| Fan Fiction |
by Chandra
Jimmy felt coldness creep over him as he lay still. The nurses had gone and he felt alone again. For moments ago, he felt as if he was dying, that Heaven will take him. Jimmy stared up at the ceiling of his hospital room from the bed, the covers balled in his fists, tears of pain and frustration running down his cheeks. Was this the ending for him? He screamed silently.
Maybe other people found grief in memories, but not Jimmy Li. Memories brought comfort, as much today as in any of the decade years since she had left him. Her leaving had torn a hue chunk from his soul and though Jimmy managed just fine as long as he was elsewhere, coming back to Hong Kong, China, never failed to reopen the world.
“Ruby.” The name shimmered in her mind. The way he said it was musical. Jimmy always made her feel beautiful even though she knew she wasn’t. But he made her believe, whenever he was with her, or when he was speaking to her, that Ruby was beautiful and worthwhile. That she could dream and hope. That she could belong. That someone saw her as a woman.
The moon cast a silver beam across the angles and planes of his face, illuminating the sheer sensuality there. His body was hard and powerful, a dangerous blend of predator and seductive male. Jimmy turned his hand and smiled at her, robbing her of breath just that easily.
Ruby studied Jimmy’s dark, sensual features as he said the words. “Have I told you lately that I love you? Because I do, very, very much.”
Ruby felt so sorry for him that she threw her arms around him and said softly “You can’t love anyone too much.”
His grip tightened on her body. “I can’t worry about what might happen when the summer is over, Ruby. I can’t look into the future and predict what is going to be. This moment, now, is all I have, and all that matters to me. And the only thing I can tell you is that I love you, Ruby. And I want you more than I’ve wanted anything in my life. I love you, I really do!”
Ruby looked into his eyes, brimming with unshed tears, and she saw that he meant what he had said. He really believed he loved her and that this moment was all he had. How could she be so cruel as to turn him away? His face drew closer, and she found herself unable to protest. His lips crushed her in a kiss so intense and passionate she could feel all his pent-up longing. She found herself responding to his urgency and kissing him back.
That’s when she realized that she was caught up in a flow of events that she was powerless to control. Jimmy would go back to Taiwan, he would be furious if he found out that her parents had made an arranged marriage for her, and their love might or might not be strong enough to get over it. Her relationship with Jimmy might or might not stand the test of time and separation once he left Hong Kong and went back home without her. She had no idea in which direction the future might lead her. But all she could do was go with the flow.
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Rain Li detested whining. She detested feeling sorry for herself . She really detested being afraid. Afraid that Bosco might pity her because of her situation. She wished he’d stay with her at the orphanage house so she won’t suffer the loneliness alone. But she knew she was selfish if she did that.
“Bosco. It makes me happy to know that you care for me.” Rain reached out and touched his arm. A mere brush to answer his, but her heart was swelling with joy as she turned away. Rain couldn’t help the way she felt every time she looked at him. There was pride and confidence and chemistry and a curious melting deep inside her. A part of her might always fight to avoid admitting how deeply he had entwined himself around her heart, but Rain could admit to herself he was a large part of what was good in her life.
Then Bosco stared straight at her face, his gaze lingered on her hair. Rain acknowledged his judgment even though he didn’t give her his comments. “Okay, I’m sorry. But I thought you’d be happy with my new hair.” She said.
So many emotions were tumbling through her that she was having trouble controlling them. Finally Bosco said, “Your action is mind-boggling. To even think about doing such a thing for somebody is awesome. Especially doing that to you hair, but won’t you be worried what Mrs. Wu is going to do to you?”
“I didn’t think of that, because I am just trying to impress you, I – I love you, Bosco.”
Tears welled again in her eyes. Her heart was so full, she was afraid it might burst. Rain had never dared to dream she would have a home and a family. She had never conceived of having friends. Life might never be perfect, but she had Bosco, and he would always understand those terrible moments when the memories crept out from behind the doors in her mind. He would be there to hold and help her.
“You are my everything, Bosco.” Rain confessed sadly.
“Have I told you that, although you and I live in a separate world and place, we will never be apart? I promise you that I’ll be there for you.” On a whim, he stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers and said softly. “Especially you and only you.”
Afterward, Rain and Bosco left the office and returned to the central garden of the hospital.
“Can we sit out here on the wall for a few minutes? The night’s so beautiful and it’s hard to go back inside. I’m not positive I’ll be able to come back here and visit you.” Rain asked Bosco. Her eyes met him as she held his hand. “I’m happy for you Bosco. Your life is stable now and you have a family who loves you.” She said with such sincere contentment.
“And you’ll have to continue suffer those days in the orphanage house. Those days were over for me Rain and I’m scared for you.”
“Me too, but don’t worry, Bosco, I’ll manage. Life is about struggle and challenge. Maybe one day, I’ll meet a good man who will bring me happiness and a better life.” Bosco was silent as he gazed at her.
“I’m greedy huh.” Rain took deep breaths and stared straight up at the heavens. “The stars make me feel sort of unimportant. Don’t you ever wonder what it would be like to touch them?”
“You’re more important than all those stars, Rain.” Bosco said softly. “For everything there is a reason.” And with determination, Bosco promised himself that he will find her a job here at the hospital. She won’t face the horrible treatment at the orphanage house anymore.
In the moment everything around them disappeared except for the night sky, so thick with stars that Rain felt as if she was inhaling them with every breath she took. And it must be true, because her skin had become transparent with light. She saw that the billions of stars surrounding her weren’t floating all alone in dark space, as she had always imagined. Not at all. Now she saw how fine shimmering threaded, like the filaments of a delicate spider web glistening with dew, eave the stars together in one splendid design.
___
The idea had been formulating in Raymond’s mind for a day before he decided to take action. This morning, he called Dr. Wong’s office at the medical complex where he practiced and made an appointment for the surgery. Luckily the doctor had an opening, which Raymond took as a good omen. He made his way through the maze of hallways and elevators, into a room and waiting when Dr. Wong came into the room. The two men set their personal problems aside as they dealt with Ruby Lin’s illness. Afterward, his father had called him and told him that there were guests at his house, and Raymond should be home immediately.
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Tavia Su slid her hands under her thighs to warm her fingers. The room was ice-cold. Why did people always keep the central air-conditioning running? Tavia hated having the house all closed up in the fall. She looked over at Mr. Rick Lam, who sat in the chair next to her. He was a middle-aged man with a robust, ruddy face and wire-rimmed glasses. “I know this is difficult for you, Tavia.” He told her, looking slightly sympathetic. “But don’t worry. Raymond here will help your mom recover soon.”
Tavia thought that if she stayed in the room another minute, she would suffocate. All she wanted to do was to get out of the house. Without another word, she headed for the front foyer, leaving Raymond, his parents, and her father in the house. Tavia would take a walk, and when she came back, everything would magically be just as it had been before the incident of her mother’s sickness. Her father would be there discussing information of the disease with his friend Mr. Lam. Her mother would be saved and her sickness will be cured. And this whole horrible nightmare would have disappeared.
For a few minutes Tavia stayed outside, listening to the rustle of delicate leaves, feeling the evening air soft on her bare arms. There was gentleness about April that made her ache. It seemed like she was always on the run, always working and chasing some goal or another, but April had a way of holding her still. And then she’d begin to hurt and yearn for something she couldn’t describe, something she hadn’t known yet. All Tavia knew was the ache itself and the strange, unbearable feeling it was.
Behind her, Tavia heard footsteps. She turned around and saw him. To her astonishment, he froze, clearly shocked, stiffening, every muscle tense. His face paled visibly, and for one moment, emotion stirred on the frightful mask of his face. Something crept into his expression – guilt, regret, sorrow. Tavia couldn’t identify it.
“It was rude of you to disappear without saying a word.” Raymond cleared his throat. It was ironic to him how they had met at the hospital, and he was her mother’s doctor. Nevertheless, her eyes seemed to throw daggers and hatred at him.
“It isn’t fair, Mr. Lam. It just isn’t fair.” Her mother’s sickness had begun to ruin her life. And now uncertainty was scaring her. More importantly, Tavia hated showing emotion in front of the man who seemed to be cold and heartless, even if he was a doctor.
Tavia felt tears burning behind her eyes. The night was cool on her skin. Fog slid along the ground and a soft mist instantly enveloped them. The shadows were places of beauty, not ugliness. Tavia reached toward the night, embracing it. Embracing the dear life of her mother. Her gaze found his as they stood together. She needed. Finally. Irrevocably. She needed this man to save her mother. Even if she hated his arrogance.
“Life is never fair. You never knew that.” Raymond instantly saw the hurt in her eyes and he regretted as soon as the words came out. “But don’t feel bad, there’s always a treatment, and I guarantee you that my father and I will do our best.”
Suddenly her enormous eyes were begging him to do something. Held confidence that he would. His heart turned over. Tell her that he had the capability to cure her mother’s disease.
“Of course you must.” There was something new in her voice. A soft note of warmth, of kindness that hadn’t been there before. Raymond was certain she was unaware of it, but it spread fire in his belly and sent his heart leaping with joy. And he didn’t know why he was feeling this way. This woman whom he just met already made his body reacted in a strange way that he did not expect.
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Chandra
06/01/07
A Preview for Upcoming Chapter
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“I thought you’re my Ruby. You look so much like her”
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“I care for you, Rain. You know I do. Last night, when I thought you’d been attacked…” He closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to black the image. “I care, Rain. I love you too, but not that way. I’m sorry.”
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“I’d begun to see everything through your eyes, to feel the pains you have to suffer as if it were happening to me. It scared me to death to feel so much for you. It scares me still, Tavia.”
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