| Fan Fiction |
by Chandra
“What do you want?” he asked none too graciously.
Bosco knew Tavia didn’t expect courtesy from him. Several hours ago, her father had affronted him and now was it her turn? If not for the nurse, who had disrupted anxiously into the room and notified Bosco that his patient Ruby Lin was in Emergency Room, then he and Alec Su would have never stopped their warfare.
Moreover, Bosco was still fuming at Tavia. Instead of clearing up what was going on with her to him and her father, she had taken the easiest route of ending the quarrel. She had dashed out of the room with the arrogant Raymond Lam chasing after her. This had made Bosco’s eyes greened with envy.
“I want to have my mother’s transplant as soon as possible,” she retorted.
He was distracted by the rhythm of her breathing.
Bosco was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was restrained.
“Your mother is currently on the waitlist. We are not able to find the right kidney donor yet.”
“We already found one. And it’s Rain Li.”
Bosco stared at her in surprise and wondered how Tavia could have known about it. The only answer came to mind was Raymond probably informed her.
He argued. “She can’t. It’s impossible for her to do the surgery. We’ll have to wait.”
“Why not?” Tavia asked, her voice rising against her will. “Is it because you don’t want to save my mother? Don’t tell me you still want to make my father suffer?”
Bosco ran a hand through his hair and blew out a frustrated breath, and as another pang of longing surged through her, Tavia forced her eyes away. She hoped he would change his mind. However, Bosco dropped his gaze from her face, the seed of hope she’d seen sprout for a moment washing away with anger and abomination.
He said nothing for a moment. Then he walked past her to the door.
“It’s not that, Tavia. It’s just the not possible for Rain to donate one of her kidneys to your mother.” he explained, his voice flat, almost lifeless.
Then Bosco shook his head and turned and walked out the door.
“What about Rain? Who is she to you that you’re so protective of her?” Tavia asked as firmly as she can. She needed to know. Why did Bosco seem to pay so much attention to that girl?
He turned his head slowly, as if the effort took nearly everything he had. “Why do you care?”
Tavia didn’t flinch from the harsh question, but her legs began to wobble. She felt her heart being ripped out. But she didn’t move because she had no idea how to tell him that she would still love him if he was willing to let go of the detestation he held for her father, if only he would save her mother.
Tavia watched him walk out of the office and out of sight. More wretched moistness swelled hot behind her eyes as she let him take her bleeding heart with him.
Bosco didn’t love her anymore. She could see it in his eyes. And when she had mentioned the other girl’s name, his eyes flickered with concern. Soon, Tavia realized that she will not accept Rain as her older half-sister. No. No matter how pathetic and unfortunate the girl appeared to be, Tavia won’t recognize her as family.
Tavia recalled the awkward mood that had surrounded them in the lobby two hours ago. The atmosphere was tensed and uncomfortable as Tavia and her father were on left side of the row of chairs along with the other man with his daughter on the other side against the wall. All of them had stood quietly waiting outside of the ER. They didn’t look at one another.
Despite that most bizarre encounter Tavia had ever known, they all had the same expressions on their faces: fear and anxiety.
Afterward, the two doctors had emerged from the ER room. Bosco and Rick, both had warned the family members that Ruby was in a severe condition. She must have some rest first and they also confided about visiting her mother’s room.
“She will be put back on dialysis for now and only time will tell about her prognosis.” Bosco had announced as he had tried to avoid her gaze.
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The sky was so clear Rain could see deep into it, as if nothing stood between her and outer space. It seemed to Rain that winter lasted forever.
She sat tranquilly on the mattress as she stared out the window. Rain hated thinking, because it would lead to reflection, and soon reflection would lead to feeling. Then her heart ached, her mind would be full of distress for she was mystified and vulnerable.
Rain vowed not to forgive her parents, especially Ruby. But, now she had uncovered Ruby’s tragic life after listening to her father’s narration. And she also had learned that Ruby was having a disease, Rain couldn’t help but commiserate her. Rain quickly regretted her spiteful and harsh action hours ago. Perhaps, Ruby wouldn’t be put on the machine treatment, if Rain had given Ruby absolution and compassion.
At this moment, Rain decided to pardon her mother’s past deed. Let bygones be bygones. She’d had time to get used to it. Time to heal. There would be a scar, but she’d go on. Rain had to, for her mother’s sake even more than her own. Ruby needed a daughter and a kidney. And as for Rain, she would have to accept what Fate had chosen for her.
Somehow, Rain didn’t know why but she contemplated about her younger sister. She had always wondered what it would be like to have a sister, and now that she had a sister, she didn’t feel anything at all. Hours ago in the lobby, the girl seemed to gaze at Rain as though Rain was nobody. There was no adoration or acceptance in the girl’s eyes. It made Rain dismayed at the notion.
It was more intriguing when Rain had sometimes found Bosco taken a few glances at her sister. Hadn’t Bosco known the girl before? Rain, watching them in silence, had realized with a stab of loneliness and envy that Tavia Su must have been a remarkable woman in Bosco’s life. Rain didn’t want to intrude on so naked a moment but was agonizingly aware that she had to.
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Ron stepped to the side of the door, and watched as the two men, Bosco and another man, unlocked and opened it very cautiously and slipped inside the room. He was conscious of his heart pounding, of a sick queasiness he recognized it as fear, and silently called himself a coward. It did no good to remind himself that he had no right to be frightened. Besides, why should he be afraid of Bosco Wong?
He was here for a reason. His motive was to see Tavia and leave the hospital before Bosco caught a sight of him. Louis Koo, Tavia’s manager had called him the other day to solicit Tavia’s attendance at Star Model. Since Tavia had missed work for two months already, the executives had decided to dismiss her. Thus, he was here at this hospital again to alert Tavia about her job. Yet, Ron knew it wasn’t truly the cause. He missed Tavia. Although, she had caused him endless pain, it didn’t stop Ron from loving her.
In the weeks since Bosco had appeared, Ron had begun to realize just how much of herself Tavia had been unable or unwilling to share with him. That, coupled with his deepening sense of loss, his increasing feeling that Tavia was slipping further and further away from him, made him lose his mind to the point where he got drunk and raped another girl. God, how much Ron loathed himself.
In addition, alcohol was not an excuse to conduct a sinful act. Ron closed his eyes in rage as he thought about Tavia. What if Tavia was sexually assaulted? Ron would go crazy and now he began to realize how Bosco must have felt toward Rain. Maybe, it would be so much better if Ron had enough courage to jump off the cliff.
Ron concluded it was enough to condemn himself for his mistake. After seeing Tavia, he would seek Rain for exculpation. Then whatever she wanted him to do, he was willing to agree to the penalty.
But before Ron could take another step, the voices of the two men stopped him in his track. Their words echoed through the wall. He could clearly hear their speeches.
“Why are you not performing an operation on Ruby? Dr. Lam notified me there’s a matching kidney for her.”
“And that person is your daughter, Rain, Mr. Li.”
“Well, that’s a good thing, then what’s wrong, Dr. Wong? If I can donate to Ruby one of my kidneys, I would be so joyful."
“I can’t tell you. It’s confidential.”
“What do you mean? Ruby is in life-threatening state, and you can’t tell me anything except it’s confidential?”
Ron could hear the angry tone from the other man. Ron was inquisitive and curious as well. That was odd. Why didn’t Bosco have a kidney transplant for Ruby? Especially, Ruby was Tavia’s mother.
Ron gently turned the doorknob so the men won’t detect his presence. He took a peek at Bosco, who looked exhausted and preoccupied. Perhaps, he didn’t know what kind of responses would stop the middle-aged man from questioning.
After a long and deep consideration, Bosco seemed to gaze at the man. He sighed with a forced tolerance.
“It’s not that I don’t want to save Ruby.” Bosco said as steadily as he could. “The problem is your daughter is pregnant. It might jeopardize her health and the baby in the womb.”
The older man stared at Bosco in disbelief. His face became white, his eyes dark.
No. For the first time, Ron let himself become aware of what had been crawling in his subconscious, a cold and growing fear he dared not name. He realized he was standing perfectly still now, his arms at his sides, hands clenched into fists, staring at the door as if he would find the answers there.
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A twinge of unease nagged at Raymond after his conversation with his father. An hour ago, Rick had requested to have a discussion with him and Raymond knew it wasn’t going to be a discussion. As a matter of fact, Rick Lam was lecturing the whole time Raymond was in his father’s office.
Now he knew his life was doomed. He had made Tavia Su pregnant, and no matter how he denied that piece of information, it still came back to slap him in the face. As awful as it sounded, his father had demanded him to propose to Tavia as soon as possible. Raymond could still hear his father’s words ringing in his ears.
“I don’t care if you’re refusing to take responsibility for her pregnancy, but you’re going to marry her. Alec Su is my friend and I don’t want any resentment and dispute between us, you heard me?”
Whatever. Raymond was aware that his father didn’t care about his friend Alec Su. Rick Lam had had an infatuation for Ruby Lin, and Raymond knew too well why his father had compelled Raymond to wed Ruby’s daughter. Raymond reminisced many occasions his father was being affectionate toward Ruby when he was a boy. Yet one thing, Raymond was relieved that his father would never cheat. All these years, Raymond had to admit to himself, Rick Lam never once betrayed his mother.
And conscience gnawed at him as his mind wandered to Tavia Su. He repented that he had been a jackass to her. Being an asshole was one thing, but not liable for his action was the worst matter. Although Raymond granted that he was at fault, he couldn’t bear to a belief that he would be a father. He had to tie the knot and settle down with the woman he didn’t even love. Not when his heart belonged to another girl.
Raymond was shocked into silence as soon as he apprehended he was in front of her room. Emotions tightened his chest while he let himself inside the room. Her back was to him and her shoulders slumped, but Raymond struggled to hold on to the newfound hope.
Rain must have sensed his presence because she turned to face him. And then she burst into tears.
There was sympathy in his dark eyes. Rain was surprised by the rush of desolation she felt. She didn’t know why but the instant she saw him, the sadness enclosed itself around her.
Perhaps, she was not fully recovered. Rain still got depressed very easily, her sleep was erratic and disturbed by dreams she remembered and nightmares she didn’t, and she became aware how fragile her emotional state was.
So she was alone, and the knowledge made her feel alone and considerably frightened. Raymond saw it. He slowly and cautiously drew near, afraid that she would scamper away from him like a rat from a cat.
“I’m not going to forgive you.” She said immediately, thinking that he came to ask for forgiveness.
Emotions strained her voice, and Raymond instinctively reached out and squeezed her hand, which sent shards of sensations flitting through her. Rain seemed to stiffen, though, and he pulled away reluctantly, unsure she welcomed his overture.
“Everything seems overwhelming right now, I know. It’s too much to process, too much to deal with. But you have me, Rain. You don’t have to face it alone. I’m here with you.”
Rain sank back against the bed, stunned by his well perception. She clung to the edge of the mattress, the loneliness and anguish she’d felt over the weeks shifting slightly at the emotions thickening in his voice.
Raymond immediately embraced her when he noticed her shaken body. Afterward he simply stood there, holding her against his chest, his arms wrapped around her waist, feeling her body soften.
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Chandra
01/20/08
A Preview for Upcoming Chapters
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“Ruby, you are so heartless. You cannot think that death is the only solution to all of us.”
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“Rain, I’m willing to take responsibility for my action. We can work this out for the baby’s sake. I won’t let you take all the difficulty yourself. I will be there for the child.”
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