Fan Fiction |
by manggang_hilaw
“Ximen.” Lei called out to him.
Ximen looked uncomfortable for a second before he greeted his friend “Lei.”
“How’s Xiao You?”
“How’s Jing?”
Both men said at the same time. They laughed and conveniently ignored each other’s questions. The truth was they both didn’t know.
Lei had not seen Xiao You since they parted last night. He had tried calling her but she had turned her cell phone off. It was odd actually but he just shrugged it off. He thought maybe she forgot to charge it.
Ximen on the other hand was loathe to admit that Jing had quickly hung up on him when he called her that afternoon. She sounded odd, like she was afraid to talk to him. But he quickly discounted the latter possibility. Why would she be afraid to talk to him? It’s not like he did something to her.
So they just pretended they didn’t hear anything. They were saved from having to answer anyway when Ah Si and Mei Zhou arrived at the same time.
“You came together?” Ximen asked.
“Ah Si picked me up from work.” Mei Zhou shrugged. He didn’t add that the reason Ah Si had volunteered to do so was because they wanted to talk about the other two on the way to VS.
“Why?” Lei was curious.
“We wanted to save on gas?” Ah Si offered.
Lei and Ximen looked at each other and laughed at the ludicrous claim.
“Since when have you cared about saving gas?” Ximen wondered.
“Shut up!” Ah Si scowled at the two.
“What have you two been talking about anyway?” Mei Zhou quickly turned the tables on them.
Lei and Ximen avoided looking at each other and just shrugged.
“Oh, this and that.” It was Lei who offered an explanation.
The men were silent for a moment, each half of the quartet trying to assess the veracity of the other half’s explanation.
“So Xiao You must have worked really hard for that din…” Ah Si began but stopped when he felt Mei Zhou kick him under the table. “..ner”
“Yes she did.” Lei answered, ignoring the pause in between Ah Si’s last word.
Silence.
“So who’d have thought Qinghe would get married ahead of the three of us…” Ximen tried starting the conversation again.
“Yeah.” Mei Zhou picked up the lag.
More silence.
“I didn’t know Xiaoqiao kept in touch with Ah Mei.” Lei asked.
“Yeah, she has.” Mei Zhou answered, unable to add more since he only found out the day before.
Still more silence.
“I didn’t know Jing was back.” Ah Si attempted again.
“Yeah, she just decided to come back unexpectedly.” Ximen answered, adding “Because I called her…” silently to himself.
Again silence.
“Aren't we going to talk about it?” Mei Zhou finally couldn’t stand it anymore.
Ximen and Lei looked surprised.
“Talk about what?” Ximen asked.
Ah Si looked at Mei Zhou first before adding “You and Xiao You.”, addressing both men.
“What about Xiao You?” It was Lei this time who asked, daring Ximen to answer.
“Ximen?” Ah Si prodded.
“What?” Ximen feigned surprise.
Mei Zhou rolled his eyes at Ximen’s continued refusal to acknowledge the issue.
“Why Ximen? Don’t you think Xiao You and I should be together?” Lei decided to take the direct route.
Ximen looked like a deer caught in the headlights at first but then quickly recovered and drawled “I think you two look perfect together.” There! That didn’t sound forced did it? He smiled for emphasis.
“Are you sure?” Mei Zhou asked intently, willing his friend to admit his feelings so they can at least bring it out in the open.
“What’s with the 3 of you? Why do you need to know my opinion? They could get married for all I care.” Ximen snapped out in desperation. He didn’t know how long he could keep his smile from cracking.
“Be careful what you wish for…” Lei warned.
Ximen swallowed hard. What if Lei and Xiao You got married? “Oh God!! What have I done?” he thought frantically. No! Stop thinking about it! “Just keep your cool Ximen…” he psyched himself up.
Ah Si and Mei Zhou were both ready to pull at their hair in frustration. Lei on the other hand just smiled enigmatically, thinking “I’ve got to hand it to you Ximen! Yoy really give new meaning to the word ‘stubborn.’” Oh well, two can play the game.
***
A/N: Up next…season of fireworks…