| Fan Fiction |
by angelynnnnn
I went to my bed and too fell asleep. Today have been very tiring, it’s too much for me to take. Having my best friend betray me, having to find out that my best friend was my greatest enemy, having to know that my best friend was jealous of me the whole time.
I want to stop being this nice to her, but Gillian, is one person I can never be mean to.
[End of Recap]
When I went to bed, it was already 11pm. Of course, before dozing off the slumber town, I set my alarm to 12.45am. I have already guessed that Gillian would wake up at 12.30am and will come out only at 12.55am. So I have approximately 10 minutes left to write a letter to Gillian.
I took a piece of paper and pen and quickly wrote down what came into my mind. When I heard the water in the bathroom stop running, I hurriedly ended my letter and folded it into an envelope. I slot it into her passport and put it back into her handbag.
When the bathroom door was opening, I jumped back into my bed and pretended to sleep. I saw Gillian walk to the dressing table and I got up from my bed, rubbing my eyes.
“Gillian, you ready?”
Gillian turned back to me and smiled. She sat on my bed with water dripping off the ends of her hair, wetting my blanket.
“Charlene, I’m leaving at 1am. You don’t have to accompany me to the lobby. You still have a long day ahead,”
I nodded and fell back onto my pillow. I shouldn’t cry today since Gillian would be happy if she left Hong Kong for Korea. Gillian gave a faint smile and went to dry her hair. We didn’t exchange any words of goodbye or blessings. I just lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, reminiscing. Gillian was happily getting herself ready so she could leave this place as soon as possible.
I closed my eyes when I saw Gillian grabbing a paper and walking towards me. She placed the paper on my bedside table.
“Charlene, goodbye my best friend,”
With those words, she opened the door and closed it behind her. When I heard the door close, I opened my eyes and sat up, leaning against the bed head. I took the paper and unfolded it. It was a letter left behind by Gillian.
It read:
Dear Charlene,
when you read this letter, it would be when I have already left this place and I may be at the airport right now.
As your best friend, I would like to tell you that, I have been a bad friend. A really bad friend. I am telling you the truth now as I know, you won’t come after me.
The ticket to Korea, belongs to you. But I took it away. You know, the time when we took out pictures, we both had our hair cut short. We really look alike. I am the worst friend one could ever get, so I took your passport.
I’m sorry Charlene, I hope you would forgive me and pretend as if this had never happened before. I hope that even though you know I have betrayed you, we will still be best friends.
I know, my presence in the Korean hospital may be a drastic experience for all the patients there. But I am sure that I will work hard and strive hard to become a good nurse like you. I am determined this time round. Charlene, you don’t have to worry about me.
I’ve grown up and I have learnt to take care of myself. You now have to take up the identity of Gillian, and I am now known as Charlene in Korea. Don’t worry about Senior So Young recognizing me. I’ve wore shades and a cap.
You just have to leave bangs and people will see you as Gillian. As far as I know, only Senior So Young and another senior know about this Korea-to-Hong-Kong exchange. You just have to act as Gillian in front of the both of them and everything will be fine.
I may be asking a lot from you, but all I want is to be able to be a good nurse in Korea. Please do this favour for me, that is, if you still consider yourself my best friend.
With regards,
Gillian
“Please do this favour for me, that is, if you still consider yourself my best friend…”
That sentence repeated itself in my mind. Did she actually think I would give up this friendship?
“Gillian ah, even if you treat me as your enemy, you’re forever my best friend,”
[Gillian’s POV]
My alarm rang and got up from bed. I didn’t have to have an alarm to wake me up for I was too excited to fall asleep again when I woke up at 12am. I went to bathe and came out from the bathroom at 12.55am. Charlene was still asleep.
I went to the dressing table and took off the towel from my head. I packed my passport and my ticket into my handbag.
“Gillian, you ready?”
I turned back to Charlene and smiled. I smiled my sweetest, knowing that today will be the last time I would ever need to flash a smile across her eyes again. I went over to her and sat on her bed.
“Charlene, I’m leaving at 1am. You don’t have to accompany me to the lobby. You still have a long day ahead,”
Charlene simply nodded and went back to sleep. I continued preparing myself for the flight and took my entire luggage with me. I placed a letter on the bedside table.
“Charlene, goodbye my best friend,”
I smiled faintly, this time, I smiled on my own accord. And not because I had to show her I was okay. I walked out of the dormitory and met Senior So Young at the lobby. I put on my shades when I walked out of the elevator.
“Charlene, you’re finally here. Hurry up, we’re behind schedule,”
I quickened my pace and walked out of the hospital with Senior So Young. We went into a cab and throughout the entire ride to the airport, I made sure I didn’t talk.
“You’re not sad about leaving this place?”
I shook my head.
“Not worried about Gillian?”
I shook my head again.
“You seem to be acting weird,”
I shrugged and looked out of the window. The senior sitting in front spoke.
“She must be feeling guilty then,”
I turned to the senior, she didn’t look at me. Instead, she turned to Senior So Young and talked about some other things. This senior must be suspecting that I am not Charlene.
When we reached the airport, just before I went in, the other senior who was there with Senior So Young yesterday pulled me back.
“I know you’re not Charlene,”
She said as she took my shades off. I snatched my shades back and put it back on before Senior So Young sees me.
“Don’t tell anybody, please,”
I didn’t know what just came out of my mouth but I think I was pleading her not to blow my cover off.
“I won’t, that was exactly what Charlene told me to do – keep quiet about this whole matter,”
“Charlene?”
“I just got off the phone with her. She wants me to tell you that there’s a letter in between your passport. Read it when you’re on the plane so you won’t regret what you did,”
That senior walked off and I boarded the plane. If there was a letter from Charlene, that means that before Charlene read my letter, she knew what I have done.
“Charlene, why are you always this forgiving?”
The air stewardess helped me to my seat. I took out the envelope that was clipped in between my passport and started reading it.
Dear Gillian,
when you read this letter, I hope you are not feeling a tinge of guilt or regret. Don’t mistake my intentions, I really do want you to do well in Korea. I learnt about what you have done yesterday, shortly after the meeting.
I know what you would write in your letter and all. It would probably have sentences saying you’re sorry for what you did and that you will work hard to be a good nurse. There isn’t a need to say sorry.
I don’t want you to say sorry either. I want you to do this too, I want the best for you, my best friend. Gillian ah, I am not trying to make you feel guilty and make you want to fly back to Hong Kong again. So make sure that the plane has already taken flight before you continue reading the remaining contents of this letter.
Gillian, you are my best friend and you forever will be. I am not angry at you for taking this chance away from me. As long as you are happy, then so am I. all friends must be happy for each other’s achievements, shouldn’t they?
Just make sure that you keep your promise and not break it. What promise? The promise we made when we signed up for this course – I promise to be a good nurse and to have the best prepared for the patients, so that they will feel that this is way more comfortable than being served in a hotel.
When you’re in Korea, remember to work hard. I am no longer there to help you cover up your mistakes and to help you stand up against unreasonable seniors. I talked to Senior senior Yuri yesterday night before I went to bed and she told me that you will be the personal nurse of 5 patients?
Wow, I am actually glad that you took over me to go there instead. Just imagine, 5 patients? What’s wrong with all of them? Incurable disease? Deadly illnesses? Hah, Gillian ah, this is why you shouldn’t say you’re sorry. Because you are actually helping me by taking off the responsibilities of 5 patients whose lives will be depending on me.
Don’t take my words by the wrong way, I don’t want to pressurize you. I know, you have been jealous of me. I am sorry I made you feel that about me. This is also a chance for you to prove that you are better than me.
Remember, if you come back here without fulfilling your task, I won’t acknowledge you as my friend. You, Gilliang Chung, have to come back as a great nurse, a better nurse than Charlene Choi.
Lastly, please take care of yourself Gillian. There isn’t another Charlene in Korea to remind you to cover yourself at night or to give you your meals on time when you lose track of time. I want a healthier and happier Gillian.
With Love,
Charlene
As I read Charlene’s letter, tears trickled down my cheeks. I wasn’t supposed to fell this way. I wasn’t supposed to feel as if I owe her something. I was supposed to be filled with anger for she was like pushing the blame on me. But I know, although I am sitting here trying to find faults with Charlene, I have always treated Charlene as my best friend.
Little did I know that all these while I have been thinking that I was jealous of Charlene. But in fact, I was really admiring Charlene. The way she carries herself with confidence and her independence gained my respect. It’s just that I mistook this idolism as jealousy.
“Charlene, I won’t let you down,”