| Fan Fiction |
by Hibiscus
“Yep,” Ariel replied, looking uncomfortable. The second episode had had a higher rating, 57% and everyone was really excited to see the third one – the long awaited death of Zee. “Okay, I’m going to go running.” She got up from the couch.
“Aren’t you going to watch with us?” Patience asked curiously.
“No, I’d feel too uncomfortable,” Ariel replied, rubbing her head and Rosa nodded, understanding.
“K, off with you then, it’s starting.” She waved Ariel away.
The third episode of Chances started with a sunrise. The viewers knew what going to happen and empathized with J.J as he looked down at the sleeping Zee. The episode spanned only one day but it was a day J.J would never ever forget. Most of the viewers felt the fluttering in their chests as the episode played out.
Before Zee leaves for work and it is the last time J.J would see her with her eyes open, he pulls her close for a kiss which she returns with an unusual fervor. “You taste like home,” She smiles at him, crinkling her eyes. “I love you,” J.J replies as he usually does.
Zee gets on her bike and stretches in the morning sun. “Finish your breakfast before you go.” J.J calls. “And don’t be late tonight!”
Zee puts on her helmet and turns the ignition key. Then she looks over her back, looks at J.J one last time. “I’m leaving.” She says and drives away.
The next scene is Anna visiting J.J at work, trying to tempt him into a date. She is snubbed and this is the last straw for her. She has never been rejected before and she is not about to be rejected now. The girlfriend. It occurs to her that she’ll just scare the girlfriend. She drives to the garage at which Zee works. They have words. Zee smiles sweetly at Anna and tells her, “I don’t have any holds on J.J. I just love him. That’s all.”
Anna seethes. Then she gets an idea. Zee is driving home from work, hurrying because J.J hates it when she’s late. It had been raining earlier and the roads are slippery. Suddenly there is a car behind her, too close and getting closer. Sharp turn and Zee loses control of the bike because the approaching car distracted her. Slippery road. Impact. Zee can feel herself breaking. J.J. One last time. The last name on her lips. Her eyes flutter open to see Anna’s scared face. Eyes open. One last time. Then flutter shut. Forever.
Next scene. J.J is destroyed. Zee is gone. His world falls apart. The credits roll on J.J’s sobs. No closing song. Just the broken sound of J.J crying.
There was not a single dry eye left. Everyone who watched Chances that day, everyone who was able to relate and even those who couldn’t, cried. They cried for different reasons. For J.J. For Zee. For Anna.
At the Palace, Ariel returned just as the commercials started. The girls turned towards her with various degrees of awe and amazement.
“It’s just acting. We all know why I’m doing this.” Ariel said abruptly.
“Yeah but we never expected you to be quite so proficient at it either,” Ceci replied.
Ariel shrugged. She didn’t need or want any adulation. Acting was just a means to an end. An end she’d achieve. Ariel almost never did things half way through.
“If we are done discussing this, let me tell you some delicious news,” Rosa broke the tension. Then when she had procured everyone’s attention, she beamed brightly. “I’ve got tickets!”
“Good for you,” Patience rolled her eyes.
“For DBSK!” Rosa crowed while Ceci and Patience gasped.
“You do not!” Ceci was disbelieving.
“Do too! I bribed, okay, blackmailed Jason into getting them for me.”
“Who is DBSK?” Ariel asked from the kitchen.
“You’ll see!” Rosa trilled.
“When is the concert?” Ceci asked, excited.
“This weekend.”
“Oh man!” Ceci looked disappointed. “I can’t go. I have to go home cuz my parents need to get away and I have to babysit the brats.” Ceci was the eldest of five children – her siblings ranged from ages 2 to 16. They were all quite a handful.
“I’ll come with you,” Patience offered.
“No! I couldn’t do that to you!” Ceci hastened to say.
“Woman, please. Friends are much more important than pretty boys.” Patience waved away Ceci’s objections.
“Oh whew, that’s good then,” Rosa smiled brightly.
“What do you mean?” Ceci demanded.
“I only got two tickets,” Rosa giggled.
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It was the last day of finals. The day after the third episode of Chances aired. Rosa and Ceci didn’t have any exams that day so the only ones going to the university that day were Patience and Ariel. They were driving to the campus on Sebastian with Nickelback sounding loudly on the radio.
“I love my rock,” Ariel beamed at Patience who cringed and buried her nose in the physics text book. As they turned into the parking lot of the university, Ariel noticed a crowd of people wearing black gathered there. A sinking feeling birthed itself in Ariel and she sighed.
“What is this? Rainie’s Society of Badly Dressed Ariel Lin Eliminators?” She quipped to Patience who narrowed her clear, intelligent eyes in thought.
“Nope, I rather think they are your fans.” Patience grinned.
Ariel looked horrified. “No way?”
“Look they have signs some with your picture on them.” And they did. Ariel had never been asked for her autograph and the idea of having fans, her having fans was just so strange that she stared at Patience with round eyes.
“But why are they wearing black?” She whispered to Patience, even though since they were both still sitting in the car, no one could hear them.
“Cuz you just died.” Patience was enjoying herself.
“Um…Patch, I’m still here, see?” Ariel waved her hand in front of Patience’s eyes.
“Zee just died, you doof.” Patience smirked.
The crowd noticed Sebastian just them and started yelling. “The dean’s going to cal me into his office, I know it.” Ariel muttered. She looked over at the black garbed people milling around and then at Patience. “How do I handle this?”
Patience smiled evilly. “Graciously.” She was enjoying herself way too much.
Ariel parked Sebastian and they got out. A scream sounded as the people saw Ariel.
“Zee!” One of the more boisterous fans called.
Ariel put a smile on her face and Patience glancing at her was struck once again by how easily she seemed to be able to change faces. The fast talking, cynical Ariel had just morphed into a perfectly mannered idol with just the right amount of sass to keep it interesting.
“Hi.” Ariel smiled, totally approachable. There were maybe about 30 people around, mostly girls, young impressionable girls though there were a few men present. And they were all wearing black. Black shoes, black pants, black dresses, black shirts and tops. Black.
One of the girls approached, looking nervous. “Hi Miss Lin, we are the members of the newly formed Ariel Lin’s fan club.”
“I’m so flattered,” Ariel dazzled everyone with a bright smile.
“We w-w-wanted to show our support for Zee.” One pimply faced guy stammered. “We were deeply moved by your performance in Chances and so want to show our appreciation by continuing to support whatever projects you undertake in the future.”
“Thank you,” Ariel replied sincerely.
“Could we have an autograph please?” Another Addam’s family potential sidled up and Ariel complied, again as graciously as she could manage. Then she looked at her watch. “I’m sorry, we need to go. We have a physics exam to sit for and I’m sure you people have a lot on your busy schedules. I’d like to thank you once again for taking time out of your busy lives and coming to visit me, I appreciate it. And I hope that you will continue you to support me.” Ariel grasped Patience by the arm, smiled firmly at everyone one last time and walked away. Away from the adulation shining in their faces, the hero worship, away from the illusionary love.
When they had walked a suitable distance and turned several corners, Ariel slumped against a wall and ran a hand through her hair.
Patience waited.
“Oh. My. God! That was SO creepy!” Ariel burst out.
“What was? That you have fans or that you were actually nice to them? Wait till I tell Rosa, she won’t believe me.”
“Both!” Ariel seemed out of the breath and Patience smirked again. It took a lot to fluster Ariel.
“Miss Lin, Miss Ariel Lin, please report to the Dean’s office.” The intercom buzzed and Ariel grimaced.
“Didn’t I tell you that old codger would call me? I’ll see you after the exam.” Ariel briskly took off in one direction while Patience in another.
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“Yes?” Ariel asked the Dean who was standing outside his office, presumably waiting for her.
“Miss Lin, please follow me.” He led them into his office and closed the door.
“If this is about my…er…fans, I have no control over their actions.” Ariel got straight to the point refusing to waste time over unnecessary pleasantries.
“You can control yours though.” Dean Kang smiled smoothly.
“Today is the last day of the semester. And…” Ariel leaned back in her chair.
“And?” The Dean prompted.
“I’m not coming back next year.” Ariel finished blandly.
“But what about your studies?” In his heart, Dean Kang was still just a teacher.
“I hear Turkey has some good schools.” Ariel was completely dismissive.
“Turkey? Why Turkey?”
“I have a yearn to see the Hagia Sophia,” Ariel was cheerful. She got up from her seat.
“Your grandfather-,” Dean Kang hastily interjected.
“I told you, my grandfather is dead to me. Don’t make me repeat myself.” Ariel bowed deeply. “Thanks for taking care of me.” She walked out.
“Is coming to Taiwan.” The Dean finished his sentence to the empty office.
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“I thought you said we were VIP.” Ariel griped to Rosa as they stood in the long line up, waiting to get into the stadium where the DBSK concert was going to be held.
“We are!” Rosa insisted and sure enough, a couple of minutes later they were escorted inside and to their seats by a host of men wearing security uniforms.
“Nice seats.” Ariel looked appreciatively at the front row seats they had been led to. “What did you promise Jason for these? Not a kidney, I hope.”
Rosa glanced at Ariel guiltily. Ariel caught the look. “Oh no, what did you do?”
Before Rosa could change the subject, Ariel’s attention was caught by the person who was being seated beside her. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“What’s HE doing here?” She hissed at Rosa who looked equally baffled.
Chun was with a pretty blonde woman. One of his inconsequentials, Ariel was sure. “Change seats with me!” She whispered ferociously to Rosa who set her mouth stubbornly and shook her head.
“Rosa, come on! I’ll do your chores for a week!” Ariel was almost begging. Chun hadn’t looked her way once but she felt him. Even though the VIP chairs were roomy and not squeezed together, she felt him. Acutely.
“You aren’t home long enough to eat dinner, how will you do my chores?” Rosa replied.
Ariel snuck a glance at Chun and her mouth turned down as she saw him lean closer to his blonde bimbo.
“Please!” Ariel made puppy eyes.
“No.” Rosa smiled sweetly.
“Bitch.” Ariel muttered.
“I love you too.” Just then the concert started and Ariel was shocked into silence. She hadn’t had much expectations from this group, after all, the last one she had been recommended by the girls had been well…Arron sang well. But these boys…men…Gods…hello nurse. They started singing and Ariel leaned forward, mesmerized. They were much more than just pretty faces. They were pretty faces with singing talents.
Suddenly Ariel’s neck prickled. Someone was looking at her. Very intently. She turned her head to meet Chun’s eyes. He didn’t look away. For a second the world hiccupped and then everything and everyone faded away. The noise. The song. The people. Rosa. Everyone. One heartbeat, two. Two heartbeat, three. Then Ariel abruptly turned away from him.
Three hours later, the concert was over. And Rosa had backstage passes. “I guess you don’t wanna…” She said regretfully to Ariel.
Ariel got up immediately. “Are you kidding me? Let’s go!” She sprang out of her seat and bumped into Chun who had got up from his seat at the same time. For the second time, the world screeched to a halt. His arms immediately went around her and Ariel felt herself being held against his warm, firm body. For just one second. One second that stretched to an eon. She looked up at him and he was looking down at her. Then she shrugged out of his arms and without apologizing, without acknowledging his appearance or the incident, she spoke brightly to Rosa, “Well, shall we go?”
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The backstage was a perfect example of an organized chaos. They were led to a lineup. Fans with enough clout to get VIP passes got the chance to meet DBSK. The Korean band that was creating waves and madness all over Asia.
“Ariel, aren’t you a celebrity in your own right?” Rosa mused out lout.
“Barely. Why?” Ariel narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“Why don’t we just cut in line?” Rosa beamed sweetly.
“No. I’m scared of these Aunties. They might kill us if we do.” Rosa looked around and grimaced at the truth of Ariel’s words. “You know, they were actually good singers. I guess there’s still hope for you, Rosa.”
Rosa sniffled haughtily. “I’ll have you know I have impeccable taste.”
“Obviously, you hang around me, don’t you?” Ariel smirked and Rosa rolled her eyes.
“So the one in the black shirt is-,” Rosa started explaining as their line inched forward.
Ariel held up her hand. “Let me.”
“The one in the black shirt is Jun Yun-Ho, also known as U-know. Birthday February 6th, he has a weak spot for sweet things. He likes sweet, feminine girls,” Ariel threw an arch look at Rosa, “which obviously means you don’t have a chance.”
“The guy who is leaning against the wall, wearing the pink shirt is Park Yoo Chun also known as Mickey Yoo Chun. Birthday June 4th. He loves singing but he likes composing more so I think he’ll be moving in that direction pretty soon. Quite a fine specimen of male actually.” Ariel smiled appreciatively. “Too bad about the pink shirt.”
“And this guy, the one with the pretty eyes, he’s my favourite. Max, Choi-Kang Chang Min or Shim Chang Min. He has a wit that is deadlier than a rattlesnake. Birthday February 18. He’s really competitive and has no patience for frivolity though he pretends really well. Oh yeah, he loves flowers. That’s his secret.”
“Hero Jae Joong or Kim Jae Joong. He’s the oldest of the group. He’s really flirty even though he has been in a relationship secretly for the past 3 years. He takes his career really seriously. And he’s the unofficial leader of the group.”
“And finally, Xiah also known as Kim Jun Soo. He’s really shy and sometimes has to force himself to be as extroverted as the other guys. He’s a good singer in his own right but once the group gets together to sing – well, it’s enough to make you believe in miracles.”
Rosa clapped. “Wow. I’m impressed but Ariel, isn’t that kinda stalkerish behavior? Do you do that to everyone?”
Ariel nodded. “To us too?” Rosa raised an eyebrow and Ariel grinned mischievously.
“Rosa – Queen Bitch. Ow, ow! Hahaha!” She giggled as Rosa poked her none too kindly with her elbow. “Well, I researched everyone. Well, almost everyone.”
“Whom didn’t you research?”
Ariel shrugged. “Chun. He isn’t worth my time.”
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Arron banged on the door of the Palace at 6:30 am on Sunday morning. There was no answer. He raised his fist to bang on the door open when it swung open.
Ariel stood on the inside of the doorstep wearing PJs and a scowl. Arron shouldered past her into the kitchen.
“Who’s dying?” Ariel asked following. The scowl seemed to be a permanent fixture on her face.
“What?” Arron didn’t stand on ceremony. He took out a bottle of orange juice from the freezer, uncapped it and drank deeply.
“Someone had better be dying for you to be here at this time,” Ariel put her hands on her hips and her scowl went up several degrees in intensity.
“Where’s everyone else?” Arron walked to the living room and flopped down on the couch. Ariel walked behind him, a little confused at the way he was behaving.
“Rosa’s sleeping, Ceci and Patience are away. What do you want?”
“So we are technically alone?” Arron got up. There was a new grace to his movements. A mask had been taken off him. Ariel stilled and looked at him warily. She didn’t want to hurt anyone.
“Your point is?” Ariel was abrasive hoping to deter him from walking the path he seemed hell bent on walking.
Arron shoved both hands in the front pockets of his jeans and then looked at Ariel for a silent second. “You set me up with Yi Zhen?” He ignored her question.
“Yes.” Ariel saw no reason to deny it.
“Why?” He was angry, Ariel realized. It was written in the set of his shoulders and the curtness of his words.
Ariel didn’t answer. He walked nearer to her and Ariel stood her ground. She was not the kind to flinch or step back. For that you needed a romance novel and its heroine.
“You know how I feel about you, don’t you?” Arron spoke softly. “You know really well. And yet you still make a mockery of my feelings.” Arron smiled, a cold slash of his lips. Then he reached out and picked Ariel up. Holding her he sank back onto the couch. Ariel watched him cautiously. He framed her face with his hands and kissed her. Thirstily. Ariel didn’t respond but she didn’t struggle away either.
Breathing hard, Arron buried his head in Ariel’s neck. Ariel brought her hand up to the side of Arron’s face and tapped one finger against his cheek.
“You don’t have to say anything,” Arron raised his head, “I tasted the rejection on your lips.”
Ariel uncoiled herself from his lap and stood up. She looked down at him. Arron leaned back against the couch and smiled at her crookedly. “It’s okay. I’ll take your friendship if that’s all you’ve got to offer me. But one more trick like that and it’s war. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, how are we bringing down Chun?”
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Author's Note: Two updates a couple hours after each other? *checks for fever* Lol. I appreciate comments I do. But there are some comments that can make me, even a hardened criminal like me(don't tell Kettle, I told you but she's the one who corrupted me), unwilling to share my work. It's an author's prerogative, and I'm not that different from my character in KireinaGai's Femme Fatales (it's quite an exciting read) and while I hardly want to pinpoint any reader of mine, I will say this, trust me on my plot development and if at any moment you find yourself disliking how it's building, well, there's a reason for that red X in one corner of the page. Whew. And to the other readers who have been so kind as to keep on encouraging me, I thank you. I really really do. You guys are great. Awesome. Like...hmm..Pineapple. Oh someone asked me where I am from? Fiji. Which is where I'm going to take you in this story. I hope you all have your passports. ;) I'll be back later this week or sometime early next week with the last two chapters in this section. And yes Kettle, stop yelling, I know I am a cow for the way things turned out with Arron. Heh? Oh. And I will definitely answer your comments in the comments page when i return. And OH, you heard it here first, KireinaGai and I, Hibiscus are collaborating (on a story not a murder we might still consider the murder). *evil smile* Hasta Luego.