| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
Ming Dao must admit he shouldn’t let himself be hauled into this type of dramas but he couldn’t help it. Maybe it’s mostly from guilt or because he feels that Qiao Qiao would’ve agreed to help Jacky.
As Sam’s making coffee for them, Ming Dao turns on the radio just out of habit while Ehlo tries to prepare breakfast for them. He glimpses around the living room awkwardly, wondering how things are going to work out. As he’s pulling a piece of the curtain back to spy across the street, he spots no activity whatsoever. He ponders if they should just call this whole thing off.
“Do you think Wallace and Johnny can get past Jacky?” Ming Dao asked casually.
“Like he’s paying attention to them,” Ehlo snapped.
“You never know.”
As if to settle their contradicting points of views, the doorbell rings at that time. To confirm Ehlo’s words and discrediting Ming Dao, Wallace and Johnny appear at the door as soon as Ming Dao opens it.
“How did you guys get here so fast?” Ming Dao asked in disbelief.
“It’s miracle, isn’t it?” Wallace joked, walking into the living, leaving Ming Dao puzzled.
Johnny flashes on his sympathetic smile. “Jacky switched his schedule around again so he’s doing morning shows again – including the weekends.”
“Oh…” Ming Dao finally closes the door as Johnny walks into the kitchen. However, it doesn’t seem like someone wants Ming Dao to have a break – before the meeting – since the doorbell rings again. He opens it up to see Qiao Qiao. He brightens up immediately. “Hey!”
“Hey!” Qiao Qiao greeted him cheerfully. “The others here yet?”
“Move it, already!” Chen Yi’s voice yelled behind her. “Even if it’s the peak of summer, but you know how chilly it is in the early morning?”
Qiao Qiao turns around to face Chen Yi again, giving him a slap on the shoulder. “What’s your hurry anyway?”
“Isn’t it enough that I said I was cold?”
“Sissy!”
“You two, please,” Ming Dao interfered.
Ming Dao takes the hint to step aside at that time so Chen Yi could walk past them. At that exact same time, Sam’s bringing out a tray of coffee for them. When he sees Chen Yi, he looks as puzzled as Ming Dao. He sets the tray down before turning to the three at the door.
“How come you’re here?” Sam asked.
“I can’t come?” Chen Yi asked back.
“It’s not that. It’s just…”
Qiao Qiao smiles. “The more brain put together, the better.”
“Okay.”
Ming Dao – instead of shutting the door – steps forward to see if anyone else is coming. When he’s sure there isn’t anyone else at that time, he shuts the door and returns to the living room. He could see that Chen Yi and Qiao Qiao had made themselves comfortable at the sofa by the window already with Qiao Qiao in the middle. Out of habit, he walks over to the remaining empty space and sits next to Qiao Qiao. Ehlo comes out at that time also, delivering breakfast for them.
Ehlo wrinkles his eyebrows. “Somehow this has turn into a kiddie get together?”
Chen Yi points at Ehlo. “Watch it, Mr. Pervert.”
“Should I remind you guys that we’re here today to cooperate, not argue?” Johnny interjected.
Ehlo turns to Johnny. “He called me ‘Mr. Pervert’ first.”
“We have an hour,” Wallace said, tapping his watch for effect. “Do you guys think it’s wise to argue?”
Ehlo knows it’s two against one and his sole purpose today is to gather them all together for a discussion, not sort out who’s ‘Mr. Cool’ so he puts the empty tray aside and sits down next to Sam at the other sofa facing the other three.
“Who else is coming?” Qiao Qiao asked.
“Angela, Bianca, and…” Ehlo listed.
“Don’t tell me Sonia because that beats the whole purpose of setting them up. The goal is not to let either of them know of our plan, you know.”
“I’m not dumb.”
“I know you’re not, but I’m just saying that…”
Chen Yi yanks at Qiao Qiao’s shirt sleeve for her to stop.
Qiao Qiao turns to Chen Yi. “What?”
“Overboard.”
Qiao Qiao sighs out and ends up sipping her coffee instead of going on further. She’s very thankful of Chen Yi for stopping her in time, but couldn’t help feeling frustrated that she should hold back her views.
“I agree with you that we shouldn’t let Sonia know either, but your words are a bit sharp. It’ll cut others sooner or later.”
Qiao Qiao nods, knowing that Chen Yi’s already given in to her.
Ehlo looks from Chen Yi to Qiao Qiao. “You two got something going on behind our back?”
Chen Yi turns to Ehlo. “What ever gave you that idea?”
“She never listens to anyone except Orchids and maybe Jacky too.”
Qiao Qiao bursts out laughing and ends up choking. Ming Dao – alarmed – grabs a hold of her shoulders and tries to pat her back to calm her down. When she’s finally all right again, Ming Dao lets go of her, realizing he just managed to slap some suspicions onto himself.
“Thanks,” Qiao Qiao said casually, her voice still hoarse.
“No problem,” Ming Dao said in that same casual tone.
Wallace couldn’t help but let out a smile at their silliness. They have no idea how obvious that was, he thought. This is getting more interesting than he’d expected. Unknowingly, he turns to look at Ehlo, wondering if Ehlo had figured it out already.
“Who turned off the radio?” Sam asked.
“I did,” Ehlo said. “Don’t want to listen to his cowardly voice while I’m trying to set my mood for the meeting here.”
“You need to set your moods for the meeting?” Chen Yi asked, suppressing his laughter. He has somehow grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl earlier and is munching on it right now as he’s talking to them.
“Don’t…”
“Awww…come on. It’s no fun sitting around here and wait for Angela jie and Bianca in silence.”
“Why do you call her Angela jie? Don’t tell me my teasing got through.”
“What?”
“You and Xiao Yu.”
Chen Yi doesn’t answer but just ends up munching on his apple.
“Silent admittance.”
“Call it whatever you want.” He ends up putting his left hand onto Qiao Qiao’s right shoulder as he talks.
“Hey, why don’t you lean onto the armrest?” Qiao Qiao protested.
“I don’t like it.”
“Like I’m your cushion.”
“Maybe.”
Qiao Qiao pushes his hand away gently and grabs the other apple in the fruit bowl instead of eating the breakfast that Ehlo made. Although they decided to gather for a breakfast meeting, but only Ming Dao and Sam are eating with Ehlo.
Ehlo points his fork at Chen Yi and Qiao Qiao. “What’s with you two and apples?”
“It keeps the doctor away?”
Chen Yi shrugs about the same time Qiao Qiao’s responding.
“I wonder when they’re coming,” Johnny pondered, changing the subject on purpose. “Should we call them? If they’re not here soon, we have to head to work or we’ll all be late.”
“Maybe wait for 5 more minutes?” Wallace suggested. “Ehlo?”
Ehlo nods. “Sounds fair.”
Ming Dao hands the buttered toast to Qiao Qiao at that time. She takes it from him and ends up eating both the toast and apple at the same time.
“You’re being too obvious,” Wallace said in a slow and low voice.
Ming Dao turns to Wallace. “Huh?”
“Make me one too, man,” Chen Yi said, cutting Wallace’s subject matter short.
Ming Dao turns to Chen Yi and almost delivers a “Am I your slave?” question but he sees Chen Yi giving him a slight nod so he understands that Chen Yi’s covering for him.
Wallace smiles. “While you’re at it, do one for me too since it looks so good with how you did it for Qiao.”
“Stop messing with him already,” Johnny said, attempting to rescue Ming Dao from their attacks.
Wallace turns to Johnny. “You’re in on it?”
“I just think that we shouldn’t pick on each other.”
“Okay then. Whatever you say.”
As everyone’s sitting in silence again, they hear some music tunes. As if by habit or coincidence, Ming Dao hands Chen Yi his toast before reaching into Qiao Qiao’s left jacket pocket to take out her cell phone. He holsters it between her ear and her shoulder before going back to buttering his own toast.
“Hello?” Qiao Qiao answered. “Orchids?” She has to pause to wait for Orchids’ words. “Yea. All right. Thanks.”
Ming Dao takes the cue to remove the phone from Qiao Qiao’s shoulder and puts it back into her pocket.
“Thanks,” Qiao Qiao said – still the same passive tone from earlier.
“No problem,” Ming Dao said in his casual tone again.
“If you sound anymore casual than that, I would think that you’re playing me big time,” Ehlo said
“Huh?” Ming Dao uttered with a clueless look.
“I’m not blind, you know.”
Chen Yi leans into Qiao Qiao a bit and whispers, “I told you not to be so obvious. You two sucks at acting. Wallace’s catching on already and he’s sitting over there. Do you think Ehlo’s so dumb not to notice?”
“Guys, enough whispering,” Ehlo ordered.
Chen Yi sits straight up again.
“If you two are dating, go ahead and spit it out. It’s annoying with all these underground relationships. Who do you think you are? Some hotshot celebrity who needs to conceal the facts from the public so people would still drool over you?”
“You mean who and who are dating? Qiao and me?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Guys…” Johnny interfered again.
Ehlo turns to Johnny. “Don’t ‘guys’ me. I’ve enough of people hiding stuffs from me. If it helps, I’ll go first. I’m currently madly in love with Xiao Ru, okay? You guys can lay off now.”
“What?!” Everyone in the room exclaimed at the same time.
“Okay, okay!” He holds his hands up. “Not exactly in those words, but I think I’m starting to like her ‘cause…why am I even telling you guys anyway?”
“Are you putting us on?” Chen Yi asked on everyone’s behalf. “I don’t believe you!”
“Just because everyone decides to pin Qiao on me ‘cause I was staring at her that one time doesn’t mean I can’t change targets, okay? Besides, Xiao Ru’s just silly to tease.” He flashes on his mischievous smile.
“Tell me you’re not putting us on,” Chen Yi repeated again.
“Does it matter? Do I look like I’m going to die if Qiao turns me down for one of you guys? And I’m not losing to some guy down the street like…Rick…”
“What does Rick has to do with anything?” Sam asked.
Ehlo turns to Sam. “I was just using that as an example. You don’t have to take it literally.”
Sam nods.
Ehlo turns back to Chen Yi. “So…how about that confession?”
“Okay, fine. I’m dating Xiao Yu, so what?”
Ehlo turns on Ming Dao and Qiao Qiao.
“Uh…” Ming Dao hesitated.
For some reason, Ming Dao turns to look at Sam.
“Don’t look at me, like I know,” Sam blurted out.
Qiao Qiao jumps up from her seat at that time, putting both her apple core and half finished toast down before speaking up. “All right, all right. Ming Dao and I together. I’m dying with keeping this inside already, okay? I’m sorry.”
Ehlo stands up also. “Why do you sound like you’re ashamed of your relationship? You make it sound like we’re dating and you’re cheating on me.”
“That sounds so wrong on so many levels,” Chen Yi remarked.
Ehlo turns to Chen Yi. “That’s what you guys are making it sound like, not my fault for putting the words out there.”
“So we’re clear?”
“Of course we are. Now that we’re not all cowards anymore, let’s get this thing going.” Ehlo sits back down again, clearing his throat.
Qiao Qiao looks confused but sits down also.
Chen Yi leans over to Qiao Qiao. “You thought it was going to be something big, huh? That shows me you don’t know us guys at all. Only half of us are lunatics who couldn’t take such blows but the other half are men enough to take it for what it is.”
“What’s with you two and whispering?” Ehlo asked. “Aren’t you afraid that Ming Dao’s going to get jealous?”
Chen Yi sits straight up again. “I’m covering for him half of the time here. Why would he act so ungrateful?”
“I didn’t say anything,” Ming Dao said timidly. “He put those words into my mouth.”
“Guys, you know that we’re getting way off subject, right?” Johnny asked.
Ehlo turns on Johnny. “What’s with you and trying to keep everyone on subject? We’re going to be sitting statues soon if we don’t talk or move around.”
“Some of us have to go to work soon, you know,” Wallace reminded him.
As Ehlo’s about to say something, the doorbell rings again. “This better be them.” He goes to the door and opens it up.
Angela and Bianca greet him with a smile. However, Angela catches onto his emotional state right away.
“What’s wrong?” Angela asked in a concerned tone.
“What?” Ehlo asked back.
“You look like you’re going to a funeral.”
Ehlo couldn’t help but laugh at Angela’s concerned expression and tone. “I can see that my fiancée cares for me a lot.”
Angela wrinkles her face. “Whatever! And I thought you were serious.”
She walks past him to the living room instead. Bianca shrugs her shoulders and flashes him a sympathy smile. Ehlo closes the door quickly and returns to his seat again. Wallace takes the hint to get up and sits at a chair next to Ming Dao, leaving two empty spaces between him and Johnny for Angela and Bianca.
“What’s with you people and switching seats?” Ehlo asked, eyeing them suspiciously.
“I didn’t ask him to switch,” Johnny clarified. “He just got up.”
“Let’s get this thing going already,” Wallace said.
“All right,” Ehlo agreed. He looks around the room real quick before starting. “I think I told you briefly on the phone it concerns Jacky so…”
“Are we playing match-makers now?” Angela jumped in. “I thought Jacky could handle his life affairs better than this. Not to mention that…”
“I was getting to that part.”
Angela could see Ehlo’s intense expression so she stops her questioning series.
“I think his parents drove the ultimatum so he has to marry Jo and…”
Angela’s mouth opens wide in shock and she’s about to say something but she bites down on her tongue again, trying to wait for Ehlo to finish.
“I know. That was my reaction at first too when I heard it. But right or wrong, I’ll just have to find out later when I decide to sneak in a little visit with Auntie this afternoon. So for now, since you and Sam work with them, try to find a way to pull them together as much as possible and…” Ehlo could see Angela’s wrinkled up face.
“You’re skipping the details.”
“Yes, we’re prompt for time since you both show up a tad late. But the bottom line is…don’t let them know we’re doing this.”
Angela nods.
“You know what?” Bianca asked. “We should visit Uncle Ben more.”
Ehlo has a puzzled look on his face.
“I don’t know about you guys but those times we spent there, they really enjoyed themselves with sharing the food and the interaction and…”
Ehlo points at Bianca. “Clever. I didn’t think of that. Maybe I should just go ask Uncle Ben to join me and Auntie too since she might not tell me ‘cause even if I’m his best buddy, I’m still an outsider.”
“So…” Angela said, attempting to divert the topic back to its original point.
Ehlo glances at his watch. “You guys go stalk Jacky and Sonia while I go investigate. I’ll report back what I find out later and we’ll see how we can get them together.”
“By stalking you mean just try to hook them up or do you mean make sure they actually like each other?” Bianca asked. “‘Cause it sounds to me like we’re just doing it as we see fit and not acknowledging any facts.”
“He actually shouted out his love for Sonia last night,” Wallace verified. “I’m not sure about Sonia though.”
Angela turns to Wallace. “He did?”
“It was something more like ‘So what if I love her?’ kind of thing,” Johnny quoted Jacky’s words.
“Were you guys confronting him?”Bianca asked.
Johnny nods.
“I told you guys that something’s wrong with Jacky these past weeks,” Qiao Qiao said in an as a matter of fact tone. “You should’ve paid more attention.”
“Yes, missy,” Ehlo gave in.
“So it’s family problems?” Chen Yi asked. “Why is it always so clichés?”
“This drama dragged out for 2 years already. I think we should try to end it once and for all.”
“You make it sounds like we’re superheroes,” Angela said.
“If we can pull it off, then we are.” He claps his hands at that time. “All right, let’s get this going then. We should all be leaving.”He jumps up from his seat at that time and heads for the door.
Angela gets up also. “I guess we’re all dismissed?”
“Can’t argue with him since we all have to go to work,” Sam said. “Meeting today, remember?”
Angela nods. “And probably a great opportunity to talk to Sonia too.”
Ehlo has gone back to his place to get his briefcase already while the rest of them are still lingering behind to mold over the situation.
“I think I better head out too,” Wallace said. “Anyone want a ride?” Out of habit, he turns to Angela.
“I think it’s better I go with Bianca,” Angela said.
“All right then.”
“I’ll go with you then,” Johnny said to Wallace.
Wallace nods.
Ming Dao turns to Qiao Qiao at that time.
“I’m going with Chen Yi since we work around the same area,” Qiao Qiao told him.
Ming Dao nods.
“I guess we keep it among ourselves, huh?” Bianca asked. “I mean only the ones who arrived here today, not the rest of the group.”
“The less know the better and we’re already over-doing the number of people,” Chen Yi said.
“Do you think this whole forcing them together would work?” Ming Dao asked ina doubtful tone. “Considering how Jacky said he’s getting married soon and…”
“I don’t know about him, but if Ehlo doesn’t get to the bottom of the problem, he won’t let this go just like that.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Johnny said, sounding troubled.
“Maybe I should go with Ehlo later,” Wallace said. “I mean considering how he would lose his coolness sometimes.”
“Good idea,” Angela agreed. “I want to tag along too.”
“You’re…”
“I could say I want to visit, right?”
Wallace smiles.
Sam turns to Ming Dao. “You take the car, I’ll just catch a ride with Bianca since Angela and I are going to the same place. “
“All right then. I guess I’ll go first.”
Qiao Qiao follows Ming Dao outside to have a private conversation while the others are still crowding the front door. It’s about five more minutes that they end up separating and going into their own car or destination.
So Ehlo has bestowed upon their shoulder another task. They silently wonder what is up exactly this time since Ehlo didn’t really elaborate. Yes, they’re prompt for time, so everything was rushed. But what was that about Jacky marrying Jo? This has got to be some joke of the century. But they’ll soon find out tonight. They silently hope that Ehlo could dig up some truth in this whole mess. It’s not their place to say, but they want to at least know the reasons behind the problems.
© Friday, January 2nd, 2009 – Thursday, February 5th, 2009
Posted: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009