Fan Fiction |
by distant origin
He groaned as he took another sip of his nth cup of coffee. He knew too much caffeine wasn’t good for the body, but he’d rather not take his chances and fall asleep again.
He was about to ask the waiter for another cup when finally, Elizabeth Chang made her entrance. The unmistakably model-like figure in jeans and plaid white shirt complete with her angelic face and dazzling smile. Liz saw him and waved her hand.
Jerry couldn’t help but wave back at the beautiful woman walking towards him. He also couldn’t help but notice how different she looked from her posters and press conferences since she usually wore sexy clothing to those. She was a model after all. Of course, it didn’t make her any less gorgeous that she looked way simpler today. It just made her look, different. Adorable, rather than gorgeous, this was weird, considering her tall frame and sophisticated face, although, he also noticed, that she looked younger this time because she didn’t have any make-up on. Except maybe for some powder and maybe lipstick—no lips could naturally be that red after all. But who was noticing anyway?
The fact was, she was an hour late. And Jerry hated waiting for anyone. He frowned. “What’s wrong with you? I’ve been waiting for an hour,” he said.
“Lucky you’re still awake then,” Elizabeth Chang joked as she flashed him a smile and sat across the table from him. “But has it really been an hour?” she asked, looking at Jerry. “I guess that explains why I’m so hungry,” she said and raised her hand to call for a waiter. “Have you had dinner yet?”
Jerry furrowed his eyebrows, annoyed. Wasn’t she concerned about other people at all? “No,” he replied. “And I don’t want to. I’m busy. Now, can you please just tell me what went on at the meeting?”
She laughed. “You’re so uptight,” she said. “I guess the rumors are true.”
“Rumors? What rumors?” Jerry asked, as the waiter came to their table.
“We’d like one herb roaster chicken, one potato salad, and um…” Elizabeth started to order. “What’s good to drink here?” she asked, smiling at the waiter.
The waiter blushed as he told her the drinks they had available.
Jerry rolled his eyes. What a flirt, he thought, and then noticed Elizabeth looking at him. “What do you want to eat?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he said, frowning.
“Come on, my treat,” she said.
Jerry sighed and looked at the waiter. “Just give me another cup of coffee.”
“Yes sir, ma’am,” the waiter said and walked away, but not without glancing again at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth just smiled at him.
Jerry rolled his eyes again. “I’ll pay, okay,” he said.
“Really? Oh, thank you so much,” she said, reaching over to touch his hand. “You’re such a gentleman. It’s so hard to find a gentleman nowadays. I mean everyone now is—“
“Look Ms. Chang,” Jerry said, cutting her off and pulling his hand back. “I’m a really busy person, now could you please just tell me what we’re supposed to do at the TNMA?”
“Liz,” she said, smiling.
“What?”
“Call me Liz,” she said. “There’s no need to be so formal. We’re friends anyway, right Jerry?”
“Whatever,” he said nonchalantly, though not failing to notice how good his name sounded when she said it. But that wasn’t the issue anyway. “So, what award are we supposed to present?”
“Wow, you’re really focused, aren’t you?” she complimented.
“Because unlike SOME people, I take my work seriously,” he said, hoping she’d get to the point already. “I’m a professional.”
“So I heard,” she said, nodding in agreement and not at all feeling offended by what his words were implying. “Anyway, to finally put you out of your misery, the producers at the meeting decided that—oh, the drinks are here!”
Jerry got more annoyed as the waiter placed his cup of coffee in front of him and Liz’s orange juice in front of her. “What? What did the producers decide on?” he prompted.
Liz held a finger up as if to ask for a minute, as she took a sip of her juice. She closed her eyes as she swallowed, and Jerry couldn’t help but notice how cute she looked as she did. She opened her eyes and put her hand down. “I just love orange juice, don’t you?”
“I do,” he said, just to shut her up.
It didn’t work. “You do? Then do you want some?” she asked, offering him the glass.
“No,” he said, irritated. “Look, could we just hurry up with this meeting? I’m really busy.”
Liz looked at him for a moment, and then laughed out loud.
Jerry was puzzled. What was up with this girl?
“You’re not busy,” she finally said. “I called your manager earlier and he said you had nothing else scheduled for tonight so you can rest for the rehearsal tomorrow since you’re hosting it and that’ll need more effort.”
Jerry opened his mouth to tell her not to meddle with his schedule again, when he realized he’d done the same thing when he called her manager earlier. Besides, there was something more important in what she said. “We’re HOSTING the TNMA?” he said, his eyes widening. “I thought we were just presenting an award?”
“We were supposed to, but the producers said at the meeting that they found two more presentors and that the original host suddenly had to leave the country,” she explained. “So they needed new hosts. I volunteered us.”
“You volunteered me without consulting with me first? Why didn’t you wake me up for a decision as important as that?” he asked angrily.
“I didn’t think you’d mind,” she said. “Hosting the TNMA is a great honor.”
Jerry slumped in his chair. She was right of course. It was way better to be a host than just a presentor, but he still couldn’t believe she made a decision for him without telling him first. It wasn’t like she was his manager anyway.
“Look, if it bothers you that much then I’ll just call them and ask them to replace us,” she said, taking out her cellphone.
“No, it’s not that,” Jerry said, reaching over to stop her from dialing. “I want to host the show, it’s just that, it’s gonna take a lot more work and I don’t think I’m ready for it. It’s already in two days and the rehearsal is already tomorrow. I have no idea how the program will go and—“ he paused when he saw Liz looking straight at him. “What?” he asked, wondering if there was something on his face.
“You look real cute when you’re confused,” she said, smiling mildly.
Jerry suddenly felt color rush up to his cheeks. It wasn’t the first compliment she gave him. And she wasn’t the first person to say it to him either. But somehow, he felt truly flattered. “Thank—“
“Your order ma’am,” a waiter suddenly said, cutting him off as he placed a potato salad and a plate with roasted chicken in front of Liz.
“You’re welcome,” Liz said and the waiter looked puzzled.
“Uh… thank you?” the waiter said, confused, and then walked away.
Jerry smiled, knowing that what Liz said was actually for his unfinished thanks. He took a sip of his coffee as he watched her eat, her eyes closing every so often as if to savor the taste. He smiled, again, finally beginning to understand what the guy he was talking to two days ago said—that everything about Liz Chang made her special.