| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
Jacky just enters Orchids Agency as Qiao Qiao steps out from the break room. “Guess what happened today at the station?”
“What?” Qiao Qiao asked back.
“Guess.”
“I don’t want to guess. You think…”
“What?”
Qiao Qiao doesn’t answer, but points towards the door. Jacky scans everyone’s face before looking in that direction also.
“Whoa!”
“Exactly.”
Wallace unfreezes himself in time and steps forward to greet Tony.
Tony puts his hand up to stop Wallace. “No need. I’m looking for that cute little girl. Where is she?”
“Apparently not here,” Qiao Qiao mumbled under her breath.
Jacky smiles at Qiao Qiao’s comment, giving her a side glance in the process.
“What?” Qiao Qiao whispered. “Don’t give me that look.”
“I’m not saying anything,” Jacky said, not whispering at all.
“You look like you want to,” Qiao Qiao said, still whispering.
“You’re accusing me of thinking now?”
Qiao Qiao wrinkles her face. “Whose side are you on?”
Jacky flashes on his teasing smile. “My side.”
Jacky and Qiao Qiao are so busy battling it out that Qiao Qiao even forgets about whispering. Tony looks over to them at that time, taking a step towards them.
“Mr. Sun…” Wallace attempted to bring Tony’s attention back on him.
Tony puts his hand up to stop Wallace again. “I said I don’t need your help right now.” He turns to Jacky and Qiao Qiao. “I know you two from somewhere?”
“Like the several last times you were here,” Qiao Qiao snapped sarcastically.
“You have an edge. I guess you’re friends with that cute girl.”
“That cute girl has a name too, you know.”
“Very straight-forward.”
“Thanks,” Qiao Qiao said, annoyed.
Jacky still maintains his smile.
“You think it’s so funny, huh?” Tony said to Jacky.
“You think it’s so funny to pick at people, huh?” Qiao Qiao shot back before Jacky could speak up.
“Zhu Fan Gang, you can’t speak for yourself?” Tony continued, ignoring Qiao Qiao.
Jacky still maintain his smiles. “It doesn’t matter really.”
Qiao Qiao taps Jacky on the shoulder. “You know him?”
Jacky turns slightly to Qiao Qiao, but still has an eye on Tony. “It depends.”
Qiao Qiao wrinkles her face. “On what?”
As Jacky’s still shifting his focus back and forth from telling to not telling, Orchids walks out of her office at that time.
Orchids smiles. “Why are we all gathered around here? Isn’t it break time already?”
Jacky turns to Orchids. “We love it here so much that we don’t want to leave…ever.”
“Stop being dramatic, Young Master Chu,” Orchids teased. Then she turns to Tony. “I guess you’re all set?”
Tony nods.
“I’ll be right out in a bit.”
Tony nods again.
After Orchids leaves, Qiao Qiao look from Orchids’ back to Tony and then to Jacky.
“What?” Jacky asked innocently.
“How come it seems like you all know something that I don’t know?”
“I didn’t know that they’re meeting up later. How about that?”
“But you know him?”
“Qiao, stop being nosy,” Wallace said. “Get back to work.”
At that time, Cyndi comes back from next door.
“Did you give it to her?” Wallace asked.
“Are my that hopeless?” Cyndi asked back.
“Cyn!”
Cyndi smiles. “Of course.”
“Great then.”
Cyndi finally notices Tony’s presence. “Why are you here?”
“Lunch date with your boss,” Tony said. “What else?”
Before Cyndi could inquire further, Orchids walks out with her handbag in her hand.
Tony turns to Orchids. “All set?”
Orchids nods.
“Later, guys.”
Qiao Qiao is about to step forward and block Tony’s path, but Jacky extends his hand to stop her.
“What?” Qiao Qiao asked, slightly annoyed.
“It’s their business.”
“Don’t tell me he’s interested in Orchids.”
“Qiao, Orchids is like an older sister to him, how could he?” Wallace said.
“How should I know you men?”
After that comment, she heads back to her desk to work.
“What’s with her lately?” Jacky asked Wallace.
“You tell me,” Wallace said back.
“I was gone for a while, remember? How would I know?”
“You think Qiao’s right?” Cyndi asked them.
Wallace turns to Cyndi. “What?”
“Tony switched targets.”
“Auntie will never let him live it down,” Jacky pointed out.
“Aha!” Qiao Qiao exclaimed, jumping out of her seat. “So you guys know him before he even came into the door that one day! I want an explanation!”
“Come on now, how can I…”
“You’re the one insisting on no more secrets.”
“No more secrets only apply to outsiders, not us.”
Qiao Qiao wrinkles her face. “That’s cheating!”
“Too bad, that’s life, Qiao.” He pats Qiao Qiao’s shoulder for effect.
Qiao Qiao brushes his hand off. “Easy for you to say. I want to know though. Orchids’ my cousin.”
“Guys, stop scaring Qiao,” Wallace said.
Jacky sighs out. “All right.”
“Let’s hear it,” Qiao Qiao demanded, still keeping a stern eye on Jacky.
Qiao Qiao’s standing there having her hands crossed almost seems too threatening so Jacky clears his throat before beginning.
“I got introduced to him through Vincent like after he came in here the first time. I didn’t realize Vincent knows Tony, but that’s no surprise really since he has a lot of connections. I meant his father that is.”
Qiao Qiao’s hands are still crossed in front of her. “And you guys never told me?”
“We thought Orchids told you,” Wallace said.
Qiao Qiao turns to Wallace. “You know too? This is outrageous.”
Simon is finishing up his report before going to lunch, but he snaps his head towards their group upon hearing Wallace’s words and Qiao Qiao’s confrontation.
Simon stands up. “Wait a minute!”
They all turn to him.
“What?” Jacky and Wallace asked at the same time.
“So you’ve been having fun at my expense the whole time?” Simon asked.
Wallace wrinkles his face. “What?”
“With how that Sun Xie Zhi has been tossing stuffs at me this whole time until I turned the case over you. No wonder he’s all withdrawing when you took over. He must’ve known.”
Qiao Qiao turns to Wallace again. “Don’t tell me what he’s saying is true.”
“It’s not, okay?” Wallace said.”Don’t you trust me?”
Qiao Qiao could see his serious expression – the rare serious expression that Wallace wears. Her eyes soften and she waits patiently for him to go on.
“I only know when I was over at Vincent’s house one day when they were talking about something and it was after you handed the case to me. But since they’re not broadcasting the information to the world, I thought there’s no need to slam it on the table at work. What is this? Rumor mill?”
Qiao Qiao – and everyone else in the room as well – could see, hear, and feel the apparent hectic gist. Simon seems less angry than before. Qiao Qiao takes a step towards Wallace and puts an arm on his shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” Qiao Qiao muttered softly. “I didn’t mean to.”
Wallace could see the somewhat scared expression on Qiao Qiao’s face so his feature softens also. “It’s all right. I shouldn’t react so strong either.”
“I should have remembered how serious you would go to defend your integrity.”
“Forget it. I could understand Simon’s frustration. After all, if I found out that someone could possibly be planning to play some tricks on me, I would be mad too.”
“Sorry,” Simon mumbled.
Wallace turns to Simon. “It’s all right.”
Simon flashes on his smile. “How about sharing a bit though? Not harmful, right?”
The others know that Simon’s trying his best to divert the conversation out of hectic-city so they smile as well, helping to ease the situation.
“Wait until Chen Yi hears this…” Qiao Qiao continued in a mischievous tone.
“I think Chen Yi knows though,” Wallace said, cutting her off.
Qiao Qiao snaps her attention back on Wallace. “What?!”
“I’m just guessing. You can ask him later.”
“You know I will.”
“Qiao…” Jacky called out.
Qiao Qiao turns to Jacky. “What?”
Jacky doesn’t reply but grabs Qiao Qiao’s left hand with his right, steering her towards a corner of the room.
“What?” Qiao Qiao repeated, irritated.
“I thought you don’t want him to misunderstand,” Jacky whispered. “Why are you acting like a jealous gf?”
“I…”
Jacky smiles. “Told you it’s hard to change your habits. Curiosity is a strange thing, Qiao. It burns good when it starts. The only survivors left to tell of the tales are the ones who have already lost a lot themselves also.”
Qiao Qiao still remains silent.
“I know it’s frustrating, but try harder. You don’t have to show your distance by stop interacting with him, but you might want to try to care less. Leave that to his future gf.”
Qiao Qiao finally nods. “Sorry. I guess I forgot.” She looks at Jacky again1. “So much for trying to be mature, huh?”
Jacky claps her shoulder, smiling. “Don’t worry. Your brother’s covering your back.”
Qiao Qiao gives him an appreciative smile.
“If the brotherly pep talk is done, we would like to go to lunch too,” Wallace hollered over to them.
“Coming!” Jacky yelled back.
Jacky still has a hand on Qiao Qiao’s shoulder as the two head back to join the others and head for the nearest restaurant for lunch. For some odd reason, Simon tags with them also. Maybe curiosity got the best of him in the end.
*****
Just as the waiter leaves them after taking their orders, Chen Yi calls to tell them he’ll be late since he has to go somewhere with Achel and Yan Yan.
“I guess Xin Yu and Yan Yan are joining us for lunch too,” Qiao Qiao informed them with a smile after hanging up with Chen Yi.
“Does that mean more people attacking me and Jacky for information about Sun Xie Zhi?” Wallace asked.
“If you’re honest and willing to confess on your own, then we won’t give you a hard time about it.”
“Why are we talking about Sun Xie Zhi though?” Cyndi asked, looking at Qiao Qiao with a teasing smile. “Is he that interesting? Or are you asking for Yan?”
“Eh…” Qiao Qiao said, snapping to alertness. “Does this mean you know too? That’s why you’re not that interested in him?”
“Actually…”
“What? Don’t stop like that. Go on.”
“My, my. Aggressive, aren’t we?” Jacky teased.
Simon has been listening silently but now he feels the need to speak up. “Could you guys quit it? I want to hear what Cyndi has to say.”
Wallace turns to look at Simon, studying him so carefully and intently that it makes Simon flinch. In fact, if looked at more closely, one could see his face changing colors slightly – subtle but still visible.
“Well?” Qiao Qiao urged, tapping on the table.
“We used to date,” Cyndi said in a low tone – almost too low that if they weren’t quiet they couldn’t hear her.
After Cyndi said that, she looks down at the table surface – both trying to hide from shame and pretending to be studying the table pattern.
Qiao Qiao jumps up in alarm. “What?!”
“When?” Wallace asked.
“How come you never told us?” Jacky followed.
“Come on now!” Simon exclaimed, his voice almost matching Qiao Qiao’s. “This is a shocker! You used to date a young successful tycoon?”
Although they’re all displaying some sort of uncomfortable or shocked reactions on their face, but they still manage to stop themselves and wait for Cyndi’s response.
Cyndi manages to bring her head up to face them all again before speaking up.She fidgets her hands nervously. “I…I…I got you all good, didn’t I?!” She flashes on a bright smile after blurting out the last few words.
Qiao Qiao wrinkles her face. “Hey!”
Although Qiao Qiao sounds mad but she sits back down in her seat again.
Jacky’s actually the first one to recover. He gives Cyndi a thumbs-up sign. “Good job, Miss Wang. You managed to get past all our radars.”
Cyndi still has a smile. “Thanks. I wasn’t recruited for nothing.”
Wallace finally smiles, knowing that Cyndi’s joking.
Simon wrinkles his face. “Don’t do that. It’s not funny.”
Cyndi smiles. “It earned me a compliment. Besides…I need to practice my skills or it will become rusty through time.” She rubs her hands off each other for emphasis.
Before Simon could launch another series of complaints towards Cyndi’s direction, the waiter comes back with their orders. They sit back and wait for him to place all the dishes on the table, and then flashing them a friendly smile and delivering a “Enjoy your meal” line as they nod their thanks to him – with a smile of their own also.
Jacky scans at each one of them briefly. “So…what now?”
“I still want to know more about Sun Xie Zhi,” Qiao Qiao said.
“For?”
“Just curious since…” She diverts her glance towards Cyndi again. “Come on now, did you or did you not date him? I know you said you’re joking but what if you decided to back out last minute?”
Cyndi points her chopsticks in Qiao Qiao’s direction. “You’re one sharp girl.”
Qiao Qiao’s face lightens up. “So that means I’m right? Come on. I want the truth.”
Wallace and Simon have stopped eating since Cyndi’s admittance. Only Jacky seems unaffected, eating away at a casual pace.
Cyndi clears her throat. “The truth is he’s my senior. We used to go to the same university together.” She smiles as if remembering to those days. “He’s a very nice person deep down so don’t take his arrogant attitude seriously. It’s just a front. The truth was everyone took advantage of him during those years since he’s such a nice guy, always willing to help. But they were so shocked when he became a millionaire within a year after his graduation. Everyone suddenly clanged to him like they’re his best buddies in the world, so…”
“The ‘I’m Mr. Arrogant’ exterior comes forth,” Jacky filled in.
Cyndi nods.
“If you know him, then why didn’t you step forward and address him the day he came into our place?” Simon asked, unconvinced of Cyndi’s tale.
Cyndi turns to him. “Isn’t it a bit desperate to do such things? Besides, I just told you. He hates people doing those kinds of things. I think he had enough and needed to shield himself from it all. He’s nice but everyone has a limit they set forth to endure certain things. And I guess someone must have pushed past that breach for him to become such a person.” She lets out a secretive smile. “I admit that I was somewhat disappointed at how he turned out to be, but after watching him interacting with Yan, I could see the sincerity through his eyes. People can disguise themselves in various ways, but the eyes never lie. I know there’s still the old Sun Xie Zhi in there. The Senior Xie Zhi I know.”
“Awww…” Qiao Qiao mumbled without realizing she said it out loud.
Jacky smiles at Qiao Qiao’s reaction as Cyndi continue to eat again. Wallace’s face shows passiveness throughout the little story while the others listen more intently. Cyndi’s voice sounds so smooth and reasonable that Simon seems like he’s convinced by now.
“It’s a shame though,” Qiao Qiao said. “I mean if you hold back not greeting him at all although you know him.”
“It’s good enough to know he’s well off and finally found someone he…” Cyndi said.
Qiao Qiao wrinkles her face. “Are you sure he likes Yan Yan though? Or is he just teasing her?”
“Senior Xie Zhi could be a real teaser if he wants to be, but the way he looks at Yan, I know he’s serious.”
“Impossible. How could he like Yan when he just met her? They haven’t interacted much except for the little arguments they have casually. Besides, he…”
Jacky smiles. “You’re a kid after all, Qiao.” He turnsto the others. “Do you believe in a guy’s instinct?”
“Pep talk time again?” Qiao Qiao teased.
“What about it?” Simon asked lazily.
“It just so happens that a guy can just glance at a girl and knows that she’s going to be his wife in the future,” Jacky said, smiling.
Simon laughs.
“All right, non-believer… “
“Correction…one of your fellow guys abandoning you and your silly theory,” Qiao Qiao jumped in.
“All isn’t lost,” Wallace spoke up finally.
“Your vote doesn’t count since you live under his roof. Your mind tells you automatically to defend him.”
Jacky lets out a chuckle. “She got you good, man.”
“This all comes down to Cyndi’s theory collapsing,” Qiao Qiao concluded in a professional analytical voice.
Cyndi shrugs her shoulders. “It doesn’t matter if I’m wrong. But I must say that if Senior Xie Zhi likes someone, he will take it seriously.”
“We’ll see.”
Jacky looks at Qiao Qiao. “Is that a challenge I’m hearing you declare?”
“Maybe.”
“Loser has to confess on the person he or she likes.”
Qiao Qiao snaps her attention to Jacky. “What kind of request is that?”
“I’m not immune to it if I lose, you know.”
“That’s no deal. We already know who you like without your confession.”
Simon looks around at the others. “Who?”
“Haven’t you heard after all the dramas and news of…”
Jacky claps Qiao Qiao’s mouth with his right hand while struggling with his free hand to stop her from hitting him with her hands. When she finally pushes him aside again, she coughs a few times before regaining herself.
“What did you do that for?! To think that you’re my brother.”
“No point in saying it out loud. We’ll save it for later if he wants to know.”
“Since he doesn’t know, you could be making up a name and be done with it. Only we know and have to cover for you, okay?”
“Fine, if you’re so brave, then let’s take it up a notch.”
Qiao Qiao gives him a challenging look. “What?”
“Loser has to confess to the person that he or she likes in front of every one of us.”
Qiao Qiao wrinkles her face.
“See? You don’t dare.”
Qiao Qiao turns away from him and takes a sip out of her water glass instead, trying to divert attention from herself.
“Remember Qiao, all of those who lose will have to do it,” Wallace said in his persuasive voice. “So if you win, you get to see Jacky embarrassed and umm…Cyndi trying to confess to her Senior Xie Zhi.”
“Hey!” Cyndi shouted out. “I never said I like him.”
“We’ll see,” Wallace said passively.
“Either way, we would gain more since if you guys lose, that’s three confessions,” Jacky pointed out.
“I already have a girlfriend so it doesn’t count,” Simon clarified.
“All right, two confessions then. But I would love to see Wallace wing through his.”
“Hey!” Wallace reacted, feeling a light stab in his back.
“You ignited the fire.”
“So are we up to it or not?” Cyndi urged. “Come on, guys.”
“I’m in.” He looks at Qiao Qiao. “Scaredy-cat?”
Qiao Qiao looks up at all of them to see all three – Jacky, Cyndi, and Wallace – displaying a sly smile on their face. She knows she’s in for good. She turns to Simon to see him grinning as well. She knows she can’t back out now or she’ll be the laughing stock of her workplace and among her group of friends also.
“Fine,” Qiao Qiao said finally. “Might as well go along with this but whomever backs out will be subject to an even worse punishment.”
“I think you’re the most likely to back out, Qiao,” Jacky said.
“I would never.”
“We’ll see.”
Wallace turns to Simon. “You’re witness, okay? Since the rest of us aren’t very trustworthy. The wager is too high.”
Simon nods.
“Shall we drink to it then?” Cyndi asked, raising her glass.
Jacky and Wallace raise their water glasses to Cyndi’s, clinking it briefly together before withdrawing and emptying it in one gulp. Qiao Qiao hesitates a bit before doing the same.
“I can see that you all are getting along just fine without us,” A voice said behind them.
They turn around to see Chen Yi standing there with Achel and Yan Yan.
“We’re way from being done with lunch,” Wallace said.
Jacky has to move closer to Cyndi as Qiao Qiao slides closer to him, making room for Yan Yan and Chen Yi. Wallace has to scoop closer to Simon to make room for Achel. They’ve stationed themselves at a spacious booth earlier, but they’ve been sitting quite comfortably between the five of them that they have to move closer to each other to make room for the newly arrived.
“What is the topic of discussion today?” Chen Yi asked as he’s sitting down. “How come it attracted our guy who likes to keep to himself?”
Cyndi smiles. “You won’t believe it.”
Chen Yi turns to Cyndi. “Try me.” Then he slips his hands into his jacket pocket out of habit.
“Sun Xie Zhi.”
Yan Yan wrinkles her face as Chen Yi takes a sip out of the water glass the waiter just placed in front of him.
Chen Yi shuffles the menu in his hand. “And?”
“You’ve got to unplug your ears for this piece of news,” Qiao Qiao ordered in a mysterious voice.
Chen Yi turns to Qiao Qiao, waiting for her to continue.
“Well, we were talking among ourselves while we were about to head for lunch, see? And then Sun Xie zhi walks in and then something big happened. Like major. It appears that…”
“Get to the point!” Chen Yi and Simon exclaimed at the same time.
Everyone’s not surprise that Chen Yi’s impatient but they’re a bit taken aback by Simon’s outburst. They all turn to look at Simon. Before they could fire questions at him for his possible impatient, the waiter comes back again.
“Are you ready to order?” The waiter asked, looking from the two girls to Chen Yi.
“Uh…” Chen Yi said, glancing at the menu briefly. “Banana ice cream sundae with fudge on top.”
“Same here,” Achel said quickly.
Yan Yan’s the only one to order a decent dish.
The waiter takes their menus and promises to be back in a few.
“Why are you wearing a jacket and ordering ice cream?” Qiao Qiao asked, wrinkling her face. “Not to mention you two are wearing matching jackets and ordering the same type of ice cream too.”
The others snap their attention to Chen Yi and Achel, inspecting them like they just seen those two for the first time in their entire life. Even Simon shows more than mere interest during his inspection process. Achel looks somewhat nervous upon seeing all eyes on her but manages a smile towards them. However, Chen Yi remains calm and self-contained like he always does. Actually, more like he’s getting back to his old calm self unlike these past few weeks with his strange behaviors and frequent outbursts of frustration.
Chen Yi shrugs his shoulders. “I don’t know. Maybe ‘cause it was on sale earlier so we bought it. Didn’t realize it’s the same color.”
“And style,” Cyndi added.
Chen Yi smiles naturally. “That too. The ice cream? Ask her, how should I know she likes the same thing as me?”
Everyone turns their attention to Achel as Chen Yi breathes out a sigh of relief upon the little distraction he just created for himself.
“Uh…I don’t know,” Achel managed, her face burning hot by all the stares she’s receiving. “I just thought since you guys already eat so I just want to make a quick one with a dessert and be done for now.”
Yan Yan turns to Chen Yi. “You guys ate before coming here?”
“I did,” Chen Yi said quickly before turning to Achel. “You?”
“I sort of ate something since there was a potluck at my workplace,” Achel said.
“I almost forgot you don’t work for Uncle Zhe’s shop anymore,” Wallace said.
Qiao Qiao turns to Yan Yan. “Wait a minute; weren’t you with them the whole time and you just came together?”
Yan Yan shakes her head. “I met them by the parking lot.”
Wallace eyes Chen Yi suspiciously. “Why are you fidgeting your hand?”
Chen Yi takes his hands out of his pockets. “How would you know? They’re in my pockets.”
“We’re pros, remember? You can’t escape from our censorship.”
“Knock it off already; we’re getting together for a little lunch, not some 21 Question session.”
“You work with us; you should know the radar should never be off. You must work on your talents or it’ll become rusty.” Wallace sends a mischievous grin towards Chen Yi’s way before realizing that he was quoting Cyndi’s words from before. His smile fades too quickly for some of the others to digest.
Cyndi wrinkles her face. “What’s wrong?”
As she’s asking him, she glances around the restaurant to find the possible source of his change in reaction.
“Nothing.”
The waiter comes back at that time to rescue him from having to defend himself any further.
After that little “questioning” session, they resume their usual talk of possible weekend plans.
*****
That afternoon moves on smoothly without any other discoveries of any major earth-shattering event from anyone among them at Orchids Agency. Tony drops Orchids off a minute after the others get back from lunch. Achel has tagged a ride with Yan Yan after they left the restaurant so Chen Yi doesn’t have to drive her back to work. They launch right into work typing away at their computer without any other questions to avoid delay of progress of their workload – that has somewhat piled up tremendously these past weeks due to lack of progress. Jacky has returned with them earlier since he doesn’t have to go back to the station for the rest of the afternoon. He sits at a corner of the room to work on his reports and possible ideas for next week’s program.
All isn’t as quiet since they would take occasional breaks and chat a little among themselves, but would immediately go back to their reports after a brief exchange of words. It is until around closing time that Qiao Qiao jumps up from her seat and declares triumph. She has finally reached her goal of finishing the last report on her hand.
“I love catch up week,” Qiao Qiao commented. “I’m all done! I can leave this place without any chains attached or any unfinished businesses.”
“Glad to know,” Jacky mumbled from his corner of the room.
“Hurray,” Chen Yi said passively. “We should spring up some kind of party just for her sake of satisfying her quench for freedom.”
Qiao Qiao hits him on the shoulder. “What?!”
“Oh nothing,” Chen Yi said still in the same passive tone as before, sighing out in the process.
The others couldn’t help but laugh at Qiao Qiao’s expression.
“It’s hopeless to argue with Chen Yi, Qiao,” Wallace said as he stops typing. “And I’m so done.”
Wallace follows Qiao Qiao’s example and gets up to stretch his arm muscles and legs in the process.
Cyndi and Chen Yi finish briefly after that and get up to stretch also. Jacky joins them at their desk after he snaps his folder shut. Simon has been done several hours back already and had excused himself early because he needs to go pick up his relative at the airport. It has already been notified and verified by Orchids since they arrived at work that morning.
“I think it’s a good idea actually to throw a little party for Qiao,” Jacky said.
“‘Cause we’re glad she’s going away?” Chen Yi asked.
Qiao Qiao stops stretching long enough to hit Chen Yi on the shoulder.
“Qiao…”
Qiao Qiao remembers from Jacky’s expression.
Chen Yi looks from one to the other. “What?”
“Nothing,” Jacky said.
Chen Yi does a quick shrug before heading towards the break room.
“Get me…” Qiao Qiao began.
Jacky sharpens his expression.
“Never mind, I’ll get it myself in a bit.”
Chen Yi continues on his way without looking back at them to see what’s with Qiao Qiao’s fast change.
“Are you looking for an excuse to gather us all together?” Wallace asked Jacky, referring to Jacky’s agreement to throw Qiao Qiao a party.
“Maybe,” Jacky admitted. “But still a good idea since we haven’t gotten together since…”
Wallace nods. “Exactly. Where would it be though? Don’t tell me at Uncle Ben’s place again. I like Uncle Ben, but I’m not all for noodles lately.”
Chen Yi comes back at that time, stirring his cup.
“You’re drinking coffee at this time of day?” Jacky asked. “It’s almost off work.”
“It’s tea,” Chen Yi clarified.
“Oh. Still.”
“It’s not the kind that keeps you up all night though.” He sits down at his desk again. “Are you guys still talking about the same thing?”
“Yea. But we’re deciding where to gather at since Wallace just objected on Uncle Ben’s place.”
“At Qiao’s place. Since it’s for her, right?”
“Good point but can all of us pile into Orchids’ place?” Wallace reminded them.
“Good point,” Jacky admitted.
“My place?” Chen Yi tried again. “I have a big backyard. We could do a barbeque. Besides, we’re celebrating for me too, right?”
“For?” Wallace prompted.
He, Cyndi, and Qiao Qiao had stopped their stretching routine already but are still standing in front of their desk.
“I haven’t told you guys, but I found a new job also,” Chen Yi said.
“Really?!” Qiao Qiao exclaimed.
Chen Yi finally turns his attention on Qiao Qiao. “No, I’m kidding.”
Qiao Qiao wrinkles her face at him.
“So…are we all set then?” Cyndi asked.
“If there aren’t any other objections… “ Jacky said. s
“No!” The others shouted out in unison.
“Great. When though?”
“Tomorrow afternoon?” Chen Yi suggested.
“You’re fast all right.”
“Why delay things?”
“Good point,” Wallace said.
“It’s a deal then,” Qiao Qiao said excitedly, looking at the others. “Should we go shopping together after work?”
“We probably should,” Jacky said.
“I only have couple hours though,” Chen Yi informed them. “Everything has to stop at 8.”
“Why?” The others asked at the same time.
“Other commitments. I have a life, you know. I can’t tag along with my co-workers 24/7.”
Cyndi smiles. “All right, Young Master Chen Yi.”
Chen Yi turns to Jacky. “And remember to invite Ehlo and the others too. Wouldn’t want them to miss it since we’re not just celebrating within our workplace here.”
The others look somewhat alarmed and/or shocked upon hearing Chen Yi’s words. Even Jacky couldn’t maintain his calmness any longer. He has a good reason to be since Chen Yi has been calling Ehlo “Mr. Pervert” since the day he heard of Achel’s past nickname for the guy. But now he reverts back to using Ehlo’s real name. They stand still for a few seconds more before Qiao Qiao unfreezes herself and bursts out in alarm.
“Oh!” Qiao Qiao blurted out suddenly.
The others turn to her.
“I just realize I have to leave at 8 too.”
“Isn’t it just great though?” Chen Yi said passively.
“All right, everyone,” Wallace said – as if to end the discussion. “Let’s pack and get out of here.”
Although he says that, but he sits down and writes some notes down into a folder before he actually packs up. Chen Yi continues to stir and drink his tea slowly since he already packed earlier while he was doing his stretching.
While the others are packing, Qiao Qiao’s sitting down at her desk and is writing diligently onto a piece of paper.
“What are you doing?” Jacky asked,peeking over her shoulders. “Oh…”
Wallace turns to see when he heard Jacky’s question.
“What is that web thing?” Wallace asked.
Qiao Qiao doesn’t reply but finishes the final stroke before looking up at them all. She realizes everyone has stopped what they’re doing and is looking at her, waiting for her to answer.
Qiao Qiao smiles. “I’m making a little link tree.”
The others wrinkle their face and continue to stare at Qiao Qiao.
“Just to keep up with everyone’s relation and link for future reference and my sanity. And of course…” She taps on the paper for emphasis. “I can add on to it in the future also.”
Jacky and Wallace let out a laugh as Chen Yi gives Qiao Qiao a “Nothing better to do” look. Cyndi just smiles casually.
“Don’t come to me asking for clarification when you’re confused and lost or not up to date with anyone in our group,” Qiao Qiao said, still in an enthusiastic tone.
Jacky lets out another chuckle and gives Qiao Qiao a pat on the head.
Qiao Qiao slaps Jacky’s hand off, wrinkling her face at him. “It’s not funny.”
“All right,” Wallace interfered. “Let’s close. I’ll go in and tell Orchids that we’re leaving together today.”
As promised, Wallace comes back about a minute later and they leave together after locking the door and switching the sign to “Closed” so Orchids wouldn’t have to deal with late-comers later. They spend the rest of the 3 hours wisely since two of the parties had already declared prior commitments. Before separating, they each hold a guest list of their own so they could ease the load of people to call that night.
© Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 – Wednesday, October 29th, 2008