Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
At the harbor, it was like a mob scene. Police were holding up shields while the workers were yelling out random things that Allison could not make out. She looked around for the barely friend that she met a while back. He owed her a favor, she quickly spotted him being one of the guys in the back yelling not so loudly. She waved him over when she caught his eye. “Hey, Al. Can you help me out?”
Al looked around at the mess “I don’t know if I can.” He saw her disappointed face and added “Let me see what I can do. Where is the order?”
She smiled gratefully and handed him the order copy. “Thank you so much!”
He shook his head as he looked it over “Don’t say that, I owe you. Come on.” He looked around and rushed her into the manufacturing company. Inside the place smelled like musty old metal. But it was not like she never smelled anything worse. “If we get caught, you don’t know me, okay?”
She nodded solemnly “Don’t worry. This is a great favor you’re doing for me.” When they got around the corner of the aisles of labeled boxes, they caught a guy lifting up some boxes onto the forklift.
“What are you doing?” Al asked as he stood over the guy. He was by himself and wearing an old t-shirt and jeans. His hair was spiked in all directions and his skin was extra dark.
“I’m picking up an order.” He said calmly as he reached into the pocket and pulled out the order form.
Al looked at him suspiciously but when he looked at the order, he turned to Allison “You sent someone here?”
Allison shook her head “No. Just me.”
“I’m from Lai’s Produce, I wanted to see if I can help.” The guy replied as he wiped off the sweat running down his face.
“I thought the owner was going to be here?” Allison asked out loud, wondering why they sent a worker to come do the negotiating. But apparently it worked since he was able to get the produce.
“Can’t send a useless boy to do a man’s job.” He answered sharply.
Allison looked confused but she was grateful that they got something done. “It doesn’t matter, as long as we get our products.”
Al nodded “Let me help.” He began packing up the boxes on the fork lift. “You know how to use that baby?” he pointed at the huge machinery.
The dark skin guy shook his head “Not really.”
“I’ll do it then.” Al offered. “Move aside kids.”
Allison and the guy walked outside to wait for Al. “Thanks for your help.” Allison said kindly.
The guy smiled “It’s our job. I’m Josh, by the way.”
“Allison.” She nodded. They both watched as Al drove the lift outside and placed the boxes carefully on the ground.
“My van is over there.” Josh pointed to the van with a big print on both sides ‘Lai’s Produce’. Together the two men carried the endless boxes into the van.
When they were done, Allison felt relieved all over “Thank you so much Al.”
He waved it off “Yeah…go on before someone sees you two.”
“Allison, you need a ride?” Josh offered when Al stood around the corner to be the lookout. He waved his hand indicating for them to leave now.
“Sure.” They gathered in the front seat and drove out. “Thank you.” She said again after they were on the street.
He smiled “Is that all the words you know?” he teased.
She smiled “I know sorry too.”
Josh laughed at her sense of humor “Gosh, I must smell like crap.” He could smell his own body odor.
“No, more like sweat.” She giggled. “But I’ve smelled worse.” She teased.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned down the window for some air. The drive was easy and comfortable for both of them. They chatted away even until they were in the back door of the restaurant where he again helped with the boxes. Richard was happy to see them. “I don’t know how to thank you. I know how hard it is for you to get the products.”
Josh smiled “Don’t say that, it’s our job. Anyways, looks like you got a good employee too, she would have got the job done if I wasn’t there.”
Allison smiled shyly “Thank you.”
He looked at her with a knowing smile “There you go again…” he started.
“I mean, it’s my job too.” She nodded with a grin.
Richard looked from one to the other “Okay stop flirting with my employee. Allie, get back to work.” He ordered teasingly.
She nodded “Love to! Bye now.” She waved to Josh.
After she was out of ear shot Richard turned to Josh “Thank you Mr. Lai. I didn’t expect the vice president to deliver the products in person.”
Josh smiled “Even my clothes couldn’t fool you?” he looked down at his sweaty and dirt filled clothes.
Richard shook his head “Not quite, since I’ve met your father and he showed me pictures of his two sons. I have not had the pleasure of meeting your other brother.”
“You won’t be able to, he never does the job himself.” He said straightforwardly.
“I see. Well, there should be more people like out there.” Richard complimented.
Josh nodded “I wish we had an employee as dedicated as Allison.”
Richard looked proud but was still overprotected, the men in the Lai family did not have the best reputation of treating women “Don’t try to take her away, she’s quite dedicated. I would put up a good fight too.”
Josh nodded understanding the hidden meaning “I see. She doesn’t know who I am.” He hinted.
“You think your chances will be higher if she did?” Richard was challenging him to be the male chauvinist he thought Josh was.
“No. I’d rather keep it that way. Thank you for your order.” Josh nodded politely before leaving.
*********************
In Hawaii, Jay’s Diner was picking up speed for the Spring season. It was their busiest time. Usually, he took of a few days a week to relax but he ended up working at the place day and night. Everyday, he would come home exhausted. Weeks had passed but he still thought about the young girl he met on the beach. He could not get her off his mind.
One night, his thoughts about her were so strong that he couldn’t even sleep. He sat up and stood on the balcony of his bedroom. He looked up into the round moon and said a silent prayer. He hoped to see her again.
He soon went back to sleep and dreamt about her. The next morning, he was rudely awaken by the annoying sound of the phone ringing. He didn’t open his eyes as he reached for the phone. “Hello?” he grumbled.
“Sunny! Where have you been? Didn’t you watch the news?” Josie’s hysterical voice gave him a thump in his heart.
“What happened?” he couldn’t begin to imagine what might have happened.
“The diner. Turn on the TV to channel 6.” He did as she told and to his surprising shock. The newscast was talking about a local diner burned down to flames during the middle of the night. The place was black as charcoal. “Do you see it?!” Josie asked.
“Oh my gosh…” Sunny whispered “It’s a sign.” He slowly smiled to himself.
“What are you mumbling about?” Josie asked with surprise. “Your father’s hard work just burned down in flames and you say it’s a sign?!!” her voice screeching with disbelief.
“Come on, I’ll meet you at the diner.” He hung up before she had a chance to say anything. Throwing on his jeans and t-shirt, he raced to the diner. Just as the news said, it was burned down to ashes. When he got there, the news van was barely leaving. Some of the employees were already there.
“Oh my gosh, it’s worse than I thought.” Josie said as she walked through the place with Sunny. “What are we going to do??!” she was close to hysteria.
“We have insurance.” He said with a smile on his face, showing the dimple on his left cheek.
“How could you think this is funny? What are the people going to do? We have no jobs.” She said with reason.
He shrugged “I guess they’ll just have to find another place to work.” She widened her eyes in shock while he shook his head at her “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure everyone has a job before we leave for Hong Kong.”
“What in the world….” She stopped when she realized what he was saying. After all these weeks, he was still thinking about her. “I see…” her mood changed to excitement as she bounced up and down “We’re going to Hong Kong!!!”
“Now do you believe in fate?” he asked with his hand crossed, spiting her.
Josie suddenly stopped jumping “Is this about that mumbo jumbo again?”
“Look, you cannot blame me for being superstitious. Everything happens for a reason. Last night I prayed to God to allow me the chance to see Allie again. And look at this.” He pointed to the blackened diner.
“Okay, you’re starting to give me the chills. But it will take weeks to even get the insurance money. Anyways, would she even remember you after all this time?” Josie was being levelheaded for the first time.
Sunny nodded “It’s a chance I’m willing to take.”
The clean up was a mess and but luckily the insurance came through quick and clean. They proved the fire to be an accident by one of the gas lines that was a little loose. Which means it was The Gas Company’s problem. They gave him back a nice amount of money to help him rebuild another restaurant even better than before. It was to compensate the business he had lost within the last two weeks.
One month from the fire, he was packed and ready to go. Josie of course was going with him. She cut her lease with the apartment building but Sunny did not want to sell the home just yet. He was leasing it out to a nice newlywed he met at this restaurant months before. They stood at the airport and taking a last whiff of clean air and the slow paced environment.
“Good bye.” Sunny said silently.
“But not forever.” Josie added. She planned on returning but she wasn’t sure when. Maybe when she retired? “Come on, our flight is here.”
Sunny nodded “Ready?”
“For two years!” Josie exclaimed as she raced into the airport like a child who had too much candy.