| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
“Annoying radio…” Qiao Qiao mumbled groggily, still reluctant to wake up. She pulls the blanket over her head again. Then she could hear Orchids calling her name from the hallway. “Coming!” She rolls around to the other side, trying to turn the radio off without opening her eyes, but somehow she missed it. Frustrated, she sits up and tosses her cover aside. Rubbing her head, she let out another complaint, “Another day."
“Qiao!” Orchids’ voice called out again.
“I know! I’m up already!” Qiao Qiao yelled back to inform her cousin of her consciousness. She walks over to her night stand and reaches towards the radio to turn it off, but she changes her mind and turns the volume up instead. She stops herself as she could hear a familiar voice talking.
“ ... not just that,” The radio delivered a fragment of a sentence Qiao Qiao missed. “But what’s even more interesting was my little adventure yesterday. It’s definitely the season for reunions and many other excitements. As usual, Sonia and I will join together to do a weekly events report starting next week to both inform and introduce to you all the exciting events you could possibly be doing during this summer. So I leave you with the best wishes for today and see you again tomorrow around 6. I will leave you all with an inspirational and joyful song to start the day off – It’s A Great Day To Be Alive by Travis Tritt.”
The song begins to play after that.
Qiao Qiao turns the volume higher and walks towards the door, opening it and making her way to the restroom to brush her teeth.
*****
“And you know what’s even funnier?” Wallace asked Cyndi.
“What?” Cyndi asked back.
“I even warned him yesterday too, but he was like…”
“He’s a daredevil.”
“He will be a dead one soon if he doesn’t stop.”
“Can’t blame him. It’s in his blood.”
“Lucky I’m not blood related to him.”
“Or maybe you wish you have his courage?”
“Correction – dumb courage.”
Cyndi smiles.
At that time, Chen Yi walks into the break room.
“What’s with you two and chit-chatting?” Chen Yi asked, eyeing them suspiciously.
“We were waiting for our coffee so…” Wallace explained, gesturing towards the coffee maker.
“It’s ready?” Chen Yi asked, stating the obvious.
Wallace holds up his coffee cup that he has been stirring while talking to Cyndi.
“I’m getting a cup,” Chen Yi announced before preparing his own.
“Help yourself,” Wallace encouraged.
Wallace and Cyndi walk out of the break room together, leaving Chen Yi behind.
“I wonder if there’s any show to see today,” Wallace continued their conversation from earlier – before Chen Yi interrupted them.
“You can bet on it,” Cyndi said.
They see Simon walking in the door at that time.
“Morning!” Wallace greeted him.
“Hi,” Simon said, letting out a timid smile , mirroring his voice.
“There’s coffee in the break room if you want some,” Cyndi said with a friendly smile.
“Thanks,” Simon said, still smiling and settling his eyes on the desks. “Which one is mine?”
“Take the one next to Wallace since the one we told you about is already taken,” Cyndi informed him. “Sorry.”
“No problem. I haven’t settled in yet.”
Cyndi smiles.
Simon puts his briefcase down on the desk. “I’ll just go get some coffee then I’ll be back.”
“All right.”
After Simon’s gone, Wallace and Cyndi resume their conversation.
“How was it last night with Angela?” Cyndi asked, her tone of concern and not consisting an ounce of mockery.
“It wasn’t exactly a date,” Wallace clarified.
“I know. But I just want to know how she’s doing.”
“Good as always. Talking about that, you know who we bumped into while we were going to the old noodle shop again?”
“Uncle Ben’s noodle stall?”
Wallace nods.
“Who?”
“A group of interesting people.”
“That’s so clear.”
Wallace smiles. “Just kidding. Okay, seriously, we bumped into Jacky and some of his co-workers and/or friends.”
“That coincidental?”
“Strange or what?”
“I’ll bet,” Cyndi said casually to maintain the flow of conversation. Then she realizes something so she turns her full attention to Wallace. “Is that the reunion Jacky was talking about on the radio earlier?”
“Yea.”
They could see Chen Yi coming so they stop talking about Jacky and sit down at their desks – ready for work.
“Qiao hasn’t come yet?” Chen Yi asked, looking around.
“Doesn’t seem like it,” Cyndi said.
“Looks like someone’s anxious,” Wallace noted.
“I’m not,” Chen Yi contradicted Wallace, his voice hinting defensiveness all over again. “Just that it’s not fair that the boss’ cousin can come late while the rest of us have to be on time.”
“I heard Orchids say she was detained,” Wallace said.
Chen Yi snaps his head up from his coffee cup. “By who?”
“Hunger,” Wallace said.
Chen Yi goes back to stir his coffee.
Qiao Qiao breezes in through the door at that time. They couldn’t tell who since they all have their heads down – looking at some files on their desks and drinking coffee. But Qiao Qiao’s singing a song as she’s walking in so they know it’s her.
All three look up to see Qiao Qiao in a light yellow mini sports t-shirt over an over-sized black t-shirt and black skirt that goes down to her knees. She has on black pantyhose to cover the rest of her leg and feet with black shoes to complete the outfit. Her hair has been curled with some pink tiny hair ribbons accompanying it. Wallace looks shocked while Chen Yi has his mouth wide-opened. Cyndi’s eyes are still studying Qiao Qiao. At that same moment, Simon walks out from the break room – stirring his coffee. He stops mid-way to his desk, looking at her and back to the others.
“Hi, Miss,” Simon rattled out, finally unfreezing himself from the spot he’s standing at. “Can we help you with anything?”
“It’s me, you guys!” Qiao Qiao exclaimed out cheerfully.
“Uh…” Simon managed, scratching his head absent-mindedly.
Wallace and Chen Yi managed to unfreeze themselves when Simon spoke up.
“Oh,” Wallace said lamely, still trying to recover. “It’s Qiao. Don’t worry.”
“Oh,” Simon said, feeling foolish. “She looks…”
“Strange?”
“No. Different.”
Simon walks towards his desk and sits down also, reassured that the person in front of them is no stranger.
Chen Yi still stares at Qiao Qiao as she sits down at her desk.
“What?!” Qiao Qiao exclaimed, feeling annoyed that she’s being stared down. “Stop staring!”
“Okay, it’s you all right,” Chen Yi confirmed – to himself more than the others. “I meant with the yelling.”
“Qiao, what happened?” Wallace asked – out of concerned and confused more than a confrontation.
“It’s just a nice day so I decided to dress up,” Qiao Qiao answered with a bright smile.
Chen Yi couldn’t help but reaches over to touch Qiao Qiao’s face.
“What are you doing?!” Qiao Qiao exclaimed in alarm, snapping her attention to him.
“Is that make-up on your face?” Chen Yi asked.
“So?” Qiao Qiao retorted, wrinkling her face.
“Don’t wrinkle your face,” Wallace said. “All of that make-up would go to waste.”
As they’re talking and teasing Qiao Qiao, Orchids’ office door opens and she comes out. “I’m done with this file now so you guys can take a look at it and see if you want to take on the case. And….”She stopped because she finally notices Qiao Qiao. “Qiao?”
“Yes,” Qiao Qiao answered, smiling.
“I thought you said you went to grab something to eat.”
“Uh…bumped into a friend so went to get my hair curled for Saturday.”
“During work hours?”
“I’m not late. I was here exactly at 9.”
“Still…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get right to work.”
“Don’t let this repeat though.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“As I was saying…” Orchids resumed her words from earlier as she hands Cyndi a file.
Cyndi glances at the file briefly and looks up at Orchids again. “We’ll get back to you on this.”
“Within the next hour?”
“Okay.”
Orchids goes back into her office after that.
Wallace grabs the Training Manual in the center area and gives it to Simon. “No rush, just browse through it casually since this isn’t your last time looking at it.”
“Unless you’re like me,” Chen Yi jumped in, pointing towards his head. “Graphic memory.”
“Stop bragging already,” Qiao Qiao sabotaged him before turning to Wallace and Cyndi. “Did you guys listen to the radio this morning?”
“KFT?” Wallace asked back.
Qiao Qiao nods and smiles. “Yes.”
“Is that why you were singing that song just now?” Wallace asked, realizing of Qiao Qiao’s sudden high spirits.
Qiao Qiao nods.
“Were you actually up that early to catch the first half of the show though?”
“I was up around 7.”
“There was more excitement at the beginning though.”
“Oh?”
Chen Yi clears his throat several times.
“What?” Qiao Qiao asked, turning to him.
“Nothing,” Chen Yi mumbled.
“What kind of excitement?” Qiao Qiao asked, turning back to Wallace and Cyndi.
“He dedicated a song to you,” Wallace answered.
“Really?!” Qiao Qiao blurted out gleefully.
“Want to listen? I recorded it for you.”
“He did?!” Qiao Qiao repeated her excitement, still not believing it. “How come he didn’t mention it earlier?”
“Earlier?” Wallace asked, his turn to be in the dark.
Qiao Qiao could feel her face burning red since the others are looking at her now – all three of them, including Simon.
“Uh…he picked me up earlier at Orchids’,” Qiao Qiao explained, trying to divert attention away from herself as quickly as possible.
Wallace looks over to Chen Yi by impulse. Chen Yi pretends not to care and continues to stir his coffee – although the sugars had probably dissolved like five minutes back.
“And?”Wallace asked, turning back to Qiao Qiao.
“We went for breakfast and this…” Qiao Qiao recounted, tugging on a strand of her hair.
“So that was the ‘friend’ you were talking about,” Wallace said, nodding his head.
“Yes.”
Cyndi looks up from the file she’s reading at that time. “I didn’t know they could do hair that fast. And the nearest place around here is very popular and probably booked until next month or even further down the line than that.”
Qiao Qiao smiles. “Jacky has connections.”
“Ooohh…” Cyndi said, nodding and smiling at the same time.
Cyndi goes back to reading the file as Wallace opens the top drawer on his right and takes out a mini cassette player. He hands it Qiao Qiao before reaching in the drawer to take out earplugs also.
“Here you go, Wallace said.
“Thanks,” Qiao Qiao returned, taking the items.
Chen Yi looks annoyed but couldn’t do anything since Wallace gave Qiao Qiao earplugs, so he can’t say that they’re disturbing him.
“Good morning, everyone,” A familiar voice traveled into Qiao Qiao’s ear. “As I was driving to work today, I could see that it will be a clear and cheerful day. Most of you are still in bed right now or trying to wake yourself up. If you’ve set your alarm to tune in with KFT, then we’re probably the luckiest station around to have been your final selection. To start off the hour, I would like to share with you with a song – soft and light-hearted. But hopefully, it won’t set you off into Dreamland again thus preventing you from getting up or getting yourself ready for work.” Then Qiao Qiao hears a chuckle. She turns to look at Wallace before taking out a piece of the earplug and motions to Wallace.
Wallace’s actually reading the file that Cyndi just handed him. He catches Qiao Qiao staring at him out of the corner of his eyes so he stops to address her again. “What?”
“Where’s the song?” Qiao Qiao asked impatiently.
“After the first song,” Wallace replied.
“Oh.” She plugs the earpiece back in and turns the volume up again. She waits patiently for the first song to finish and Jacky’s voice comes back on.
“With that song,” Jacky continued from his previous topic. “I would like to move on to a similar theme relating to what the song was pointing at. Each one of us travels down a different path every single day, thriving to achieve our goal and hoping that with all the effort we’ve put in, we would be rewarded with a satisfying result. Whether it is visible or invisible, it would depend on our priorities. But I must say even though our beliefs and values are different thus affecting how we would make our decisions, but we have one thing in common. And could everyone guess what is it? I’ll give you a moment to think about it.”
There was some soft background music playing while Jacky leaves some times for listeners to think. Qiao Qiao taps impatiently, wondering where he’s going with this.
“What’s the answer to the common thing?” Qiao Qiao asked Wallace.
Wallace looks up from the file again, flashing on a smile. “No cheating, Miss Zeng. Guess.”
“Did you get it right?”
“You have to know him to get it right.” Then he remembers his promise from last night, so he tries to divert it towards a different direction. “But the answer’s quite obvious though.”
Of course the music already ended while Qiao Qiao’s asking Wallace, so she has to stop the cassette to finish her words with Wallace before going back to listening again.
“All right,” Jacky’s voice came on again. “I think most of you have already guessed it, so let’s shout it out together. Self-pride!”
Qiao Qiao wrinkles her face. “Self-pride?”
“Told you!” Wallace said in a tone as if that’s the most legit answer in the world.
Qiao Qiao continues to listen.
“If you thought I meant a kind and loving heart,” Jacky continued. “Then you’re close – but it’s not quite. Why self-pride? Because each and every one of us must know how to love ourselves first before loving others. Why? Because if we don’t have the confidence and self-pride to love and take care of ourselves, how can we take of others? Think about it. Some of you are wondering why I brought this topic up for discussion so early in the morning. It’s because I want to share with you something that happened to me yesterday that has caused me to reconsider certain things about life. I just met a girl yesterday who has unintentionally changed my views. You’re thinking what’s so special about her for me to go live and brag about her. Well, she’s the kind of person that I just described. She has so much self-pride and confidence to say and do what she wants that most of us might hesitate or re-think the situation before we actually would do such things.”
Wallace passes the folder over to Chen Yi at that time. Qiao Qiao hopes that the song comes on before it’s her turn to read the file.
“What I really want to say is anything is possible,” Jacky’s voice resumed its course. “Sometimes you feel something is impossible, but it would suddenly appear in front of your eyes to contradict your views. This takes us to the next song I want to share with you. I want to dedicate this song especially to Qiao – the girl who I met and know only for a day but show me a different side of this world – the world I never thought existed before. A Perfect Accident.”
The song comes on at that time. Chen Yi passes the file to Qiao Qiao. She takes it absent-mindedly and continues to listen to the song. She turns the cassette player off and pulls off the earplugs seconds later. She hands the set back to Wallace.
“Disappointed?” Wallace asked, sensing her apparent mood.
“A Perfect Accident?” She asked back, wrinkling her face.
Wallace smiles. “He put you on.”
“How come I never heard of this song before?”
“I’m guessing he wrote it last night.”
“What?! He write songs?”
“I said ‘I guess’.”
Qiao Qiao looks disappointed, but doesn’t say anything more. She concentrates on reading the file instead. Chen Yi has gotten up after passing the file over to Qiao Qiao and went to the break room again, refilling his cup. Cyndi looks over to Wallace upon the sudden silence of the atmosphere. Wallace shrugs his shoulders.
“Qiao, you want to keep the tape?” Wallace asked, turning his attention to Qiao Qiao again.
“No,” Qiao Qiao replied crisply.
“Come on, you’ll get it later. Stop being impatient.”
“I don’t know.”
“He’s not faking it.”
Qiao Qiao looks up from the file. “Faking what?”
“If you think he’s trying to be deep and mature to score points with you, you misunderstood.”
Qiao Qiao gives Wallace her full attention. “Why are you talking like you know him?”
Wallace’s supposed promise to Jacky surfaces his mind once again. “Uh…I’m just saying maybe since I listen to his shows too. But…uh…never mind.”
“What?” Qiao Qiao said, confused.
Wallace doesn’t say anything, but takes the tape out and places it on Qiao Qiao’s desk. “Think about it.”
Cyndi couldn’t take it anymore so she grabs Wallace’s hand and pulls him towards a corner of the room.
“What?” Wallace asked.
“You know what you’re doing?” Cyndi reminded him of a situation he should’ve known or supposed to know if that was the case in the first place
“What?”
“Are you siding with Chen Yi or Jacky?”
“Uh…”
“Just yesterday you were worried for Chen Yi and now you’re explaining for Jacky? You’re getting Qiao confused.”
“I’m just being fair.”
“I know what you’re thinking, but you promised not to expose Jacky so don’t try to play Mr. Nice Guy. Chen Yi’s smart. He’ll figure it out if you keep this up.”
Chen Yi walks out of the break room at that time. Wallace and Cyndi walk back to their desks.
“What’s with you two and chit-chatting again?” Chen Yi pondered, stirring his coffee. “Always doing this. It’s like you got something to hide.”
“Nothing,” Wallace said quickly.
“It’s boring,” Qiao Qiao concluded, closing the folder in her hand. “I don’t want to take it.”
“You don’t know when the drama starts,” Wallace said.
“No, thanks.”
“You sure?”
Qiao Qiao nods.
Wallace turns to Chen Yi. “You?”
“No challenge,” Chen Yi echoed Qiao Qiao’s tone of boredom.
“All right then.” He turns towards Cyndi and hands it to her.
“Smart,” Cyndi muttered.
“I got Mr. Paranoid to take care of,” Wallace reasoned.
“Like I don’t have Mr. Cowardly Lion,” Cyndi returned.
“Who?” Qiao Qiao asked.
“Ehlo.”
“Cyn!” Wallace jumped.
“I’m not going to say anything further regarding that, of course.”
Wallace stands up at that time and walks towards Orchids’ office. Cyndi begins to search for potential candidates through the database system on the computer.
Qiao Qiao looks around and turns to the view in front of the shop. It is such a nice day. She doesn’t feel like being coped up inside. She twitches her lips a bit and turns back to see Wallace sitting at his desk again. He’s holding some folders from his hand.
“More cases?” Qiao Qiao asked, knowing too well of it.
“Yes,” Wallace replied casually – just to maintain some form of conversation. Although he’s sorting through the folders but he could see that Qiao Qiao’s anxious about something. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” She said automatically.
“Come on,” He urged.
“It’s just that it’s such a nice day. I don’t want to shut-in.”
“Maybe this is your answer,” Wallace said, handing her a folder.
“What is it?” Qiao Qiao asked, taking it from him.
“Read it.”
Qiao Qiao opens the folder and begins to read the documents inside. Qiao Qiao’s eyes brighten. She looks up at Wallace again. “Are you kidding me?”
“Nothing is impossible.”
“Okay then. I’ll take it.”
“That’s the spirit. But…maybe you should take Chen Yi with you. It’s not safe for you to go alone.”
Qiao Qiao’s cell phone rings at that time. She picks it up immediately since she has set it out on her desk awhile back. “Hello?”
“Want to go somewhere?” A familiar voice asked. “It’s even nicer right now.”
“You’re free?!” Qiao Qiao asked excitedly.
“I’m out looking for interesting events to report for next week, remember?”
“That’s great! Maybe you can help me.”
“All right. I’ll swing by and pick you up?”
“Okay. See you.” She hangs up at that time and grabs her handbag also.
“What’s going on?” Wallace asked.
“I’m going to his house right now to check out if he’s really a ‘shut-in’ or just lazy.”
“Are you taking Chen Yi with you?”
Qiao Qiao looks towards the break room. It’s odd that Chen Yi hasn’t come back yet from his latest trip to the break room. But she can’t ponder much right now. Maybe he just need to make more coffee. She stands up and heads for the door.
“Qiao!” Wallace called out. “What about Chen Yi?”
“I’m going with Jacky!” Qiao Qiao shouted out to reassure Wallace.
At that same time, Chen Yi comes back and hears her last words. Wallace knows it’s Chen Yi coming back when he could hear some type of metallic sound making contact with the floor. He turns around to see Chen Yi picking up the coffee spoon. Chen Yi goes back to the break room to get another spoon after that. Wallace turns to Cyndi.
“Don’t ask me,” Cyndi said before he could say anything. “I don't want to interfere.”
Wallace goes back to the files on his desk instead. But he’s still uneasy about what’s going on. What’s really going on here? Suddenly, this place has changed into a place for dramas to unfold instead of helping to resolve others’ dramas.
*****
Qiao Qiao could see Jacky’s car pulling up to the curve as she steps out of the agency. She smiles and gets in the car as he stops in front of her.
“Wow!” She remarked, amazed. “That was fast.”
Jacky pulls out as Qiao Qiao’s putting on her seatbelt.
“I was in the area,” Jacky explained.
“Or you never left to begin with?” Qiao Qiao joked.
Jacky smiles. “You sure are straight-forward.”
“What’s the point of suppressing it inside? It’ll only cause more confusion and uneasiness.”
“So…how many people freaked out in the past hour?”
“Umm…all five of them.”
“Five? I thought there are only four.”
“You haven’t met Simon yet.”
“Who is Simon? Cyndi’s new boyfriend?”
“Hey!”
“What?”
“Wallace said that same thing yesterday.”
“He did? That’s strange.”
“Indeed,” Qiao Qiao said casually as she’s opening the folder in her hand. “Oh…turn right here.”
“Where are we going?”
“I’m trying to check something out for Orchids.”
“Okay. Say no more.”
Qiao Qiao feels the need to explain although Jacky’s not pursuing the matter. “Sorry, it’s confidential.”
“I know. That’s why I have to stop you before I get involved.”
“Usually, people would get curious.”
“I wouldn’t expose our future plans at the station with you either so why would I poke into your agency’s matter?”
Qiao Qiao smiles, surprised at how considerate he is. “So, what are you going to do later when we’re there? Plug your ears?”
“What happened?”
“Since you said you don’t want to interfere with my work, so you’ll have to plug in your ears as not to hear any of it,” Qiao Qiao teased.
“You should have gone with Chen Yi.”
“Wallace said the same thing earlier. But it’s okay. I got a plan.”
Jacky sneaks a glance at Qiao Qiao. He could see this mischievous glint in her eyes. She’s up to something.
“What?” Jacky pressed.
“We have to test someone to see if he’s really a ‘shut-in’ in like he claimed or maybe he made it up ‘cause he’s too lazy to go out and meet girls himself.”
“That’s all? Easy.”
“Don’t you want to hear my plan?”
“Okay. Go ahead.”
“First, we have to…” Qiao Qiao began in an excited tone.
Jacky’s cell phone rings at that time, cutting Qiao Qiao off.
“Could you get that for me?” Jacky asked.
“You still haven’t found your earpiece?” Qiao Qiao asked back.
Jacky shakes his head. Qiao Qiao grabs Jacky’s cell phone out of the little compartment under the CD system.
“You want me to talk or place it on your ear?” Qiao Qiao asked, waiting for his reply.
“Go ahead and answer,” He said.
“All right,” She said before picking up. “Hello?”
“Jacky there?” A girl’s voice asked.
“He’s kind of busy right now,” Qiao Qiao informed the other party.
“Could you tell him to pick me up at the station in an hour?”
“You are?”
“It’s Sonia.”
“Hold on. Let me ask him.”
“Okay.”
“Sonia wants you to pick her up at the station in an hour,” Qiao Qiao repeated Sonia’s request.
“Tell her no deal,” Jacky said without thinking.
Qiao Qiao wrinkles her face. “What?!”
“We can’t get back in time.”
“You can just drop me there and go back to pick her up.”
“Are you kidding me?” Jacky asked, gesturing towards the view in front of them with one hand. “This place looks too…eerie…”
“I can take care of myself,” Qiao Qiao argued
“I don’t care. What if he poisoned your drink?”
“Come on! Don’t be paranoid.”
“I’m a guy. If I can think of such things, so can he.” Jacky finally parks. He grabs the phone from Qiao Qiao and answers. “How desperate are you to get out of there? Can you wait for 2 hours?”
“Is that Qiao?” Sonia asked.
“Yea.”
“She has a cute voice.”
“Miss Sui, we don’t have time.”
Jacky could see Qiao Qiao reaching for the car door handle. He grabs her left hand with his right and pulls her back.
“What?!” Qiao Qiao reacted, slightly annoyed of his over-protectiveness.
“Don’t you dare,” Jacky warned. “It’s too complicated here. Wait for me.” Then he says into the phone, “From the sound of your voice, you’re not in a hurry. Wait for me, okay?”
“All right,” Sonia said. “If you say so.”
“We can go now,” He announced as he’s hanging up and finally letting go of her hand.
They both get out at the same time. Jacky follows Qiao Qiao closely, scanning the surrounding area. Qiao Qiao isn’t so used to being protected by someone – especially a guy. It makes her feel a bit uneasy. She stays silent until someone comes to the door after Jacky pressed the doorbell.
“No way…” Qiao Qiao mumbled under her breath.
“You know her?” Jacky asked upon seeing the look on her face.
“No. Just unbelievable.”
Jacky smiles. She’s still a kid after all, he thought.
The lady who comes to the door smiles at them.
“How can I help you?” The lady asked.
“We’re here to see Richard,” Qiao Qiao said in a professional tone.
“He’s inside,” The lady said. “Please come in.”
She steps aside for them to enter. Jacky follows Qiao Qiao closely, not wanting to lose sight of her.
As they enter the room, the atmosphere is a bit gloomy because of the darkness with only a little light for the whole room. The lady leads them down the hall and to the right.
“He’s in there,” The lady informed them, pointing towards a door.
Jacky and Qiao Qiao walk into the room to see a guy watching TV. Oppose to the gloomy atmosphere in front of the house, the room is full of light. The guy turns around when he hears them come in.
“Richard?” Qiao Qiao asked politely.
“Yes,” The guy confirmed his own identity.
Qiao Qiao clears her throat. “We’re from the Orchids Agency.”
“Oh,” Richard said, gesturing at the sofa on his left. “Please sit down.”
Jacky and Qiao Qiao sit down on the sofa, but only partly.
“So…have you come up with a plan to help me?” Richard asked, his tone somewhat eager.
“Actually, I’m here to today to collect more information, like your hobbies and interests so we could arrange for a meeting,” Qiao Qiao continued in the same professional tone as before.
“What else is there to talk about?” Richard asked impatiently. “Haven’t you read the files? I told your boss already.”
“This is too general,” Qiao Qiao pointed out. “We need more specific information.”
Jacky stands up at that time and walks towards the curtains. He stops in front of it, but pretends to be noticing a vase on the table to the right. Richard turns his attention back on Qiao Qiao after that.
“What else do you want to know then?” Richard asked Qiao Qiao.
Jacky takes this time to open the curtains. Richard notices the light flooding into the room. He turns to Jacky.
“What are you doing?!” He exclaimed in both alarm and fear before dropping to his feet and hides behind the table.
“Close it!” Qiao Qiao shouted across the room, standing up and walking towards Jacky, abandoning her professional tone altogether.
“Not that I don’t want to,” Jacky said. “I just saw the maid talking to some guy outside.”
Richard – forgetting that he’s supposedly scared of the outside world – jumps up from his hiding place and runs towards the window. “What?! That despicable woman!”He looks anxiously outside, trying to locate the maid.
“Case closed. Let’s go,” Jacky said casually, walking back to Qiao Qiao while looking at his watch. “Still plenty of time to pick Sonia up. Great or what?”
Qiao Qiao follows Jacky out as Richard’s still peering anxiously outside. He snaps his attention back to them as he hears the door being opened. He runs straight to the door and stops them from leaving.
“What are you two doing?!” Richard exclaimed, throwing himself in front of their path. “You’re supposed to be here to help me. You call this being professional?”
“You’ve deceived us,” Jacky reminded the man. “It’s not our fault to cancel your case.” With that, he tugs on Qiao Qiao’s arm to go.
“What?!” Richard bellowed. “Are you accusing me of lying? How dare you!”
He strikes forward towards them. Luckily, Jacky’s faster and manages to grab hold of his arm.
“Watch it,” Jacky said, gritting his teeth and staring at the man straight in the eyes.
As fast as he caught Richard’s blow, he lets go of the man’s hand in an instant also before leading Qiao Qiao back outside. The maid spots them halfway down the hall but doesn’t dare to stop them when she sees Jacky’s expression. It is not until they’re outside again that Qiao Qiao finally finds her voice.
“Jacky, that was…” Qiao Qiao began.
“I told you it’s a good idea to wait for me,” Jacky said.
“But I…” Qiao Qiao managed, still numbed.
Jacky looks at her. “Did you have time to strike?”
“I…”
“Yes. You were shocked. You didn’t have time to react. Real life isn’t like your self-defense class.”
Qiao Qiao could see how serious he looks, so she knows that he’s not mocking her. “I guess so.”
Jacky could see her timid look, so he puts his hands on her shoulders, mustering up a light smile in the process. “Let’s get out of here, okay?”
Qiao Qiao nods.
Jacky waits for Qiao Qiao to get into the car safely before circling around to the driver side and getting in himself. He pulls out and speeds out of there and back into town.
© Monday, June 2nd, 2008