| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
“Hi, how may I help you, Miss?” A girl at the counter asked with a friendly smile.
“A dozen of the sweet bread with butter fillings,” Yoyo told the girl.
The girl turns around towards the back counter to get a bag before scooping out some bread for Yoyo.
The girl looks up to Yoyo again. “I’m sorry, but the breads aren’t that fresh anymore. Could you please wait about half an hour for our next batch?”
Yoyo looks at her watch quickly. “I’ll wait.”
The girl has on a nervous, apologetic look. “I’m really sorry, Miss.”
Yoyo gives her a reassuring smile. “I’m in no hurry.”
The girl leaves immediately to the back to tell one of her co-workers regarding the order while Yoyo turns around to find an empty spot to sit and wait. She smiles as she recognizes someone by the corner in front of the shop. Isn’t this my lucky day or what? Ray would be proud. She walks straight up to the guy and sits down across the table from him. Although the booth looks somewhat small and tight from afar, but it’s very convenient to hide oneself.
Yoyo smiles. “Hi. You don’t mind if I sit here with you, do you?”
The guy looks up from his book. “Uh…no. Not at all. Go ahead. I’m just waiting for my order anyway.”
Yoyo wrinkles her eyebrows. “You bring a book along with you just to wait for your orders? More like you want to camp here till the rest of the business hours.”
The guy lets out a nervous laugh. “All right. Busted, I guess.”
Yoyo ignores his comment and reaches over to touch his book. “So…what are you reading?”
The guy holds the cover up for her to see. “This. Have you read it before?”
“Yes, I did. Wait until you get to the end. You’ll be shocked of the outcome of the situation.”
“Really? Does the protagonist guy die?”
Yoyo laughs. “Come on. What’s the fun of me telling you? Read on.”
The guy smiles and folds the book shut after putting a bookmark in place.
Yoyo gestures her hand casually. “So…nothing to do tonight?”
“No. Not much. Just trying to finish this book…” He taps at the book for emphasis. “…and maybe start on another one.”
Yoyo nods. “Sounds like a plan. Any plan is better than no plan, huh?”
The guy nods.
Yoyo thought that she’s about done with beating around the bush. She should dig for information already. “Oh yeah, we’ve been talking this long now and I still don’t know your name.”
Guy extends his hand. “Tim. You?”
Yoyo shakes his hand. “Yoyo.”
“Interesting name.”
“So is yours.”
“I didn’t mean it in that way.”
“I didn’t mean it either.”
They both laugh.
“Anyway, are you a writer or something?” Yoyo asked.
“Uh…sort of...I work for this newspaper place,” Tim answered. “But it’s only part time.”
“Oh…really? Where?”
“The Weekly Fiery.”
“For real?!”
“My pen name is different, of course.”
“Of course. Everyone has a pen name nowadays that they might as well change their name too so it wouldn’t be too confusing.”
Before Tim could add anything to that comment, his cell phone rings. The caller ID shows him it’s Jacky. What is it this time? “Tim here.”
“Ray around?”
“No, I’m at a bakery.”
“Bakery? The Seahorse Fest?”
“Yea, how did you know?”
“I just look up some information for you guys. I guess you’re one step ahead then.”
“Looks that way.”
“How’s it going?”
“I’m just sitting here. Nothing new.”
“Any cute girl in the bakery?”
“Uh…”
“Kidding. Oh yeah, I was talking to Wallace earlier about stuffs. If you need anything, just call him.”
“Oh.”
“Is someone else around you that you can’t talk? ‘Cause you usually know more than the words you’ve been uttering.”
“Actually, I just met this girl.”
Yoyo has stepped away at the moment to check on her order. It’s more like an excuse so Tim could continue his conversation.
“Oh?” Jacky said.
“Anyway, she just stepped away so I’m going to tell you really fast,” Tim said.
“Okay.”
“I think she approached me on purpose. Not sure what she’s up to though. Everyone here is kind of strange. Maybe she’s investigating on Kenneth too, but I’m not sure.”
“Oh? What’s her name?”
“Yoyo.”
“Yoyo? As in Yoyo Mung? Dr. Yoyo Mung? Or someone with the same name?”
“Dr. Yoyo Mung?”
“Yea. Remember her? Well, I’m not sure you would since it was six months ago. The doctor that helped us with the whole Annie thing and setting Frankie up.”
“Oh! No wonder she looks familiar.”
“So it’s really her?”
“I guess so.”
“Put her on the phone for me.”
“Why?”
“Just do it!”
“Okay. Calm down.”
“Sorry. I just have a few minutes before I have to go again.”
Tim has to signal to Yoyo as she turns around to see if he’s done with his conversation.
Yoyo sits down across from him again. “What’s going on?”
“My friend wants to talk to you.”
Yoyo looks puzzled. “Why?”
“He said he knows you. Or might know you.”
Yoyo still looks confused but takes the phone anyway. “Hello?”
“It’s Jacky.”
“Jacky?”
“Chu.”
“And?”
“Very funny. We met six months ago. At your hospital.”
“Oh…I almost forgot. You’re Detective Chu.”
“Yea. Anyway, could you delay your mission a bit later? ‘Cause we need to do something first.”
Yoyo looks puzzled. “What?!”
“I know you’re helping Ray to expose Tim. I’m just asking for a delay of actions.”
“Whoa!”
“Stop pretending, I know already.”
“What’s going on here?”
“Bottom line is he’s not harming Ray in any way so just ignore it for a while.”
“And I have to listen to you because?”
“Because I’ll get you a date with Tim if you promise not to pursue the matter right now.”
Yoyo turns a bit red. “What?!”
Jacky lets out a chuckle. “I’m kidding. But if you still want the date I can still set it up. So are we in?”
“Uh…”
“Come on…”
“All right. I can only delay it one week. After that, you’re on your own. Since I’ll be on vacation after next week and will have plenty of time to help Ray find out more information.”
“Good then. We’ll all be in Guangzhou by that time and you won’t share the info with him until we’re back, right?”
“I can’t guarantee I won’t call him during the break.”
“It’s all right. He can’t just run back here during that time. I can delay him by then.”
“This is the second favor I’m doing you. And this second one is more serious than the first.”
“I know you’re sort of betraying Ray by doing it, but I promise you that we’re not hurting Ray in any way.”
“Yes, you are. You’re hurting him by not telling him the truth. You think that you’re shielding it from him to protect him, but you know how he hates to be deceived.”
“Who would want to be deceived? I’m just asking for some more time, Doctor.”
“Don’t joke about my occupation.”
“All right. Sorry.”
“Forget it,” Yoyo said after a brief pause – in a much calmer tone. “I’m handing the phone back to 'Tim' now.”
“You’re getting the joke!”
“What?”
“I already gave you a hint in exchange for the cover up. You’re on your own now.”
“Very funny.” She hands the phone back to Tim before Jacky could say anything else. She doesn’t forget to give him a sharp glare either.
“What did you tell her?” Tim asked Jacky.
“Did she give you an evil eye?” Jacky asked back.
Tim looks around him before continuing. “Do you have a radar on us or something? How did you know?”
“I just bargained some time for you. You’re on your own now if you get expose. Talking about that, be more careful from now on. And don’t think about courting Dr. Mung either. She’s mad at you. When she gets up to leave, she’ll sure to give you a piece of her mind before she goes. And if you want to bet on that, I’ll bet you a round of hot pot on Christmas when we’re at Jan’s place.” Jacky hangs up after that.
Tim still stares at the phone for several seconds before putting it back into his pocket. He turns to Yoyo. Yoyo gets up to leave. He braces himself for a shower of attack of words.
“I won’t let him win,” Yoyo said. “Good day, Mr. Lo.”
With that, Yoyo walks out of the shop. She doesn’t bother to pick up her order at the counter, which is now ready.
What the world is going on here? Is he the only one that can’t read people’s mind? Then Tim realizes that he has the cell phone on speaker mode when Jacky was betting with him. It must have been an accident since he was getting quite nervous before.
He stands up to pick up his orders at the counter.
“Sir, did that one Miss leave already?” The girl at the counter asked him. “She forgot her order.”
Tim turns to look at the entrance again before turning back to address the girl. “I’ll take it to her.”
Tim pulls out some money from his wallet and pays for both orders. The girl gives him back the change and smiles at him. He thanks her and hurries out the door after grabbing both bags.
*****
Gallen thought he almost lost Yoyo. But he spots her down the street – about to enter a restaurant. He increases his pace to catch up with her.
“Yoyo!” He called out.
Yoyo turns around to see Gallen holding two bags from Seahorse Fest and heading towards her. She couldn’t help but laugh at the sight – her anger all forgotten away at the moment. She meets him halfway.
“What do you want?” She asked, finally regaining herself.
“Uh…you forgot your order.”
“Oh…” She takes it from him quickly. “Thanks.” She fishes around her coat pocket for her wallet at that time.
Gallen holds his hand up to stop her. “No need. It’s my treat.”
Yoyo rolls her eyes. “Sure. Come on. Hold this for me once more.” She finally finds her wallet after some more rustling. “You’re not going to buy me off with that.” She takes her bag back and presses the money into his hand. “Okay. Now we’re even. I’m leaving. Bye.”
“Wait…”
Yoyo turns to him. “What?”
“Since you’re off work, how about…uh…dinner?”
Yoyo holds back a laugh. “Get your priorities straight. I’m just helping Jacky on this one. And I’m not really fond of him right now either. So what makes you think I would want to socialize with you?” She knows her words are harsh, but she couldn’t help it. She doesn’t want to betray Ray’s friendship even if this guy is the cutest guy that she seen since ages. And that she might want to get to know him better – on a personal level.
Gallen’s a bit taken aback. “I guess you’re right. It’s just that, I…”
Yoyo sighs. “Forget it. I guess our paths just crossed at the wrong time.” Her voice softens a bit after that. “Maybe in the future? I mean when all these mess…” She gestures her right hand randomly. “…has cleared itself out?” She didn’t mean to be so direct, but if she leaves it up to him, she might have to stand here until midnight before he’s done.
Gallen nods. “I guess so.” He turns back to where he came from.
“Wait!”
Gallen turns back to face her.
She smiles. “I’ll walk back with you.”
“You’re not going in to meet your date?”
Yoyo smiles. Nice move, she thought. Testing the water, huh? “No. I changed my mind.”
They walk back together – side-by-side.
Yoyo takes her cell phone out at that time. “Hey. Give me your number.”
“Huh?”
“For future references. Either professionally or personally, I still need it.”
“Oh…”
He tells her the number without further ado. Yoyo punches the number in and calls him. Gallen takes out his phone. Upon seeing her number, he looks puzzled. He turns to face her again.
Yoyo smiles. “Now you have my number.” She stops walking since they’re in front of her car now. “The battle starts after the end of next week. So you better watch out. No more warnings after this. All right?” She fishes her keys out of her coat pocket. “Take care, Mr. Lo.”
Gallen still stands there, confused.
Yoyo turns around before getting into her car. “Don’t open your mouth so wide. A fly might decide to come in for a visit.” She smiles after saying that.
“Uh…okay.”
With that, Yoyo gets into her car and pulls out afterwards.
Gallen still feels his head spinning about a minute after Yoyo’s gone. He finally gets into his car – which is parked behind hers – and leaves after convincing himself to leave it until later.
© Tuesday, February 19th, 2008
Re-posted: Thursday, October 15th, 2009