| Fan Fiction |
by Hibiscus
One yellow Tuesday morning, Rosa woke Ariel with a tray full of breakfast. Fragrant tea, pancakes drenched in real maple syrup and freshly cut pineapple.
Ariel’s nose twitched and she opened one eye. Then another. She looked from the breakfast tray to Rosa. And again. Then shrieked loudly.
Patience came running. “What?”
“Rosa’s been possessed by aliens,” Ariel whined.
Patience snorted and walked away. Rosa huffed.
“Can’t one friend make another friend breakfast?”
“No and especially not if it’s you. I know what you want. And the answer is still what it was the last 50 million times you asked: No.” Ariel cast one last longing look at the breakfast tray and dove back under her covers.
“But we can’t buy a ready made gown, Ariel. It’s too passé!” Rosa tried to reason with Ariel.
“We’ll cut off the tags! No one will know!” Ariel could be as stubborn as a mule.
“Of course they will know! I don’t want you taking the first place in a “Worst Dressed” poll!” Rosa was exasperated. They had been having this conversation for a while now. The Taipei Film, Drama and Music Awards were a month away and Rosa wanted Ariel to get a dress specially made for the occasion. Ariel expressed intense horror at having people measuring her, fussing over her and touching her for something as silly as an Award show and so had continuously ferociously refused.
“Fine,” Ariel sat up in bed and glared at Rosa. “Fine. I will go through the hideous torture but let me tell you this, if I get pricked by one pin, ONE pin, you are dead.”
Rosa beamed. Now that she had gotten her way, she could afford to be benevolent. “I’ll make you some more tea.” She offered.
“Forget it. I have to go meet Mike and Joe.” Ariel got out of bed and stalked grumpily towards the bathroom.
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It was good to be rich, Ariel mused as she surveyed Joe’s basketball court. She dribbled the ball around the court, stopped and then yawned hugely. Mike caught the yawn and smirked.
“How will you beat us when you can’t even keep your eyes open,” he yelled as he stole the ball from Ariel.
“You know what? You are absolutely right. You can play in my proxy.” Ariel walked off the court toward the benches. “Joe, where is my pineapple?”
“In the cooler, you oinker!” Joe called. He was running laps around the court. “Save us some.”
“Yeah right.” Ariel snorted.
A strange sort of friendship had sprung up between the three. Mike and Ariel had already been close and then after ISWAK, Ariel and Joe had discovered that they were quite compatible as well.
“How long have you been going out with Tiffany?” Ariel had once asked Joe boldly when they were out eating dinner in between shooting. He had choked on his favoured fried chicken and Ariel had hit him hard on the back.
“How did you know?” He had demanded.
“It’s pretty obvious.” Ariel had replied dryly.
“It is not! People think I don’t even LIKE her!” Joe had been pretty enraged that his secret was found out.
“Don’t worry, it’s not like I’m going to tell anyone,” Ariel had smiled placidly.
Now, Ariel sprawled on a lounge chair while the boys played in the heat, sweating and huffing. Once they were tired out, Ariel hopped to her feet and demanded a match.
Joe sputtered. “We’re already exhausted from the match you sat out!”
“Yes but you are still taller than I’ll ever be. So this handicap evens things out.” Ariel smiled sweetly.
“You are a witch!” Joe muttered giving her an evil look and Mike hollered his agreement.
“Well…if you aren’t men enough…” Ariel smirked as the boys took offence exactly as she had known they would. It really was too easy, she thought to herself.
Ariel loved physical activity as much as she enjoyed sleeping. The thrill and satisfaction of exertion, the wonderful ache in your muscles – Ariel thrived on that. And though she wasn’t the best player around, she knew her way around the basket court, feinting, running, yeah, she was a good challenge for the boys.
After the game they sat down on the side, cooling down. Ariel was finishing off the last pieces of the pineapple Joe now knew to keep in stock for her.
“Chances was a success,” Joe said. “Who’d have thought a sappy love story starring Mike would be a success?” He grinned. Mike muttered something rude and Joe grinned wider. “Should I just call you Romeo now?”
“If you want me to rearrange your face, why not?” Mike mumbled, his head in the cooler as he looked for a drink. “Hey oinker, want a drink?”
Ariel gave him a look. “Shut up, Romeo.”
Joe cracked up and Mike pouted. “At least I treated you better than Zhi Shu here.”
“Well yeah, besides if he tried insulting me in real life, I would kick his ass from here to his expanding wardrobe.” She referred to Joe’s shopaholic tendencies. “And what was up with that hideous photo shoot in Elle?” She smirked at Mike who looked lost.
“Hideous? They said it was haute couture.” He replied defensively.
“Is that French for eyesore?” Ariel asked seriously. Mike threw a bottle of water at her and she caught it, chuckling.
Chances had been successful indeed, ending at an amazing 70% rating. Despite Rainie’s frequent doom saying, the audience apparently had had no trouble accepting J.J’s choice in the end; in fact a lot of them had applauded it. So even though people still preferred Mike with Rainie, they most certainly preferred J.J exclusively with Zee.
“ISWAK’s airing soon, isn’t it?” Mike poked Ariel who was lying on the ground with her eyes closed. She grumbled and swatted his hand away. “I’ll make sure not to miss a single episode. I know I will absolutely love Xiang Qin.”
Ariel winced. It was a well known fact that Ariel had no patience with Xiang Qin’s continuous dithering and even less patience with Zhi Shu’s cold personality. “Dysfunctional couple, dysfunctional relationship.” She muttered.
“My, my, isn’t this a really heart warming scene?” Unbeknownst to them, Rainie had stood observing them from the shrubberies for the past ten minutes. Ariel hearing Rainie’s voice, opened both eyes, confirmed the owner of that voice was indeed who she had thought it was and got up. She dusted herself off, told the guys to call her and walked away, jauntily swinging her hips.
They had a sort of unspoken truce between them now, did Ariel and Rainie. Rainie knew there was nothing she could say or do to make Joe and Mike cease being friends with Ariel and so Rainie simply endured. Once she got the award for “best couple” with Mike, everything would return to normal. Ariel would go back into whatever hole she had crawled out from and Rainie would once again reign queen.
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“The Taipei Film, Drama and Music Awards will be held tonight at 7 pm at the National Orpheum downtown. We will be broadcasting live from the location. Please tune in at 4 pm for a recap of the more memorable performances and some interviews with the stars and celebrities as they walk the red carpet.”
Ariel turned the TV off and listened to the peace of the silence. It was 6 am in the morning and she was the only one awake. Ceci stumbled out of her room and into the kitchen, still in her pajamas. She saw Ariel and stilled.
“I’m sorry.” She said quietly.
“What for?” Ariel was genuinely surprised.
“We ruined your life for revenge. I know you didn’t want to go into show business. You said in the application you sent,” she referred to the housing application Ariel had filled out, “you said, ‘all I want to do is have a quiet life.’ That’s what you wanted and that’s what we didn’t let you have. For that I’m sorry.”
Ariel sat for a while, silent. She gave Ceci’s words careful thought. “Don’t worry about me, Ceci. I’ve long come to accept that a quiet life is going to be a mere dream for me.” She smiled suddenly. “Really, I’ve made my peace with that.”
Ceci smiled a sad lost smile of a child who wakes up to realize that childhood is just a distant utopia and that reality demands a harsher due. “Accept my apology anyway.”
“I do. Anyway, have some breakfast. I’m off to get dressed.” Ariel patted Ceci’s head affectionately as she walked past her.
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The night glided her way into the city, throwing her darkness in a gesture of affection over the places the day had reigned supreme just hours ago. It was a beautiful night. The stars glittered glory in a clear sky and if you looked carefully, you could see a sliver of the moon. It was meant to be a momentous night. That night, the beings who themselves glittered with stardust would grace the city paths and gather in one place. The Taipei Film, Drama and Music Awards was the most prestigious event in the entertainment circle and out of it. Taiwan’s elite came out to dazzle and be dazzled that day. Visiting celebrities lent their numinous presence to the occasion and of course, the media coverage was extensive.
From the moment the idols stepped onto the red carpet to the moment they left it, each action was observed, photographed and preserved for future analysis. The clothes they wore, the people they were with, their postures, their answers to the red carpet interview questions – these were all fodder for the gossip magazines screaming in the stands the next morning.
There were many reasons the awards was famous but to the actor who received a little statue of a goddess it was proof, a recognition, a testament and a reaffirmation of his/her talents. It was proof that their work had reached people, had evoked some feeling n the masses, enough that they had gathered fans who would actually take time to vote so that their idols got recognized. It was a heady feeling, a feeling one might get after drinking the ambrosia of the gods.
The cameras lined up in front of and along the sides of the red carpet leading to the Orpheum where the awards were going to be held. Fei Lun Hai arrived together, putting rest to rumours that they had broken up. Chun, Jiro, Calvin and Arron. They were all dressed in suits but in different colours and in different styles to acknowledge their individuality. Viewers of the TV specials, especially the female variety, sighed their longing over their TV sets.
Then the reporters swung away back to the entrance as Rainie Yang arrived with Joe and Mike. She was beautiful – more beautiful than she had ever looked. Her hair was intricately braided forming a corona and revealing her creamy neck. She was wearing a bronze coloured gown with cap sleeves. She was like a summer day, all light and sunshine – her eyes sparkled matching the brilliance of the topaz in her ears and around her neck. Her makeup was done subtly with just a hint of colour on her lips. And beside her were two princes of the acting industry – Joe Cheng and Mike He. Darkly suave, dressed in body worshipping suits, they stood beside their princess. Many hearts whimpered in envy at Rainie’s fortune – she had not one but two beautiful men.
Selena and Ethan walked the red carpet and the reporters foamed at their mouths in anticipation of big news.
“Are you two going out?” One reporter called out and Ethan smiled. He reached out and grabbed hold of Selena’s hand, letting his actions speak louder than any words he could say would. Rainie smiled when she saw Selena and Selena wished she hadn’t.
“Beautiful as usual,” Mike smiled warmly at Selena and Joe agreed. Fei Lun Hai walked over joining their group and Rainie caught Chun’s eye and winked appreciatively.
“Where’s Ariel?” Mike asked Arron.
“She probably decided not to come – what would be the point anyway? It’s not like she’s getting anything.” Rainie drawled uncaring that her spiteful side was showing.
“She has been nominated for two categories, hasn’t she?” Jiro wondered out loud. “She’s a decent actor; it was a good job she did in Chances.”
Calvin frowned. “I still think I have seen her somewhere.”
“Where?” Chun narrowed his eyes curiously.
“In Canada…I’m pretty sure.” Calvin looked frustrated that he couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment, the exact memory.
As they were talking amongst themselves, they noticed the reporters’ attention swing to the entrance again. At first they took no note of it. Several notable actors were arriving and it was only natural that the cameras would thirstily eye the entrance. But then a murmuring sounded and the group, naturally curious looked towards where the object of the shock seemed to be. The air seemed to have received an added dose of excitement and the several whispers of verbal appreciation increased in volume. Ariel Lin had finally shown up.
Unlike everyone else, she was alone. A midnight blue dress lovingly hid her body, cleaving to the curves that several men and some women wished they could shape. The dark black blue was a direct contrast to her startlingly fair skin – decadent and tempting. Her hair was intricately coiffed, blue black to match her dress. Her dress was a work of art. The front was halter neck; her back was bare with the dress beginning again at her waist. From her ears dangled teardrop diamond earrings and on her arm was a diamond bracelet. Her lips shimmered pink and her eyes were lined black reminiscent of some eastern queen.
Arron was the first to reach her side. “Whoa. Marry me.”
“Get on your knees and I will think about it.” Ariel tipped her head and smiled at Arron. The cameras fell in love with the pose and the flashes blinded once again. He led her to where everyone else was standing. Mike kissed her cheek. Joe did the same. Jiro and Calvin smiled at her appreciatively. Chun and Rainie? They stared at her. If Rainie was the day, Ariel was the night. While before, Ariel had simply looked beautiful, today Ariel looked divine. Rainie paled in comparison to the enticing mixture of danger and delight that Ariel exuded.
“Shall we take our seats?” Mike gestured toward the entrance to the Orpheum.
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There were performances, speeches and the presentation of various awards before the category of best new actress was announced. Ariel, who was sitting beside Arron and across the aisle from Chun, linked her fingers through Arron’s, perhaps showing the only outward sign of unconscious nerves. This brought a smile to Arron’s lips and warmth to his eyes. Chun noticed.
The nominees for this category were shown and suddenly Zee’s image filled the screen. Ariel remembered that scene well. It had been a nightmare of Anna’s that she had been acting out. In the nightmare, Zee was sitting on the ground, looking in a mirror. The mirror showed images of J.J, alive, warm and out of reach. Zee had been wearing a torn, black dress and no shoes. She had scuffed knees and wild hair, matted with dirt. There was a smudge of black on her cheek. As Zee looked into the mirror, looked at J.J, she had wept. Painfully, raw, broken. In a miasma of grief and longing, she had wept. Because she was no longer solid, no longer tangible. She could no longer hold J.J. Her arms didn’t exist. She didn’t exist. But she still hurt. So she wept, looking in the mirror at J.J who basked in the sunshine, laughed with Anna, kissed her, she wept. And then she had turned to Anna who had been standing looking at Zee in that eerie, desolate, grey landscape. And through her tears, she had whispered, coldly, passionately, “I hate you.”
The scene faded and the applause sounded. Arron gripped Ariel’s hand tighter. One of the industry’s bigwigs was called to announce the best new female actor of the year. “And the people’s choice for the best new actress is Ariel Lin!”
Mike, who was sitting in front of Ariel beside Rainie, turned and grabbed Ariel. He gave her a bear hug. Joe whooped loudly, unabashedly and nudged her towards the stage. Ariel walked a bit unsteadily up the steps to the stage; tremulous and beautiful. And touched. She accepted the little stone goddess and turned to the audience. Looking straight at them, she smiled. Her eyes were bright with tears, as unlike Zee as she had ever been. Nodding at everyone, she simply said, “Thank you.”
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Rainie was jealous. It corroded her insides and made the bile rise in her throat. Ariel’s win baffled Rainie. In her eyes, Ariel was just a mediocre actress and this…fact should have been realized by everyone. SHE, herself, had had to wait till the third year after her debut to get any recognition and here was Ariel Lin. Waltzing in and taking an award right after her first role. That was just crap. Oh well. At least there was one award Rainie was guaranteed to win. The best onscreen couple in a drama or movie – definitely her and Mike. Again. Just like the past three years. It would be a hat trick. It had become so that people didn’t even bother reading out the nominations. Rainie was confident that this year would be no different.
The host for the evening, Show Luo, Alan Luo took a deep breath and announced, “Ladies and Gentleman, we have a mystery guest today to present the next award. This person is so well known and so well loved that he needs no further introduction from me. So, without any further ado, I’d like to call out Lin Cai Zhe, that is, Edward Lin on to the stage.”
The audience broke into wild applause as Edward Lin took the stage. Lin Cai Zhe, Edward Lin nowadays, was the golden boy of Taiwan. Though, truthfully, he hadn’t been a boy since a very long time ago, he was still very much golden. Born from a poor family of farmers, he had worked to educate himself. His story was the stuff legends were made of. Because of stellar grades, he had gotten a scholarship and become a lawyer. Impassioned by human rights and the conditions of people of all classes, he had gone into politics. The first man from Taiwan to be elected as an MP. He had served for 5 years as a member of parliament. Then he had focused his attention to building up his assets. And after immense work, he had sat at the top of a conglomerate empire. He was a major shareholder in all types of businesses. From production houses to restaurants, from paper plants to department stores. Edward Lin was a God. But the reason people loved him wasn’t because he was rich. That alone might have evoked envy and not a small amount of danger but Edward Lin gave back to the people. And lavishly at that. Hospitals, parks, schools, soup houses, orphanages, medical coverage, scholarships. His philanthropy had no limits and no reason. In the early eighties, he had moved to Canada explaining his need to expand his business but he still spent a third of the year in Taiwan.
Ariel had gone still as the statue in her hands when she saw Edward Lin walk confidently onto the stage. For a seventy four year old man, he was spry and in good shape. Dressed in an Armani suit and his benevolent smile, he still made women’s hearts flutter. She glanced at the people beside her. All of their faces were filled with hero worship and adulation. The idols worshipping. Hah. And they were all clapping. Loudly. Wildly. Everyone that is, except Chun, who was playing with his cell phone. Arron glanced at Ariel, saw her tense look, frowned and asked, “What’s up?”
Ariel smiled tightly and shook her head.
Edward Lin held up his hand and beamed at the audience. The audience responded with louder clapping and some whoops and yells. It didn’t seem like they would stop clapping any time soon. “Thank you for your warm welcome. Taiwan, I’m home again.” This led to an increase in the clapping and this time some people even got up from their seats. Ariel sunk lower in hers.
“Let’s get on with this, shall we? We are, after all, gathered here to celebrate our talented young people. The nominees for the best onscreen couple in a drama or movie are: Wu Chun and Ella, for the movie “The Second Time Round.” A short clip showed from the box office hit movie. “Rainie Yang and Mike He for Chances.”
The clip that followed was of a rainy afternoon. J.J had been sitting in the middle of the yard, on the ground, his arms full of buttercups. His tears had mingled with the rain so Anna didn’t know he was crying. She had crept out to him and put her arms around him while J.J clutched the flowers closely and tenderly. “She loved buttercups,” He had been whispering as Anna held him. “She loved buttercups.”
Applause after the clip ended. “And the last nominees are, “Ariel Lin and Mike He for Chances.”
The clip of Chances showed again. In this scene, the weather outside was stormy. The wind was crying and the waves were crashing on the shore. At the house where J.J and Zee lived, on the porch was a rocking chair. On the chair sat J.J and on his lap was Zee. J.J had his arms around Zee and they were both looking at the waves. The contentment on their faces, where words were not necessary. They had each other. It was enough. Even if the world fell apart around them. They had each other.
The scene faded and Edward Lin cleared his throat. “Well, it seemed like Chances is really popular. You think I should watch it?” This earned him laughter from the crowd which seemed like cats willing to bask in the sun which was personified by Edward. Rainie smiled, ready and nervous, sharply confident. She glanced at Mike but he was staring raptly at the stage.
“And the award for the best onscreen couple in a drama or a movie goes to Ariel Lin and Mike for Chances!” The world screeched to a halt for Rainie. She grabbed Joe’s arm tightly. “What did he say?”
Joe put a consoling arm around Rainie. “You can’t win them all the time, Rains. Play nice, the cameras are recording.”
Mike grabbed Ariel’s hand and they walked toward the stage. But Edward wasn’t finished talking.
“This is just as good an occasion as any to reveal to you my granddaughter. Ladies and Gentlemen, friends, let me be a proud grandfather today and boast that my granddaughter has proved herself worthy of such an honor. She insisted on going ‘undercover.’ She said she wanted to work without my connections helping her. I present to you, Lin Yi Chen or as you know her, Ariel Lin.”
To say that pandemonium broke out at his words would be exaggerating a bit but things did go a little crazy after his words. In an instant, in a lightning blink, everyone’s perception of Ariel changed. Understand, Ariel remained the same person but people now saw her differently. Edward Lin gave Mike and Ariel their trophies, shook hands with Mike and gave Ariel an impromptu hug. A hug Ariel returned as befitting a filial granddaughter.
“Please say a few words,” Alan urged Ariel and Mike. Ariel waved Mike on.
“Thank you, all of you for granting me this,” he raised the statue, “and letting me meet Mr. Lin. Thank you.” He gave the microphone to Ariel who took it gingerly, “My grandfather certainly knows how to cause a stir. Forgive him.” She smiled crookedly. “Thank you. For letting me be Zee and for appreciating her. Thank you.”
With that, Ariel confirmed Edward’s words and claims. The millions of viewers all would henceforth recognize Ariel Lin now not as Zee but as Edward Lin’s granddaughter.
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They were escorted backstage by a human accessory*. Mike and Edward Lin exchanged meaningless pleasantry while Ariel maintained a subdued silence. When Mike was called to do an interview by a TVB reporter covering the awards, Edward Lin turned to his granddaughter. Still smiling amiably for the benefit of all onlookers, he said to Ariel, “I apologise for spoiling your plans, Yi Chen.”
Ariel blinked and all pretensions fell away. A different person peeked out of her eyes now. “Au contraire, Grandfather, I couldn’t have done it better myself.” Then she blinked again and smiled sweetly, Ariel Lin, newest sensation du jour, talented actress, and loving granddaughter. She excused herself gracefully and walked away.
For Rainie, it was like leaving a thirsty man in a desert. Rubbing salt on a wound. All clichés rocked and rolled. She, along with the majority of the Taiwan public idolized Edward Lin. And as the news about his granddaughter spread like wild fire in a thirsty desert, yes, that same desert the thirsty man was in; Ariel Lin became the hottest commodity in the entertainment business. Rainie Yang had just been effectively toppled off her throne.
“I’m going to the restroom,” She whispered fiercely to Joe who nodded and then turned back to Tiffany.
Rainie stumbled into an empty powder room and sat on a padded stool in front of a mirror. She stared at herself in the mirror. Her face was still blanched with shock, her eyes were too wide and she was breathing a bit too rapidly. A brief fire fluttered through her – an insane urge to kill, an urge to hurt but Rainie would never do something like that, she didn’t have the courage. She could try to tell people that Ariel Lin was not the sweet, sassy girl they all believed her to be, that she was monster.
The thing was, nobody would believer her. She had been humiliated, subtly and totally. She stared in the mirror again and her reflection mocked her.
“Poor Rainie, all alone.” Ariel stepped into the powder room and shut the door behind her.
“Have you some here to gloat?” Rainie turned bitter eyes to her.
“I suppose you could call it that,” Ariel sat daintily on a seat beside Rainie. “Let’s see. Hmm, you have lost Ethan, you never had Joe and Mike detests you. You emancipated yourself from your family and you have no real friends. Fame? The only thing you could have counted on…it has deserted you.”
Rainie’s tears started falling in earnest. “What did I ever do to you?”
Ariel smiled politely, coldly. “What could you ever do to me? But how easily you have forgotten Mina, my sweet, innocent Mina. How carelessly, how easily you destroyed her.”
Rainie was frightened for the first time ever. This was not the Ariel she had knew, not the Ariel she was used to. That Ariel was smart mouthed, cocky and passionate. This Ariel stared at Rainie coldly with empty eyes and no expression. Not even when she was speaking about Mina.
“That was Chun’s fault! He told me to play along!” Rainie burst out. She didn’t know why she was so scared.
“Maybe so,” Ariel reached out and touched Rainie’s cheek with cold fingers. Rainie flushed and jerked away. Ariel smiled wider. “Maybe so. This is a little bit of how it feels… To be destroyed, I mean. How do you like it?”
A little taste? Rainie looked horrified. “Are you going to destroy me?”
“Should I? I’m untouchable now, aren’t I? Edward Lin’s precious granddaughter. Should I destroy you as you destroyed Mina?”
Rainie watched with wild eyes as Ariel appeared to think with intense concentration.
“Take away your movie and drama roles, your endorsements. A couple of pictures, some eyewitnesses. I could destroy your reputation. You have most of your money invested in stocks, don’t you? The stock market is very volatile right now. You could lose everything.” Ariel said softly, speaking in the same tone as she would when talking about the weather.
“Please!” Rainie hated herself for begging but she didn’t know what else to do.
“Please? Didn’t Mina say the same thing and didn’t you laugh?” A silence. “But don’t worry, as I said, this is just a little taste of what could happen.”
“You are showing me mercy?” Rainie’s voice was both disbelieving and relieved.
“Mercy?” Ariel laughed, genuinely amused. “No. Not at all. Have you forgotten, Rainie? A cat likes to play with the mouse before it eats it.” She smiled sweetly. “You have a good night.”
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Author's Note: The longest chapter yet. 5000 words. Now you know a bit more about Ariel. I hopefully will have the last chapter of section 2 by the end of the week or maybe a bit earlier? Mm. Before school starts. Needless to say,updating will become scarce once school does start. Oh and if one more person mentions cliche again, I'm going to run away. You will have to find me at AIFC. Haha. Later days.