| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
“Hey,” Jacky began.
Ricky is trying to find some tools to clean the inside of the grill when Jacky suddenly speaks up. He turns around to face Jacky again, waiting for Jacky to continue.
“What you said the other about Jan and Mandy’s file…”
“You still haven’t asked Jan?”
Ricky is about to tease Jacky about it, but he could see how serious Jacky looks so he holds his tongue.
Ricky sighs out. “I guess you guys aren’t as closed anymore so I might as well tell you.”
Ricky turns back towards the tool box and hands Jacky the tool they were looking for earlier before sitting down at a nearby chair. They work several minutes in silence, trying to fix part of the grill before Ricky looks up again. Jacky could see that he was making sure the sliding door is closed.
“We all know that Jan and Mandy are cousins, right?” Ricky asked.
Jacky could almost strangle Ricky for being obvious but stops himself since he could see how serious Ricky looks so he knows that Ricky must have a point in even stating such obvious information.
“Kenneth’s dad, Jan’s mom, Mandy’s mom, and my dad are siblings.”
Jacky knows that as well. Does Ricky have to be this slow in his storytelling?
“Mandy’s mom and Jan’s mom are twins.”
“Whoa!”
“Why are you so surprised? Isn’t it obvious that Jan and Mandy sort of look alike? I mean from some angles.”
“I didn’t know that, okay?”
Ricky has on a bitter smile all of a sudden. “Maybe that’s what people call twin’s fate?”
Jacky has the “Huh?” expression on his face.
“I’m getting there.” He lets out a sighs before continuing. “Jan’s dad took off when she was only 10. So she took her mom’s name instead. Connect the dots, man. Didn’t Mandy’s mother suffer the same fate? Except she was the one walking out on him and I don’t think Mr. Cho’s half as bad since Ray and Mandy forgave him.”
Jacky suddenly takes a look into the kitchen through the glass door, pondering about matters as he sees Jan in the kitchen with Joey. (Charmaine and Jessica had volunteered to head to the store this time.)
“It’s not what you think.”
Jacky turns his attention back to Ricky with a confused expression.
“She’s not holding back from having a real relationship just because what happened to her parents. It must be something else if you’re not succeeding.”
“I didn’t…”
Ricky has on his usual sly smile again. “Our Chan gene is too sharp. You can’t deceive us.”
“I don’t know why I asked you in the first place.”
“Because you just want to do some bonding with your future cousin-in-law. “ He turns on his serious expression again. “But seriously, don’t mention it to anyone in this house or there are going to be casualties all around. Got it?”
Jacky nods.
“We’re lucky that our parents weren’t judgmental toward Jan’s mom after what happened since we all knew it wasn’t her fault. But Auntie never gotten over it. She’s just putting up a strong front for our sake.”
“What is taking you guys so long?” A voice behind them asked. “Ended up breaking it instead of fixing it?”
Ricky and Jacky turn around to see Joey walking in.
“Hey, sis,” Jacky said.
“What have you guys been talking about?” Joey asked, eyeing the guys suspiciously.
“Why are you behaving like a nosy housewife nowadays?” Ricky asked.
Joey gives Ricky her famous glare while Jacky lets out a secretive smile, knowing Ricky’s in for good.
“Since we still need you to fix the grill, I’m going to let you off this time,” Joey said.
After saying that, Joey walks back into the house leaving them both stunned.
“I guess love softened her?” Ricky asked.
Jacky shakes his head. “Actually, she’s getting back to normal.”
Ricky wrinkles his face.
“She used to be quite soft-hearted and cheerful until…”
Ricky could see Jacky’s expression changing so he understands where it is going to. “No need to explain. Let’s get this done and to the back before Madame Meng decides to give us a piece of her mind again.”
So they finally focus on fixing and cleaning the grill for the rest of the time, and getting it ready for the planned BBQ.
*****
The sun is just barely creeping its way back up to greet the world again when Yoyo gets out of bed and gets ready. She’s on vacation, but it doesn’t mean she’s on vacation from her friend. She couldn’t believe she uncovered the mystery so soon. Is that supposed to be call luck? She makes sure to leave a note for Nnadia on the kitchen table before heading out.
Like previous times, they’ve set up a meeting at Yin Yang. This time, surprisingly, she comes first. He hates waiting and she knows it. This is around the holidays after all. Getting around unprepared is like inviting disaster with your hands extended. Like before, she also sits on the railing, looking out towards the ocean. It’s a bit early but this place opens early for business, trying to drive in as much business as they could. After all, it’s around the holidays.
It all started here, so it might as well end here, right? She could see the sun rising slowly as the wind dies down a little. Seeing how nice the scenery ahead of her is, she couldn’t help but feel hopeful about their meeting this time.
“Waited long, Dr. Mung?” A voice behind her asked.
She turns slightly to see Ray dressed in a dark gray coat and blue jeans – like he did last time. For some reason, she looks down at her own outfit to realize the similarity of the last meeting.
Yoyo smiles. “Shame on you, Raymond Cho, you made a girl wait.”
Ray returns the smile and joins her by the railing.
Once he’s securely sitting on the railing, he looks ahead towards the rising sun also. They stare at its progress for a few minutes before speaking up again.
“So…what call for this meeting today?” Ray asked.
“I struck gold,” Yoyo announced.
Ray glances at her briefly. “You meant you found a treasure?”
“It’s a metaphor.”
Ray smiles. “I know. I was just kidding.” He doesn’t deliver anymore of his smart phrases, but looks intently at Yoyo, waiting for her to continue.
“You know who Tim is?”
“That’s what I’m still trying to figure out.”
“Before I tell you…”
“What?”
Yoyo turns to face him before continuing. “You must maintain a calm attitude, okay?”
“Don’t tell me he’s assassin hired to take me down or…”
“Ray…”
Ray recognizes that look so he turns serious also.
Yoyo reaches into her coat pocket and takes out a piece of paper. She hands it to Ray carefully, not wanting it to drop into the water below their feet. Her eyes still stay on Ray as he studies it.
“I sort of guessed he’s a cop so it’s not very far,” Ray said. “And no wonder the guys kept making mistakes with almost calling out his real name.” His expression turns into shocked. “So that means…” He looks up at Yoyo again. “…Kevin knew?”
“I don’t know. But he said some people know already. I didn’t want to ask him much. And it’s probably better that you go confront them yourself.”
Ray nods his head. “It’s unavoidable.” He wrinkles his eyebrows. “So…who hired him then?”
“This is the part where you have to calm down.”
“Who is it? You know I don’t like to be kept in the dark for long.”
Yoyo sighs out. “It’s your father.”
Ray’s sudden smile upon hearing her blurt out the name surprised her. She didn’t expect Ray to take it so lightly. She lets him stare out at the horizon for a bit before speaking up again.
“You all right?” She asked.
Ray turns to her again. “I’m not crazy in case you’re wondering.”
“I didn’t say you are.”
“I think I sort of expect something like this though. After all, why would he be so trusting of us with all the things happening around here, right? I would’ve expected him to hire someone to watch out for us, but I was putting my money on Jacky.”
Yoyo smiles. “Jacky wouldn’t do something like that.”
“Like I know.”
“I guess you couldn’t be sure. But even if Jacky’s a P.I., he wouldn’t get involved in such a mess.”
“Oh?”
“He hates being reminded of his family so he wouldn’t take such a case into his hands.”
“Now you’re exposing him too?”
“I guess I shouldn’t, huh?”
Ray doesn’t answer but just looks out at the sea ahead again.
“What are you going to do now?”
“I can’t really go hunt Kevin down at his relatives’ place and demand an explanation, right? Have to wait until next week or something. But maybe I should go hunt Wallace down.”
“Will he tell you?”
“I don’t know, but I’m taking my chances.”
“Hmm…”
“Or maybe I should wait for everyone to come back from vacation before confronting them all at the same time.”
“You think you can wait?”
Ray lets out a chuckle. “You know me too well.”
“Thanks.”
*****
“Come on!” Ricky urged. “You can’t back out now, Detective Meng.”
Joey shakes her head and waves her hand furiously, trying to avoid the worst.
“It’s only in the fun.”
“Leave her alone, man,” Kenneth said.
“It’s karaoke night. Everyone has to chime in or else!”
“Quit it already,” Jan said.
Ricky turns to Jan. “So you’re going to take her side and not my?”
“You say it’s all in the fun, so why are you forcing her?” Jacky asked.
Ricky turns to Jacky. “So you’re taking her side ‘cause Jan does?”
“She’s my sister after all.”
“Says you.”
Kenneth grabs the microphone from Ricky at that time and ends up singing instead.
“I guess that’s done,” Ricky whispered to Jacky.
“Told you not to mess with him,” Jacky whispered back. Just as he’s about to say something else to get back at Ricky, his cell phone rings. He silences it before getting up to answer it. “Hello?”
“Ge.”
“Maggie?”
Upon hearing Maggie’s name, Jan sits up straight from her place next to Ricky. She looks over to where Jacky’s standing and ponders what the possible problem is this time around.
“Slow down,” Jacky said. “What is happening? Now? Okay. I’ll be there tomorrow then.” He snaps his phone shut after that. He ends up lost in thoughts as he turns around to go back to the others again when he realizes that someone’s in front of him. He stops in time before bumping into that person. He focuses again to see it’s only Jan.
“Something wrong?” Jan asked.
Jacky nods. “I have to go tomorrow.” He brightens up again. “The better. I get to give them a piece of my mind right before Christmas. I was planning to go next week anyway.”
“What happened?”
Jacky smiles. “The same old stuffs. Don’t worry.”
Jan nods.
“Stop using the phone call excuse to have a private conversation!” Ricky shouted their way.
Jacky and Jan turn around to see Ricky pasting on his usual teasing smile. As Jan’s about to return her words of attack, she feels a slight stab of tingling coming from the back of her head. She clutches her head and closes her eyes, waiting for it to pass. Then she could feel Jacky holding onto her.
“You all right?” He asked.
Jan nods, not trusting her voice at that moment.
“Stop teasing her, man,” Jacky scolded Ricky. “It’s getting lame.”
Jessica runs over to them at that time and helps Jan back to her room, taking over from Jacky. Jacky almost want to speak up his words of objections and how he wants to help Jan as well, but bites down his teeth since he doesn’t want anymore unnecessary attention drawn to the both of them.
Joey turns to Ricky. “Seriously, is she okay?”
“Why shouldn’t she be okay?” Ricky asked back. “In case you’re wondering, my words weren’t poisonous. If it were, wouldn’t the rest of you’ve fallen as well?”
“You know I didn’t mean that.”
Kenneth has quit singing already by this time and is packing the equipments away so he turns to the both of them again. Then his eyes dart towards Ricky. “Do you think…?”
Ricky shakes his head, glancing at Jacky briefly.
“You both are hiding something from the rest of us, right?” Joey asked, seeing the exchange between the guys.
“Uh…”
“What is it?” Jacky demanded. He has made his way back to the sofa again and is sitting next to Joey again.
“Come on,” Joey urged.
“Why are you guys acting all suspicious again?” Charmaine asked. “It’s like you’re hiding things from them the way you’re hiding Gallen’s thing from Ray.”
Ricky turns to Jacky. “She knows?”
“She found out on her own accidentally and if I’m not wrong, Ray should know soon so we’ll have to come back later to face the music,” Jacky explained. “Correction, you guys are facing it. I’m out.”
“Lucky you.”
“Like you have to face it with them,” Joey said.
“You’ll never know. What if he decides to call everyone and question?”
“He knows your number?”
“No, but…”
“Then you don’t have to worry.” She looks at her watch. “And I think I’m turning in early so I can start out tomorrow on time.”
Charmaine gets up also. “Me too.”
The girls walk together down the hallway to their room while the guys stare after them.
“What did I say wrong?” Ricky asked.
“You’re naturally inconsiderate,” Kenneth replied, getting up. “Come on. Let’s go home.”
Kenneth says goodbye to Jacky before heading for the front door while Ricky still stands there, puzzled.
*****
As planned, the next morning they get up early so they could say their words of separation to the ones who are leaving. Ricky volunteers to drive Jacky, Joey, and Charmaine to the train station after they said their temporary goodbyes. When they arrive at the station, Jacky is lucky enough to be able to purchase the last ticket of that time slot so he could get on the same train as Joey and Charmaine. They manage to find a space where they could sit together also. The girls sit on one side while Jacky sits alone across from them.
“You all right?” Joey asked.
Jacky’s looking out at the passing view so he thought that Joey’s asking Charmaine. It is until he could feel Joey’s left hand on his that he realizes that she’s asking him. He turns to face her before responding.
“What?” He asked.
“You look morbid,” Joey said.
“Do I? I’m fine.”
“Maggie probably just wants to surprise you with something so she’s luring you home early.”
Jacky shakes his head. “She knows what not to joke about.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
“It’s not like you don’t know my relatives.”
“Maggie is the little girl in pink ribbons, right?” Charmaine asked.
Jacky and Joey turn to her at the same time.
“I think I remember that she was at…”
Charmaine stops herself from saying the next words. She knows it too well that it has too great of an effect on the three of them to continue. No matter how many years have passed, it’s still a deep wound to them.
“Yea, that was her,” Jacky said quickly.
Joey suddenly lets out a laugh, causing Jacky and Charmaine to turn to her with concerned expression.
“I’m not crazy in case you’re wondering,” Joey said. “It’s just strange, you know. Suddenly we meet again after years later and here we are…still unable to talk about it.”
“Maybe we should let go of the burden,” Jacky said.
Joey turns to Jacky. “I think I already did, are you?”
“I’m starting to…” He turns to Charmaine after saying that.
Charmaine smiles. “How about we promise to each other to take care of ourselves better from now on?”
“Sounds a bit too melodramatic but I’m in.” He smiles and then turns to Joey.
She nods as well.
For the rest of the ride – at least until Jacky gets off, they talk and share about old times they spent with Benny. Yes, they need to unleash all the past bottled up inside them before they could let go of that past. Acceptance is the first step to move on, right?
© Saturday, January 31st, 2009
Re-posted: Friday, October 16th, 2009