| Fan Fiction |
by bratinella
Cristina nodded and walked casually towards the newlyweds. She squeezed her son's shoulder as she welcomed the newly arrived guests.
Ariel looked at her father. "Dad, on how you will treat his parents, I hope you'll also do the same to Joe. Please, Dad, I don't want anybody think why there's an anymosity between you and him."
"I cannot promise warmth reception, hija. But I will be very civil," Patrick just said, who holds her cold hand before they follow her Mom. She saw that Rainie followed them, with Mike trailing behind.
"Hello Joe. This is quite a happy reunion. I cannot wish for anything more. You and Ariel were both here after more than 2 long years," Rainie said.
"My best wishes, Rain." Joe shook Rainie's hand then, he glanced at Mike and hugged him. "Congratulations, bro! After 5 years, you're still the one who ended up together."
"That's where we're different, Joe. I'm sincere when it comes to love and don't play with girls," Mike replied. Though he smiled, he pressed his last words.
Joe can't understand Mike, but he can sense that he have other meaning on what he said. If it happened on other occassion, he must have laugh about it. Mike always teased him on how he changed girlfriends one after the other.
"How are you, hija?" Laila Cheng asked Ariel. "If Mike hadn't wed, you won't be coming back here in Taipei. Just like Joe. He stayed in America for more than 2 years."
"Hi Ariel. It has been a long time," Joe said to Ariel in a cold voice and blank expression.
"Joe," Ariel said, smiling a bit. Trying to hide her nervousness and weakening of her knees from that smile.
How dare he look even better than he had before. Since she left her hometown more than 2 years ago, she told herself that no other man can win over him. His expressive eyes, his naughty smile, the way his eyebrows met whenever he gets angry, all added to his good looks. And she's angry at herself 'coz until now, she looked like a teenager who's admiring her crush.
"How about your husband, Ariel? Is there really no chance that you'll get back together?" Laila asked. Ariel shook her head no. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that!" she added. "I know that you're hurt from what happened. You are such a nice girl and you really deserved a better husband."
"Did you file for the annulment, Ariel?" Joseph Cheng asked.
"I... I'm working on it. But you know, legal matters like that take years," Ariel replied.
"But surely, you don't have to wait for the annulment to have a new lover. Isn't it right, Ariel?" Joe asked, there's a hint of malice on his voice. Ariel looked at him, wide-eyed.
"Joe!" Laila said. "How dare you say such thing. Ariel is not like other girls. It seems like you still don't know the only sister of your childhood friend. There's just some guys who's not contented with one woman. Like you, for example, you never stopped womanizing around. I only hope that once you get married, you'll be sincere to your wife," she said to her son, whose one corner of his lips turned upward in a wicked smile.
"Laila! Your son is old enough for this conversation," Joseph just said.
Before their conversation turn into a longer one, Cristina walked towards the Cheng couple and ushered them on a long table. Ariel took that chance and headed inside their house.
===== +++ =====
There's no other people around the house. Ariel headed at the bar and grabbed a bottle of champagne from the cooler and poured on her glass. She sipped some.
Her throat was dried and her knees were shaking. She needs to calm down. She's not expecting to see Joe. She didn't think that he'll attend Mike's wedding. She can't believe he had the guts to face her after all what happened.
"Since when did you learn to drink? Is that what you've learned from your husband?" Joe asked, who followed her inside. He didn't hide the anger on his voice.
"Things have changed..." she said. Though she's shocked, she remained poise and calm.
He followed her on the bar. He took the bottle of brandy and sat across her. "Yes, things have changed. You have changed a lot. You look different."
"I didn't know that I've changed," she just said. She focused her attention on the glass she's holding. She doesn't want to meet his eyes.
"Oh yes," he nodded. He looked at her like she's some kind of specimen under the microscope and he really don't care if what he's doing is so obvious. "The girl I remembered was no longer a girl. She was now smartly dressed and beautiful woman... more beautiful. But you've lost that innocent look."
"That was a long time ago, Joe." It seemed a lifetime ago. A lot of things happened and changed. Not just her physical appearance, but also her mind and customs.
"Yes. That girl was lost a long time ago." He took a deep breath. "After that night, Ariel, did you gave your self to other man?"