| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
Mr. Cho accepts and sits down. Ray sits to his right while Kevin sits on his left.
Jessica gets plates set near the stove to put the food from the pan she was cooking in. Charmaine and Mandy walk over to help her. They set the food around the table. Wallace, who’s sitting at the other end of the table, stands up to help them arrange the dishes and bowls around the table. Then they’re all set to eat.
Jessica walks over to sit between Alice and Ray. Charmaine lets Mandy sit next to Kevin while she sits next to Mandy.
They eat in silence for a couple of minutes before Mr. Cho speaks up.
Mr. Cho: I want to thank you all for doing this for me. I haven’t felt so happy inside for a long time now.
Ray: Anytime, Mr. Cho. Don’t say thanks anymore. You told us not to be so formal, right?
Mr. Cho *chuckles*: That’s right.
Ray: Mr. Cho, eat some more of these. *uses his chopsticks to get the food on Mr. Cho’s bowl.* When Charmaine and Mandy heard you’re coming over, they made their special dishes. I’m so surprised Mandy knows how to cook, though.
Mr. Cho looks at Mandy before giving his attention back to a non-stop mouth - Ray. He looks at all the dishes that are being set on the table and his eyebrows narrow a bit, recognizing something.
Kevin: Mr. Cho, are you ok? You don’t like the food?
Mr. Cho: Everything’s fine. I just feel touched by what you all did for me.
Alice * whispering to Wallace at the other end*: Ge, he sounded like you when he said “Everything’s fine”.
Wallace *trying to shove food into Alice’s bowl with his chopsticks*: Shush! He might hear you.
Alice shrugs and continues to eat.
Charmaine smiles at the two siblings’ funny behavior, hearing clearly what was going on.
Kevin notices Mandy’s eating quite slowly. He turns to her.
Kevin: Are you okay there?
Mandy: Ummm…yea. I think I’m just thinking about work.
Alice *whispering to Wallace again*: Something’s really going on here. Everyone’s avoiding the answer.
Wallace: Mind your own business, little one.
Alice: Ge, I’m 22. Don’t call me “little one” anymore.
Wallace: Don’t act like one then. *concentrating on his food*
Back at Kevin & Mandy’s area
Kevin *whispering*: You look pale. It’s not about work, is it?
Mandy *forcing a smile*: Don’t worry. I’m ok. I’ll tell you when I’m not.
Kevin knows Mandy doesn’t want to talk about it, so he leaves it at that – for now.
Over at Ray’s side, he’s chatting away madly with Mr. Cho while the old man’s enjoying the food. Jessica gets in a word or two in between.
Charmaine’s carrying a conversation with Wallace and Alice now after Alice stops pondering about other people’s peculiar behavior.
Couple of minutes later, Ray’s voice booms above them, causing everyone to stop talking and look at him.
Ray: You know what, Mr. Cho? Today’s my luckiest day. After I left your place, the clients are like agreeing with me all the time. Not even saying no to my suggestions like usual. Maybe it’s because of your birthday. You bring luck to me.
Mandy kicks Ray under the table.
Ray looks over at her, seeing that she’s giving him the “You’re such a kiss up” look.
Ray: What? I’m telling the truth!
Mr. Cho *seeing the expression Mandy gave Ray*: If I didn’t know you guys are neighbors before, I thought you two are brother and sister.
Ray: Lucky me.
Mandy: Like I want to have a brother like you!
The others laugh to ease the little intense moment. Charmaine puts her chopsticks down and pats Mandy on the shoulder to calm her down.
Ray: I was just kidding, girl! Don’t react that strong.
Mandy *remembering what Charmaine told her before*: Sorry. Didn’t mean to.
She goes back to eating while the others resume their conversation. Mandy turns around to talk to Charmaine, Wallace, and Alice this time, not wanting to start another argument with Ray.
At the end of the meal, Ray asks for Mr. Cho’s opinions on the girls’ cooking skills.
Mr. Cho: I think it’s all very good since it’s cook from the heart. However….
Ray *jumps up from his seat*: Oh boy. Here comes the conclusion! Get ready to cry, girls!
Mandy gives him a dagger look while the others look at Mr. Cho, waiting patiently for his words.
Mr. Cho: I like the dish that Mandy cooks the most. It’s because it reminds me of my wife.
Ray: Wow! Mandy wins!
Kevin: The one you just saw again earlier?
Mr. Cho: No, my second wife.
Ray: Oh. *sitting down again*
Mr. Cho: I hope you’re not judging me for what I did in the past.
Ray: No, sir.
Everyone is surprised by Ray’s sudden passiveness, except for Mandy. She suddenly wants to tell him that she’s his sister and that she could sympathize with him. But she knows that there had been disagreements between their mothers so it’s not good to say it out – at least not now.
Mandy *trying to break the ice for the first time of the night*: Let’s get ready for some desserts then!
Charmaine: I’ll help clear the table.
Jessica stands up also, clearing all the empty bowls and dishes. Charmaine helps Mandy prepare the dessert.
Mandy *suddenly feeling brave to talk to Mr. Cho*: We didn’t know when you’re coming, so we didn’t do the dessert yet. It’s required to be eaten when it’s hot so we didn’t want it to go cold or it’ll taste very weird.
Mr. Cho *smiles at Mandy*: That’s ok. I can wait. I’m really happy tonight.
Kevin: While the girls make the desserts, why don’t we look at your house plan?
Wallace, who’s getting up to help Jessica, gives Kevin a look.
Kevin: Sorry! I didn’t know you were going to make dessert too.
Wallace *his expression serious*: Change of plans, ok?
Kevin: Ok! I’m sorry, man! *putting up his hands in surrender*
Alice: Ge, stop scaring Kevin! He doesn’t know you cook!
Wallace *flashing out his smile*: It’s ok, man. I was just kidding. You’re so serious lately, I swore we switched personalities.
Alice: I thought you haven’t talk to him before Charmaine and Mandy moved here.
Wallace: I observed, ok? I live in this building after all. I don’t talk to people doesn’t mean I don’t see what they’re doing.
With that said, Kevin goes to the living room to retrieve the folder that he gotten out before and goes back to the kitchen to sit down next to Mr. Cho again. He and Ray begin to tell Mr. Cho about what they’re going to do. For once, Ray’s serious about what he’s saying.
Wallace helps Jessica start her dessert while Charmaine and Mandy make one together. Wallace breaks away from Jessica to prepare his special iced tea and a type of special dessert to go with it.
The kitchen area is pretty much silent - except for Kevin, Ray, and Mr. Cho’s talking.