| Fan Fiction |
by Chandra
The door took a long time to open; so long, Tavia was beginning to wonder if the elevator was stuck. But eventually the doors slid opened, suddenly she found herself face-to-face with the man she had not expected to see. Despite how drained and dirty Tavia felt, she discerned the same reaction on his feature: shocked and speechless.
They should have smiled, acknowledging each other’s presence. They should have been delightful at the unexpected encounter. They should have hugged, chatted excitedly because there were so many things they had wanted to share with one another. They had not met for few days already and yet so many outrageous events had happened. In spite of that, no words would come out of their mouths.
They could only stare at each other like strangers, wondering who was going to initiate the conversation. Who was going to apologize first, to say something silly to break the awkward moment? They had been best friend since childhood for God’s sake.
Usually, it would have been Ron to take action. He would have pulled Tavia into a tight embrace, he would have asked for forgiveness whether it was his mistake or not. He would have done anything for Tavia, but not now. Not when he was in a severe condition where he couldn’t get himself out of it, not when he had done the unthinkable misconduct of raping a girl.
In addition to that, Ron felt a jolt of pain. Tavia had rejected him before and the scar in his heart was still present. The scenes flashed through his mind, countless moments when Bosco had hugged her. Ron had to get out of here, the need to escape this damn stupid hospital.
His eyes remained locked on her, showing no affection. “I’ll see you later.”
His voice cracked slightly, and he swallowed. Then Ron fixed her with a look so piercing that Tavia began to flinch. He was acting so different that Tavia suspected something had gone wrong.
The familiar ache returned to her stomach; the moistness to her eyes. But she forced herself to hold his gaze. Then Tavia opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but the words stuck in her throat. Ron gave her once last glance and walked past her. His action stunned her so much that Tavia was conscious of her heart beating quickly. She stared at her heart beating quickly.
___
Tears rolled up behind her eyes as if someone had flipped a switch, and Rain wished for another control to reverse them. She turned to hide her face, but Bosco wouldn’t let her. He reached out and took one of Rain’s hands in his, then touched her chin, coaxing her to look at him. Rain turned her head back, but kept her eyes averted.
“I told you before and I’m telling you now that I will always be there for you, and I meant it.” Bosco whispered.
He immediately pulled Rain into a tight embrace, letting her know his support. And without any contemplation, Rain fell into his chest, warm and secure. A sudden recognition dawned upon her. Though she felt the shame rise in her when she had recounted those horrible events to Bosco, Rain realized that her feelings for him were no longer there.
Somehow, the sentiment that she once had for Bosco had transformed into something else and Rain knew it what was. Bosco had loved her and treated her like his sister. Rain now experienced that same affection and learned to accept it. What Bosco and Rain had for each other at this moment was a sibling love. The closeness to someone and that attachment can never be damaged.
Bosco smiled then, as if relieved by what she had done. He rubbed her shoulder, and his small, tight smile tightened further. Rain was the most lost soul Bosco had ever known; completely helpless to protect herself from whatever trouble might have followed her here. And Bosco was furious when he thought of the bastard who took the innocence away from her.
Bosco and Ron had once been friend, had fallen in love with the same girl. They were childhood buddies, and at this point his disgust for Ron became visible. With that thought, Bosco resolved to confront Ron. He needed to teach Ron a lesson.
“Stay here and I’ll be back in few minutes. I just need to get the key in my office, and then I take you home.”
Rain nodded her head like a weak child whose optimism in life was crushed. Her eyes were on Bosco’s movement as he was leaving the room. Rain looked alarmed and petrified when she comprehended that she was going to be alone until Bosco returned.
___
Ruby bit her lip and turned to look out the window into the waning night, hugging her arms around her. The stars still glimmered faintly and the sky was vibrant blue that marked the moment just before dawn. Until recently, this was a time of day that always made her a little sad because it marked the end of the night.
She loved the night, loved the stillness of the city air and the velvety darkness, and loved the glow of the moon and the twinkle of fireflies. At night, anything seemed possible. It was only the during the day that reality took hold, that reason and logic reasserted themselves, that all her hopes and dreams seemed possible once again. But now this had happened and the peace she had felt at night vanished. Would she ever get it back?
“It’s getting cold at night; don’t stay too close to the window, Ruby.”
Alec intruded the peaceful atmosphere as he strolled toward her wheelchair. He leaned against the window and started to close the roller blind. Alec bent down and squatted himself next to Ruby, taking her gently in his arms.
He knew what she was thinking. He knew about the old Ruby. But he had fallen in love with the new one, with the one he had helped create. He spoke to her gently now, not arguing, not persuading. She had tried to push him away from her. Perhaps, she was scared and afraid. She was probably worried that she might not persevere the difficulty of the surgery.
The dullness in her eyes was painful to watch, and his heart grew heavier as Alec thought through the possibilities. She might die and she might not. There was a risk in the kidney transplantation, but Alec knew he must take this opportunity, for him, for Ruby, and for Tavia. Alec admitted that he was selfish, because Ruby had gone through so much; she had insisted that she won’t have an operation, nonetheless, he didn’t abide her persistence.
“I know you’re angry at me, but I’m doing this for us.”
“But the treatment hurts me, Alec. I can’t take the pain anymore.”
Alec reached out and with the backs of his fingers stroked gently down her cheek. He wiped away the hot, fresh tears on her beautiful face.
“You will survive the surgery.” He assured her once again. “We could fight this battle together, Ruby. Don’t give up on us.”
She couldn’t stop the tears. She was awash with emotion, but still her brain barked out its orders. Time. She needed time. She looked down at the hands on her thighs as she sat in the wheelchair. She felt the stillness of the room. She remembered the joy on the face of the woman whose days existed only as faded photograph. Then she made her decision. She listened not to the old Ruby but to the new. She listened to her heart, and she obeyed it. She must endure the illness for her family. For Alec and Tavia. And when the right time came, she will justify her own actions so that her daughter would understand.
___
“Excuse me – are you a patient?” Rain jumped as a hand touched her shoulder, and she turned around, and then gazed up at a harried young doctor. It was him, Raymond Lam.
“Rain!” He was almost shouting, so thrilled at the sight of her. Seeing the sadness in her eyes, Raymond paused. He was choosing his words carefully, and the effort seemed tremendous.
“I’m so relieved to see you again.”
The silence was tense, but not knowing there his speech was going, Rain had no desire to try to fill the void.
“After you were gone, I was so frantic and worried for you, I’ve looked for you everywhere,” He began again, a bit more softly. “I wanted to say sorry, Rain.”
Rain was silent, as she hugged herself on the bed. Raymond inched closer and she moved further away from him.
“I must explain everything.” He was reluctant to divulge what had happened twenty years ago. Things that belonged to the past should have stayed there. Whatever happened among the elders should have remained among the older generations. However, for Rain, Raymond had to make Rain understand.
“If it makes you feel better, I will tell you … who your parents are.”
At this sentence, Raymond got Rain’s attention. Without Rain’s permission for him to continue, Raymond immediately began to divulge Rain’s parents, the man Rain had met before, known as Jimmy Li. He also justified his father’s deed and the reason he had taken care of the poor man for two decades. How Raymond didn’t want Rain to misunderstand him.
It was all too soon for Rain to digest those appalling information. It was not just information, it was the fact, the truth. Rain felt shock, but it was distant, impersonal, little more than dismay. She could not conjure even a fleeting image of this mother or father, and the grief that should still have been strong in her was totally absent.
“It’s all true, Rain. I have never meant to deceive you,or to hurt you. I have fallen in love with you.”
Now he was making her angry.
“You lied!” Rain shouted, shaking him off.
He released her arms and stepped back. It took several seconds for Rain to realize what she had just said. His voice turned quiet. His eyes seemed to shoot pain straight into her. She drew back from him with a jerk.
Unfortunately, she was already standing against the window, and the back of her head bumped the glass with a thud. Raymond’s face took on a look of defeat. He turned away from her and began walking toward the door. And Rain hoped he was leaving, but it wasn’t to be. He stopped a few steps away, apparently gathering his thoughts.
Rain swiped another tear from her cheek. She didn’t want to think anymore. She couldn’t think anymore. Her mind was splintering, and he was wielding the ax.
“Go away,” She just heard herself say, barely above a whisper. “Please. Just go away.”
Her limbs were still shaking, but she managed to straighten her back and raise her head. He didn’t move, and she repeated herself, louder this time.
“Go, Raymond. Leave me alone.” Rain didn’t know what he was thinking; she couldn’t bring herself to look at him.
Something made Jimmy stop just outside the hall, and he stood, holding his breath as he listened. There were conversations in the room; he heard voices of a male and a female. Jimmy pushed himself away as if he’d just been burned, then stomped into the room in a fit of injured dignity and bewildered rage.
____
The bump into Ron had left Tavia utterly upset and shaken. She didn’t feel better at all. And it didn’t get any better either. What even worst was that she had come across Bosco Wong, who looked half annoyed and half infuriated at seeing her.
Not wanting to deal with Bosco at the moment, Tavia ignored his presence as she remained silent. Unfortunately, he stood in front of her, blocking her way.
“I hate to impose on you,” Tavia said awkwardly, attempting to walk past him and toward the back door, “but I do need to leave. Would you mind?”
He let her pass, but didn’t follow her. He merely swiveled in the doorway to watch her as she stopped at the gliding glass – her hand on the handle.
“Why did you do that?” He asked, his voice low.
She turned from the door and looked back at him. She wasn’t sure what he was talking about.
“Do what?” She questioned.
His gaze was unflinching. “Go to Raymond instead of me.”
Her pulse quickened. How did Bosco know? He probably had seen her and Raymond together. So he must be assuming. Tavia thought deliberately.
His body language was combative: strong, unyielding. But his eyes gave him away. He was jealous. She couldn’t help but smile – a little. Jealousy was probably not an emotion a man like him got much experience with. Her resolved weakened, but only for a second. But if he truly didn’t understand where things stood between them, she owed him the truth.
“What is it to you?” she reencountered, her own voice low and icy, “If I am seeing Raymond.”
Bosco was silent for a moment, but Tavia could see her words hurt him. When he spoke again, his voice was restrained.
“You’re just saying that just to make me ---.”
Before Bosco could finish his retort, a feminine shriek could be heard down the hall. His heart thumped loudly and quickly in his chest and he suddenly thought of Rain. Bosco immediately ran down the hall and retreated to the room he had just walked out ten minutes ago. Behind him, he could hear footsteps, and he assumed it belonged to Tavia.
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Chandra
10/10/07
A Preview for Upcoming Chapters
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“You don’t have to be alone anymore. You don’t have to fight your battles by yourself. I want to be your friend… you protector.”
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“I’m not asking for your apology. Just tell me the truth, mother.”
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“If anything happens to Rain, I swear I will go after you.”
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Sorry guys, for not updating for a long time. I hope you guys are not giving up on this story and please continue to read and comment. Let me know about this chapter.
New story if anyone is interested.
Dangerous Angel
Tavia Yeung, Raymond Lam, Bosco Wong, Ron Ng, Kevin Cheng, Chris Lai, and Louis Koo
http://winglin.net/fanfic/Chandra1/