| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
“Ehlo’s right,” Jacky said.
Ehlo doesn’t speak up right away. He lets out a sigh. “I hope this isn’t one of your tactics to get out of it again.”
Wallace steps forward at that time. “I think we should give him some space still.”
Ehlo turns around to give Wallace a sharp glare.
“I mean I want to talk to him first.”
Ehlo’s expression softens. “All right. But if you talk him out of explaining it to us, you’re…”
“If you don’t trust me then I can just call it off right now.”
“Fine.” Ehlo lets out another sigh and makes his way out the door again. He turns around again as abrupt as his departure. “If I can’t listen, then the rest of you can’t either.” He eyes the others with his threatening look. “It’s only fair.”
The others nod, knowing that Eho’s giving in to them. They shouldn’t push it or make it worse. They need to trust Wallace in this. One by one, they leave the room in silence. Before going, Qiao Qiao turns back to give Jacky a supportive nod. He returns her nod with a smile.
“Shut the door behind you,” Wallace said to Johnny.
“Yes, Young Master Huo,” Johnny said in a half-joking tone.
Wallace rolls his eyes at Johnny’s attempt of humor at this point of time. However, he doesn’t care to return it with one of his clever responses. He turns back and gestures for Jacky to take a seat before they begin.
*****
“Qiao, could you stop pacing?” Chen Yi asked.
They’re actually by the garage because Johnny doesn’t trust any of them to stand so close to the front door. Chen Yi’s leaning on his car while Ehlo’s doing the same to his. Qiao Qiao has been pacing since they’ve arrived at this spot like seconds ago. Contrary to her outbursts from earlier, she seems to be anxious pacing back and forth in front of the guys. She has managed to calm down after knowing that there are no fights between the guys. Jacky would be safe with Wallace. However, she couldn’t stop herself from pondering of their possible discussion inside the house. She lets her imagination run wild since she knows that Wallace could get impatient at times too. It isn’t as scary as Ehlo’s but it’s not a pretty sight either. When Chen Yi speaks up to stop her pacing, she snaps out of her trance and walks towards him. She ends up leaning against his car as well. However, her expression still remains intense.
“Wallace’s inside, not Ehlo, so why are you still worried?” Chen Yi asked.
“Still…” Qiao Qiao said, still worried.
Ehlo sighs out. “Sorry for scaring you guys earlier.”
“I would’ve appreciated it if you guys didn’t sacrifice my friend,” Chen Yi said.
“It’s our only chance.”
“Still…”
Qiao Qiao looks from Chen Yi to Ehlo. “What are you guys talking about?”
“You’ll find out in a bit.”
Qiao Qiao ends up pacing again as the others lost themselves in their own thoughts, waiting for Jacky and Wallace.
*****
While Qiao Qiao and the others are occupying themselves with their own thoughts, Jacky’s telling Wallace what happened – starting with what happened after he returned home when he received the call that day at the movie theater. Wallace tries to be patient, withholding all questions as Jacky slowly recounts all the events. He still continues to listen intently during Jacky’s many pauses and sighs as well. Jacky’s tone gets more and more passive after each pause but Wallace could see the sadness on his face.
“Yes, I admit that I’m a heart-breaker. But I really don’t want to behave that way. The way I see Sonia suffering through my cruel blows each time, I just can’t bear it. I want to tell her that I love her. I want to tell her that everything’s going to be all right because I will fix it. But I don’t want to be selfish and make Sonia wait for me. I don’t want her to waste her time or youth waiting for me.”
Wallace gives Jacky a supportive clap on the shoulder at that time.
“I’m all right.”
Wallace nods.
“If I could choose, I would’ve quit my jobs ages ago already to prove that I could actually make a sacrifice of my career to be with her. I was thinking of doing it for real after having thought it over some times the weeks after I returned from Xiao Qiao’s place. I want to honestly pursue her. But then I received the call. When I got home, Mom told me that they’ve gone to a fortune-teller and he said that Jo is the most suitable candidate for me. Can you believe my luck? I was astonished. I confronted them if it was one of their schemes again to pull us together. But then I realized how serious Mom was. I could break her heart by saying that it was just a bunch of silly stuffs and I was ready to tell them that I’m going after Sonia and I’m thinking about quitting my job. I could do other things. But they told me something strange. Apparently, Jo told on me after she was frustrated to find out I was with Sonia at that one charity event we did several months back. That was how Mom decided to take Sonia’s birth date in to let the fortune-teller see it too. Mom told me that Sonia will jinx me my whole life if I’m with her. I told them I don’t believe it. But you can see what has been happening these past two years. It’s always the same. They’re my parents after all and I want to give them my full respect so I only let out my little frustration and…I could see how hurt Mom looks so I told her I will reconsider it over. Dad always respects Mom’s decision so he told me if I dare to do anything that will hurt Mom, he will never forgive me. I told him I won’t. When I got home that time, I was distracted but I want to direct attention away from myself so I teased you about stuffs and I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“I’ve been thinking so hard to try to make it work or run to that fortune-teller to tell him that he got it wrong and he didn’t know what he was talking about. But he told me it was the truth. I couldn’t find a way to ever make Mom accept Sonia. I can’t quit my job anymore because that would prove them right of how they say that Sonia would destroy me. I can’t think straight anymore. The only way I could finally think of was to stop giving Sonia hope, so I…did the cruelest thing I could think of. I try to write Xiao Qiao a song just to drive the final blow, knowing words will get around considering some of you are wondering if I’m starting to like Xiao Qiao. But I couldn’t think of anything. She’s my favorite author and I admire her very much because of how hard she strives for life. She’s a great friend also, but I couldn’t think of anything. Ehlo was right that it was as clear as the day that I was writing that song for Xiao Qiao because of the phrases I thrown in with her pen name. But Sonia was my inspiration for that song. It was my secret confession to her. Meeting her and knowing her is the best thing that ever happened to me. She is the enchantment that I’ve encountered and have been working along with all these years. I admire her bravery and her honesty through all the years we’ve worked together. Just when I thought about life and how I want to honestly settle down, I get pulled down by this obstacle. I…”
“You don’t have to continue.”
Jacky nods.
“You want some times alone?”
Before Jacky could answer Wallace, they hear the door opening. Both guys turn around slightly to check what’s going on. They could see Sonia looking in at them. They both stand up and turn their full attention to the door, seeing that Qiao Qiao’s outside also.
“Sorry, guys,” Qiao Qiao said. “Bianca called and I accidentally let it slip about the fight and…”
“It’s all right,” Wallace said.
“Sonia wanted to see you guys and ran past the others so I ran after her and we accidentally overheard your conversation…”
Wallace could see that Jacky and Sonia are staring at each other so he signals for Qiao Qiao to step back outside as he does the same himself. Before he goes, he turns back and claps Jacky on the shoulder. Then he shuts the door behind them at the door, making sure that there are no more interruptions this time.
Sonia waits until the door’s completely closed before stepping closer to Jacky.
“Sonia, I…”
Sonia shakes her head. “You don’t have to say anything anymore. I heard it all.”
He reaches his hand out to wipe her tears away as it’s rolling down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry for burdening you so much.”
“I should be the one saying sorry for hurting you.”
Fresh tears roll down her eyes as she tries to restrain herself. “I should be glad it took you so much effort to get rid of me though. It’s because I’m important to you, right? I never wanted to believe…” She ends up choking with tears since she has been trying to refrain herself from crying – and trying to be strong.
Jacky couldn’t maintain his calmness any longer. He pulls her closer and holds onto her tightly, letting her cry into his shoulder. “Whatever it is, we will face it together no matter what. I won’t let a silly fortune-teller separate us ever again.”
Sonia nods into his shoulder.
*****
Wallace directs Qiao Qiao back towards the garage where the others are waiting with both of his hands on her shoulders since he doesn’t trust her enough to let her stand by the door to wait for Jacky and Sonia. Chen Yi turns to them as soon as he hears their footsteps.
“Well?” Chen Yi demanded.
“You guys won’t believe the silliness my relatives gotten themselves into,” Wallace said. “Maybe it’s because he’s too into Sonia to see it clear, but I could see some holes for us to fight back.”
Wallace spends the next ten minutes summarizing the situation to them. After he’s done, Chen Yi – and not Ehlo – is the first one to speak up.
“Wow. So this is about some silly fortune-telling stuffs?”
“Great or what?” Wallace mocked. “And I thought it’s more complicated than that like…”
“His brain is too scrambled up to think of another plan.”
“I guess what people say is correct after all,” Bianca commented.
Johnny turns to her. “What?”
“Love is very, very blind.”
Johnny lets out a laugh and slips a hand around her shoulders.
Chen Yi turns to Wallace. “How long did it take you guys to cook up that scheme?”
“What scheme?” Qiao Qiao asked, confused.
Chen Yi turns to Qiao Qiao. “He’s going to explain.”
Wallace turns to Ehlo at that time, wondering what Chen Yi meant.
“He found us out,” Ehlo answered.
Chen Yi turns to Wallace. “They weren’t paying attention because Qiao was crying so hard earlier, but I was the only one paying enough attention to see you poking Ehlo from behind.”
“What?!” Qiao Qiao exclaimed.
“I told you they were sacrificing you. Why would I look at Wallace for if Ehlo’s the one that went psycho?”
“All right, all right,” Wallace said. “You found us out. But you must admit it was a great opportunity to make Jacky give in.” He turns to Qiao Qiao. “Sorry, Qiao. We couldn’t pass the information to you in time but we didn’t know you were coming over.”
“We actually thought of the plan on the way back here,” Ehlo continued. “Wallace knows me too well and knows that I can’t just calm down like that when we get home so he wants to use it to our advantage to get Jacky to tell us the truth. It worked out better than we planned.” He turns to Qiao Qiao. “With your help of course.”
“If Wallace wasn’t in on it, why did you guys think that he wouldn’t use himself as a shield for Jacky?” Chen Yi pointed out. “He pretended to pull Ehlo back but he was just…”
“For the record, I didn’t mean to hit him,” Ehlo jumped in, cutting Chen Yi off. “It just happened.”
“It was still obvious though.”
They stop talking altogether at that time since they hear footsteps approaching them – again. They turn around to see Jacky and Sonia walking towards them – hand-in-hand.
“Still talking about us?” Jacky asked with a bright smile on his face.
Ehlo points at Jacky. “Glad to have you back.”
“Ehlo, I…”
“Save the cheesy talk. As long as we’re still friends.”
Jacky sends an appreciative smile towards Ehlo before turning to Wallace. “You told them?”
“Seeing how brave you are, I’ve already save you the trouble,” Wallace teased.
“Thanks. But…”
The others hold their tongue to wait for Jacky’s next words.
“I’m just curious about one thing.”
“What?” Chen Yi asked.
“How in the world did all the girls get here so fast when Wallace and I only talk for 20 minutes max?”
Qiao Qiao grins. “They were over at Sam’s the whole time. We were going to plan a get together in a bit and call the others over later. But then Ehlo stormed in so we didn’t have time for that. They were waiting so long for our cue that they got impatient. Bianca called Johnny and he put her on speaker phone. That was how I accidentally told them about the fight. They came over right after that. Sonia couldn’t wait so she ran past us to the door. I ran after her and you guys know what happened after that. And…”
“What?”
“Sorry I lied about the bracelet.”
Even though Sonia has been holding Jacky’s right hand the whole time since they left the house to find the others, but she didn’t realize he has been wearing it at all. She finally looks down at their linked hands to see the blue bracelet on his hand. She brings his hand up to eye level to observe it more carefully. She traces its contour with her other hand.
“It’s a friendship bracelet,” Jacky explained to her.
“No, it’s not,” Chen Yi contradicted him.
Jacky turns to Chen Yi, confused.
“It’s a lover’s bracelet,” Qiao Qiao said.
“Sonia made it for you,” Chen Yi continued.
Jacky turns back to Sonia.
“But she doesn’t know it either,” Qiao Qiao explained for Sonia.
“Could you two stop talking in codes?” Ehlo asked. “We’re getting impatient. And Ming Dao’s going to get jealous soon.”
“All right,” Qiao Qiao said. “We were out shopping earlier with Tony, Cyndi, and some others. Then Penny wanted to check out some art stuffs.”
“Penny was with you guys?” Wallace asked.
“Yes,” Qiao Qiao answered casually. Then she snaps her attention back on him. “You saw us?”
“Wallace saw Tony and Cyndi first and then I got curious and cranked my neck to check on you guys,” Ehlo explained for them both.
“Oh. Anyway, we got some of the yarns because Penny persuaded us. So we ended up learning to make lover’s bracelet. Sonia was one of the first persons to finish. I said I really like it so I persuade her to give it to me so I could give it to…” She pauses to look at Jacky. “…you and then…drum rolls, guys.”
“Get to the point already,” Chen Yi urged impatiently.
“So that when she comes over later, she could see you wearing it. But it works out in the end anyway.” She smiles a victory smile after saying that.
Sonia smiles back at Qiao Qiao as Jacky speaks up.
“I guess I’ll just have to keep wearing it then,” Jacky said.
“You know you want to,” Qiao Qiao teased. “Stop pretending.”
“Actually, I…” Sonia began.
The others turn to see Sonia taking out an identical blue bracelet as Jacky’s.
“I thought Qiao took it for herself so I made another one.”
Jacky smiles. “It’s okay, Miss Sui. We have a pair now.”
As if feeling the need to prove himself, he takes the bracelet from Sonia and places it onto her left hand.
“Just what we need,” Ehlo muttrered. “A demonstration right in front of us.”
“Jealous?” Wallace asked.
“My eyes,” Ehlo shot back.
As Jacky’s exchanging another secretive smile with Sonia, he snaps his attention to Ehlo in alarm.
“What?! You want to settle the score with me? It was Wallace’s idea.”
“Hey!” Wallace jumped in.
“What? It was your idea.”
“Like I could force you.”
“Guys!” Jacky yelled out.
They turn their attention back to Jacky again.
“Were my ears deceiving me or did you just say something about Ming Dao being jealous like minutes ago?”
“Your ears are still good,” Ehlo verified. “I said it, so what?”
Jacky turns towards Ming Dao and Qiao Qiao – who he suddenly realizes are standing quite close next to each other. He also notices that Chen Yi has been leaning onto Achel’s shoulder the whole time he was talking to them. Not to mention that Johnny’s hand has been residing on Bianca’s shoulder the whole time as well.
“You’re on the out this time?” Ehlo asked, surprised tone.
Jacky turns back to Ehlo. “You know?”
“You think I can’t take the blow? Come on now. Just because I like her doesn’t mean I’ll go crazy without her. Sure, she’s different from other girls we’ve met in the past. But she’s just too…”
“Watch it,” Wallace warned him.
“She’s different but not my type, okay? Xiao Ru’s more fun to mess with.”
“You’re saying if you didn’t meet Wei Ru, you’re still competing with Ming Dao?” Sam asked.
“I could ask the same with you and Xiao Qiao,” Ehlo returned.
“Guys!” Johnny jumped in.
“Bottom line, I will soon realize that Qiao Qiao isn’t my type, okay? We’re both too hot-headed for each other. And she’s just a kid.”
“Thanks, man,” Ming Dao muttered.
Ehlo turns to Ming Dao. “You should be glad I’m not after you.”
“Since we’re all clear now, what are we going to do for the rest of the afternoon?” Bianca asked.
For some strange reason, they – except for Jacky and Sonia – all turn to look at Wallace.
“Go back inside and think of a tactic to discredit the fortune-teller, of course,” Wallace said naturally.
“Don’t we have to take care of the company rule too?” Ehlo asked.
“They can work for another station but they’ll always have to face their family.”
“True. Oh yea, should we call Uncle Ben and Aunt June back to tell them we succeeded?”
“Call them back but don’t tell them we succeeded because if words get around, Miss Snoop-slash-Tatter teller will get to work again.”
Ehlo nods.
So all of them pile back inside to discuss about their next move as well as doing a little celebration of their small success. Ehlo and Wallace prove to be a very powerful duo after all. With joined forces, they can get things done faster than the others could predict. Chen Yi and Qiao Qiao aren’t as bad either with their teamwork. Since they’ve already sort out everything, they should be able to make it through. Or so they hope.
© Friday, January 2nd, 2009 – Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Posted: Friday, March 6th, 2009