mess up and Mina would be able to admit that he was a turd and they could all continue with their lives without any problem.
“You’re going?” She asked Arron.
“Yeah, of course. Chun and I might not be best friends but we are in a band together and it would look bad if I wasn’t there.” Arron replied absently. Then. “You wanna come?”
“Hell no.” Ariel replied going back to her math.
----
“So he invited me to the party!” Mina was in 7th heaven as she related Chun’s invitation. “It will be our first outing together among his friends. Omg, could it mean that it’s official? That he’s my boyfriend?” She turned shining eyes to Ariel.
For some reason, Ariel wasn’t keen on Mina attending the party. So she thought quick. “You’re going to the party? It’s my birthday on Saturday; I thought we could do something together.”
Mina looked blank and then smacked Ariel lightly on the shoulder. “Don’t be silly. Your birthday’s next week. October 29th. I bought your present last month.”
Oh well, shit. It had been worth a try anyway. Ariel didn’t know what else she could say to discourage Mina from attending the party.
----
It was a rare day when Fei Lun Hai chilled together. Contrary to what the media reports stated, the boys weren’t all best friends. In fact there were times none of them could stand any of the others. It wasn’t that they were enemies, no, it’s just that they were very different people and if not for the common music to link them, they probably wouldn’t even have been friends. But anyway, today was an exception. The Friday before the party they all found themselves at home in the living room watching a movie.
“Pass me the remote.” Jiro said to Chun who threw it to Jiro without turning his head.
“What are we watching?” Calvin put on his glasses. The glasses were a secret as was the fact that he didn’t have 20/20 vision.
Arron named a movie. “Basically it’s got gore, revenge and fighting.” He said happily.
They watched quietly and then Jiro exclaimed. “I don’t understand why they always torture the family!”
“It’s pretty obvious.” Chun replied with a twisted smile. “Some people don’t care what happens to them so the only way to get them is through their friends. You hurt them through their friends. Pretty genius really.”
Arron gave Chun a narrow-eyed look. Chun saw the look and laughingly held up his hands. “Hey, I’m just saying.” He said.
------
Ariel called Arron, pressing speed dial.
Arron’s phone rang just as the movie neared climax. “Ariel, baby, can I call you back?” Arron whispered. Chun, who was sitting nearest to Arron, had no reaction to Ariel’s name.
“It’ll just take a minute.” Ariel replied from her side.
“Sigh. Fine. But you owe me.” Arron got up and walked away from the living room.
“Thank you. I have a favour to ask you actually.” Ariel hesitated.
“Anytime. What’s up?” Arron was serious for once, reacting perhaps to the sober tone in her voice.
“Tomorrow…at the party, could you keep an eye on Mina, please?” Ariel finally said after a minute of silence.
“You didn’t have to ask, Ariel. You know I would have anyway.” Arron said reproachfully.
“Hah. Thanks Arron. I owe you double now.”
“Hell yes. I’m going to collect.” Arron grinned and then hung up.
-----
“I’m so excited!” Mina bubbled over with good cheer. She was getting ready for the party. Ceci was doing her hair, Rosa her makeup and Patience was there to give helpful comments, you know, like, blue is a better colour. Yeah, stuff like that. Ariel was there to watch over the other girls and make sure they didn’t go overboard with the makeup and accessories. The entire night was drenched in anticipation.
“Do I look okay?” Mina asked them looking worriedly at her reflection.
“You look gorgeous,” Rosa smiled indulgently at Mina who accepted the reassurance with a blush and a smile. And she did look beautiful. The gold dress she had saved for ages to buy, the glow in her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes: these all came together to create a Mina who would stun. She looked innocent. “Just like prey,” Ariel thought and then shook her head to dislodge the morbid thoughts.
“If you want to leave, call me at any time.” Ariel reminded Mina.
Mina laughed. “I’m taking Sebastian. I’ll come by myself if I need to. But I won’t be uncomfortable. Chun’ll be with me.”
Ariel nodded. However that didn’t make her feel any better.
----
Mina’s heart was beating violently as she parked near Chun’s house. All the other cars were sedately coloured and expensive. Sebastian’s colour screamed tacky. For the first time, she wished she had accepted Ariel’s invitation to skip the party in favour of rented movies and ice cream.
“Mina, you’re finally here!” Chun had come himself to get her. Suddenly Mina didn’t feel so embarrassed about Sebastian’s garish colour anymore. Chun was here, he would be at her side. She could do this, she would do this, endure this. For him.
“Let’s go in.” Chun placed his hand at the small of her back and led her into the house.
The house had been transformed. There were tastefully placed flowers, security guards to keep gatecrashers away. Lights, many lights had been set up; buffet tables brimming with food took up one side of the room.
And the people. Stars who had traveled down from the heavens to grace the earth with their shine. The men were debonair, dressed in the very heights of fashion, in clothes designed by designers whose names Mina didn’t even know. And the women…they were splendid, coiffed, made up, bejeweled, sophisticated…All of a sudden, Mina felt very shabby. “You look beautiful.” Chun said accurately reading the expression on Mina’s face.
They entered the cleared up space in the house. Someone gestured to Chun from the other side of the room and he whispered to Mina, “Please wait here, I’ll be back.”
-----
Ariel paced back and forth. She was certain she’d run a groove in the floor before the night was over. She resisted the urge to call Mina and/or Arron. Finally giving up, she called Mina. Mina’s phone rang in her room.
“Shit, she forgot to take her cell phone.” Ariel looked frustrated. She dialed Arron’s number. It rang thrice. He didn’t pick up. Ariel swore.
“Chill Ariel, you need to chill.” Ariel told herself. She sat down and glanced at the clock.
----
It had been an hour. Chun hadn’t come back. Mina found herself shoved back into a corner. No one spoke her or even looked at her. She looked for Arron but didn’t see him.
Suddenly someone pushed her from the side and Mina went flying forward. She bumped into a woman wearing a brown dress. The woman turned in annoyance. Rainie Yang.
“What the fuck are you doing?” She yelled loudly. Mina noticed that her harem of men, Mike He, Joe Zheng and Ethan Ruan Tian weren’t present.
“I said, what the fuck are you doing?” Rainie repeated in a louder voice and Mina’s eyes widened. Everyone fell silent.
----
Ariel’s phone rang and she snatched it up.
“Hello?” Ariel spoke rapidly.
“Ariel. Get your ass over to the house. Something’s going down, girlfriend.” Arron said.
Ariel jumped up. “What do you mean?”
“I received a phone call, allegedly from the hospital. Said there was an accident and my grandparents were involved. Couldn’t reach my parents so I rushed over. Turned out to be a fool’s errand. Chun wanted me out of the house.” Ariel could hear traffic from his side. He was driving. “”I’m on my way to the house. I’ll meet you there.” He hung up.
Ariel grabbed her wallet and ran out.
“¿Rafael, dónde está usted?” Ariel called out in the cold night. “Necesito su ayuda. Présteme su moto, por favor.” (Rafael, where are you?)(I need your help. Lend me your bike, please.)
Rafael stepped out from where he had melted into the darkness. “¿Cómo supo usted que estuve allí?” (How did you know I was there?)
“Porque usted siempre es.” Ariel replied. She held out her hand. “Llaves?” (Because you always are.) (Keys?)
Rafael hesitated. “¿No le puedo tomar yo allí?” He asked. (Can’t I take you there?)
Ariel shook her head “No, pero gracias.” He handed her the keys then and disappeared into the darkness. Ariel walked over to the bush and yeah, sure enough the bike was hidden there. Along with the helmet. Without wasting time, Ariel got on the bike and was driving like a madwoman to the house. (No, but thank you.)
-----------------------------
Mina mumbled an apology and tried to walk away but Rainie wasn’t letting her go so easily.
“Who are you, in your hideous dress, with your hideous face and oh, right, with the hideous car that Chun told me about? How dare you bump into me?” Each word was a poisonous epithet, designed to hurt.
Mina looked around for Chun. She was horrified at the turn of events. She mumbled another apology and made to walk away again. Mina was almost in tears. Rainie sand her talon like nails into Mina’s arms but this time Mina wrenched her arm away. This caused her to lose her balance. She staggered forward and bumped into Chun in turn causing him to lose his grip on the full glass of champagne he was holding. The glass fell; most of the champagne fell of Mina’s dress but a few drops fell on Chun’s expensive Italian leather shoes.
“Mina, look what you did! You naughty girl.” Chun taunted. Mina’s eyes flew to Chun’s face. Gone was the gentleman who had escorted her inside. This Chun she didn’t know, this one she didn’t recognize.
“My shoes Mina, what will you do about my shoes?” He looked deceptively wounded, a cruel twist to his lips.
“She could lick it clean.” Rainie said sidling up to Chun.
“Darling, you stole the words right out of my mouth.” Chun leaned down and gave Rainie a lingering kiss.
Mina watched her eyes wide in anguish. She was having trouble breathing.
“You love me, don’t you Mina?” Chun asked silkily and despite everything, Mina nodded. “Lick my shoes clean and I’ll love you back.” He added with a gentle smile.
“Chun, this is not funny anymore.” Calvin spoke up. He looked ill at ease with the spectacle.
“This is distasteful.” Jiro frowned.
“Stay out of it.” Chun replied and they stalked out of the room, both of them.
Rainie stepped forward and shoved Mina to her knees. Mina looked up at Chun, her eyes bright with tears.
“Lick my shoes, baby, and I’ll pretend you’re beautiful. Lick my shoes and show me how much you love me.”
---------------
Ariel jumped off the bike, not bothering to park it properly and raced to the entrance. There were two security guards in front of the closed doors.
“Let me pass.” Ariel snapped.
“Sorry miss. I need to see your invitation card.” One of the guards insisted.
“Let me pass or else I’ll hurt you really, really badly.” Ariel’s skin was tense with frustration.
“Let her through.” Arron had arrived. Finally. Ariel could have wept, she was that glad to see him.
Ariel burst through the doors and her heart plummeted as she saw the scene in front of her.
Mina sat hunched on the floor weeping and Chun was speaking. His words made Ariel’s blood run cold. “Good girl, Mina. You licked it all clean. Just like a dog. You finally know your place.”
He turned his head toward Ariel. “Tch Ariel, you are too late.” He smiled widely.
Rainie looked over at Ariel dismissively and trilled, “Is this the cleaning lady? Tell her to take the rubbish out.” She nudged Mina with her foot.
Ariel strode forward. Somehow Rafael had followed her and he stood behind her, attentive.
“Ella recoge.” Ariel issued the command softly and Rafael complied immediately, liquid in his movements. He picked Mina up.
Chun stared at Rafael, trying to place him. Arron stood to the side, silent. Mina was completely shattered, each sob shaking her slight frame.
“Tome su hogar.” Ariel sounded imperial as she told Rafael to take Mina home. Arron left with Rafael. They left and she stood there looking at Chun, who looked back, triumphant and smug in his victory. At Rainie who smiled superciliously and at the others, who though not a part of this still hadn’t done anything to stop it.
Ariel looked and her eyes memorized each face, each detail. “Wild eyes, they were.” One of the guests later told his girlfriend. Then Ariel looked at Chun again and smiled. She smiled and every heart there started pounding a bit faster. It was angry smile, it was a vicious smile.
“You wanted a fight, Chun.” Ariel said so softly, so very, very softly. Then she smiled again and it was that same terrifying smile. “You’ve got one.”
And she left, without banging the door, without making another sound, without saying another word.
End Part One
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Author's Note: *Big yawn* Sorry Didarling, I fell asleep. Here's the update now. Mmmmmwah. Now, I'll probably post again by Friday. Okay? =D The next part of the story includes all those characters you are used to. And I'll respond to people's comments in the morning. Forgive me for being tardy with the responses, I'm really sleepy for some reason. Mmmwah?