| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
“I guess they’re getting their fair share of the deal before the weekend ends?” Angela asked.
Bianca gives Angela a slight shove, causing Angela to turn around to face her again.
“What?” Angela asked.
“We’re at a temple,” Bianca reminded her. “Show some respect and don’t utter nonsense.”
“We’re about to deceive him here. Do you think we thought about respect in the first place?”
Bianca lets out a nervous laugh and turns back to the stand ahead of them.
“Do you think we should come back later?”
“There are ten more people. Want to wait and see what happens?”
Angela looks at her watch real quick.
“I’ll wait here if you don’t want to.”
“Let’s get in line then. I’m not backing down.”
Bianca smiles at Angela’s determination. She follows Angela to the line. They’re glad to know that there’s actually a distance between the fortune teller’s table and the line itself since they wouldn’t want others to overhear what they’re going to do. There’s nothing to be ashamed of if they’re caught here, but they need some privacy to investigate some matters.
They wait for about another five minutes before Angela’s cell phone rings. She retrieves it from her pocket and answers it right way. Bianca waits for her to be done before turning to her.
“The guys are wondering if we got caught already,” Angela passed on to Bianca.
“Like we’re doing anything illegal,” Bianca muttered.
“They’re just impatient.”
“It’s almost our turn anyway.”
Wanting to contradict Bianca, the person in front of them takes up ten minutes on purpose. Some people behind them become impatient and leave. When it’s finally their turn, they go together – to which the ones that are left cheer them on, causing them to exchange an amusing smile before approaching the stand. Angela takes the seat on the left while Bianca takes the right.
“How may I help you two today?” The fortune-teller asked with a friendly smile.
“Um…we’ve been having bad lucks lately so we want to ask you when it’ll pass,” Angela rattled out casually.
The fortune-teller turns his attention towards Bianca to get a quick glimpse of her before turning back to face Angela.
“Write down your birth dates here,” The fortune-teller instructed.
Angela and Bianca write their name and birth date down on the small pieces of paper before sliding it back towards the fortune teller. They wait patiently as he studies their birth date. He starts with Angela after some hesitative glances.
“You both aren’t having bad lucks of your own,” The fortune-teller said. “You’re just too concerned for a friend’s well being. As for you…” He gives his full attention to Angela before continuing. “…be careful.”
“Is that a threat?”Angela thought to herself. She clears her throat before speaking up. “What do you mean?”
“You should try to relax and give yourself a chance. A confession will come your way in the coming month. He might not know it right now but he will come to realize that you’re the most important person in his life. Give him some time to sort out his thoughts.”
Angela has a very confused look on her face. If she as much as muster as “Huh?”, it would’ve complete the picture of a totally clueless girl.
“You don’t believe me but you’re just here today to investigate about a matter involving your friend. Am I right?”
Angela has somehow lost her voice so Bianca takes over.
“If you already know, then we want to get right to the topic,” Bianca said.
Bianca takes one of the small papers in front of her and jot down something before handing it to the fortune-teller. He takes it casually at first but turns abruptly to Bianca again.
“What’s wrong, sir?” Bianca asked upon seeing his expression.
“They’re your friends?” He asked.
Both Angela and Bianca nod in unison after exchanging a quick look, wondering silently why he’s behaving this way.
“Mrs. Chu and some of her family members came earlier to ask me to match some birthdates. Their birth date match very well. I even congratulated her since I’ve never seen any two birthdates that match like these two.”
Angela and Bianca exchange another confused look before speaking up again. This time, it is Angela who speaks up – since she seems to have found her voice.
“Are you sure about this? I don’t mean to doubt you but we were told otherwise of the results.”
“I think one of your friends were also concerned for…” He takes a quick glimpse at the paper. “…Miss Sui so she personally took the birthdates for me to see beforehand.”
“What friend?” Angela asked.
“I don’t know her name, but…”
“And you’re a fortune-teller?”
Bianca pokes Angela in the sides for such comment.
“I must admit that I was careless the day she came because I was closing up and wanted to go pick up my kid at school so I didn’t bother to look at her carefully. After all, she did wear sunglasses. She gave me two birthdates to match with Young Master Chu. One was Miss Sui’s and the other was…”
He reaches out to take a piece of paper in front of him and jots it down before placing it in front of Angela and Bianca. They glance at the birth date written on the paper real quick before looking at the fortune-teller again.
“How come you remembered the birth date and not the face?” Angela asked.
“I was careless that day and I tend to remember numbers better than faces.”
Angela finally picks up the paper in her hand before speaking up again. “What can you tell us about this birth date?”
“If Young Master Chu is with her, he will be jinxed for the rest of his life. In fact…”
“What?” Angela urged impatiently.
“I just mentally did a check for his birth date right now. His luck hasn’t been very good. I don’t know if Mrs. Chu is just testing me or she might not believe me after all – like you both are still doubting me right now. I don’t blame you both since there are many hoaxes around, causing our reputations to be so tarnished by others. Anyway, his luck seems to have changed since…yesterday afternoon.”
Angela and Bianca do not know what to say to the fortune-teller anymore. They do not expect him to be so good at guessing. Yes, Angela’s stern expression might give them away but how did he guess about Jacky’s luck changing? Is he spying on Jacky?
“So…do you have anything else to ask me? If you don’t want to know, I won’t reveal anything else.”
“If we take Mrs. Chu back here, would you help us by being a witness?” Angela asked.
The fortune-teller nods without asking them any other questions.
Angela and Bianca get up at the same time, thanking him before turning around to go back out. It is until they’re outside the temple and are walking towards the parking lot that they speak up again.
“This is too strange,” Angela said. “He’s really good at guessing but he can’t seem to remember some things. What’s with this?”
“He might be a real one that’s why that girl wants to conceal herself before coming to him?”
Angela turns to Bianca. “Don’t tell me you believe him.”
“Didn’t Jacky’s luck change?”
“He could be really lucky to have guessed right. And wouldn’t that contradict what he said earlier though? If he said that Sonia’s birth date is very compatible to Jacky’s then why would Mrs. Chu separate them?”
Bianca shrugs her shoulders.
“The only thing that would make sense if the sneaky girl is Jo.”
“Why would she do that?”
“Mrs. Chu is very superstitious so she will definitely listen to the fortune-teller’s words. If this birth date…” She holds the paper with the unknown birth date up for emphasis. “…is Jo’s, then everything makes sense. She wants to switch it to her advantage.”
“That would make him hoax though. I mean if he can’t tell one birth date from the next.”
“Maybe because Jo’s concealing herself so he can’t tell? He was in a hurry anyway so he would just look at it and tell the results real quick before rushing off? If you want to believe him, then that’s the only explanation that could go through. Because if he’s always mixing up birth dates, would he still get customers? I’m a non-believer but I must say he has to have some talents for his customers to keep coming, right?”
By this time, they’re past the parking lot already and are just about a feet from Jacky and Bianca’s cars, which are parked by the trees at the side of the temple instead of at the usual front parking lot. Angela looks up in time to see Ehlo coming her way. His smile is so cunning that makes her want to deliver the usual cruel words at him if it wasn’t for the importance of the situation.
“Well?” Ehlo asked. “What did you two find out?”
They continue to Jacky’s car where Jacky, Sonia, and Wallace are waiting before either girl speaks up.
“We have some blanks to fill in,” Angela informed them.
The other three could hear her since they’re by the car at that time.
“What blanks?” Wallace asked. “Are you guys playing games again?”
“You know me.”
“Then what?”
“Contradicting information.”
Angela and Bianca take turns telling the other four what they found out. Angela even includes her suspicion of what could have happened. When they’re finished, Angela holds the unknown birth date up for the others to see. Jacky takes it from her and looks at it. His face shows signs of recognition as he turns to Angela again.
“Did I tell you’re very clever?” Jacky asked Angela.
“You mean it is Jo’s birth date?” Bianca asked.
“Yes.”
“It’s just so predictable,” Angela said. “I mean come on now. Why would she dress up like that? She has some motives of course. Besides, who would care so much to go through such hassle? She would ‘cause she wants to secure her spot.”
“One thing that I do believe out of these stuffs,” Ehlo confessed.
Angela turns to him. “What?”
“He’s jinxed alright.”
“Whatever.”
“Come on now. You got to admit, even if that fortune-teller got careless that one time, but he was right. There’s one thing that I don’t get though.”
“What?” Jacky asked.
“If you know Jo’s birth date, wouldn’t your mom know too? How could she get it so mixed up?”
“I know because of what I do. But she has always been secretive about it. I’m surprised my mom wouldn’t know by now.”
“You know what’s funny? How could your mom have bought it that she’s 27? Isn’t she 24?”
“I think the most important thing we should take care of right now is prove to Mrs. Chu that Jo’s a hoax,” Angela pointed out.
“Easy, just bring her here.”
“Would she think that we conned her by paying the fortune-teller off?”
“Would she think that of her son?”
“Her son won’t do it but his friends will.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, dear fiancée.”
Angela turns on her annoyed expression. “Anyway, let’s find another way to straighten this out. I mean we need some sort of leverage before we can bring her to the fortune-teller again.”
“Get Jo to come as well so he could look at her face,” Wallace said. “If he’s good then he would know that the birth date belongs to her, right? She probably didn’t come that day with your mom, right?”
“I don’t think so,” Jacky said.
“Let’s get out of here before the security guards make their move.”
The others nod, knowing that they can’t stand here for the rest of the day.
“Oh yeah, Chen Yi and Qiao called earlier,” Jacky told Angela and Bianca. “They said they’re at Seahorse Café waiting for us.”
The girls nod.
“Let’s get this going then,” Ehlo said.
For some reason, Ehlo and Wallace follow Angela and Bianca back to Bianca’s car instead of going with Jacky and Sonia. The girls end up in front with the guys in the back – with Ehlo behind Bianca and Wallace behind Angela. It is until Angela buckles up her seat belt that she realizes of the arrangement.
Angela wrinkles her face. “Why aren’t you guys with Jacky?”
“It would be too suicidal to watch them,” Ehlo said. “We made that mistake the first time around. Not this time. Us single people should stick together.”
Bianca gives Ehlo a look in the rearview mirror.
“Sorry, Miss Bai. I didn’t mean you.”
Bianca doesn’t answer but pulls out of the spot and into the street.
“Why did you help Jacky and Sonia then?” Angela asked.
“I’m just helping my friend, okay?” Ehlo said defensively. “Would you rather see him so morbid all the time? Not to mention doing stupid stuffs like getting himself into a marriage with Jo.”
“Oooh…”
Ehlo turns to her. “What?”
“Let’s call Valerie up. She can help us think up of a plan.”
“She’s interesting but do you think she’s for real? Seriously, how would we know she’s not just using ‘help’ as an excuse to get rid of Jo before moving in on Jacky?”
“I don’t think she’s like that though.”
“Hey, I’m just your fiancée. I don’t know anything.”
Angela turns around slightly in her seat to face Ehlo. “Would you knock it off with that talk? It’s getting annoying.”
Ehlo smiles. “You mean you weren’t annoyed the first few times?”
Angela ignores him and turns around to face front again.
Ehlo turns to Wallace. “What did I say wrong?”
“I can’t help you there,” Wallace diverted himself away from the battlefield. “Just be glad she’s not driving because you would’ve been kicked off already.”
Ehlo shrugs his shoulders and turns to look at the scenery passing by again instead of starting up another argument with Angela. Somehow, Angela takes a chance to call Valerie after shrugging off Ehlo’s comment.
*****
“One seagull, two seagulls, three seagulls, four…” Qiao Qiao counted.
Chen Yi wrinkles his face. “Qiao, there are no seagulls here.”
Qiao Qiao taps on the table. “I’m bored.”
Chen Yi turns to Ming Dao. “Your girl is a bit abnormal.”
Qiao Qiao hits him on the shoulder since she’s sitting between them.
Johnny comes back at that time and places their drink in front of them.
“Hurray!” Qiao Qiao shouted in her cheerful tone again. “Thanks!”
Johnny smiles at her before sitting down next to Achel.
“I wonder what they found out,” Chen Yi pondered.
“This has better be good,” Qiao Qiao said.
As they continue to ponder aloud about Angela and Bianca’s possible progress, they could hear some footsteps approaching them. They turn at the same time to see Valerie walking towards them.
Valerie smiles. “Hi, guys.”
“Hey,” Chen Yi said casually.
“Can we help you?” Johnny asked.
“Angela called me,” Valerie explained. “I live around here so I got here as soon as I can. I guess they’re not here yet?”
“No…uh…” Chen Yi began.
Valerie shifts her attention to him upon hearing his change of tones.
“They’re here now.”
Valerie turns around to take a look. She could see the others are walking up to them. Angela sends her a smile and increases her pace towards her.
“Been waiting long?” Angela asked.
“Not at all. I just got here.” She sees Jacky and Sonia. “I guess it’s time for celebration?”
“Not quite yet but if you want to celebrate, then let’s do it,” Ehlo said upon Valerie’s words.
A waiter walks up to them at that time and volunteers to lead them to their seat but they blurt out their drink preference to send him back inside. Ehlo grabs a chair and pulls it over to sit between Johnny and Ming Dao while Jacky and the others are settling at the table next over.
“Since we’re all here now, what to do?” Ehlo asked.
“You guys have to tell us what happened first,” Qiao Qiao said.
“Oh, almost forgot.”
Ehlo briefly summarizes for Valerie’s sake what happened since yesterday before letting Angela and Bianca tell the rest what they found out at the temple. It is somewhere along the way that Jacky finally realizes that Valerie was also in on the whole conspiracy to pull him and Sonia together before – hence the others aren’t surprise that she’s with them now.
“That rat!” Qiao Qiao exclaimed after Angela and Bianca finished.
“Calling a girl a rat?” Chen Yi asked.
“That’s so low. She would use such tricks?”
“It’s a scary world out there, Qiao. You should know.” He turns to the others. “What do we do now? I mean if we can’t just confront her, what else can we do?”
“We can set up a trap for her,” Angela said.
“Like?” Ehlo prompted.
Wallace turns to Angela. “Are you saying we get her to confess to Auntie? She wouldn’t fall for it since she’s so close to success now. Besides, like we can trap her ‘cause she knows we’re Jacky’s friends.”
“Just maybe we can get her to confess,” Valerie jumped in.
Everyone turns to Valerie. They could see her sly smile proudly on her face
“I don’t like that look,” Ehlo said. “What are you thinking?”
“Maybe she needs a little persuasion,” Valerie said.
“Stop talking in that suspense tone. What have you got?”
“Let’s say if someone rattles her a bit like threatening to expose her or steal Jacky from her. Since she’s so close to getting what she wants, wouldn’t she be frustrated if she knows she has competition? A brand new competition. In fact, a competition that she never knew about?”
Angela smiles. “Don’t tell me you want to do the honor.”
Ehlo wrinkles his face. “What?”
“Don’t tell me you’re just going to walk up to her and declare war,” Wallace said.
Valerie smiles. “Wouldn’t it be in my nature already? So it would make sense if I should take such actions.”
“Are you saying you’re going to walk up to Jo and tell her that you like me and want to…?” Jacky asked, leaving the rest of the sentence off since it’s so obvious.
Valerie turns to Jacky. “Of course. It would work because she doesn’t know who I am…unless she listens to my show. What she doesn’t know is my connection with you guys. If I would just convince her a bit, she would be so mad as to blurt out how she already secured her position with you. Then I can record all her words. We can play it for your mom to hear later.” She smiles. “Great idea?”
Before the others could say anything, the waiter comes back with their drink. Ehlo waits for him to clear out before speaking up.
“It would just work. Considering how Jo usually reacts if there’s a threat in her way. Remember that charity event you guys went to? She went ballistic that night ‘cause she couldn’t figure out if Jacky’s with Sonia or Qiao.”
Jacky looks around. “Where’s Sam?”
Ehlo suddenly realizes Sam’s absent also. He turns to Chen Yi and the others for an explanation.
“Occupied with something so he didn’t come,” Chen Yi said.
“Two bets it has something to do with Xiao Qiao,” Ehlo muttered.
“Guys!” Angela exclaimed, trying to remind them of the current situation.
Ehlo turns to her. “What?”
“Are we going to focus on the plan or not?”
“I agree with the plan. What about you guys?”
“Wouldn’t it be too unbelievable?” Jacky asked. “I mean Valerie wanting to…uh…”
Ehlo turns to Jacky. “You mean you don’t know she likes you?”
Chen Yi turns to Valerie. “It looks like he’s not as smart as you dub him to be.”
“You mean you…” Jacky asked, shocked.
“Of course I like you,” Valerie said to Jacky in a so casual tone that it sounded like she just confessed to have eaten the last apple out of the fruit bowl. “Why would I always defend you for? So I can climb the ladder faster?”
“I…I’m sorry I thought that you were.”
Valerie waves her hand. “No big deal. I’m glad that you’re with Sonia anyway and not some girl down the street.”
Ehlo turns to Valerie. “Get out of here! I said the same thing to Qiao.” He points at Valerie. “That’s it. Let’s get together since we’ve both been rejected silently.”
Angela hits his extended hand.
She’s actually sitting next to him so it’s very easy to attack. Although Ehlo’s sitting between Johnny and Ming Dao at the other table but he actually sets his chair so it’s slightly turn so that he could turn around comfortably to look at both groups between the two tables. In fact, Johnny, Ming Dao, Angela, and Valerie’s chairs are slightly turned as well so they could pay attention to both sides.
Ehlo smiles. “Are you jealous?”
“Like I care.”
“Uh…guys,” Johnny said, his turn to remind them about the situation. “Are we going with Valerie’s idea or not?”
For some reason, they all turn to Jacky and Sonia.
“I still think it’s too…” Jacky hesitated.
“Don’t say cruel,” Ehlo said. “She deserves it.”
“I just thought it wouldn’t be fair to Val.”
“I thought of this plan, right? So why wouldn’t it be fair to me? Besides, I’ve never met such a despicable girl before. I really want to get my hands on her and teach her a lesson.”
“Actually, if you think of it, she’s not as despicable,” Johnny said. “She just likes Jacky too much and can’t seem to find any way.”
Ehlo turns to Johnny. “Are you her spy? Stop trying to sabotage us.”
“I’m just saying…”
“Aiya… you guys,” Angela interjected. “Come on now. Maybe she’s just childish, okay? Happy now? Let’s get this thing going.”
Ehlo places a hand on Angela’s right shoulder. “Calm down. We’re sorry, okay?”
Angela slaps Ehlo’s hand off but does it a little lighter than he expected. “It’s okay. I’m just impatient right now.”
“Anyone know her work schedule?” Valerie asked.
“You mean she works?” Ehlo asked back.
Chen Yi slaps Ehlo a high five.
“Good one, Mr. Pervert,” Chen Yi complimented.
Ehlo points at Chen Yi. “Eh…”
Chen Yi flashes on his wide grin. “Sorry. Old habit.”
“Guys?” Valerie prompted.
“She’s working at some gift shop,” Jacky replied. “I forgot what it’s called.”
“Norish…no…Notorious?” Ehlo attempted.
Chen Yi bursts out laughing and ends up choking. Achel has to slap his back so he could recover.
“You mean they honestly have no other name?” Chen Yi asked, his voice a bit hoarse from the coughing fit. When his voice resumes its normal tone again, he says, “Or they just want to create the opposite effect?”
“I swear it’s Notorious,” Ehlo said. “Or is it Narcotic?”
Angela gives him an evil eye.
Ehlo turns on his innocent smile. “What?”
“If you’re not helping…”
“I’ll call and ask Mom later since it would make sense that I want to meet her after work, right?” Jacky suggested.
Valerie nods.
“I guess that’s set?” Ehlo asked the others. “We just have to wait for you two to make the move and then we’re done, right?”
“If she will take the bait,” Valerie pointed out.
“Oh come on now. You were so optimistic before, why doubt yourself now?”
“I’m just bringing forth other possibilities.”
“I have faith in you.”
Angela gives him another evil glare.
“What?”
“I thought you said she…”
Before Angela could finish, Ehlo already grabs a hold of Angela from behind with one hand and uses his other hand to cover her mouth. She spends the next several seconds trying to free herself. When she’s free again, she shoves him aside with her right elbow and tries to take in fresh gulp of air before speaking up again.
“What did you do that for?!” She exclaimed with irritation.
“Nothing,” Ehlo said innocently. “Was just…uh…getting friendly.”
“Yea right!”
Wallace hands Angela her drink so she could resurrect herself. She smiles at him before taking it.
Ehlo points at Wallace. “Hey, stop making points with my fiancée. Or I’m going to kick you out.”
“Are you guys really engaged?” Valerie asked.
Angela wrinkles her face. “No way.”
“She’s my ex,” Wallace said.
Angela turns to Wallace. “Thanks for the info. Are we sharing old time stories now?” She puts her drink down and walks away from them after that.
Ehlo gets up and follows her. “Hey! Come on! We were just kidding. You can’t be serious.”
“I just remember I need to do something, that’s all. See you guys around.” She says that without turning around to acknowledge the others at all.
Ehlo stands there to watch her for a bit more before returning to his seat.
“Should we go after her?” Valerie asked.
“Nah. She’s a big girl. She could take care of herself.”
“I guess we’re done for the day?” Wallace asked.
“You have other plans?”
“Yea.”
“See you later then.” When Wallace’s finally out of earshot, Ehlo turns back to the others. “Who wants to guess that he’s going after Angela?”
“Are you saying that they got back together?” Jacky asked.
“Who knows? I mean Cyndi’s suddenly hanging out with Tony and…”
“He might be going with Penny,” Qiao Qiao jumped in.
“This is all you guys spend doing?” Valerie asked.
“Hey, so we have no life besides from sitting around and gossip about our friends,” Ehlo said passively.
Jacky suddenly lets out a laugh.
Ehlo eyes him suspiciously. “Don’t tell me you lost it. Or you don’t believe that you could escape Jo.”
“No. I just thought that it’s silly how I didn’t investigate like you guys did but just assume that I’m doom for good.”
“Don’t blame you since you’ve been too blinded by love.”
“Not to mention that you wouldn’t believe in those fortune stuffs anyway,” Chen Yi pointed out. “How would you know that someone messed with the birth dates?”
“Let’s not talk about this anymore. How about going somewhere to have some real fun?”
“Like where?” Valerie asked.
“Like…”
“If you guys don’t mind, we’re outta here,” Johnny interrupted.
As he says that, he and Bianca get up at the same time.
“Have fun then,” Ehlo said. “See you tonight.”
“Yea,” Johnny said.
Bianca waves to the others before following Johnny down the path.
“Tonight?” Valerie asked, puzzled.
“We live together,” Ehlo said. “Along with Jacky and Wallace too.”
“Oh…”
“I like it better when we were all single though.”
“I thought you’re engaged,” Valerie teased.
“She doesn’t want to be engaged to me anymore,” Ehlo said in a sad tone, playing along.
“Seriously Ehlo, do you like Angela?” Sonia asked.
Jacky smiles at her as the others are turning their attention to Ehlo as well. However, Ehlo doesn’t seem to be uncomfortable of the sudden spotlight on him. He flashes on his usual bright smile before responding.
“What do you guys think?” Ehlo asked back.
“I thought you like Xiao Ru,” Qiao Qiao said.
“A guy can’t choose?”
“Were you blurting out Xiao Ru’s name just so the rest of us wouldn’t feel so awkward the other day?”
Ehlo smiles. “I’ll let you guys ponder that out further. But honestly, girl. I’m okay, right? So take it as I was just checking you out from time to time.”
“You seriously are pushing your luck,” Chen Yi said. “Are you keeping your options open? ‘Cause it would be so wrong to keep both girls in suspense like that.”
“Xiao Ru doesn’t know that I think she’s interesting. Only you guys know, right?”
“But Chen Yi’s right,” Valerie said. “You shouldn’t act so…”
Ehlo turns to Valerie. “Do you want to put your name up for consideration as well?”
Valerie has on her stern look. “I’m just saying this because I’m Angela’s friend. Even though we only talk more to each other recently but I really like her attitude towards work and everything. I just hope she isn’t involved in one of your games – if that’s what you’re setting out right now.”
Ehlo smiles. “Geez. I just started to like you and now you’re giving me a lecture?”
“I’m serious.”
Ehlo knows that he should stop messing with her so he replaces his playful smile with an appreciative one. “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
“I hope you do.” She looks at her watch out of habit. “Anyway, I guess I’ll just head off too. See you all around. And Jacky…”
“I know,” Jacky said. “I’ll call you as soon as I talk to Mom.”
Valerie nods and gets up to leave them.
Again, Ehlo has to wait for her to be out of earshot like with Wallace before resuming the conversation.
“What’s with her anyway?”
Sonia smiles. “Don’t worry. She’s just concerned for Angela.”
Ehlo shrugs his shoulders before turning to Chen Yi, Achel, Ming Dao, and Qiao Qiao. He realizes they’re not really paying attention to him and the others but are having side conversations of their own.
“I guess we should just scatter since no one really has any other input?” He asked them.
Jacky glances at his watch. “Yea. Let’s go. You going with me or…”
Ehlo nods.
Without saying, they all stand up at the same time and walk down the path together. Jacky and Sonia take it into their hands to go inside and pay for their drink.
Ehlo walk with the other four back to their cars, feeling a bit strange as he loses himself in his thoughts. He ponders why he suddenly feels this emptiness creeping up from within. He scolds himself for letting Jacky’s past moods and Wallace’s possible current mood affecting him. He should be happy that Jacky’s problems are soon going to be resolved and Wallace could take care of himself. Even if Ehlo doesn’t get along with Wallace as much since they usually have their conflict of interest, but he must appreciate Wallace’s effort in coming up with the scheme to confront Jacky. It’s one of those times that he feel that they’re true friends. Then a disturbing thought occurs in his mind. Could it be because everyone’s pairing off so nicely now that he couldn’t help feeling left out? He knows that he was bluffing when he said he’s madly in love with Wei Ru. He was just trying to reassure Qiao Qiao. He knew it was coming, right? Jacky predicted it already – whether he was joking at that time or not. He’d also seen Qiao Qiao with Ming Dao all those times already. He was prepared for the worst. Besides, it was just a harmless crush toward a girl totally different from the ones he’d met before. It wouldn’t affect his friendship with Ming Dao or anyone involved.
He suddenly feels relief after re-analyzing the matter in his mind. He shrugs it off as part of his paranoia for thinking that he’s feeling left out just because his friends are taken. But as he reaches Jacky’s car and does a quick wave towards the others, he couldn’t help feeling strange all over again. It is until Jacky and Sonia finally come out that he could talk to them and distract himself from his vivid imagination.
© Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Posted: Tuesday, March 10, 2009