| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
“Quit being lame already,” Chen Yi scolded.
“No, wait,” Qiao Qiao interfered.
The guys turn to her.
“You’re backing out?” Chen Yi asked, surprised.
“No! Of course not. Who will take over as the other team captain? We’re short of one.”
“Let’s see…Jacky told Xin Yu she can be on his team. That means we can bump everyone up a notch.” He turns to Ming Dao. “You want to be captain or Chen Yi?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Ming Dao said.
“Why did you ask them and not me?” Bianca protested.
Ehlo turns to her. “You want to be captain then?”
“How about we battle it out between the four of us?” Chen Yi suggested. “It’s only fair. Whoever makes 3 baskets first will become the new captain.”
“I don’t want to compete though,” Achel said timidly. “I mean it doesn’t matter who is captain really.”
“You’re the weakest link already,” Ehlo pointed out. “It doesn’t matter if you compete or not.”
“Ehlo ge!”
“Are you picking on her ‘cause she’s a girl?” Qiao Qiao asked, putting on her challenging look. “We’ll trade you for her if you’re so…”
“Sam has to decide that though, right?” Ming Dao reminded Qiao Qiao subtly.
Ehlo turns back to Qiao Qiao. “It’s better if you guys trade me for Ming Dao though. So he can be on the same team as his best buddy again.”
“Would you guys hurry already?” Angela jumped in, her voice showing apparent impatience. “I thought we’re here to see a game, not see you guys fight.”
“If no one is satisfied with their current team, how about starting over?” Johnny suggested, attempting to get the others to negotiate.
“No way!” The others shouted out at the same time.
Johnny glances at everyone once before speaking up again. “Then why are you all keep shoving a certain person back and forth between teams?”
“We formed teams like right about the same we were spying on each other, remember?” Ehlo reminded Johnny. He could see Ming Dao’s expression. “And because we were at odds with each other also. So it’s only fair if anyone wants to change their minds now.”
“What in the world are you talking about?” Chen Yi asked, wrinkling his face.
“Don’t believe me? I’ll prove it to you.” He turns to the others again. “Who falls into one of the two categories I just described?”
Ming Dao raises his hand first. Ehlo scans the group once before raising his hand also.
“Looks like you two were the only ones that…” Chen Yi began.
Before he could finish the sentence, Qiao Qiao raises her hand also. She has this nervous look on her face. She could see everyone’s eyes on her, causing her face to burn a bit. “Sorry! I was being silly too.”
“I thought you want to be on the ‘winning team’,” Chen Yi said, putting an emphasis on the last two words.
Chen Yi’s comment drips of sarcasm, but Qiao Qiao chooses to ignore him.
“That too,” Qiao Qiao said. “But I was curious about things so…I…want to get closer to a certain person to probe for info.”
Ehlo chuckles. “Same for me. I decided after I saw Wallace and Cyndi in Jacky’s room.”
“I was mad at Sam,” Ming Dao confessed.
Ehlo turns to Chen Yi. “See?”
“Okay then,” Chen Yi said. “Let’s switch teams now. But…”
“Does it matter that much?” Ming Dao asked. “I mean we agreed to be friends now with no secrets, right? So it doesn’t matter which team we’re on. This is all for fun, right?”
“It’s sport. We’re supposed to win!”
“You mean my team’s winning while yours is sitting over in some corner crying?” Qiao Qiao asked, a mischievous smile forming on her face.
“Guys, are we still playing today?” Johnny asked, tugging at his shirt front, trying to fan himself. “It’s going to get hot soon.”
“Okay, since no one wants to switch teams, then you three…” Ehlo said, pointing at Ming Dao, Bianca, and Chen Yi. “…can battle it out who is captain. We can start the game after lunch.”
“Fine with me,” Ming Dao mumbled.
They all step back away from the court to watch the three potential candidates compete against one another. Chen Yi makes two baskets before Bianca could make one. Chen Yi almost makes the last basket when Ming Dao blocks him in time. Ming Dao manages to get a basket before Bianca makes another one. As the little game’s getting quite intense, the others begin to talk again. They’ve been watching with their full attention that they didn’t care to debate earlier.
“Come on!” Ehlo shouted out finally, breaking the pattern of rapid footsteps moving back and forth and the basketball hitting the pavement. “What in the world is Ming Dao doing? He called that playing? We should have let Xin Yu be captain already.”
“Ehlo ge!” Achel whined.
Qiao Qiao hits Ehlo’s shoulder. “Stop it already. If you pick on Xin Yu anymore, I’ll kick you off the team.”
Sam clears his throat at that time.
Qiao Qiao turns around to him with a challenging look. “Problem?”
“Qiao, he’s captain,” Johnny reminded her.
Qiao Qiao flashes on a bright smile. “We can override you with our votes!”
“What was that?” Angela spoke up, cutting thru their argument.
The others turn their attention back to the court. Chen Yi just made the last basket.
Ehlo turns to Angela. “Who were you rooting for then?”
“Bianca, of course.”
Qiao Qiao hits Ehlo’s shoulder again. “Why would you be surprised anyway?”
The others make their way back to the group again.
Ehlo turns to Qiao Qiao. “Stop hitting me already. I don’t see you hitting the other guys here.”
“You’re lucky that she’s hitting you,” Chen Yi said. “If she doesn’t hit you, that means she doesn’t acknowledge your existence.”
Ehlo claps Chen Yi on the shoulder. “Congrats, man. I was rooting for you the whole time.”
“Was there anyone even rooting for me then?” Ming Dao asked.
“I was!” Achel jumped in, smiling.
Angela turns to Achel. “Sis, you’re supposed to root for Bianca.”
“Aiya, doesn’t matter,” Qiao Qiao interfered. “We know who the winner is now. Let’s go in to get some lunch before we starve to death. Not to mention dehydrate too.”She begins to walk out of the backyard and towards the front of the house.
“Qiao, where are you going?” Chen Yi asked, staring after her.
Qiao Qiao turns around. “The food’s better over there.”
“You’re saying that you like Ehlo’s cooking?” Johnny teased, somewhat surprised.
Ehlo turns to Johnny. “Stop stabbing me in the back! Without Jacky, you can starve without my cooking.”
Bianca follows Qiao Qiao. “Don’t worry, I’m with you.” She puts a hand on Qiao Qiao’s shoulder. “Oh yeah, want to go to the movies later? Or shopping maybe?”
Qiao Qiao shakes her head. “Can’t. I’m preparing for my interview tomorrow.”
“Oh? You’re not going to work at Orchids’ place anymore?”
“I told Orchids it’s temporary. So …”
“Oh. Need help practicing then?”
Qiao Qiao smiles. “That’s good. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
The guys had somehow followed behind Qiao Qiao and Bianca. Maybe they’re used to hanging out over at the other house that being in Ming Dao and Sam’s place feel too weird. As Qiao Qiao and Bianca are waiting to cross the street, they hear Angela and Ehlo arguing over something.
“No way, he wouldn’t do that,” Angela argued in an unconvinced tone.
“Come on, Ehlo retorted. “You girls are so gullible. Why can’t it be like that?”
“Because he’s such an influential figure. Would he ruin his already established reputation?”
Qiao Qiao turns around to see the two. “What the world are you two talking about now?”
“We’re talking about that new radio host on CVN,” Ehlo explained. “He switched station, of course. Anyway, rumor has it that he’s having an affair with several wealthy women so he can, you know…” He gestures his hand. “…ka-ching.”
Bianca wrinkles her face. “You two are gossiping now? Unbelievable. Just yesterday, you were still at each other’s throat and now you’re sharing the latest rumors.”
Achel jumps forward with a mischievous smile. She places both hands on Angela’s shoulders. “Actually, you all shouldn’t be surprised about jie’s change in attitudes towards Ehlo ge. She has been madly in love with him since the first day she met him. It’s just that she was suppressing her feelings for him for so long that…” She gestures her hand.
Angela brushes Achel’s hands off her. “Hey!” She turns around to face her sister. “What are you talking about? Stop spreading rumors.”
“It’s All right, Miss Chang.,” Ehlo said with an equally mischievous expression as Achel. “You don’t need to deny it. I wouldn’t mind having another girlfriend.” He slides his hand around her shoulder after saying that.
“Aww…how cute!” Achel drawled out.
Angela jabs Ehlo in the sides with her elbow. He jumps back before Angela is able to attack again.
“Someone’s trying to murder her future husband!” Ehlo yelled out as he runs across the street before Angela could strike back.
“Huang Yu Rong!” Angela yelled back, running after Ehlo. “You get back here right this moment!”
At that time, they could hear a car honking.
“Angela!” The others exclaimed out at the same time.
Ehlo turns around in time and manages to double back, grabbing Angela out of the way in the process. The car stops seconds later with tires screeching. The driver rolls down his window.
“You freak!” The driver shouted. “Watch out where you’re going!”
“Sorry, Rick!” Ehlo returned, still holding onto Angela’s shoulders.
Rick gives Ehlo another disapproving look before driving on again.
The others wait until Rick’s car pass before crossing the street to join Ehlo and Angela. Ehlo finally releases Angela.
“Jie, sorry!” Achel said anxiously, walking to Angela’s side. “I didn’t mean to start it! I was just kidding. Are you All right?”
Angela’s breathing pattern gets back to normal so she nods.
“Since my fiancée’s All right now, let’s go inside to get some food,” Ehlo said, taking off running again as Angela chases him into the living room. He ends up running towards Wallace’s room down the hall.
Wallace’s sleeping in again, but this time probably for real. Ehlo begins to bang on Wallace’s door. Wallace comes to the door seconds later, his alarmed expression turns back to normal since he sees Ehlo’s happy face.
“What is it this time?” Wallace asked.
“Guess what?” Ehlo asked rhetorically. “I just found out your ex-girlfriend was cheating on you when you were still dating.”
Wallace wrinkles his face. “What?!”
Ehlo puts a hand on Wallace’s shoulder. “Don’t be alarm. I know it’s hard to accept. But she was madly in love with me since you brought her to meet us that one time. Xin Yu just told me!”
Angela finally catches up to Ehlo. “What are you talking about? Stop spouting nonsense already. You…” She stops because she realizes that not only is Wallace still in t-shirt and shorts, but Cyndi’s sitting on Wallace’s bed.
Ehlo starts to realize that also. “Oooohh…” She turns to Wallace again. “No wonder you didn’t want to go play basketball with us. Breakfast in bed, huh?” He flashes on his mischievous grin again.
“What are you talking about?” Wallace asked, wrinkling his face. “Cyn just came like ten minutes ago. She’s helping me cleaning my room.”
“Sure you were.” Ehlo begins to make his way back towards the living room. He could see that Bianca and Ming Dao are preparing lunch again as he steps into the kitchen. “You guys know what? This is starting to be a habit.”As Ehlo sits down at a stool in front of the counter, Angela suddenly pops out of nowhere and sits down next to him. He puts a hand on Angela’s shoulder. “What’s with the long face? Who upset my fiancée again?”
Angela shrugs his hand off her shoulder as she cups her chin in her hands.
Bianca sees Angela’s troubled face. “What’s wrong?”
Angela sighs out. “Nothing.”
“You’re a worse liar than…” Ehlo sees Sam walks by at that time. “…Sam, so don’t try it.”
Sam turns to look at the group at the counter. “What do I have to do with anything?”
He puts on wise guy smile. “Nothing. I was just using you as an example.”
Wallace walks into the kitchen at that time – still in the same attire as before – and opens the fridge. He tosses Sam a soda before walking over to where they are, sitting next to Ehlo. Sam ends up sitting next to Angela.
Ehlo turns to Wallace. “What happened to your girlfriend?”
“In the living room, talking to Sonia.”
“Oh.”
“What happened to Qiao?” Ming Dao asked, looking around.
They all turn around to check the living room.
“She went to Jacky’s room,” Achel answered back from the sofa.
After hearing that, they all turn back like before.
“What could she be doing in his room?” Ehlo pondered.
“Maybe leaving him a message?” Ming Dao said.
Ehlo gets up from his seat. “Maybe I should sneak in to see which direction she’s facing so I know where the hidden camera is.”
Angela gets off the stool also. “You’re such a snoop.” But she ends up following Ehlo anyway.
“Like you’re not.”
Before they turn at the hallway again, Qiao Qiao comes out from Jacky’s room.
“Leaving him a message?” Ehlo asked.
“His camera is gone,” Qiao Qiao said.
“I swear you look disappointed.”
Ehlo and Angela walk back to the sofa with Qiao Qiao.
“He took it with him?” Ehlo suggested.
“Not sure,” Qiao Qiao said half-heartedly. “Or maybe he changed the location.”
“Great. I have a creepy roommate and I never knew.”
“Could you guys stop talking?” Chen Yi asked, annoyed. “We’re playing here.”
Chen Yi, Achel, and Yan Yan are playing some card game right now.
“Like talking would break your concentration,” Qiao Qiao mumbled.
“You know how loud you are,” Chen Yi reminded her. “It breaks our concentration.”
Qiao Qiao hits Chen Yi on the head lightly.
Achel giggles. “Told you not to mess with Qiao.”
“That was low,” Chen Yi said. “I wasn’t prepared.”
“If someone were to attack you, would they tell you?” Qiao Qiao jumped in. “Duh! Of course not!”
“Hey! That was cheating!”
“No, it’s not!” Achel shouted over his voice. “I won!”
Chen Yi turns to Qiao Qiao. “Thanks a lot!”
“You’re welcome,” Qiao Qiao said with a wide smile.
Yan Yan shuffles the cards and begins to distribute them out. She stops after giving one card to all of them and turns to Qiao Qiao. “You want to play?”
“Sure.” Qiao Qiao sits down next to Achel at that time.
“Oh goody, we can see Chen Yi has a less chance of winning now,” Achel continued in that same cheerful tone as before.
Chen Yi stares at Achel. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Achel smiles. “It means what it means.”
“Weirdo,” Chen Yi mumbled to himself.
Yan Yan’s done distributing the cards so they’re picking it up to prepare for the round. Ehlo and Angela stand there to watch them play. Ehlo glances around and pulls two chairs up for him and Angela. Just then, someone’s phone rings.
“It’s mine,” Qiao Qiao said.
The others go back to organizing their cards.
“Hello?” Qiao Qiao said into the phone.
“Qiao?” A girl’s voice asked. “Are you still at the guys’ house?”
“Yea. You need me home?”
“I need you to check something with Jacky.”
Qiao Qiao hesitates. “Orchids, I forgot to tell you he’s not here right now. He left town like yesterday already. “
“Oh? What happened? I called him earlier but he seems to have shut his phone off. I thought I would call you instead.”
“It’s a long story but we got it sort out now. I’ll tell you later.”
The others are signaling to Qiao Qiao to start the game so she ends up placing the phone on her neck so she could use her hands to play.
“What were you going to tell me though?” Qiao Qiao continued.
“I was going to tell you to pass words to Jacky that whenever he’s ready, we found some potential candidates for him already,” Orchids said back. “He can come in and take a look when he has time.”
Qiao Qiao wrinkles her face. “What?” Chen Yi just went so it’s Qiao Qiao’s turn now. She puts down a card before focusing on the conversation with Orchids again. “What candidate? I thought you were setting Ehlo up with someone.”
Everyone stops what they’re doing and turns to look at Ehlo – even the ones in the kitchen.
“Don’t look at me!” Ehlo yelled out. He turns to look at Qiao Qiao for an explanation.
“I’ll get back to you in a bit,” Qiao Qiao mouthed the words to Ehlo. She focuses on her conversation with Orchids again. “Why did the focus turn to Jacky?”
“Ehlo said he was going on Jacky’s behalf,” Orchids explained. “Is Cyndi there with you? She knows.”
“Yea, she’s here. And what in the world? Jacky’s not desperate.”
“Qiao…”
“I’m just kidding. But seriously, Jacky already has someone. He doesn’t need our help.”
“So this was all a misunderstanding?”
“I guess so. But you can leave the file aside for the future. In the meantime, I’ll make someone cough out some money for you. Such a waste of time too.”
“It’s all right. I was going to do it as a gift for Jacky anyway. But if he already has someone, then I’ll just forget it.”
“Still…”
“Qiao…”
“I know my limits.”
“All right. But don’t do anything rash, okay?”
“Got it. See you later then.” She finally gets the phone off her neck and clicks it shut.
Somehow, Ming Dao and the others has managed to come back into the living and are standing in front of the coffee table – a little behind Chen Yi’s seat – to wait for Qiao Qiao’s answer.
Qiao Qiao turns to Ehlo. “You pulled a trick on Jacky, didn’t you?”
“Qiao, what happened?” Yan Yan asked.
Qiao Qiao turns to the general crowd. “When he came back with me to the agency ‘cause Jacky wants to find him a girlfriend, he ended up turning the thing around and played a prank on Jacky. He said…”
“ …Jacky is the one that needs to find a girlfriend but is too shy to say it out, so Jacky sent him instead to provide some information,” Cyndi finished.
“And you believed him?” Wallace asked Cyndi, not believing that she would fall for such words. “Don’t you know him at all?”
“How should I know? I don’t hang around him much to know.”
Qiao Qiao turns to Cyndi. “And you didn’t tell the rest of us?”
“Qiao, it was probably confidential,” Wallace reminded her of such circumstances.
Cyndi nods. “He requested it to be kept a secret.”
“Considering how secretive Jacky can be, you bought it?” Wallace asked, turning back to Cyndi again.
Cyndi nods.
“Great, Qiao Qiao muttered. She turns to Ehlo. “You’re so going to pay for that one.”
“What?” Ehlo asked, putting on his innocent smile. “It’s a harmless joke.”
“And Orchids even personally handled the case.”
“I’ll just compensate for the damage then.”
“No need. You’ll have to sign your life to the agency to pay Orchids back.”
“Last I heard, you guys aren’t hiring anymore.”
“After I leave, they will.”
Ming Dao, Bianca, Wallace, and Sam have already gone back to the kitchen after realizing nothing exciting is going on. Cyndi had followed them, not wanting to witness another fight between Ehlo and Qiao Qiao.
“Uh…” He glances around the table.
Chen Yi looks at Ehlo. “Well? Want to compete with me who can handle more cases before I quit too?”
“Please,” Qiao Qiao said. “If you want to compete, compete with someone at your own level. Like Simon. Ehlo’s probably new and…”
Chen Yi wrinkles his face. “Why are you defending him?”
“I’m not. I’m just saying the truth.”
“You are defending him.”
Qiao Qiao puts on her mischievous smile. “I’m just merely trying to lure him in so he can pay back our loss, okay?”
Chen Yi smiles. “That’s more like it.”
“Hey, kids!” Ming Dao called out from the kitchen. “Let’s go eat!”
Qiao Qiao snaps her attention towards that direction. “Who are you calling ‘kids’?”
“He probably meant the rest of them, not you,” Ehlo clarified.
Chen Yi turns to give Ehlo an evil glare before resuming the game since it’s his turn.
Angela and Sonia already left after hearing some exchange from Ehlo, Qiao Qiao, and Chen Yi. Now, only the ones that are still playing games are left – with Ehlo.
After the “glare” incident, the living room becomes extremely quiet – except constant sounds of cards slamming on the coffee table. After another five minutes, Achel jumps up from her seat and declares victory – yet again.
Chen Yi stands up also. “What in the world?! I don’t believe you’re that lucky. Let’s try again.”
Qiao Qiao jumps up also. “No way! Let’s go eat.” She begins to walk towards the kitchen as Yan Yan puts the cards away into its original box.
As Qiao Qiao steps into the kitchen, she couldn’t resist the aroma anymore. She didn’t bother to stick around for breakfast this morning since Vincent came over to visit. It would be suicidal to eat breakfast with them. She grabs a plate from the dishwasher next to the sink and manages to scoop some food into the plate before sliding into the seat next to Wallace. Angela and Sonia had sat at the dining table instead of the counter like the others. Sam is with the other two girls too, so that leaves two empty spots – one next to Qiao Qiao and the other next to Cyndi. Qiao Qiao eats quietly for a couple minutes while listening in on the conversation that Ming Dao and Wallace have been carrying on since when. Ming Dao was trying to convince Wallace of something. Qiao Qiao is only half listening until she hears something about “free”. She snaps her head up from her plate and looks at Ming Dao.
“You’re free on Wednesday?” Qiao Qiao asked, her eyes shining.
Ming Dao turns to her. “Yea, why?”
“Want to go to the mall or a gift shop?”
“Why?” Ming Dao asked, puzzled.
“What I told you earlier, remember?”
“Huh?” Ming Dao said in that same clueless tone.
“You forgot?” Qiao Qiao asked, irritated.
Ming Dao realizes something. “Oh! That! Okay. Let’s go since someone doesn’t want to take this opportunity to go see some artists at work.”
“What artists?” Qiao Qiao asked back, her turn to look puzzled .
“Weren’t you listening to what he was saying earlier?” Bianca jumped in.
Qiao Qiao turns to Bianca. “No, only half listening.”
Bianca smiles. “No wonder. He just told Wallace about some professional painters coming into town to demonstrate and reveal their techniques to the public. There are possibly still some tickets available but it’s not guaranteed. That’s why Ming Dao has been convincing Wallace for the last half hour to go since Johnny and Sam turned him down already.”
“Oh.” She looks at Ming Dao again. “What time is it going to be?”
“Probably sometime during lunchtime,” Ming Dao replied. “Yours that is, since I’m off that day.”
“Oh.” She goes into her thinking mode at that time. “Hmm…”
Bianca smiles. “If you want to turn him down, do it now because the others already did.”
At that time, Ehlo and Chen Yi finally walk into the kitchen to get food. Achel and Yan Yan have already gotten some food and are sitting out in the living room, eating and chatting among themselves.
Bianca glances briefly at the guys. “And here comes some more potential candidates to turn you down.”
Ming Dao turns to Bianca. “Are you my friend or not? Stop spoiling my mood.” He goes back to eating as Bianca continues to wear her usual teasing smile.
“Turn who down?” Ehlo asked.
“Him. He wants to go see the Soulless Duo’s demonstration on Wednesday. He’s trying to convince someone to go with him.”
“Not Soulless Duo, the Soulfest Duo,” Ming Dao corrected, slightly annoyed.
“Oh. Okay then.”
Ehlo sits down next to Qiao Qiao. “I heard they’re pretty famous.”
Ming Dao turns to Ehlo with a hopeful look. “So…want to tag along?”
“I have work. Unless they pay me, I’m not going to be there.”
Chen Yi sees that Ehlo has sat down next to Qiao Qiao, so he has no choice but sits down at the remaining seat next to Cyndi. Ming Dao is about to turn to Chen Yi, but seeing Chen Yi’s long face, he refrains from asking. He turns back to his food instead.
“You could go alone, you know,” Chen Yi pointed out, looking at Ming Dao. “Who knows? You could meet some cute girls there.” He puts on his teasing smile.
“Aren’t there already enough cute girls to go around in this room?” Ehlo asked.
“They’re all off limit one way or another,” Chen Yi clarified, wrinkling his face. “And cute? Okay, if you count Xin Yu – the rest are… quite scary at times, you know.”
“Including Yan?” Qiao Qiao asked with a puzzled look.
“Why do you think she became friends with you? She’s got some hidden psycho personality too.”
“Hey!”
“What about Cyndi though?” Ming Dao asked, his turn to be confused.
Chen Yi smiles. “She and Wallace are sort of like Jacky and Sonia, except it’s more subtle with them.”
Cyndi smiles without answering while Wallace shakes his head at Chen Yi. He ends up smiling in the end. Angela looks their way once before resuming her conversation with Sonia.
“That’s an interesting comparison,” Wallace said.
“Weren’t you two the ones who made me join the team on the first day?” Chen Yi asked, reminding them of the incident. “You both trapped me.”
“If Qiao wasn’t in, would you be in then?”
Chen Yi swallows before speaking although he wasn’t chewing anything to begin with. “Uh…nice try. But no. I thought it was interesting, remember?”
Wallace puts on his victory smile. “Got him.”
“I didn’t admit anything.”
“You swallowed before speaking,” Ming Dao analyzed. “And you stuttered for a second.”
“Are you guys taking over Jacky’s job?” Chen Yi asked, annoyed.
“What are you talking about?”
“Teasing other people.”
“We’re not teasing anyone. We’re just uncovering the truth.”
Johnny has disappeared into his room awhile back, but appears again in front of them at that time. He points at his wristwatch. “Guys, better hurry if you want to play at all today.”
“What’s your hurry?” Ehlo asked, turning to him.
“Photo-shoot later.”
“Oh. Then maybe we should cancel the match so you won’t be so worn out by then.”
“Anything is fine with me. Depends on you guys.”
“Everyone!” Ehlo called for attention but it isn’t necessary since everyone’s just having side conversations.
Everyone in the kitchen and living room turns to look at Ehlo.
“Want to start the match today or next time?”
“It’s better next time since I just thought of something I need to do,” Qiao Qiao inputted.
Ehlo turns to the others.
“If we’re suddenly occupied, I think we might as well cancel it,” Ming Dao chimed in.
“Okay then,” Johnny said. “I’ll just go to the site early and see how things are. Maybe they’re already there and we might start earlier.”
“Good luck then,” Ehlo mumbled.
The others say their goodbyes to Johnny and go back to eating and chatting again after he left the room.
Angela turns to the ones at the counter. “So much for a match, huh?”
“Hey, if not everyone can concentrate fully, we might as well delay the match than lose,” Ehlo pointed out, sounding a bit defensive.
“It’s just a game, what’s the big deal? Isn’t it just for fun?”
“You just said it’s a game. Of course the most important thing is to win. Duh!”
Everyone laughs at that comment – except for Cyndi and Sonia who were trying to be polite.
“Hey!” Angela shouted out.
“Give up already, you’re not my match,” Ehlo said.
“Sometimes I wonder if you two have something going on behind our backs,” Ming Dao commented. “And your arguments are just to cover up the relationship.”
Ehlo turns to Ming Dao. “Didn’t you hear me call her ‘my fiancée’? Of course we’re involved.”
“I thought you were kidding.”
“Don’t listen to him!” Angela shouted out about the same time as Ming Dao.
Qiao Qiao gets up from her seat at that time and goes to the sink to dispose her plate and utensils. She turns back to the others to see who else is done. She ends up collecting everyone’s dishes as Bianca’s getting out a lemonade thermo from the fridge. “How did you manage to prepare lunch and desserts in such a short time?”
Bianca smiles. “Teamwork.”
Qiao Qiao looks at Ming Dao briefly before turning back to the sink to wash the dishes.
“You can leave it. I’ll do them.”
Qiao Qiao smiles. “It’s all right.” She turns to Bianca briefly. “You’re helping me with my interview later, right?”
Bianca leaves Qiao Qiao at the tasks and goes back to the counter to help Ming Dao divide the desserts among them all. Bianca makes sure to set one portion aside for Qiao Qiao.
The guys are chatting among themselves again, excluding the girls this time. Bianca joins Angela, Sonia, and Sam after she’s done helping Ming Dao. Cyndi goes back to the living room to chat with Achel and Yan Yan as she’s bringing them their dessert.
After Qiao Qiao’s done with washing dishes, she and Bianca leave the place, heading back to Orchids’ house to get some information as well as preparing for the interview tomorrow. The others are still involved in some type of conversation. So much for gathering to witness a “real” match. It’s just another boring day after all.
When there are only guys left at the place – excluding Chen Yi and Wallace who had volunteered to take the girls home, Ming Dao turns to Ehlo.
“Don’t give me that look,” Ehlo said, pointing at Ming Dao with his index finger.
“What?” Ming Dao returned. “I’m just going to ask you something.”
“I know, already told you. I have work tomorrow.”
“Not that.”
“What?”
“Do you really like Angela?”
“Are you kidding me?” Ehlo asked back, a bit amused. He grabs his water glass. “I was trying to annoy her without losing my temper. Clever, eh?” He turns the amused look into a mischievous one. “Besides…”
“Besides?” Sam prompted.
“I want to find out if she still likes Wallace or have she shifted her target to…”
“Who?”
“Jacky.”
“No way!”
“Well, why not?”
“It’s too strange to imagine.”
“Anything can happen in love and war.”
“That means…” Ming Dao hesitated.
Sam turns to Ming Dao. “That means Ehlo still likes Qiao. He’s just being nosy about Angela’s affair.”
“Oh…okay then.” Ming Dao gets up at that time.
“What’s that expression supposed to mean?” Ehlo asked, eyeing Ming Dao suspiciously.
“Nothing,” Ming Dao muttered, looking from Ehlo to Sam. “You guys want to go shoot some hoops? We still have plenty of times since the others bailed out.”
“Sure, why not?”
“There are only 3 of us though,” Sam said.
“The better, don’t you think?”
Ming Dao wrinkles his face. “Huh?”
“We played like how you, Chen Yi, and Bianca played before, covering for ourselves and taking advantage of the opportunity while one person is blocking the other to…” He motions with his hands at the same time. “… shoot the basket!”
“Oh! Okay then.”
“Let’s go before it gets dark,” Sam said eagerly.
As Sam’s making his way to the front door, Ehlo looks at Ming Dao with a strange expression. “What’s wrong with you? You kept repeating 3 words.”
“Nothing,” Ming Dao mumbled.
“All right then. Whatever if you want to hide it from us.”
Ming Dao breathes out in relief as he follows Ehlo and Sam back outside. That was a close one, he thought. A real close one.
© Saturday, June 28th, 2008