| Fan Fiction |
by Hibiscus
A door opened. Slammed shut. Heels sounded on the wooden floor rapidly getting nearer. Mike opened a wary eye, swiveled his chair to fully face the window and put the volume of his mp3 player up. Ethan, without opening his eyes, stuck a hand in his bag on the floor, felt around for earmuffs, put them on and then for added protection pulled a pillow over his head. Joe put aside his script, put away the bowel of popcorn, brushed the crumbs from his mouth, sighed and waited.
Rainie stormed into the space that had previously been a sanctuary and yelled, “Zheng Yuan Cheng, tell me what I have heard is not true?”
“What did you hear?” Joe raised an eyebrow in query.
“That you signed a drama with Ariel Lin…” Rainie was almost hysterical.
“Yes I did.” Joe had no qualms about answering.
“But you know I hate her!” Rainie wailed.
“Since when have I lived my life according to your likes and dislikes?” The razor sharp words echoed in the suddenly deathly silent room.
Rainie had the wind knocked out of her by that question. She sat down with a thump. And predictably enough, her eyes filled with tears.
“But she hates me. She’s always mean to me.” She sniffled.
“Why does she hate you?” Joe was curious.
Rainie flushed and avoided Joe’s eyes.
“Well?” Joe wasn’t a very patient man.
“Nothing, okay? Forget I said anything.” Rainie added extra tears for effect.
“Well, if you feel like making up, we are having dinner at Angel next week. There’ll be a few of us. You are welcome to join us if you can curb your animosity. Bring a friend.” Joe picked up the script and the popcorn, his actions screaming dismissal.
“Whatever.” Rainie got up and walked out. Mike pushed his chair to face the room again and lowered the volume on his player. Ethan (still without opening his eyes) slipped off his ear muffs and came out from under the pillow.
They all sighed. Peace again.
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“You are homeless, aren’t you? Or maybe a stalker? I should report you to the police.” Ariel told Arron. Monday afternoon, University library. Ariel had booked a study room intending to study without interruption. And who would walk in but Arron of course. “Shouldn’t you be out doing idol-ey things?” Ariel was not done grumbling.
“Shh. I’m trying to study.” Arron had taken out an accounting text book and was trying to read it.
“Your university doesn’t have a library?” Ariel snapped.
“It does, many in fact.” Arron replied.
“Then explain to me what you are doing here.”
“It doesn’t have you.”
“I really am going to gag. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
There was a silence as t hey both concentrated. Then Arron put down his book. “Congratulations on getting the part of Xiang Qin.”
“Oh. Yeah. Thanks.” Ariel said distractedly.
“Though I never saw you as Xiang Qin. Ever.” Arron chewed on a pencil.
“Me either. If I knew someone like Xiang Qin, I would kick her ass.” Ariel turned the page of her book.
“Don’t you admire her persistence, though?” Arron stole Ariel’s eraser and she whacked him with her ruler.
“To a certain extent, I suppose. But not to the point that I’d sacrifice my pride to gain the guy’s attention or hang around even after he has repeatedly rejected me. I don’t see that happening.” Pause. “Wait a minute. How do you know so much about Xiang Qin?”
“Oh, I have a small role in It Started with a Kiss. Chun Mei’s boyfriend.”
“I see.”
“Do I detect jealousy?”
“I’m not jealous.”
“Definitely jealous. My internal radar is beeping.”
“Your internal radar is broken.”
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The music video for Alan Luo’s song was shot. One day. That was the time allotted, that was the schedule and it was done.
The ads for JCode were also shot within a week and their airing was to coincide with the airing of Chances.
Ariel’s first appearance to the Taiwanese public in the capacity of an idol would be in Alan Luo’s music video, “Good Friend.”
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“Ariel, your socks stink.” Ceci growled as she passed through the kitchen to the laundry. “Isn’t it about time you did your laundry?”
“It’ll do it tomorrow.” Ariel was watching a documentary on Turkish architecture.
“She’s too idol to do a common thing like laundry.” Patience grinned as she entered the house.
“I can’t hear you.” Ariel replied turning the volume up.
“She’s lusting after one of those man-purse carrying dandies from the academy of bad fashion.” Rosa threw a balled up pair of stinking socks at Ariel who ducked.
“Man purse?” The girls shuddered as one. “That’s just wrong.” Ariel looked green.
“There’s nothing wrong with gay people.” Patience looked serious.
“Patience, you are too naïve. Not all guys who carry purses are gay.” Rosa rolled her eyes.
“They aren’t?” Patience looked startled. “They should be.”
Rosa and Ariel looked at each other and burst into laughter.
Ceci came back into the room and growled again at Ariel, “Laundry! Right now! And you two, stop smirking! Rosa, it’s your turn to cook. Patience, take the garbage out. Move it!”
They moved it.
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“I am sorry sir but we have no record of your reservations.” The maître of Angel said in an apologetic voice.
Joe, Mike, Rainie and Selena were gathered at the entrance of Angel which was supposed to be location of the dinner celebrating It Started with a Kiss.
The restaurant, known simply as Angel, was one of the most prestigious places in town. It was known for its food, clientele and the strict rule of only letting people with prior reservations in. It didn’t matter if you were the pope, if you didn’t have reservations you weren’t eating at Angel.
“You didn’t confirm?” Mike asked Joe.
“I was supposed to confirm?” Joe replied looking sheepish. “Aww man.”
“Let me handle this.” Rainie sashayed to the maitre. “Do you know who I am?” She asked him haughtily.
“Yes. It doesn’t matter. We apologise for the inconvenience but the rules are very strict.” The maître smiled pleasantly.
“Is there a problem?” Ariel had arrived, Yi Zhen and Arron in tow. She moved to the front of the group so she could ask Joe the question.
“Miss Lin?!” A voice suddenly cut in on Joe’s lengthy explanation of why they were gathered outside the restaurant as opposed to being inside it.
A small Italian man rushed to Ariel and grabbed her hand. Venom drew together and smirked, sure that she was going to get kicked out.
“Gustavo, che fa le qui?” Ariel was surprised. (What are you doing here?)
“Suo nonno…me ha inviato qui…per lavorare.” Gustavo said resignedly. (Your grandfather…he sent me here…to work.)
“Vedo. Non dire loro chi sono, per favore. Grazie.” Ariel replied gently disengaging her hand from his. (I see. Don’t tell them who I am, please. Thank you.)
Everybody was looking at Ariel as though she had grown two heads. That is, everybody except Arron who was too busy glaring at Yi Zhen.
“Ah, Gustavo, is there anyway you can sneak us in? My friend forgot to confirm his reservations.” Ariel made puppy eyes at Gustavo and he just about melted into goo on the floor.
“But of course, Miss Lin. Anything for you. In fact, we have the best table in the house for you.” Gustavo announced grandly.
“But we don’t have reservations...” Selena sputtered.
“For Miss Lin and her friends, sheh, you don’t need one!” Gustavo led them to a large table in the corner, hidden from prying eyes and spacious enough for a large group.
“The waiters will be here as soon as you beckon.” Gustavo said and with one last adoring look at Ariel, he left.
“Are you one of the mafia members?” Joe looked suspiciously at Ariel.
“Are you complaining?” Ariel grinned. “He’s a friend. I used to work at his restaurant in Italy.”
“You’ve been to Italy?” Mike asked.
“Yeah.” Ariel nodded.
“Let’s get seated, everyone.” Rainie said sweetly assuming the role of the hostess. She had arranged it so she sat between Mike and Joe. Selena sat beside Mike and Rainie had said that the chair beside Joe was reserved. Then sat Arron beside who sat Yi Zhen and then Ariel. There were three empty chairs beside Ariel.
“I’m changing seats.” Mike got up. He moved and got into the empty seat beside Ariel. Joe looked surprised and Rainie looked as though she had swollen a really sour lemon.
“Ariel, I hope you k now how to use the forks and y’noe…the proper table manners?” Selena said in false concern.
“Mike will help me if I make any mistakes, won’t you Mike?” Ariel replied and fluttered her eyelashes at Mike.
“Of course.” Mike grinned at Ariel, fully aware of what was going on. “Who else is coming, Joe?”
“Fei Lun Hai, well,” He looked at Arron who was busy whispering to Yi Zhen, “Calvin, Jiro and Chun. Oh and Tiffany.”
Ariel stilled and Arron paused mid-whisper and looked at Ariel. Ariel met his eyes and nodded. He went back to whispering to Yi Zhen with added fervor and she finally gave in. Smiling gleefully, Arron changed seats with Yi Zhen so Ariel was now flanked by Arron and Mike.
“Oh here they are!” Rainie jumped up as Chun, Calvin and Jiro came into the restaurant. With them was a very pretty girl. “Tiffany Xu,” Arron whispered to Ariel.
Rainie kissed Chun soundly on the lips and sent Ariel a victorious look. Well, it would have been a greater triumph however, if Ariel had been looking in her direction. As it was, Ariel was whispering something to Mike.
“Ariel, this is Tiffany, she’ll be playing your love rival in ISWAK.” Joe made the introductions. “Tiffany, this is Ariel or as you’ll know, Xiang Qin.”
Ariel nodded politely. Tiffany nodded back and then Rainie leaned over and whispering something to her in a lower tone. Tiffany’s eyes narrowed. “Interesting to finally meet the girl I’ll be walking all over for a couple of months.” Tiffany smiled as though her haughty nose sensed prey.
“Funny, unless I remember wrongly, no matter how much you walk over Xiang Qin, she still gets the guy in the end, hmm?” Ariel was a long way away from being prey.
Chun had been monopolized by Rainie ever since he arrived but now that Rainie was busy talking to Selena and Tiffany, he could sit back and look at Ariel. These days he always seemed to be thirsty for the sight of her. He noticed her pale skin, the faint shadows under her eyes. Who was keeping her awake at night? He glanced at Mike who sat leaning towards her while he jested with the other guys, as though he were unconsciously drawn towards her. He saw Arron’s hand on her bare shoulder and how Ariel didn’t react to it. In fact she turned toward him and smiled in response to something he said. And then all of a sudden, as if belatedly made aware of his perusal, Ariel looked at Chun, their eyes tangled, held and then they both looked away at the same time. Chun’s breathing was shallower; his heart beat a bit faster.
“So I heard Dean doesn’t want you doing any promotions for Chances.” Rainie made a “aww too bad” face.
“Yeah, he is saving me as a delicious surprise, kinda like the strawberry under the chocolate covering.” Ariel winked.
Rainie looked like she’d try to beat Ariel up.
“Wait a minute, what are YOU doing here?” Jiro frowned, noticing Ariel for the first time.
“Me Xiang Qin, Ah Jin!” Ariel beamed.
“No way!” Jiro looked aghast at the impossible possibility.
“Yes way!” Ariel blew him a kiss and Jiro looked as though he would cry.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” Mike asked Ariel.
“Why? Are you going to ask me out?” Ariel flirted.
“Maybe,” Mike flirted back. Both of them were oblivious to the others.
“Ahem. Stop flirting with my girlfriend.” Arron glared at Mike who held up a hand as a sign of peace.
“Arron.” Ariel pinched him and he pouted. “I’m going skydiving with a girlfriend.” She replied to Mike.
That got everyone’s attention. “Sky diving!” Yi Zhen said admiringly.
Ariel shrugged. “Have you told Winnie that you are going sky diving?” Joe asked.
“No, why, does he want to come along?” Ariel asked and Rainie snickered.
“If something happens to you (not that we’d be that lucky), he’d have to go through the process of finding another lead. Time is money, you know.” Rainie said.
“Does your company know you are going sky diving?” Jiro asked.
“Company?” Ariel frowned.
“Management Company.” Calvin explained.
“She doesn’t have on,” Arron clarified.
“What?!” Everyone looked surprised at Ariel’s unconventional methods of working.
“It’s not that dangerous.” Ariel smiled at the hovering waiters and they placed their orders.
Dinner was served and eaten without any notable incident. Two hours later, they had paid their bills and were standing outside the restaurant.
“The night’s still young, let’s go dance. Carpe Diem will just be coming alive right now.” Tiffany suggested hanging on to Joe’s arm.
“We have to pass.” Arron said.
“Why?” Rainie cooed. She was hanging on to Mike.
“We have to study.” Yi Zhen replied.
“You too, Ariel?” Mike looked disappointed.
“Sorry, I have to tutor Yi Zhen and Arron won’t leave me alone with her. Later then.” With Arron and Yi Zhen on either side of her, they walked off into the darkness.
“What an odd trio.” Joe murmured.
“Can I talk to you for a second?” Chun said to Mike. He shrugged off Rainie who pouted and stalked off to Selena. “What’s up?”
Chun stood in front of Mike, hands in his pockets. They stood apart from the others, taking what little privacy the night offered them.
“Keep your distance from Ariel Lin.” Chun said very softly.
Mike heard him anyway. “Why?”
“Because she belongs to me. She is mine.” Chun spoke these words, not as a firm conviction of the future but as an affirmation of a mundane fact.
“Doesn’t she get a say in it?” Mike raised his eyebrows.
Chun smiled a bitter smile. “No, she does not.”
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Ariel had jumped off many planes. Sky diving was nothing new for her. She didn’t jump to reach the bottom, she jumped to fall. To feel the thrill of being alive. She had once explained to Rafael, “Jumping and falling…it’s sorta like making out with Death. You get so close to him, you can feel his heart beat in your own chest. That kind of feeling…it’s better than any energy drink.”
Rosa had not accompanied her up in the plane, citing a fear of heights. The only other occupants were the supervisor who checked the equipment, the pilot and another thrill seeker.
“It’s good of you to visit me,” Ariel smiled at the other person.
“How could I resist your call?” The mysterious visitor replied. “Scared?” He asked her as the plane door was opened.
“Terrified.” Ariel smiled and jumped.
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Author's Note: It's been a while, eh? Sorry. My internet was dead. It's been cramping my style actually. I still have to catch up on all my dramas so there goes writing a lot again. Kidding! Leave me some feedback on the story? Oh and this is not a cliff hanger. Forget it. You won't find out who this guy is until a few chapters later. Okie? Thank you for reading.