| Fan Fiction |
by Hibiscus
Getting into Sebastian, she drove to an ever popular restaurant which served exclusively to the elite. She parked Sebastian in a parking lot full of Jaguars and Porches and other vehicles of title.
Ariel entered the restaurant and was immediately greeted by the hostess. “Miss Lin, what an honor it is for us to have you here.”
Miss Lin, Ariel, smiled sweetly. “I came here six months ago. You ignored me.”
The hostess gaped at Ariel, shocked out of any further cloyingly sweet words she might have otherwise said.
“I see my party.” And Ariel moved towards a table located in the back of the restaurant. A man sat there, his head bent as he perused the menu. Ariel walked over to the table and sat down.
“You came.” She sounded a bit amazed that he actually had.
“You called.” Hu Ge looked up, his smile crinkling the corners of his eyes.
“Liza doesn’t mind?”
“Liza doesn’t know.”
“You are cruel.” Ariel smiled. It was at once both ironic and sad that she’d tell someone else that THEY were cruel.
“That’s the way it is.” Hu Ge agreed, raising his water glass for a faux toast.
“This is the first time I have seen you since we went sky diving.” Ariel thought out loud.
“You still look at me like a lover.” Hu Ge propped his chin up on his hands.
“Don’t bring up history, Ge.” Ariel gave him a look. “How’s Liza anyway?”
“Do you really want to know, Ariel?”
“No. I’m just being polite.”
“I thought so. Why did you want to see me?”
Ariel gave him another look, this one loaded with meaning.
“No you didn’t!” For the first time, Hu Ge looked really surprised.
“I did.” Ariel sighed. She signaled to a waiter and silence fell as they gave their orders.
“What convinced you?” Hu Ge asked curiously. He had known Ariel ever since she had started living with her grandfather and they had found unlikely allies in each other.
“I’m too ashamed to admit it.” Ariel sighed again and moved her hand to sweep a lock of Hu Ge’s hair out of his eyes.
“He threatened your girls?” Hu Ge sounded amused.
“Cliché, eh? And the worst part? I fell for it.” Ariel made a face.
“What’s he like?” Hu Ge asked, sounding a bit perturbed.
“Who?”
“Your husband?” Ariel winced at the title, one she wasn’t familiar with being associated to herself.
“Jealous?” She quirked a teasing eyebrow.
“Insanely.” Hu Ge affirmed.
“You should have married me when you still had the chance,” Ariel smirked.
“As I recall, I tried.” Hu Ge’s tone was dry. “You rejected me. Twice.”
“Whatever.” Ariel took a big bite of her food to avoid continuing the discussion.
“You want information about Goh Kiat Chun?” Hu Ge changed the topic. They’d been over it enough times to know they wouldn’t agree.
“Everything you can find, please.”
“When do I meet him?”
“Soon.”
“Sweet. Let’s eat.”
“I already am.”
“Oinker. Give me some of your chicken.”
“Get your own. You love food.”
“And you. Ariel?”
Ariel looked up in inquiry.
“Liza and I are getting divorced.”
“Why?”
“We don’t need her father’s company anymore.”
“Makes sense.”
“By the way, has Edward said anything to about any kind of business yet?”
“He has alluded to it many times but he’s yet to express himself in clearer terms.” Ariel replied.
“Call me when he does, okay?”
“Why?”
“Just do.”
“I’ll think about it.”
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Chun returned home to find a message waiting for him on his answering machine.
“Hello darling, I’ve been thinking about you. Meet me at Carpe Diem tonight.”
Rainie. Funny how she took it for granted that he’d show up. There had been a moment some years back when he had been fascinated by her viciousness but that had worn off quickly. Still, it wasn’t as though his wife could even stand the sight of him. An idea flourished in his mind and he picked up the phone and dialed.
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There were few things more displeasing, Rosa realized, than having an idol attached to you. You ended up gaining undeserved attention from the public and much of that attention turned out to be hostile in nature.
“I’m going to press harassment charges against you if you don’t leave me alone!” She muttered irritably to Jiro. She was at the Grocers, it being her turn to cook, she had decided to pick up some essential food items. Jiro had been stuck to her side like a limpet all day long.
“No one would believe you anyway.” Jiro scoffed at her and Rosa bit back an urge to smack his smug face.
“You don’t impress me a single bit.” Rosa told him coolly, rejecting the piles of celery for the sweet corn placed beside it.
“Lies, all lies. But hey, what did Ariel do to Arron?” Jiro sounded genuinely curious.
“What do you mean?” Rosa avoided his eyes, focusing instead on cereal.
“He doesn’t talk about her anymore. He’s become more introverted and well…yeah. Did he and Ariel have a falling out?”
“Sort of.” Rosa started pushing her cart faster down the various aisles.
Suddenly her cell phone rang.
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Ariel felt like cooking. So she ordered two large pizzas, one with lots of cheese and pineapple and the other a meat lover’s paradise. She made a makeshift table out of some blocks and placed it in the backyard. Champagne glasses (and bottle) and candlesticks were taken out. Even a snowy white tablecloth (it had actually been Rosa’s bed sheet but Ariel was sure Rosa wouldn’t mind).
Ariel sat at the table, turned the radio on to some soul music by Maceo Parker and settled down to wait for the girls. She poured herself a glass of champagne and sipped. About ten minutes later the girls all arrived. Yes, at the same time. Wonders would never cease. And the smell of the pizza led them all straight into the backyard.
Rosa’s eyes widened as she saw Ariel reclining on a chair with her champagne glass. “Tell me that isn’t my bed sheet.”
Ariel smiled amiably. “That isn’t your bed sheet.”
“Are you lying?” Rosa couldn’t resist asking. She should have.
“Yes.” Ariel beamed.
“Is that pizza I smell?” Patience pushed past Rosa and sat down at the table.
“I’m starving.” Ceci joined them.
“I have good news!” Rosa gave up scowling and joined them too.
“Us too!” Patience and Ceci looked at each other and then at Ariel and Rosa.
“Um, me three.” Ariel poured them all champagne.
“Me first!” Rosa’s enthusiasm flowed off her like a golden river. “I applied to Oxford ages ago. On a whim. And today I got a call from them! They’re sending my papers in the mail but, BUT, essentially, I’m in!!!”
“Oxford, London?” Ceci asked wide-eyed.
Rosa nodded rapidly and the girls erupted in cheers.
“My turn! I got the teaching position in Japan! The one that lets me focus on special needs children!” Ceci’s eyes were sparkling with excitement, her dream was almost near to being realized.
“Wow. This is like Christmas! And I got invited to do research along with some of the biggest names in science. In Switzerland!” Patience looked flushed and happy. The good fortune unexpected but welcome. Very welcome.
“Wait a minute. This all seems like it is too good to be true.” Rosa leveled a suspicious look in Ariel’s direction.
“I didn’t have anything to do with this.” Ariel hastened to ensure them. “You all got what you truly deserved, on your own power and abilities.”
Ceci looked unsure but nodded slowly.
“By the way, Ariel. What’s your news?” Patience asked.
“It’s nothing much.” Ariel replied and Rosa raised an eyebrow. “I got married today. That’s all.”
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There was a still quality to the night. A kind of sweet taste in a mouth waiting for candy feeling. It was almost bittersweet. Lovers walked the seductive streets, their hands tangling, touching and pulling away. Enemies plotted revenge laced with poisonous hostility and a kernel of desire was budding somewhere. Insistently. It was a night for extremes, a night where some promises would be broken and new ones forged. It was not the ripe night that sang of satiation, oh no, this was a night of beginnings. A love would be realized, a heart would be broken, yes, a beginning.
Chun stood in front of the wardrobe. It was petty, he knew that, yet he still wanted to look the best he ever had. It wasn’t everyday a man got married. So what if his bride was missing? He was still going to party. Hard.
He finally chose a light blue shirt, white pants and a ring he would stubbornly wear on his wedding ring finger. He wasn’t the kind of man who believed in romance, no, it wasn’t that at all. But marriage was still a big deal to him, maybe because he hadn’t had a proper family while growing up or maybe despite all denials to the contrary, he was a romantic at heart. Whatever the reason was, he took a sort of secret delight in being married. It made no logical sense and it was probably suicidal of him especially considering the woman he was married to, but he did and that was that.
Chun grinned into the mirror. “You’re a perverse bastard, aren’t you?”
Ariel, in the meanwhile, was slipping on a pair of skin tight light blue pants. A white top, some chunky necklaces, black knee length boots to match her hair. She didn’t know why she felt so out of sorts. True, they were her friends and true she did genuinely feel happy for them. So why did she feel sort of betrayed? Ariel put some lipstick on, red, she decided. It would be a fun right, yes. Hu Ge. The girls. Carpe Diem. “Alcohol.” Her bare wedding ring finger caught her eye again. “Lots of alcohol.” She muttered slipping her wallet in her back pocket. Then she took it out again. “Hu Ge can pay.”
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Carpe Diem was the hottest club in Taipei. Not because it catered only to the elite but because it brought to life the fantasies of the common people by letting them interact with the celebrities. Constructed entirely of black marble, it shimmered darker than the night. It was the usual haunting of people who were stars or wanted to be stars or who simply wanted some stardust rubbing off on them. Yeah. The decoration inside was in stark contrast to the black marble walls. White tables, white couches and on every single white table which lined up the sides was a single black vase with a white orchid in it. The dance floor was a circular pulsing mass with a revolving center. Bouncers stood at the doors, their muscles warning people who thought of doing mischief. What you needed to get into the club was style, money and a good companion. Unlike all the other clubs, Carpe Diem did not exclusively cater to the rich and famous, occasionally normal people got in to dance and dream. Seeing their favourite idols out of the stage, interacting. Oh yes, they dreamed.
A stairway snaked downstairs and if you followed a long winding corridor (at the entrance of which stood two more bouncers, Carpe Diem took its security seriously), it would lead you to the sanctuary of the VIPs. The ones who shimmered gold stardust. The long corridor actually led to a conservatory at the back. It was the last thing one would expect to find at a night club of al places and so its novelty made it all the more popular. Sofas were thrown around, plants obstructed views one group of seats from the other. The music pulsing inside seemed delicious and calming from the distance. There was a bar in a corner and a kitchen catered to the hunger of the A Listers. The air smelled soft like blushing jasmines.
If you wanted to dance, if you wanted fever, you’d stay on the upper floor but if you simply wanted to spend some time with friends without interruptions from fans, well, the VIP lounge was at your disposal. Secret trysts? Sure. Rendezvous with a scandalous lover? Why not? The staff was paid to be discreet and this granted the celebrities ease to be their true selves instead of keeping on the public face.
Chun arrived first and immediately made his way to the VIP lounge. Rainie was already there and got up purring when she saw him. She pursed her lips for a kiss but Chun turned her away.
“Sorry Rainie. I can’t kiss you anymore.”
“What? Why?” Rainie looked irked.
Chun wiggled his fingers and Rainie’s attention was caught by the ring.
“You are kidding!” Rainie looked disbelieving.
“Nope.” Chun said nonchalantly.
“When??”
“This morning.”
“Why didn’t you invite me?”
Chun smirked. “It was a very small event.”
“Where is she?” Rainie looked around as though expecting a bride.
“I have no idea.” Chun shrugged.
“Who is she?” Rainie frowned.
“Order some food, would you? I’m hungry.” Chun ignored Rainie’s questions and leaned back against the couch.
-----------------------
Ariel arrived with Rosa, Patience and Ceci. They met Hu Ge at the entrance of the club. The girls were dazzled by Hu Ge; his looks, charm and the gentlemanly manner with which he conducted himself.
“He Ge, quit flirting with my friends.” Ariel reprimanded as they moved to a table beside the dance floor.
“Jealous?” Ge grinned mischievously.
“Hardly. I’m more concerned about their health were Liza to get word of this.”
“Liza?” Rosa asked.
“Ask him.” Ariel shrugged.
Ceci presented him with a questioning look.
“His wife.” Patience replied. “You are a very well known man in the business world. At twenty seven, you’ve proved yourself to be one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Canada.”
“Stop. You’re making me blush.” Hu Ge tugged at his collar.
“He’s lying. He’s actually lapping up the praise like a cat laps up cream.”
“Don’t listen to her. I’m actually very humble.”
“He’s lying again.” Ariel smirked.
“You two are cute.” Ceci grinned.
“Ugh. Don’t get him started!” Ariel protested.
“Aren’t we? She should have married me instead. I actually asked her to.” Hu Ge looked mournful. The girls’ eyes widened.
“You turned him down?” Rosa looked disbelievingly.
“She did.” Ge brought a hand up to his heart.
“I was seventeen.” Ariel replied dryly.
“She rejected me.” He sniffed.
“Soundly.” Ariel agreed.
“Broke my heart into two million pieces.” He sniffed again, even more sadly.
“He got married the next week.” Ariel continued.
“I couldn’t stand the pain of being alone.” Hu Ge rubbed his chest.
“To someone else.” Ariel smirked.
They continued bickering until a fan mustered up enough courage to actually approach Ariel.
“Um, excuse me, Miss Lin?” A pretty girl said shyly.
The next ten minutes were spent signing autographs. Ariel Lin hardly ever made public appearances so this was quite a coup for her fans of which there were many.
Ariel finally realized that her party would be dampened by the constant fans, suggested that they all make their way to the VIP lounge. “Let me enjoy some perks of idoldom.”
So they made their way down the stairs, through the long corridor and – Ariel stopped short as soon as she saw Chun.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” She hissed.
Rosa frowned and then she saw Chun. She looked at Chun and then at Ariel.
“If you laugh, I’m going to kick your ass!” Ariel scowled and then she turned to go.
“Where are you going?” Patience asked confused.
“Home. To change.” Ariel replied.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Ge grabbed Ariel’s arm.
Chun looked over, did a double take when he saw Ariel and what she was wearing. A second later, he was smirking.
“God hates me.” Ariel grumbled.
Chun was dressed in white pants couple with a blue shirt and Ariel was wearing the exact same shade of blue – pants couple with a white transparent t-shirt. They matched. Really. Chun blew her a kiss and Ariel scowled at him as ferociously as she could.
“Let’s sit here!” Ge went and sat down in a group of seats and stuffed chairs directly opposite Chun and Rainie.
Ariel glared at but followed suit. And of course, the lure was too great for Chun to resist. A minute later, he had joined their group.
“Hi! I’m Chun!” He smiled genially and then he introduced Rainie who for some reason became silent and withdrawn.
“An unfortunate fact I can’t alter.” Ariel said sourly.
“Now, now, Ariel, play nice.” Hu Ge said and Ariel after a brief glare, subsided. Chun’s eyes narrowed as he took in He Ge, his proximity to her and the way Ariel reacted to him.
“Hello Rainie, long time no see.” Ariel ignored Chun for the next least favourite person on her list.
Rainie looked from Chun to Ariel and then back to Chun. “Oh hell no!’ She breathed. “You’re married to HER?”
A silence fell. An awkward silence it was. Rainie looked at Ariel who pointedly looked away and then at Chun who was studying his fingers with a great deal of interest.
Rosa broke the tension. “Hide me! Jiro just entered the room!”
Ariel smirked. The smirk died on her lips when she saw the couple behind him. Arron and Ella.
“Your sister’s going to be put herself on the endangered list if she doesn’t quit hanging around with my people.” Ariel said softly in Ge’s ear.
“What are you two whispering about?” Chun demanded to know.
“Please pardon my bad manners. I’m Hu Ge.” Ge extended his hand.
Chun took it as though it were a poisonous snake. “I’m Ariel’s lover.” Ge continued, still smiling pleasantly.
“Ex.” Ariel interjected dryly.
Chun’s eyes shifted to Ariel and the tension rose to murderous degrees.
“Ariel, we’re going back up, kay? The dance. Jason said he’d meet us there. Come find us when you are ready to face the crowd again.” Patience stood up. She hated awkward situations.
“Abandoners.” Ariel sulked after they left.
“Isn’t anyone answering my question?” Rainie pulled on Chun’s arm.
“No.” Ariel replied. “Ge, let’s go somewhere else. Chun and Rainie want to be alone.”
“No. I’m quite comfortable here.” Ge settled in.
So Ariel sat. Beside Ge, across from Chun. Arron was on the other side of the room. Ignoring her. “I should have just stayed in bed today.” Ariel sighed. She badly wanted to be with the girls up on the first floor, dancing. Badly.
“So Chun, what do you do for a living?” Hu Ge asked politely.
“I am an actor.” Chun replied with equanimity.
“A bad one.” Ariel whispered to Ge.
“What are you muttering to him AGAIN?” Chun’s eyes flashed fire.
“None of your business.” Ariel shot back.
“You wanna bet?”
“Whatever. Don’t talk to me.”
“And why are you sitting so close to him?”
“Why do you care?”
“Because you are my bloody wife!”
Another silence fell. Rainie’s suspicious were proved correct.
“You just violated the first term!” Ariel was irritated.
“Screw that!” Chun was enraged.
“Screw you!!” Ariel hissed.
“If only you would.”
A silence. Third time round. Awkward. Very, very awkward. Hu Ge hurriedly spoke before they resumed their verbal sparring.
“Children.” Ge said placidly.
Ariel and Chun both turned and glared at him.
“Don’t condescend to me!” Ariel uncoiled herself from the couched and stalked over to Chun. She grabbed him by the collar. “We need to talk.”
“Damn straight we do. Come with me.” Chun grabbed Ariel’s hand and strode out of the conservatory. Ariel was too busy trying to remove her hand from his iron grip to notice that they were the center of everyone’s attention. Arron’s smile had turned brittle, Jiro and Calvin’s expressions were curious, Ella’s gleeful, Hu Ge’s amused and Rainie’s surprised.
Hu Ge turned to Rainie with a smile. “Has Ariel been mean to you?”
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“Damnit Chun, let go of my hand before I cause a scene!” Ariel warned him. She was not a woman men dragged around.
“You know what? Go right ahead. I don’t care.” Chun flung back over his shoulder as he continued walking. They emerged out of the corridor, oblivious to the looks of the people as they climbed the stairs to the top floor.
Well, Ariel noticed the looks. Belatedly. But she noticed it. “Bloody hell, Chun! We look like Mr. and Mrs. Bloody October! I will hurt you so bad you will forget your own name. I promise you that.”
Chun didn’t reply.
“And where are we going?”
Chun stopped suddenly and Ariel banged into him.
“To my car.” He replied.
“Why? I don’t want to go to your car!” Ariel knew she was being childish. Knew it. But she couldn’t help it. The man brought out the worst in her.
“Do you see any place here we can talk?” Chun asked with exaggerated patience.
Ariel looked. Furtive glances. Loud music. People. “Fine. We go talk. But in MY car!” She took that small victory all for herself. Yarr.
She walked on ahead, leading straight to Sebastian. Chun followed, his footsteps silent on the pavement.
“Remember Sebastian?” Ariel opened the driver’s side door and got in, locked the passenger door, Chun got in and they both slammed their doors shut at the same time.
“You’ll never let me forget.”
“You got that right.”
“I was afraid of that.”
“You can’t go around acting like a jealous husband, Chun.” Ariel told him very firmly.
“Why not?” Chun asked sounding very reasonable.
For the first time ever, Ariel was speechless. She opened her mouth. Shut it. Then again. “Are you insane? We don’t have that kind of relationship.”
“What does that have anything to do with me being jealous?”
“Why are you being so damn annoying? I could kill you right now, you know that?”
“I know.” Chun smiled sweetly.
“We will NOT have that kind of relationship.”
“Even though you want me?”
“That’s beside the point,” Ariel replied without thinking.
“Ah ha!” Chun beamed.
“What?” Ariel frowned.
“You want me!”
“When did I say that?”
“Just now.”
“Stop deluding yourself.”
“I’m going to act like your husband because that is what I am. Your husband. In case you have forgotten that little fact.”
“Saying it doesn’t make it any truer. You are just a husband by name.” Ariel snapped. Then a thought struck her and she moved, in a flash, her fingers on Chun’s pulse, her arms against his chest, pressing him back into his seat. “Did you have anything to do with the sudden burst of good fortune for my girls?”
Chun raised his hands and slid them down Ariel’s back to her waist.
“Answer my damn question!” Ariel growled.
“I pulled some strings,” Chun’s tone was easy.
“Why?”
Chun suddenly swung Ariel over the gears and onto his lap. Then he grinned, satisfied. “I felt like being nice.”
“You-.”
“Why? Aren’t you happy for them?”
“I am but-.”
“Now you’ll be alone again. Is that it?”
“I am very suspicious of your sudden philanthropic overtures, Chun. Forgive me if I don’t join your fan club. I have more self respect than Rainie.”
“Your suspicions wounds me, Ariel.”
“Don’t try to be cute, Chun. A viper in wolf’s clothing will remain a viper.”
“Very well.” Chun’s jocund tone smoothed into something a more serious. “Move in with me.”
“No.” Ariel’s reply was immediate and sure. She started to climb off his lap but his arms became shackles. Ariel stopped moving and tipped her head back and looked at him.
“Move in with me and I’ll give you something in return.” Ah. So he was bargaining now, was he?
“What could you possibly have that I would want?” Ariel’s tone was scornful.
“Information. About the man who killed your parents. The man you killed.” Chun’s words sounded loud in the suddenly silent night air.
Ariel stiffened. Her eyes cleared of all emotion and it was as though she became someone else. Even her breathing changed. “What information?”
“Move in with me and I’ll tell you.”
“Don’t fuck around with me.”
“This is not something anyone else will be able to find out for you, Ariel.”
Ariel didn’t say anything. She stared at him with her dead eyes. Chun shrugged. Then in one fluid motion, he leaned foreword and kissed her. Furiously. An explosion of taste and flavor on her tongue. Purely male. Purely Chun. Ariel bit his lip and Chun bit back. Pent up anger, repressed passion. Ariel stopped thinking and just felt. That one time. She’d forgive herself later for this. Then just as suddenly Chun pulled away. “You can do it now. What you always do.”
Ariel opened the door, wiped her lips with the back of her hand and walked away.
She stalked back to the VIP lounge, to the conservatory, intending to ask Hu Ge to find out whatever Chun knew but when she got there, he was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Rainie. She sighed and turned to leave but Arron caught her eye. Ella was telling him something and the expression on his face screamed disbelief and horror. Ariel walked over to them.
Arron turned to Ariel, his eyes a bit wide, a bit horrified. “Ariel, Ella just told me what you do?”
“Is it true?” Arron’s voice pleaded with Ariel to deny it.
“Of course it’s not.” What else could she say? He couldn’t handle the truth.
“Oh.” Arron looked relieved. “Listen Ariel, I’m sorry I acted -.”
“Don’t be. Ella, you’ve gone too far this time. I see you one more time and you’ll never see yourself again. You do know what I mean, right?” Ella went chalk white at Ariel’s words and fled. Again. The woman ran away a lot. Ariel wondered whether it was just from her that Ella ran or if others had the pleasure also.
“Give me some time, Ariel.” Arron, innocent and pure. He wanted time. She wished she could give him time. This once. She wished so bad. Ariel reached over and ruffled his hair one last time. “Sorry baby, an eternity wouldn’t be enough.”
Ariel swallowed the signature hurt and left. She retraced her steps to Sebastian. She leaned against the car door. Chun was still sitting in the car but when he saw her, he got out.
“Do you know what I am, Chun?” Ariel said softly, not looking at him but at the sky. At the stars. Shining. Again. Stupid stars.
“Yeah.” Chun’s voice was unconcerned. “So?”
“And it doesn’t bother you?” Ariel turned toward him, her eyebrow raised.
“No.” He looked at her, in the dark night, by the pulsing club filled with feverish life. “You think you’re the only monster around?”
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Author's Note: Anyone still around? Sorry for the long delay in the updates. I hope you like this chapter. I'd like to announce the new story that KireinaGai and I are working on:
La Vida: http://www.winglin.net/fanfic/Belladonna/
Feedback will be appreciated. =D I actually just go there to stare at the poster. Talk about hotness, haha. Thanks Didarling.