| Fan Fiction |
by Hibiscus
Could she? These people who existed alongside her, they would wonder, perhaps be hurt by her absence but human emotions were fickle, weren’t they? They would heal. They would forget.
That Wednesday night was the hottest one of the year. When the early August days flirted with the sun and heated up the Earth. It was a rare event but Ariel was alone at home – the Palace. Everyone else was out, either at work (Ceci and Patience) or with their family (Rosa). Ariel was in a tank top and the shortest shorts she could find. Her feet were bare and her hair was pinned up tightly lest a single strand escape to inflict torture. She opened up the refrigerator door and basked in the coolness for a few minutes. Outside birds sang noisily as twilight fell reluctantly. Ariel turned on the sink taps, letting the water run till it became cool…chilly. Then she wet her face and arms.
She walked into her bedroom and flopped on the bed. The old fan in the corner rustled as it oscillated. “Note to Ariel, buy a bigger fan, you can afford it.” Ariel muttered to herself as lethargy made her drowsy. Suddenly she was grabbed from behind by a pair of very strong arms. Ariel opened one eye. “Chun, get your hands off me.”
The arms tightened. “Why? Am I unnerving you?”
“No. It’s just too hot. Hold a knife to my neck if you wanna. At least the steel blade will be nice and cool.” Ariel’s voice was almost longing.
Chun’s hands didn’t slacken at her words but they did loosen and Ariel saw it as an opportunity to struggle her way out of his hold. But he read her intentions right and she found herself pressed to the bed, face up, with his large frame almost engulfing her.
“Damnit Chun, what part of “it’s too hot” do you not understand?” Ariel yelled in annoyance.
Chun caressed the back of Ariel’s neck with a finger. His fingers trailed from her neck to the bare skin above her shirt. The atmosphere went through a lightning change, becoming charged with a different kind of hunger.
“Oh, is this how you get your jollies? Fondling helpless women?” Ariel said irritably.
Chun laughed, shocked into amusement. “First thing, you are about as helpless as a cobra. Second thing, you are not just any woman, you are my woman.”
“Move aside. I have to throw up.” Ariel retorted. “Let me up!” Ariel struggled anew and Chun‘s hands moved to Ariel’s waist. He pulled her up to a sitting position, his arms still around her waist holding her as close as he could. The heat from his body burned Ariel’s already feverish skin. “Is this your revenge? Killing me by giving me a heat stroke?”
Chun smiled against her cheek, Ariel felt it. “No.”
Ariel frowned. “You don’t sound like a man who’s thirsty for my blood.”
“I’m definitely thirsty – but it’s not your blood that’s enticing me.” The words sounded dangerous, whispered in her ear.
“You went crying to Edward, didn’t you?” Ariel’s voice was acidic.
“Actually, he called me. Couldn’t let his future grandson-in-law be the scandal of Taiwan, could he now?”
Ariel struggled out of Chun’s embrace and this time he let her go. She turned to him. “Edward made the scandal go away.”
“Far, far away. Don’t you love power?” Chun smiled like a well satiated cat.
“What do you want with me if not revenge?” Ariel was blunt to a fault.
Chun rolled his eyes. “I thought it would be obvious by now.”
“You want to sleep with me?” Ariel replied baldly.
“Well, that too. But after we are married.” Chun replied solemnly.
Ariel stared at him silently, speechlessly and then she burst into peals of laughter.
“I’m not kidding.” Chun settled on Ariel’s bed more comfortably.
“That’s what makes it funnier. Tell me, Kat, do you honestly think I’ll marry you?”
“Yes.” Again, that firm conviction.
“I said honestly!” Ariel gave him her coldest look.
“I’m being as honest as I know how to be.” Chun yawned.
“Which is not much.” Ariel muttered.
Chun shrugged.
“So tell me, you didn’t actually come here expecting me to find me acquiescent to the idea of marriage?”
Chun didn’t reply.
“You poor sod! You did! I don’t get it. Why aren’t you against this stupid betrothal?”
“My grandfather-.”
“Since when do you listen to him?”
“Since it became profitable for me to.”
“Profit. What profit could this get you?”
Chun’s long slender fingers caressed their way up Ariel’s neck and cupped the side of her face.
“You want me that badly?” Ariel raised a disbelieving eyebrow.
“Maybe.” Chun dropped his hand.
“I knew you were here all along.” Ariel felt the need to change the subject, they were moving into territories she didn’t want to travel. Just yet.
“I know. I was counting on it.” Chun smirked.
“I really don’t like you.” Ariel pointed out the obvious fact.
“I know that too.” His calm demeanor was infuriating her. Ariel blamed the heat.
“Well then you must know for sure that I will never marry you.” Ariel strove for that calm he seemed to have in over abundance. She didn’t know why he affected her so strongly.
“Let me kiss you.” He said instead.
“What?” He had taken her by surprise again.
Chun didn’t wait for an answer. He leaned forward and caught at Ariel’s lower lip with his own lips, a quick sip and then it was over before Ariel had time to react.
“You really want to die?” Ariel rubbed her lips.
“Someday. Definitely.” Chun grinned unrepentantly. “I was right.”
“About?” Ariel looked at him suspiciously. “Forget it. I don’t wanna know.”
“You taste as good as I thought you would.”
“I think you should leave.” Ariel folded her arms.
“We are even now. I humiliated your friend. You humiliated me. Even.”
“I’m not keeping score. Leave.”
“I’ll see you at the party tomorrow.”
“What party?”
“The one your grandfather is throwing in your honor.”
“Who says I’m going?”
“Me.”
He left and Ariel stared after him for a good five minutes, a perplexed frown on her forehead. Then she remembered the kiss and making a face, got up.
Ariel was brushing her teeth when Rosa returned home.
“What did you eat?” Rosa demanded to know because she had checked the kitchen and there was no food. She was hungry. Her family never fed her.
“Something nasty. The taste is lingering on my tongue.” Ariel paused, replied and then resumed brushing even more vigorously.
“So are you going to your grandfather’s party tomorrow?” Rosa asked. She was Ariel’s manager. It was her business to know everything.
Ariel shook her head.
“Seen the papers today?” Rosa asked the next question.
Ariel shook her head again and rinsed her mouth.
Rosa took out the paper and started reading out loud. “Edward Lin, great philanthropic businessman indicated today that the party honoring his granddaughter, Ariel Lin’s artistic achievements, he’ll donate money to the orphanages which were closed due to the lack of funds. This money will save hundreds of parentless children from the streets and give them hope of surviving. “My granddaughter will do the honors,” He said yesterday in the interview. “Helping orphaned children is something of a passion for her.”
“Still not going?” Rosa asked.
“Shit.” Ariel replied.
“I thought so too. I’ll go make an appointment for you at the hair dressers.”
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It was not everyday that Edward Lin threw a party and the times he did, well those were events that lingered long in history. His wedding had been a grand party the likes Taiwan had never seen before. His bride, Neoma, soft, beautiful and passionate – she had won everyone’s hearts with her gentleness and they had mourned her early death as much as they had celebrated her life. Then the birth of his son. That had been another party that people still talked about. While the main party was usually held at the hotel he owned, Neoma, for his wife – food was distributed at various city centers and events set up in the clubs, in the parks – entire Taipei celebrated. And tonight, Edward Lin was honoring his granddaughter with such a party.
The granddaughter in question was currently sitting in Sebastian, peering into a compact mirror. “I wanted to wear black.”
“White makes you look innocent.” Patience replied as she parked Sebastian in the overcrowded parking lot. They had decided to forego valet parking.
“Is that your way of telling me to shut up?” Ariel clicked the compact shut. Edward had invited all four of them and the girls had been awed at his generosity.
“Yep.” Patience replied, adjusting her gown. She looked beautiful. They all did.
“Um, Ariel?” Rosa pulled Ariel aside, letting the others go first.
They had entered the hotel and were walking towards the ballroom where the party was being held, mainly. Though guests had spilled out from there.
“What’s up?” Ariel was busy scanning the different celebrities entering the hotel.
“Are they going to announce your engagement today? I’ll help you run away – I’ll be the distraction!” Rosa looked fierce and sincere. Ariel reached out and chucked her under the skin. “Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be fine, munchkin.”
They entered the room and Ariel muttered, “Let the circus begin.”
“Darling, you are finally here!” Edward Lin said in a booming voice garnering everyone’s attention. He walked over to Ariel and gave her a hug. He shook hands with Rosa who seemed charmed and he greeted Patience and Ceci as well, thanking them for looking after Ariel.
“Grandfather.” Ariel acknowledged him politely.
“My precious Yi Chen.” Edward lifted a hand to pat Ariel’s head. Ariel evaded his touch. “You’re laying it on a little too thick, Edward.” She whispered.
Edward never missed a beat. He motioned Chun to come over. But before Chun could, Arron did. And Ariel smiled brilliantly at him, widely without any pretensions. She was simply glad to see him and it showed. It was a beautiful smile and it belonged to Arron alone.
Chun paused and looked Arron who seemed a bit thunderstruck by the smile. He then looked at Ariel who at that moment seemed just like a normal girl on the very brink of her first serious love affair. But she wasn’t, was she? Just a normal girl, that is. Chun sighed to himself. He hadn’t wanted to this, he really hadn’t.
Chun walked over and before Ariel could give Arron the hug she had been intending to, he had put his arm around her waist and pulled her away from the group.
“Yi Chen and I are going to have a talk, Grandfather.” Chun said cordially. His words showed his familiarity towards Edward and everyone noticed. He ignored the stunned looks of the people around him. Ariel opened her mouth to say something and then shut it. If she was going to cause a furor, she’d much rather it was for something bigger than this. And besides, she needed to get him alone before she could make him cry. Again.
Chun led Ariel to a corner hidden by a wooden screen. There were several areas like this all around, offering privacy for intimate talks.
“You know better than to call me Yi Chen.” Ariel hissed as she stepped away from Chun the instant they were behind the screen.
Chun didn’t say anything. He knew to wait until she had spent her anger. Ariel took a deep breath. “I know what you are going to do, Chun.”
“Do you?” Chun asked, bored.
“It’s a lame tactic. What makes you think it will work on me?” The Ariel who stood in front of Chun was perfectly composed again. Had that even been real anger, Chun wondered.
“I don’t know. An instinct I suppose. Look at Ceci. She’s so full of warmth. The kindest heart you will ever find. Anywhere. And Patience? Brilliant. She could change the world, that one. Rosa. Passionate, vibrant and so beautiful. And Arron. Yes, even Arron, Ariel.”
They stood hidden behind the wooden screen.
“Are you threatening me, Wu Chun?” Ariel asked calmly.
“Threatening? Now now, Ariel, that’s such a cold word to use. I’m merely advising you as to the consequences if you were to say no to my proposal.” Wu Chun drawled.
“Do you think that real life is like the B-grade movies you frequently act in? Threaten me and mine and I will give in? What makes you think I care about these people?”
“Maybe you don’t care about them, Ariel. But they care about you. So much. Arron’s willing to give his life for you. They all are.”
Ariel stilled. Nobody had wanted to defend her before, fight for her. Could she walk away from them? A year ago, Ariel would have had no problem doing so.
Shit.
“So will you marry me, Ariel?” Wu Chun said, a facsimile of a smile briefly decorating his lips.
“You ask as though I have a choice.” Ariel replied with a cold look.
“We all cling to illusions, Ariel. I thought I would let you have yours.” Wu Chun drifted closer to Ariel, his head dipping down to sip the fragrance of her skin.
“Look how your pulse jumps at my proximity.” He whispered in her ear. Ariel stood very very still. Then she smiled and looked up, her lips half a centimeter from his and she whispered, “I’m going to make you regret every single second of it.” Her warm breath touched his lips and Ariel leaned even closer to him and followed the path her breath took with her tongue, watching his pupils dilate. He moved to kiss her and she turned her head away. Frustrated his hands sculpted her body through her dress and dragged her close to his body and an ache flared between them; one that had nothing to do with love and everything to do with sensual hunger.
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“I’m Ella!” Ella introduced herself to Ceci, Patience, Rosa and Arron as they stood by the buffet, unconsciously waiting for Ariel.
“Good for you.” Rosa replied. It was hate at first sight.
“I’m Ariel’s childhood friend.” Ella continued unperturbed by the cold reception she was getting. Her words did have the intended effect though.
“She has never mentioned you.” Patience said, smiling slightly.
“No?” Ella pouted.
“No.” Arron confirmed. Ella cast a quick glance at him, immediately interested in this new face.
“Don’t bother. He’s madly in love with Ariel.” Rosa smiled at Ella sweetly.
“Psht. She’s not for him.” Ella waved her hands around dismissively.
“Arron, man. Who are these pretty ladies?” Jiro came up to the group, Calvin trailing behind.
“Don’t even think about her.” Jason popped in from nowhere, his arm around Patience possessively.
Ceci wandered off to get more food. Jiro took one look at Rosa. “You!” He gasped.
“I don’t know you.” Rosa turned her back on him.
“Of course you do.”
“I have no idea.”
“Come on. I’m Jiro.”
“So?”
“Dance with me.”
“No.”
“You know you want to.”
“No.”
“Of course you do.”
Rosa turned around. “I do NOT.”
But Jiro grasped her hand and dragged her out onto the dance floor.
Just then Ariel walked over and joined the group. Rosa left Jiro on the floor, Patience moved out of Jason’s grasp, Ceci abandoned her plate of food and Arron left the cloying clutches of Ella. They surrounded her like the petals of a sunflower.
“Everything okay?” Rosa asked, concerned.
Ariel looked at Chun who stood on the other side of the ballroom. “Yeah. Everything’s fine. Arron, could you come to the Palace with us after the party, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
Arron nodded.
“Well then, let’s enjoy the party now.”
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Arron had never thought his world would be hit by a meteor. But it had been. Ariel had burned brighter than any meteor ever could. He had been leading a life of stagnant indifference towards everything he met her. She had been incandescent, drawing him out of his sullen attitude, making him feel and believe. If Arron had believed in soul mates, she would be it.
Now, she had said that there was something she needed to tell him, tell them all. Those words had been the first drops of a rainstorm. True, there was officially nothing between them that just friendship but he’d felt her thawing towards him.
They were all arranged in various poses on the seats in the living room at the Palace. It was a respectable 1 a.m. There was an air of expectation and they all looked at Ariel who was the only one not seated.
“What’s up, Ariel?” Ceci yawned.
Rosa looked concerned. Arron glanced at Ariel and for the first time, to him, she looked like a stranger. “There’s something I need to tell you.” She said softly.
“Yeah?” Patience waited. Rosa looked even more worried.
“I’m getting married.” Ariel finally sighed.
Arron found himself smirking. She had to be joking. Right?
“I’m serious.”
“To whom?” Patience asked seriously. Why did they believe her?
Ariel took another deep breath. “Chun.”
“Are you serious?” Ceci sounded betrayed. Arron was sure she would start laughing any moment now.
“Yeah.” Ariel met their eyes squarely. In turn. “I’ve been betrothed to him since I was born.”
Arron sat quiet. Oh. It made sense now. Really. He was fine. Just…shocked but fine. Yeah.
“Have you forgotten what he has done? Do you love him?” Ceci, innocent Ceci.
“No.” Ariel laughed, amused at the question. “Love has nothing to do with this.”
“Then why?” Arron thought it was Rosa who asked the question but he was too busy feeling nothing to know for sure.
“Because he threatened to destroy you all if I didn’t.” Ariel had always been brutally blunt, Arron knew that.
“It’s not that easy to destroy people!” Rosa said fiercely.
“Oh yes, it is.” Ariel’s words were lethal and experienced.
“So you are going to sacrifice yourself for us?” Arron finally spoke out.
“Hardly. It’s just a piece of paper we’ll both sign.” Ariel was nonchalant. “Nothing will change.”
“No, Ariel. Everything will change.” Arron had never thought he would ever do this to Ariel. But he did. At that moment, it was the only thing he could do. He walked away from her.
Ariel watched him go. It had been inevitable but the end had come sooner than she had expected it to, had hurt more than she had expected it to.
“He’ll be back.” Rosa said softly.
“It doesn’t matter.” Ariel replied just as softly.
“But Ariel, -.” Ceci was anguished at the idea of Ariel giving up anything for them.
“Don’t sweat it, Ceci. I’m not sacrificing myself. Don’t feel too bad. Well…you COULD get me ice cream if you feel guilty. Hagen Daz. I want all 10 flavours. Your treat.”
--------------------
Triangular table. Antique. Unique in its design. Dark brown finish. Gleaming. Aubusson rugs on the floor. Sinfully soft. Decadent. Large windows opened to let the morning light in. Drapes. Tasteful and demure. Three very powerful men sat at the triangular table. Edward Lin, Goh Kiat San and Chun.
“The girl has agreed?” San said, taking a delicate sip from the fragile teacup in his hands. His gnarled hands, knotted by age and sin looked faintly ridiculous holding a teacup decorated with roses. “It is about time she did. Edward, did you not discipline her when she was young?”
Edward and Chun exchanged looks. Edward would not say a word to defend Ariel.
“I always say it is better to have a whip around when dealing with women.” San continued.
Just then the door banged open. Ariel stood leaning against the doorframe. She was wearing tight, black leather pants, combat boots and a black tank top that offered tantalizing glimpses of her midriff. Her hair was tied back in a tight French braid. She did not look like a prospective granddaughter in law for the revered Goh Kiat family.
Around her arm was a black band made of cloth. On it was embroidered with orange thread: Fire Light.
“Ariel - .” Edward stood up.
“Woman, you should know your place!” Chun’s grandpa said acerbically.
Ariel smiled. Chun winced. She walked over and sat on the table near Grandpa San. She put one foot on his chair and leaned closer to him. “And where would that place be? Under your grandson? Screaming for mercy?”
“You are insolent!” San exclaimed.
Ariel smiled sweetly.”Oh, I know.” She got up and turned to Edward and Chun. “I’m here to discuss the marriage.”
“You have no part in the discussions. Go out and wait. We’ll call you in when we are done with the negotiations.” Goh Kiat San was a bit dense. A lot dense. Ariel ignored him.
“My conditions are as follows. 1. This marriage is in name only. 2. It’s an absolute secret. 3. I’ll think of something later.”
San stood up. He was angry. He stalked towards Ariel. “Don’t make me put you in your place, woman!”
Chun made as though to intervene. Edward stopped him. He was going to enjoy the show.
“What are you going to do, old man? Hmm? Whip me? You think your threats are going to scare me? Perhaps you will kill me? But oh, that won’t do, would it? You want to be associated with Edward by more than just business.” Ariel taunted, easily. Then suddenly, all emotion leeched out and she stood cold. “Listen up, Goh Kiat San. You cling too closely to your archaic ideas of the roles of women and men. This is fine with me until you take these ideas and attempt to dress me up in them. I am not some chattel you use like an object. You can’t put me away in a cupboard if I don’t please you. A little piece of advise for you. Don’t make me angry.”
“Just because you are Edward’s granddaughter does not mean you show me disrespect!” Blue veins pulsed on Goh Kiat San’s forehead.
“Mm. But that’s hardly true. I don’t claim relationship to this man. You are the one who insists on doing so. Don’t expect me to cower in front of you. If you want respect, you give me respect and then I’ll see if you deserve any in return. There’s nothing you can do to me.”
“You friends -.” San had been briefed by Chun.
Ariel nodded. "My friends. You can go ahead and destroy them. In return, I will destroy you. Know this, old man, my words aren’t just empty. If you want to play dirty,” Ariel smiled sweetly, “let’s go all out.”
“Ariel, calm down.” Edward finally spoke up.
Ariel shrugged. “I’ve named my conditions, Chun. Take it. Or leave it.”
“I’ll take it.” Chun replied without glancing at his grandfather.
“Edward, I know you have the arrangements already made.” Ariel said coolly.
He had. A Justice of Peace awaited in the conference room next door. They signed the papers. The witnesses, the two loving grandfathers signed it.
The J.P, a jovial sort who fancied himself a romantic announced cheerfully. “I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. - .” He faltered off at Ariel’s look. Undeterred he tried again. “You may kiss the bride!”
“Try it and I’ll hurt you.” Ariel told Chun.
“A ring?” Chun took one out.
“I’m not a possession you need to mark.” Ariel answered.
The silence was heavy. It was done. Ariel was married. Legally, at least.
“Well. It’s done. See you later.” Ariel nodded at everyone pleasantly and walked out.
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Author's note: Late updates = apologetic hibiscus = blame school.