| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
“Mr. Zhao in?” Wallace asked the butler after he opened the door.
“You are?” The butler asked, his eyes probing their features.
“Wallace Huo. Mr. Zhao’s expecting me.”
The butler slams the door on them without a warning. They have no choice but to wait for him to come back.
“Nice guy,” Ray muttered.
“I guess Vincent went to Alyssa’s again,” Wallace said.
“How do you know?”
“Vincent usually opens the door for me.”
“Oh.”
The butler comes back at that time and gestures for Wallace to come in. Ray follows along, not saying anything at all. He only takes in the house’s image as they pass through the hall leading into Mr. Zhao’s study.
“Good to know that you could finally finish this, Mr. Huo,” Mr. Zhao said, his voice as icy as all those times he treats Wallace during working hours.
“It’s the least I could do because of what happened last week, sir,” Wallace answered, his voice still leveled.
“How come there are so many visible mistakes within the first page that I thought you’re either not trying hard enough or you’re trying to sabotage our upcoming project?” Mr. Zhao asked after having flipped through several pages of the folder. “And look at this…these figures…it’s so technical. How can our investors understand it? Shouldn’t you use a better format for…”
“That’s because he…” Ray jumped in, feeling enraged at Mr. Zhao’s behaviors.
Wallace places a hand on Ray’s shoulder to silence him while turning to Mr. Zhao again. “I did it according to your notes, sir. But if I missed it, then I can correct it again.”
“You have a nice garden here, Victor,” A voice boomed into the room, his voice so cheerful that it contradicts the mood of the atmosphere. “Oh, I didn’t realize you have other guests.”
“It’s okay, Walter,” Mr. Zhao said. “It’s just one of my employees bringing me some paperwork. But it seems like this need to be in the waste basket.”
Wallace could see Ray’s anger rising again. He steps forward and shields Ray’s threatening eyes from Mr. Zhao. “I will correct it again and give it to you tomorrow morning.”
“What happened, Mr. Huo?” Mr. Zhao asked, turning to Wallace again. “Why are you getting more and more careless recently? Have you forgotten about your promotion?”
“If you’re so professional, you’ve would think of not criticizing your employees in front of outsiders,” Ray blurted out, pushing Wallace aside.
“Who are you?” Mr. Zhao asked – as if seeing Ray for the first time.
“Raymond Cho,” Ray replied, his voice on the edge.
“Ray, stay out of this,” Wallace muttered under his breath, pushing Ray out of the way again.
“Mr. Huo, what are you doing?” Mr. Zhao demanded. “I’m trying to talk to this young man here.”
“Are you Daniel Cho’s son?” The man who Mr. Zhao called Walter asked, turning to Ray with interest. “You know, Daniel Cho of Cho Global Corporation.”
Ray nods, eyeing this man cautiously.
“He has been talking about you kids forever,” Walter said, chuckling. “You are a brave one all right. Just like he described.”
“You know my father?” Ray asked, his eyes less threatening than the one he used on Mr. Zhao.
“We’re old friends,” Walter continued in his friendly tone.
“You’re Daniel Cho’s son?” Mr. Zhao repeated Walter’s words from earlier, still in disbelief. “How come I never knew?”
“Maybe if you didn’t use all your time to torture your employees, you would know a lot more things, like the changing events around town,” Ray blurted out before anyone could stop him from it.
“I told you this kid is brave,” Walter said, turning to Mr. Zhao with a bright smile still.
“Young man,” Mr. Zhao said, his eyes still strict and his voice still stern. “If I were you, I would consider my words and be careful of my behaviors.”
“Lucky I’m not you then,” Ray said. “Did you know how hard Wallace worked on that thing? He stayed up all night last night. Now you’re stomping on his effort? What is this? Picking on the little guy is just fun? Just because you hate that your son hangs around with him doesn’t mean you can mix personal and business. Talking about professionalism.”
“Ray!” Wallace shouted out finally.
“I’m defending you here!” Ray shot back, his eyes on Wallace now.
“We’re not running a circus at his house!”
“So? It’s like a circus here already without the bright colors! I feel like we’re in vampire’s lair right now except vampire might pretend to be nice so he could lure you in better!”
Mr. Zhao’s face has turned a few shades by now. Only Walter still maintains his composure and still watches with much interest.
“Mr. Huo!” Mr. Zhao finally shouted out, not being able to take the two guys’ showdown at his own study anymore.
“I’m busy right now!” Wallace shouted back without thinking. But he’s a fast person so he realizes his mistake right away. He turns his attention on Mr. Zhao again – with an apologetic look in his eyes. “Sorry, sir.”
“If it gets any more interesting than this, I think I’ll come by more often,” Walter commented – as if to ease the situation with his easygoing nature. “Young man.”
Wallace turns to him at that time.
Walter turns to Mr. Zhao and points to the folder still in Mr. Zhao’s hand.
“It’s not finished yet,” Mr. Zhao said, unwilling to part with the folder. “In fact, I told you already, it belongs in the waste basket.”
“It wouldn’t hurt if I take a look,” Walter said, his voice suddenly impatient.
“I would rather you look at the finalized document, Walter.”
“I already know what the outcome would be. I want to see the process.”
Mr. Zhao could see how determined Walter is so he hands the folder over to Walter. Wallace takes that time to pull Ray back a safe distance from both men. They wait patiently for Walter to analyze the contents. It takes him about five minutes before he looks up again.
“I’m afraid, Victor,” Walter began, his attention on Mr. Zhao. “You’re getting pickier than us.”
Mr. Zhao stares unmoved at Walter while Wallace and Ray continue to wait for Walter’s upcoming words.
“This gentleman here is someone who other companies would fight for and you’re saying that he’s slipping?” Walter pondered, still looking at Mr. Zhao with much amazement of Mr. Zhao’s words from earlier. “If he’s slipping now, I don’t know what his work will be like when he’s not slipping.”
“You’re just being generous towards him,” Mr. Zhao said, his voice still unmoved.
Walter lets out a chuckle. “I guess you haven’t learned to loosen up after all these years.”
Mr. Zhao clears his throat. “If you’re willing to accept this proposal then I’ll go along with it.”
Walter turns to Wallace, gesturing for Wallace to come over. “I want you to add some sections here and here.”
Ray waits patiently for Wallace until Walter is done. He couldn’t help but wonder how anyone could live peacefully in this house with such a strict man. He silently feels lucky that his father is not like that. Though he knows that there are advantages and disadvantages in any types of situation.
“Let’s go, Ray,” Wallace said, bringing Ray back to the present.
“Done?” Ray asked, looking around at the room.
Wallace nods. “Yea.”
They walk back down the hall through the path they’ve taken earlier. It is when they’re both outside again that they continue their conversation.
“He didn’t pick on you anymore?” Ray asked, fishing out his keys.
Wallace shakes his head. “It’s strange that he likes it since I must admit I did make so many mistakes.”
“Those people are too strange anyway. But at least he’s willing to look past the mistakes and gives you a chance unlike someone.”
Wallace sighs out. “I was worried that we’ve gone overboard.”
“Sometimes you just have to stand up for yourself, man.”
Wallace lets out another sigh. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m getting rusty.”
“Where to now?”
“Back to home. I’m going to catch some sleep before doing anything else.”
Ray nods, starting his car. “Good idea.”
“Are you going to talk to Kevin later?”
“Let him sulk. I don’t want to argue with him anymore.”
“What about your work?”
“When he needs me, he’ll look for me.”
Wallace knows it’s Ray’s way of saying that they’ll be fine so he doesn’t pursue the matter any further. He puts his head back and tries to relax as Ray turns back into the main street that takes them back into town.
*****
Wallace springs to alertness when he hears the tune to his cell phone starts up. He feels around for it on the edge of his pillow without caring to open his eyes.
“Wallace?” Cyndi’s voice called out.
“Yea?” Wallace answered groggily.
“I’m bugging you, huh?”
“No, just that I’m trying to make up for lost time right now since I didn’t sleep last night.”
“You want me to hang up so you could sleep some more?”
Wallace opens his eye and scans the room, looking for his wall clock. He knows that he has caught enough of sleep for the time being. “No. I’m done. You want to grab something to eat?”
“You sure?”
“I need some fresh air anyway.”
“All right. Want me to pick you up?”
“No, I’ll pick you up in half an hour.”
“Okay, see you.”
“Yea. Bye.”
*****
Wallace blows lazily at the steam rising on his coffee cup after removing the spoon from it. He takes a quick sip before turning to Cyndi again.
“What are we going to do later, Miss Wang?” He asked, staring outside to see the afternoon sunrays dancing back and forth between two trees.
“What do you want to do then?” Cyndi asked back.
“Your choice.”
“Um…”
“Something wrong?” He reaches out a hand across the table and takes a hold of hers. “You look like you want to say something. What’s going on?”
“I…”
“How about a walk around this place? It might do you some good. Then you can decide if you want to tell me or not.”
Cyndi nods.
They finish their meal in silence and leave the café after half an hour.
Wallace watches Cyndi carefully as they walk along the sidewalk, leading out to a seaside nearby. She seems very troubled. Or is she just tired? He knows that he does not want to push her but it seems like her troubled expressions has caused him to be even more impatient. Sometimes he wants to stop her from the walk but couldn’t when he sees her expression. It’s like he’s waiting for a death sentence. He half wants to get it over with and half wants it to not come at all.
“It seems like a nice day for a walk, huh?” A voice asked from somewhere around them.
Wallace turns around to find the voice. It sounds so familiar that he could feel his own tension rising as he’s searching for it. Even Cyndi seems to snap out of her thoughts and is looking around to find the voice also.
“Nice to see you again, Wallie,” A girl said, appearing in front of them at that time.
She’s actually right behind them but it’s just that they haven’t noticed her presence when they were walking earlier.
“What do you want, Jocelyn?” Wallace asked, his voice cold.
“Come on now,” Jocelyn said, her voice half teasing and half taunting. “Can’t I just say hi to a few friends?”
“You’re not my friend, end of story,” Wallace shot back, his expression still grim.
Jocelyn lets out another teasing smile. “Are you disregarding our relationship then?”
“What happened in the past already passed. You don’t have to make it sounds like I’m trying to hide something. So what if I made the mistake of dating you in the past? It’s gone now. Go away and leave us alone.”
“Are you trying to show your cool side in front of your current girl?”
“If you’re not leaving, then we are.” He tugs on Cyndi’s arm to go.
Jocelyn steps forward to block their path. “I’m not done yet.”
“But I am.”
Jocelyn turns her eyes on Cyndi at that time. “It’s funny how you’re pretending to not hear me. Or are you afraid that he knows?”
“If you want to pick on someone, pick on me. Stop trying to bully Cyndi.”
“How brave of you, Wallie. But I think you haven’t known the whole story yet to judge anyone.”
Wallace turns to look at Cyndi before directing his dagger eyes at Jocelyn. “What are you getting at?”
Cyndi tugs on Wallace’s arm at that time. “Let’s go. I…”
“So you’re pretending I don’t exist now?” Jocelyn asked.
“Wallace…” Cyndi urged.
Wallace could see Cyndi’s uncomfortable with Jocelyn’s presence so he tightens his grip on her hand and begins to leave.
“Mom will be expecting you there for Dad’s birthday tonight, sis!” Jocelyn reminded Cyndi.
Although Jocelyn had called Cyndi “sis” but her words drip of mockery and amusement that just sound so unpleasant to the ear. Upon hearing the word “sis”, Wallace turns to look at Cyndi once again but doesn’t want to pry any further.
They walk until the sun sets but Cyndi doesn’t seem to realize it. He doesn’t mind it that she needs time. But he couldn’t help pondering about matters. It wasn’t because she’s jealous of his past romance, but because she doesn’t want him to know of her present.
*****
Wallace finally gives up as he tosses his cover aside and gets out of bed. He couldn’t believe that he would still fall for Jocelyn’s words. How could anyone ever trust that girl? Haven’t he’d been foolish enough in the past? Isn’t it enough already? Why must he care what Jocelyn’s saying? Get a grip, Wallace Huo! She’s just trying to rattle your brain by trying to sound mysterious. However, deep down, Wallace knows that she’s right for once. Otherwise, why would Cyndi behave like she had today?
Feeling like he might as well go satisfy his curiosity, he pulls on some decent clothes before leaving his room. He grabs his keys by the door before carefully slipping out. He wouldn’t want to wake Alice – even if she is the heaviest sleeper he’d ever known in all his life.
Feeling like time’s playing a joke on him, his trip to Cyndi’s apartment seems to be excruciatingly slow. He makes it there in time to see a car parking up ahead. Cyndi gets out and steps back to wave to the car that is turning around to exit the area. Wallace is glad he had worn black earlier since it would be too obvious if he’d been wearing more noticeable colors. He is also glad that he’d parked right outside of the area instead of within the parking lot. He could see Jocelyn in the backseat as the car passes him by. Who are those other two people with her? Why is Cyndi with Jocelyn when she was trying to get away from Jocelyn earlier? He turns back to see Cyndi already disappearing into her apartment. He looks at his watch to see it is around midnight. What is going on here? Had his eyes deceive him? He knows he can’t confront her at that time of the night so he has no choice but to return home for the time being.
© Friday, March 27th, 2009
Posted: Thursday, October 29th, 2009