| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
“Don’t you have anything better to do than call me way early in the morning?” Jacky ranted into the phone.
“Yes, like keeping a promise to visit a friend,” A girl’s voice said back.
“Great,” Jacky mumbled. “Which friend is it? Someone famous that I need to know about?”
“Yes, quite actually. His programs are broadcasted throughout the country daily.”
“Good for him.” He looks at his watch real quick. “Can I get back to sleep now?”
“I’m sorry, but you may not.”
“And why is that? I thought you’re meeting up with a certain famous someone. Don’t you want to keep your appointment?”
“Because I do want to keep that appointment, that’s why I have to make sure you’re awake.”
Jacky’s about to hang up on her – even if she’s one of the persons to make him smile recently – when he hears her next words.
*****
“I can’t believe you girls travel all the way here to see us just for two days,” Jacky said – still in disbelief.
Xiao Jie smiles sweetly. “Jacky ge, we promised to visit you, remember?”
Jacky returns her smile before addressing Xiao Qiao. “Miss Zhao, I thought you were putting me on when you called me earlier.”
“Am I that senseless?” Xiao Qiao asked.
“You never know,” Jacky said, flashing on his challenging smile.
Ehlo has been quiet the whole time except for when they first arrived and introduced themselves to each other. Now that he sees Jacky and Xiao Qiao having a staring contest, he speaks up.
“I honestly thought you were exaggerating, man,” Ehlo said. “But seeing how earthly she is, I have to admit you’re right.”
Xiao Qiao turns her attention on Ehlo. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Aggressive like Qiao all right.”
The other two girls look at each other, confused. Xiao Qiao wrinkles her face and looks at Ehlo with a questioning look.
Ehlo turns to Jacky. “You haven’t told her about Qiao?”
“I’m not like someone who talks and thinks about Qiao 24/7,” Jacky mumbled.
Ehlo ignores Jacky and turns back to Xiao Qiao. “Qiao is his sister.”
“God-sister,” Jacky corrected him.
“Oh.” She turns to Jacky again. “The one you mentioned earlier? Her name is Qiao too?”
Jacky nods.
“That’s nice. I would like to meet her then. What’s she like?”
Jacky smiles. “She’s a very interesting and complex girl…like any other girl.”
“Very funny.”
“I’m just kidding. If you want to meet her, we’re meeting later this afternoon for a little gathering.”
“How come we can’t meet her now? Isn’t it weekend?” She glances at her watch quickly. “Or is she still asleep?”
“She and her friends are heading to S.H.E.’s concert right now. They want a good seat.”
“They have the tickets?!”
“Aww…they’re so lucky,” Xiao Jie whined.
“Yan won the tickets from a contest,” Jacky explained.
“Oh.”
Jacky flashes on his cheerful smiles. “So…want to come along to the gathering?”
“Wouldn’t it be strange if we just come uninvited?” Wei Ru asked.
“I just invited you.”
“Still…”
“Don’t worry. I was there with them yesterday afternoon when we planned it.”
“Oh.” She turns to look at Xiao Qiao and Xiao Jie.
“I want to go!” Xiao Jie shouted out excitedly. “It’ll be fun, right, Jacky ge?”
Ehlo smiles at Xiao Jie’s innocent smile.
“All right, we’ll go,” Xiao Qiao spoke up on the girls’ behalf. “But are we supposed to prepare some kind of dishes or bring anything?”
“Bring yourself,” Jacky said.
“I’m serious.”
“I’m serious too.” Then he stops. “No wait. You know what? Better bring some type of dessert. It would score major points with the guys.”
Xiao Jie’s eyes brighten. “So, Jacky ge, are you going to take us on a tour around this place?”
“If you want.”
“You have to or else,” Xiao Qiao ordered in her usual authoritative tone.
Jacky smiles.
After they finish their drinks, Jacky pays and they leave the restaurant to head for Jacky’s favorite location – the beach.
Somehow during the ride, they have accidentally learned of Ehlo’s admiration for Qiao Qiao so they try to scrap out all the information as they can on it. Wei Ru even takes it into her hand to help Ehlo score some points at the gathering that afternoon. Jacky notices that’s so unlike Wei Ru since she seems more calm among the three girls and doesn’t talk as much, but she’s getting along quite well with Ehlo. But Jacky knows he shouldn’t complain since he should be glad they’re getting along fine. He snaps himself out of his thoughts and answers Xiao Jie’s latest question and try to stay focus with the conversation between them three on the way to the beach. Of course Ehlo and Wei Ru have somewhat separated themselves from their little group talk awhile back. They only chime in occasionally when Ehlo feels like adding a comment or two to Jacky’s words or wanting to answer one of Xiao Jie or Xiao Qiao’s questions.
The rest of the morning continues in that way. About an hour before the gathering, Jacky takes the girls to a bakery to buy some sweets before heading to Chen Yi’s house. He wants to come early to help since he was one of the planners after all. He wouldn’t mind introducing the girls to the other four before the rest of their group either. In fact, he wanted it to be that way.
When they arrive at Chen Yi’s house, Jacky notices that the Chen’s family van is still out. That means they will have to wait until Chen Yi comes back with the girls, plus he doesn’t want to alarm Chen Yi’s parents even if they have already been informed of the event. He parks one house over directly across the street and keeps an eye for Chen Yi while chatting with the girls again to fill up time.
*****
“That was just rad!” Chen Yi remarked. “That’s what I’m saying.”
“I still like their last concert better,” Achel said.
Chen Yi hits Achel in the head before replying. “What are you talking about? Being ungrateful again? Would you rather stay home and hear us talk about it?”
“No, I just meant…”
Achel stops because of Chen Yi’s fierce look.
Qiao Qiao steps in front of Achel at that time. “Would you stop it? Everyone has the right to express his or her opinions, okay?”
“What’s with you and protecting her?” Chen Yi shot back. “It’s like you suddenly adopted her as a sister or something?”
“We’re like sisters anyway.”
“Fine with me.”
Achel could see the intensity building, so she takes one step forward to stand side-by-side with Qiao Qiao and places a hand on Qiao Qiao’s shoulder. “It’s all right. It didn’t hurt anyway.”
Qiao Qiao’s anger turns into confusion. She turns to see Achel smiling. “But he’s…”
“Forget it, okay? Let’s go find our car and head home or we’ll be late for the setup. Besides, I can beat him later at card games!” She flashes on her mischievous smile at that time.
“All right.” She slips a protective hand around Achel’s shoulder. “Let’s get out of here, people.”
Yan Yan looks at Chen Yi – who is still wrinkling his face. She gives him a shrug and follows Qiao Qiao and Achel to the parking lot also. Chen Yi couldn’t do anything so he follows behind the girls closely. Yan Yan has increased her pace and is side-by-side with Qiao Qiao by now, trying to strike up conversation and divert it into the safe zone.
*****
Ehlo lets out another yawn as Jacky hands Xiao Qiao a bottle of water. He tries to cover his yawn fails since the others could see it. “When are they going to show up? I thought you said…”
“Possibly traffic,” Jacky said.
“Traffic my eyes. There are no traffic going that way.”
“You expect me to believe no traffic going that way when there has been a concert at that place?”
“Come on now. They’re going back home, not to it.”
“You expect no one else to go back the same way as them?”
They have been waiting for about an hour and a half now and no signs of Chen Yi and the girls hence Ehlo is a bit impatient at the moment. The girls have been listening to the guys conversing, but now Xiao Qiao couldn’t take it anymore.
“Would you two stop?” Xiao Qiao scolded them. “Are we here to visit you and have some fun or babysit you?”
Jacky turns towards Xiao Qiao. “Sorry, Miss Zhao. He’s just challenging me.”
Xiao Qiao shakes her head. “Guys.” Then she turns to Wei Ru and Xiao Jie. “This is the reason why I’m staying single. And I can’t believe Jacky…the person who talks like some real philosopher on the radio…is arguing over something like traffic.”
“I think you’re losing your fans,” Ehlo said to Jacky, nodding his head for emphasis.
“I wouldn’t mind,” Jacky said in the same passive tone he’s feeling. “That way I can retire earlier.”
“So you can go after Sonia?”
Jacky gives Ehlo a sharp look.
“Who’s Sonia?” Xiao Jie asked.
Jacky turns to Xiao Jie with one of his charming smiles. “No one you would know.”
“Of course she doesn’t know,” Xiao Qiao said. “If she knew, would she ask?”
“Sonia’s one of the DJ at the station,” Ehlo filled the girls in.
“Oh…” Xiao Jie mumbled, nodding her head in the process.
Xiao Qiao wrinkles her eyebrows and gets into her thinking mode. Ehlo could see her strange expression so he flashes on his sly smile.
“What did you figure out?” Ehlo asked.
Xiao Qiao turns to Ehlo. “Is she the one covering the special segment with him?”
Ehlo nods.
“Stop talking about it,” Jacky jumped in, annoyed. “We’re off-work right now, remember?”
“What are you fidgeting about?” Xiao Qiao asked, eyeing suspiciously. “I’m trying to understand things here.”
“Nothing to understand.”
Xiao Qiao smiles. “You’re hiding something from us.”
“No, I’m not.”
Although Jacky says that, but he knows Xiao Qiao’s very smart so he pretends to check the time, diverting his eyes to his watch instead and avoiding eye contacts with her.
“Aha! So you do!” Xiao Qiao exclaimed out in victory.
“This is getting interesting,” Ehlo commented, pretending to be an innocent bystander. “A girl making Jacky fidget and is also named Qiao.”
Xiao Qiao turns to Ehlo again. “So Qiao Qiao likes to give him a hard time too?”
Ehlo nods.
“And I’ll give you a hard time at the picnic if you don’t shush,” Jacky threatened Ehlo.
“By doing what?” Ehlo asked, still displaying his challenging look.
“By exposing to everyone that you’re madly in love with Qiao and wants to…”
“Like they’re going to believe you. It’s bizarre. I only know her lately, okay?”
“Yea, like several months.”
Xiao Qiao hits Jacky on the arm. “Are you trying to divert our attention onto Ehlo so you could sit out on this one? Tough luck, Mister.”
Ehlo turns to Jacky also. “Hey! That’s right. We’re supposed to talk about my best friend here, not me.” He flashes an appreciative smile at Xiao Qiao. “Thanks, Miss Zhao.”
Jacky gives Ehlo a murderous look before turning back to Xiao Qiao. He’s about to deliver his next defense but Wei Ru beats him to it by yelling out to them.
“What?” Xiao Qiao asked, turning to Wei Ru.
Wei Ru points towards the street. “Is that them?”
Jacky and Ehlo turn around in their seat to see as the other girls divert their eyes that way too.
“Yes, that’s them all right,” Jacky verified. “Let’s go.”
They get out of the car quickly and cross the street to join Chen Yi and the others as he turns into the driveway. They stand at a corner to wait for Chen Yi while he parks before approaching them.
“How was the concert?” Jacky asked casually.
Chen Yi shoves his keys in his jacket pocket. “It was a blast!”
“You’ve been waiting for a long time?” Qiao Qiao asked.
“Only about two hours,” Jacky teased.
Qiao Qiao wrinkles her face. “Very funny.”
“Don’t wrinkle your face, you won’t look pretty anymore.”
“Yea. Whatever, the smart talk.” She finally sees the other three girls. “They are?”
Jacky and Ehlo have been the only one walking up to them while the three girls tag a distance behind them. Now that Qiao Qiao mentions it, Jacky turns around and gestures for the girls to come closer.
“You must be Qiao Qiao, right?” Xiao Qiao *asked before Jacky can introduce them.
Qiao Qiao nods. “Yes and you’re…uh…oh!” She snaps her fingers, trying to remember. “Xiao Yue Lan?” *Then she turns to Wei Ru and Xiao Jie. “You are Wei Ru and Xiao Jie?”
Wei Ru and Xiao Jie nod in unison as Xiao Qiao opens her mouth to speak.
Xiao Qiao nods. “Just call me Xiao Qiao is fine. No need to tell the others.”
“He already told everyone,” Ehlo pointed out.
“Did not,” Jacky defended himself. “Only some of us know.”
“Guys, stop wasting time,” Qiao Qiao chided. “We better get in and prepare before the others arrive.”
With that, Qiao Qiao turns to follow Chen Yi, Achel, and Yan Yan to the front door.
“Told you she’s aggressive,” Jacky whispered to Xiao Qiao.
“I heard that!” Qiao Qiao yelled back, still walking towards the front door.
Jacky increases his pace and puts a hand around Qiao Qiao’s shoulder. “Come on, sis. Give me a break.”
“You had two weeks of break…which you travelled to who knows where. Now that you’re back, you have to pay back all the troubles you caused us.”
“Are you settling scores now?”
“I can’t?” Qiao Qiao has been shoving her hands into her jacket pockets the whole time she’s walking and talking to Jacky but now she removes her right hand from her pocket and shoves Jacky’s hand out. “And we wouldn’t want my future sister-in-law to misunderstand.”
Jacky wrinkles his face. “Who?”
“Xiao Qiao!”
“What?!” The others exclaimed at the same time.
Wei Ru and Xiao Jie increase their speed to catch up to Jacky.
Xiao Jie tugs on Jacky’s shirt sleeve. “Eh…Jacky ge, I thought you said you only admire her as a writer. How come you’re…”
“So it makes sense now,” Ehlo blurted out, cutting the rest of Xiao Jie’s sentence off.
The others turn to Ehlo. Only Chen Yi doesn’t seem to pay attention since he’s trying to unlock the front door.
“That’s why he’s trying to hide the fact that he likes Sonia,” Ehlo continued. “‘Cause he shifted his target already.”
Jacky gives Ehlo a warning look. “You honestly want me to expose you?”
Qiao Qiao looks from Jacky to Ehlo. “What are you guys talking about?”
“Nothing!” Ehlo shouted out quickly.
“It’s something if you don’t shush,” Jacky threatened once again.
“So we’re here to babysit you guys and not start a BBQ?” Chen Yi asked, slightly irritated.
As Chen Yi’s saying that, he pushes the door open also.
“That was what I was talking about,” Xiao Qiao said.
Chen Yi steps through the door. “Like it’s a secret that he’s madly in love with Qiao.”
“And you’re not?” Jacky asked.
Chen Yi puts a finger to his lips to shut Jacky since they’re walking into the living room now. “Mom, Dad, these are my friends I told you about. I’ll be in the back getting things ready. There will be more coming later. So in case they come…”
Mrs. Chen stands up and addresses them as they greet her with polite smiles and handshakes. Mr. Chen, on the other hand, only nods at them briefly before going back to his newspaper.
“That’s fine,” Mrs. Chen said. “It’s good that you kids are coming over to our house. Chen Yi rarely takes his friends home. Don’t act formal. Just treat this as your own house.”
They all nod in a polite manner.
“I’m going back to my work. You kids can go ahead.”
They nod and smile again before Mrs. Chen turns to leave.
Chen Yi turns around and signals for them to head for the kitchen.
“Kids?” Xiao Qiao repeated, looking at Chen Yi.
“She treats all my friends like kids,” Chen Yi explained. “Don’t worry. Mom’s just a bit…”
“Don’t say it,” Jacky stopped him. “You might hurt her feelings.”
“Of course someone’s of a certain age now so he wishes to reverse his age,” Ehlo pointed out.
“You want me to…”
“I’m not talking about your love life, why are you being fidgety?”
“Fine.”
“Great,” Chen Yi muttered. “We’re here to hear you guys argue. At my own house too.”
“What happened to your dog?” Qiao Qiao asked, looking around.
“Shut him in so you guys wouldn’t freak out,” Chen Yi answered passively.
“Like we would.”
“Want me to go feed him,” Achel asked.
“Go ahead,” Chen Yi said.
“Okay.” She walks over to one of the bottom drawers of the kitchen and takes out a bag of dog food to pour into the dog bowl before heading towards the staircase to Chen Yi’s room.
“Wow,” Qiao Qiao uttered.
Chen Yi turns to her. “What?”
“She’d been around often?”
“Hasn’t every one of us?”
“True.”
“Are we going to start this thing or not?” Yan Yan asked, looking from Chen Yi to Qiao Qiao.
“Of course we are,” Chen Yi confirmed.
Chen Yi steps towards the fridge and takes out items after items, handing it to each one of them, signaling for them to bring it out to the backyard. They only talk casually about the items being handled as they bring things out into the backyard, but when they’re all outside and are setting up the grill, they resume their normal conversation again.
“What happened to Xiao Yu?” Qiao Qiao asked, looking around.
“Probably playing with Win,” Chen Yi said. “You know how Win gets excited when someone’s around.”
“Wait a minute,” Yan Yan blurted out.
Chen Yi turns to Yan Yan. “What?”
“Doesn’t Xiao Yu fear dogs?”
The others stop what they’re doing and look at Chen Yi.
“Probably she got used to him already,” Chen Yi said, shrugging his shoulders. “How should I know? Win’s friendly.”
“You named your dog Win?” Xiao Qiao asked.
“Who would want to lose anyway?”
Xiao Qiao nods. “True.”
“And why are you all staring at me? Get going before we’re doom.”
They resume their tasks again – either setting out the food and preparing to put it on the grill or trying to start the grill up or setting the tables.
“You guys get together quite often?” Xiao Qiao asked.
“Not much lately,” Qiao Qiao admitted.
“So today’s event is because…?” Wei Ru prompted.
Qiao Qiao smiles. “Last minute thing.”
“Oh…” Xiao Qiao uttered, even stump for their randomness.
“Hey, Mr. Pervert, can you check the shed to see if there are any more coals?” Chen Yi asked.
Xiao Qiao, Wei Ru, and Xiao Jie turn to check who should be the one responsible for such name. They could see the others stopping their tasks also as Ehlo walks to the shed without a word of disagreement.
“How in the world did he get that name?” Xiao Qiao asked, surprised.
“Can’t blame them,” Ehlo said, coming back to them at that time.
“You admit your crimes?” Wei Ru asked, smiling.
“We’re rivals.”
“Oh?”
Ehlo leans in to Wei Ru a bit and whispers, “He likes Qiao too…we weren’t joking before.”
“Oh?”
“What happened?” Xiao Jie asked, stepping closer to them.
“They’re rivals on the court.”
Xiao Jie looks puzzled. “Court?”
Ehlo turns to Xiao Jie. “Basketball.”
Xiao Jie nods innocently. “Oh…”
Ehlo gives Wei Ru a thumbs-up signal as he walks past her to the grill and she returns his signal with a smile.
Xiao Qiao sees clearly of their interaction so she walks over to Wei Ru, whispering, “What did he say?”
“They’re love rivals,” Wei Ru whispered back.
“Oh.”
After that, Xiao Qiao goes back to helping Qiao Qiao set the table.
Yan Yan looks at her watch. “What time are the others coming?”
“They should come soon,” Jacky replied. “I’m not sure about Johnny though.”As if to answer Jacky’s wonderment, his phone rings at that time. He puts the chair he’s carrying down and answers his phone. “Hello?”
“I’m here,” Johnny announced. “Where are you guys?”
“In the back. I’ll be out in a bit.”
“Oh yea, Wallace’s parking right now.”
“He’s here?”
“Yea, I thought you guys were coming together.” He pauses. “Never mind, I know the reason now.”
“What?”
“He probably went to pick up Cyndi.”
“Oh.”
“Here comes Ming Dao and Sam too…along with…”
“Who?”
“Bianca.”
“No surprise.”
“What do you mean no surprise? I should be surprise he’s still with Bianca.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing. Talk to you in a bit, I’m going to join them now.”
“Ok, see you in a few.”As Jacky’s putting his phone away and pondering about matters, he sees Xiao Jie standing next to him. He flashes her a smile. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” Xiao Jie said. “Are you…”
Jacky could see her mischievous smile so he signals for her to go on, wondering what it could be about.
Xiao Jie leans into him a bit. “Are you going to make your move towards Xiao Qiao?”
Jacky wrinkles his face. “What ever gave you that idea?”
“That was what Ehlo ge said earlier, remember?”
“He just wants to divert attention my way.”
“But if you are thinking of pursuing Xiao Qiao, you have my full support.”
“Oh…great.”
“What are you two up to?” Wei Ru asked from behind them.
As if caught red-handed, Jacky takes a few steps back away from Xiao Jie. “Nothing. I’m going to go outside to check on Johnny and the others.”
Wei Ru watches until Jacky disappears behind the screen door before turning to Xiao Jie. “What’s the big secret with you and him?”
Xiao Jie smiles. “Oh nothing. Just telling him that he has my support.”
Wei Ru looks confused. “Support for what?”
“Just support.”
With that, Xiao Jie walks to the table where Xiao Qiao and Qiao Qiao are engage in conversation and sits down next to Qiao Qiao. Wei Ru still looks puzzled but joins them also, sitting next to Xiao Qiao.
A few minutes later, Jacky comes back with Johnny and the others. Ehlo takes the courtesy to introduce them all to Xiao Qiao, Xiao Jie, and Wei Ru while Jacky helps Chen Yi with the grill again.
“So this is the famous Xiao Yue Lan?” Wallace asked, settling down next to Cyndi.
Xiao Qiao takes a quick glance at Jacky before answering. “He sure did tell everyone.”
“Simon doesn’t know so don’t worry,” Wallace reassured her. “And not to mention, Angela and Sonia don’t know either.”
“There are more coming?” Wei Ru asked.
Ehlo smiles. “We have a big group.”
“What’s with him being quiet?” Sam asked.
Ehlo looks to where Sam’s eyeing Jacky suspiciously. “He’s not up to something again in case you’re wondering.”
Wallace clears his throat at that time.
“I’m not picking on him, just stating a fact,” Ehlo said to Wallace.
“Something wrong?” Xiao Qiao asked, concerned.
Ehlo puts on his charming smile. “Nothing.”
“It seems like there are lot of nothing going on around here.”
Achel walks out of the house at that time. She waves the new arrivals a “hi” before heading over to the grill.
“Jacky ge, go ahead and rest, I’ll help him,” Achel offered.
“Are you sure?” Jacky asked.
Achel smiles. “Yes.”
Jacky seems to look convinced of Achel’s eagerness. However, Chen Yi looks doubtful. He eyes Achel cautiously.
“Did you wash your hands yet?” Chen Yi asked with a stern stare.
“Of course I did,” Achel said. “With soap in the bathroom before heading downstairs. Smell it.” She even reaches her hand across the grill and places it in front of Chen Yi’s nose.
He slaps her hand away with his right hand. “No need to do that! Geez whiz. What if you get burn? You’re an idiot.”
“Sorry,” Achel said in an apologetic tone.
“It’s all right,” Chen Yi said in a less fierce tone than before. “But think before you act.”
Achel smiles. “I will.”
“Why are you standing there?” Chen Yi asked, pointing to the plate in Jacky’s hand. “Help!”
Achel nods. “Okay.”
“Stop bullying her or I’ll beat you up,” Qiao Qiao warned from the table.
Chen Yi looks up at Qiao Qiao. “She offered to help. Of course it would be helpful that she ‘helps’ instead of standing around like that.”
“You’re just making an excuse to bully her.”
“Stop babying her or she’ll never grow up.”
“Stop arguing,” Achel interfered. “It’s all right. It was my fault.”
“Stop defending him,” Qiao Qiao said in a frustrated tone. “He will get arrogant.”
“Everyone…” Jacky said.
“Whatever then!”
Qiao Qiao sits back down in her seat while Achel takes the plate from Jacky’s hand.
Jacky heads over to the long table where the others are sitting. He settles down next to Wallace. He eyes Ehlo and Sam carefully, wondering why they’re even sitting right next to each other. A very disastrous formula. Then he shrugs his head and reminds himself not to get paranoid since they’re friends. After all, they promised to cease all fire. But he couldn’t help to let his mind drift off and thinks of other related matters also. As he’s lost in thoughts, he feels someone tugging on his sleeve. He snaps out of it and turns to his left to see Xiao Jie smiling at him. He realizes she has gotten out of her place to seat next to him. “What?”
“They were asking you a question,” Xiao Jie said, smiling sweetly at him.
Jacky turns to the others again.
“Are you free next weekend?” Sam repeated his question.
“Aren’t my always?” He gives the others a scan real quick. “What happened?”
Qiao Qiao gets up from her place and walks over to face Jacky, sitting down next to Ming Dao. “Movie night.”
“Great. What’s showing?”
“Something the Soulfest Duo took part in.”
Jacky puts on his teasing smile. “And how would you know that?”
“Ming Dao just told us,” Ehlo answered in Qiao Qiao’s place. “Where have you been?”
“Uh…” Jacky managed, not used to being caught off guard.
Xiao Jie hooks her hands through Jacky’s left hand. “Jacky ge, what have you been thinking?”
Qiao Qiao eyes them suspiciously. “You adopted her?”
Jacky turns to give Qiao Qiao a challenging look, smiling. “You jealous?”
“I couldn’t be bothered.”
Jacky finally realizes what Qiao Qiao has been doing. “And what’s with…” He gestures his hand towards Qiao Qiao.
“What?”
“Hand on shoulder….”
Qiao Qiao suddenly realizes she has been using Ming Dao’s right shoulder as support since she has been sitting in a crouching position on the bench instead of like the others. It was a harmless act to prevent herself from falling off the bench. The others are turning to them also. Qiao Qiao quickly removes her hand from Ming Dao’s shoulder, jumping down from the bench and sitting properly again.
“Sorry, habit,” Qiao Qiao mumbled casually.
“It’s all right,” Ming Dao said quickly. “I didn’t notice either.”
“Or were you enjoying it the whole time?” Jacky said, smiling mischievously at them both.
Ming Dao clears his throat. “No way.”
Qiao Qiao gives Jacky a look for him to stop.
“Giving me that look won’t help, sis.”
“I’ll…” Qiao Qiao threatened in anger.
Jacky puts on his challenging look. “What?” Then he realizes something else also. “And lucky you’re not wearing a skirt today either or it’ll look very awkward.” He turns his mischievous look back on to complete the blow.
Qiao Qiao points her right index finger at Jacky. “Hey!”
“That’s right,” Ehlo said. “You’re not wearing your blouse and skirt today. What’s with switching back to regular clothes?”
“Big deal! I’m just hanging out with some friends today and trying to enjoy a concert, not look pretty.”
“And the other times were just for that?” Jacky teased.
“I have to wear such formal outfits to work too, you know,” Qiao Qiao said defensively.
“I see you wear shorts to work before, Qiao. Like the first day I met you.”
“What’s with you and picking on me today?”
Jacky smiles. “I’m not, just stating the truth.”
“You’re…”
“What?”
“ Guys, get your plates!” Chen Yi yelled over to them. “We can eat now!”
As if that’s a command, everyone gets up from their seat and piles over to help Chen Yi transfer all the cooked food to the long table. They do all that in silence until Jacky puts out the grill and joins them at the table again. Jacky notices that they’ve changed seats again – although some people are still sitting next to each other. He hesitates a bit before sitting down next to Wei Ru. Xiao Jie – like before – stays close to him, sitting at his left. Ming Dao and Qiao Qiao are still sitting across from him with Sam on Ming Dao’s left like before, but Ehlo has switched places with Xiao Qiao. Chen Yi – like always – takes his opportunity to sit next to Qiao Qiao while Achel settles down next to Xiao Jie. Yan Yan is now sitting next to Wei Ru while Wallace and Cyndi are on the other side of the table with Wallace sitting next to Ehlo. Johnny and Bianca are sitting at the right end of Jacky’s side of the table across from Wallace and Cyndi – with Johnny being the one at the end. They take turns passing food around the table with the casual noise level until everyone has everything they want on their plate.
“I wonder what took them so long,” Bianca said, glancing at her watch briefly.
“Probably someone doesn’t want to see someone,” Ehlo said, chewing and talking at the same time so it was very hard for them to understand even if they could catch his words at all.
Chen Yi wrinkles his face. “What are you talking about, man?”
“Don’t mind him, he always talks nonsense,” Jacky reassured Chen Yi.
Ehlo points his fork at Jacky. “Hey! Stop back-stabbing me.”
“Like you’re not doing the same to me.”
“Why are you guys always arguing?” Wei Ru asked, wrinkling her face. “I thought you guys are best friends.”
Ehlo smiles. “He’s just sore about something.”
“What?” She asked curiously.
Jacky turns to Wei Ru. “It’s nothing. He’s trying to stir some suspicion up to put the spotlight on himself.”
“You’re…” Ehlo gritted his teeth.
Before he could say anything else, they hear Chen Yi yelling out. They all turn to look towards that side of the table. They could see Chen Yi having his fork over Achel’s piece of steak.
“What are you doing, man?” Ehlo asked. “Like you don’t have enough food on your plate already.”
“She’s not watching what she’s eating,” Chen Yi explained, still having his intense look on.
“What?”
Chen Yi points with his fork at the white fatty piece at the rim of the steak.
“So? It’s just a piece of fat.”
“Ehlo ge is right,” Achel whined. “It’s so good…”
“You know you could get high cholesterol from this stuff?” Chen Yi pointed out.
Achel doesn’t say anything but wrinkles her face in protest.
“I’m helping you here. Hands off.”
Achel still looks reluctant but removes the fork she’s holding from her plate and puts it on the edge of the plate, waiting patiently for Chen Yi to remove the fats from her steak. The others watch silently, not caring to argue with Chen Yi anymore since he does have a point. When Chen Yi’s done, he disposes the fatty piece to an empty plate nearby before signaling for Achel to continue eating. Then Chen Yi finally realizes that the others had stopped their side conversation also and are staring at him.
Chen Yi turns to them. “What? A staring contest? Eat!”
As if Chen Yi’s their commander, they once again follow his order and go back to eating.
“Wow,” Ehlo said, after swallowing this time around.
Jacky nods his head. “Exactly.”
“Talking about a health nut.”
“You all should watch it too,” Chen Yi advised.
Ehlo nods his head and turns on his teasing smile. “Yes, we should. We definitely should.” He turns to Wei Ru at that time. “Hey, Xiao Ru, let me help you with that. I think it’s not healthy for you. And hands off, girl or else.” He reaches across the table to Wei Ru’s plate and repeats what Chen Yi just did for Achel, doing it so slowly that the others couldn’t help it anymore. They burst out laughing, except for Chen Yi and Achel – who are annoyed and embarrassed respectively. After Ehlo’s done, he withdraws his hand back to continue eating. He gestures his hand towards quickly. “You may continue eating.”
“Thanks, Ehlo ge,” Wei Ru said in her ever so sweet voice added in with an equally sweet smile.
The others laugh even harder.
Ehlo stops eating after his latest swallow and takes a little bow at them. Wei Ru stops eating also to give Ehlo a high five from across the table.
Chen Yi rolls his eyes. “Haha, guys.”
“You must admit that was good, right?” He turns to his audience again. “You guys should do the same to your girl too. I mean every one of you should be checking to see if there are any substances that would threaten your loved one’s health and get rid of it before it’s too late.”
“Cyndi knows how to care of herself without me looking after her,” Wallace commented from the other side.
“So does Ming Dao,” Qiao Qiao followed.
Cyndi turns to Wallace. “I don’t belong to you!”
The others laugh at that comment. Then they just realize what Qiao Qiao just said. They all turn to stare at Ming Dao and Qiao Qiao.
“Probably she’s just looking my way and blurted it out,” Ming Dao said quickly.
“Yea, something like that,” Qiao Qiao agreed.
The others turn their attention back to their food since Qiao Qiao sounds so passive.
“You would know,” Chen Yi blurted out of nowhere.
“What?” Qiao Qiao asked.
“You know what I’m talking about.”
“What should I be knowing?”
“Knock it off you guys,” Ehlo interfered. “It’s your turn to argue now?”
“I’m not arguing with her. It’s just that she’s being too forward.”
“What are you talking about?” Sam asked, both confused and curious.
“He’s probably…” His surprised expression flashes on. “Hey! My fiancée is here!”
Wei Ru wrinkles her face. “What?!”
“I’ll tell you later.” Ehlo jumps out of his seat and walks around the table to the back door.
The others stop eating and look up also. They see Angela and Sonia walking towards them.
Bianca gets out of her seat also and joins them halfway. “Hey! Thought you couldn’t make it or something.”
“Of course not,” Angela said, smiling. “We were just delayed by traffic ‘cause we went somewhere else earlier.”
“Oh.”
“Where did you go?” Ehlo asked, eyeing Angela with a questioning look.
“None of your business.”
“No way to talk to your fiancée.”
“Huang Yu Rong!”
“Here!” Ehlo exclaimed, getting into his saluting pose.
Angela gives him an annoyed look before walking over to the table and sitting down next to Achel. Ehlo goes back to his seat also.
“Are you serious?” Wei Ru asked, studying Ehlo carefully.
“I’ll tell you later,” Ehlo said, still smiling.
As they’re exchanging these few words, Bianca and Sonia are done having their side talk so Bianca gestures for Sonia to take a seat at the left end of the table while she goes back to her seat. Sonia walks over to the other side of the table and is about to sit down next to Chen Yi when Chen Yi gets up abruptly.
Chen Yi turns to Qiao Qiao. “Hey, Qiao, can you move over one?”
Qiao Qiao swallows her food before turning to Chen Yi. “Why?”
Chen Yi tilts his head towards Jacky slightly.
“Oh…”
Chen Yi slides his plate over one space as Qiao Qiao does the same. But before they could settle down again in their new space, Ming Dao slides over one also, causing some of them to ponder even more.
Ming Dao turns to Sonia. “Sorry, go ahead.”
Sonia gives him a polite smile before sitting down. She places a box in front of her also. Upon seeing it, Jacky tries to create some space so she could put it in the center. Their hands touch briefly while they’re organizing the plates on the table. Jacky yanks his hand back in time, mumbling a “Sorry” before continuing to eat again.
Wei Ru notices the little awkward moment between Jacky and Sonia. She’s about to ask Jacky something but she hears Chen Yi speaking up again so she looks his way to see what had happened – this time. The others turn to watch also.
“Uh…Angela jie, could you switch seats with Xiao Yu?” Chen Yi asked politely – too polite for Chen Yi’s attitude, especially towards Angela.
“Why?” Angela asked, playing with her fork.
Chen Yi licks his lips. “Uh…I’m monitoring her right now so she wouldn’t put something unhealthy in her mouth again.”
Angela stares at Chen Yi like he just said something weird – which he did – to her. She sees his charming smile so she gets up and switches seats with Achel without any further questions. They go back to eating again after that.
“You guys are an interesting group of people,” Xiao Qiao commented.
“It doesn’t get any better than this,” Ehlo said before stopping himself again. “Or maybe it will.”
Jacky seems to remember something so he turns to Ming Dao. “What were you guys talking about before with Soulfest Duo’s movie?”
“I didn’t realize they were guest starring in this one movie,” Ming Dao clarified.
“Talking about that, anyone wants to go watch it next weekend?” Ehlo asked, scanning his radar eyes around the table once. “We could do it as some sort of gathering again. Come on.”
Wei Ru looks up at Ehlo. “Too bad we have to go back home.”
Xiao Qiao smiles. “No, we’re not.”
Wei Ru turns to Xiao Qiao, confused. “We’re not?”
“Of course we’re not. I decided already. I have too much writing material here. I can’t let this opportunity pass.”
“You mean we can stay here with Jacky ge?!” Xiao Jie shouted out excitedly.
Xiao Qiao turns to Xiao Jie. “I don’t think we should be staying with Jacky ge.”
“You can’t anyway unless you want some of us to sleep on the floor or on the sofa,” Ehlo pointed out.
“You know what I mean,” Xiao Jie said to Xiao Qiao.
Jacky turns to Qiao Qiao who’s deep in conversation with Ming Dao about something. He clears his throat. “Qiao!”
Qiao Qiao turns to Jacky in alarm and wrinkles her face.
“Could the girls stay at your house while they’re here?”
“Huh?”
“Xiao Qiao has decided to stay here for a while after all.”
“Oh…okay…” Her eyes brighten. “That’s even better. I’ll have more people to talk to around the house.”
Wei Ru turns to Jacky. “Is it okay though?” Then she turns to Qiao Qiao. “What about your parents?”
Qiao Qiao smiles. “Don’t worry. I’m staying at Orchids’ house right now. And she doesn’t mind visitors at all.”
Wei Ru nods her head. “All right then.”
“I would’ve taken you to my house but I’m not staying there right now and even if I want to, can’t afford it,” Jacky said.
Xiao Qiao wrinkles her face. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not staying at my parents’ house either. I’ve been staying with Ehlo and Johnny for several years now. Wallace just moved in with us recently.”
Xiao Qiao nods. “Oh. Sounds complicated.”
“It is,” Ehlo said. “And the reason why he can’t take you girls to his parents’ house is because they would freak out.”
All three girls – Xiao Qiao, Wei Ru, and Xiao Jie – look at Ehlo, waiting for him to continue. Sonia’s especially paying attention to what Ehlo’s saying but she’s pretending to pick on her food.
“Come on now. Three girls at the same time.” Ehlo flashes on his mischievous smile again. “They’ll be pondering if you three are their possible future daughter-in-law.”
“Impossible!” Xiao Jie exclaimed – a bit too quickly.
Ehlo laughs. “And even if they don’t think that, someone will…like…”
“If you say it out, I’ll choke you to death,” Jacky declared – yet another threat towards Ehlo.
“Fine then.” He goes back to eating after that.
Xiao Qiao looks from Ehlo to Jacky. “What?”
“Nothing.”
Ehlo smiles. “You’ll find out that a lot of nothing happens around here.”
“I see that you guys have started without us,” A voice behind them said.
They all turn around to see Simon walking in with a girl.
“It’s about time,” Jacky said.
“What happened?” Chen Yi asked.
“What else?” Simon said. “Traffic.” He gestures towards the girl next to him. “This is my girlfriend, Stacey.”
“Hi!” The others blurted out at the same time.
The girl smiles back at them.
“Come on,” Chen Yi urged. “What are you two waiting for? An invitation?”
Simon knows too well of Chen Yi’s straight-forward talk so he just smiles and leads Stacey to the table. Stacey sits down next to Achel at the end of the table while Simon walks to the other side to sit next to Chen Yi. Angela and Achel help pass the food to Stacey while Chen Yi does the same for Simon.
“All right,” Jacky said, taking control of the conversation again. “Since we’ve have a complete group now, let’s start.”
“Start what?” Wei Ru asked, confused.
Jacky raises up his soda cup. “To Chen Yi and Qiao!”
“What?!” Ehlo exclaimed.
“They’re leaving Orchids’ place and breaking out on their own.”
“Oh…”
Everyone – upon hearing the explanation – raises their cup also.
“What else is there to cheer for?” Ehlo asked.
“New friendship?”
“Too…”
“…mushy?” Wei Ru finished.
“Exactly.”
Xiao Qiao smiles at Jacky. “It’s not a bad idea though.”
Jacky looks at Ehlo. “See?”
“You two are fans of one another,” Ehlo pointed out. “Of course you would vouch for each other.”
Simon wrinkles his face. “What are you talking about?”
“Nothing!” The others – except for Stacey, Angela, and Sonia – blurted out at the same time.
“All right then.” Simon still eyes them suspiciously but decides to mind his own business so he goes back to eating.
“What else are we going to do today?” Chen Yi asked. “Don’t tell me eat and eat.”
“What else?” Jacky asked back. “Look at all these foods.”
“True…”
So…they end up spending the rest of the day at Chen Yi’s house eating and talking. Of course they have to pack things and go inside when the sun’s setting. The desserts haven’t been touched yet since they’ve been eating at a slow pace and talking. They head towards the drawing room to talk with each other some more after cleaning up and washing the dishes – and also as not to disturb Mr. Chen.
© Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 – Tuesday, November 25th, 2008