| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
Ray heard Kevin closed the door although his room is all the way to the back. He props up on his pillow, puts his hands behind his head, and starts to sort things through his mind.
He lets out a long, tiresome breath and gets off the bed to do his morning things.
The phone rings when he’s drying his hair with a towel.
Ray: Hello?
Girl: Ray, you’re up already?
Ray: Hun, I’m not that lazy.
Jessica: Well, I have the day off today since I just submitted my article yesterday. Want to go to Xiao Ying’s restaurant? We can catch up on old time and ask if she has spots for Alice too.
Ray: You’re helping Alice with the job search?
Jessica: What? She’s your neighbor. Good to help, you know.
Ray *tossing the towel onto the sofa & grabs his comb*: Good that you want to help. But if she gets in that place, that means I can’t come there and enjoy my meal anymore.
Jessica: Ray…
Ray *tossing his comb on the small table next to the door*: Okay.
Jessica: I’ll pick you up in 15 minutes. I need to stop at Xiao Ling’s place first.
Ray: Why?
Jessica: Return some books that I borrowed the other day for my article.
Ray: Ok. I’ll be down in the lobby talking to those attractive girls at the front desk.
Jessica: Ray!
Ray smiles, puts the phone back on its cradle, and heads out the door after he grabs the keys.
Ray bumps into Annie halfway to the elevators.
Ray: Hey! What brought you up here?
Annie: Is Kevin in?
Ray: No, he left. *looks at his watch* Like an hour ago.
Annie: Oh.
Ray: Don’t worry. He didn’t elope yet. *grinning*
Annie blushes. Ray didn’t catch that because he continues to walk toward the elevators. Annie follows him and waits for the elevators also. Ray starts to whistle when they get in the elevator on the left.
Ray: So….
Annie becomes nervous because she’s a bit frightened of Ray.
Ray: Do I look that scary?
Annie: No.
Ray: I guess I’m not as handsome as Kevin, huh?
Annie: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Ray *shrugs his shoulders*: Ok. Fine. Peace!
They stay quiet the rest of the way down. Ray waves goodbye and leaves first, although he’s just standing around the lobby whistling. Annie leaves the building in a red Taxi.
Ray *thinking*: Does everyone in this building has to be so weird? And mysterious? *scolds himself* Like I don’t have enough stuffs to worry about already.
Ray paces back and forth in the lobby, causing some people to look at him while they’re walking in or out. Although he looks all relaxed and whistling, but he’s quite disturbed inside.
He meets Jessica in front as her car pulls into a space outside the building. He walks to the passenger side and gets in. Jessica pulls out after that.
Jessica: What’s wrong? You look disturbed.
Ray: I think I might have some clues already. *ruffles his hair* In fact I already know for sure.
Jessica: So it’s really Mr. Cho?
Ray: Yes. I’m pretty sure but I can’t tell the others. I mean I don’t know how. I’m sure that Mandy is also. But it’s too great a coincidence that it’s driving me crazy. I mean of all the time I could run in these people, but how come now? Mr. Cho… *waves his hand* I have been working for a year or so now, but Mandy? What’s her purpose here? Does she know? Or did Mr. Cho want her to lure me in like a fish? *licking his lips* But I don’t think so. I mean she’s such a nice and cute kid, right? So why would she do such things? *shifting in his seat & tapping his fingers on the armrest* But then again, looks are deceiving, right? *ruffles his hair one more time*
Jessica: Calm down. Maybe you’re making it seem more complicated than it really is.
Ray puts his hands on his face, rubbing away the tension. Jessica puts her left hand on Ray’s shoulder to comfort him. He takes hold of her hand and sits back in a relaxed position again.
Ray: What are my over-looking?
Jessica: Maybe Mr. Cho knows a little but he’s not totally sure, so he’s still figuring it out. He did tell us the story so probably he just wants to see how we react. He’s been working with you two for one year now, so maybe he sees something that makes him wonder? Mandy? Maybe it’s just a coincidence that she’s here. I mean Charmaine’s the one who wants to move here in the first place. Mandy is just tagging along.
Ray *lets go of Jessica’s hand & starts to think again in a serious expression*: You don’t know that. They said that but maybe Mandy’s the one who’s setting this up.
Jessica *sighs*: Ray. *pauses* Stop watching those cop series too much.
Ray: I couldn’t help it but feel they both know and they’re just trying to lure me in.
Jessica: What if Mr. Cho’s just trying to find you and make it up to you?
Ray: I wish I could just ignore everything. It was much more simple when I begin working for him. I didn’t know who he was. Just a rich man who has the same last name as me. But things got a lot more complicated than this, especially when he told us about his birthday.
Jessica: Don’t stress out too much. We’re going to figure this out soon.
Ray: Jess?
Jessica: Huh?
Ray: You’re not mad at me that I didn’t tell you until the day after his birthday?
Jessica: I know you’re confused and wanted to find out. Don’t worry about it. We’ll figure it out since two heads are always better than one.
Ray smiles sideways at Jessica, glad that he has her here with him.
They go to the places that Jessica told him before on the phone and spend the rest of the day figuring out Mr. Cho’s motives or possible motives.
Ray thought there are more questions that evolve the more they try to put everything together. Lucky Jessica’s there to reassure him that they will find the answers soon.
Around 4 PM, he and Jessica rent a boat out to enjoy the sea before going back in around the time the sun sets. He waves at a familiar face as the boat edges into the dock. He helps Jessica off the boat after paying and they head back to his place.