Fan Fiction |
by ianne
Xi Men chased Xiao You up the Bandshell underpass and out to Bethesda Terrace. Xiao You walked faster to lose him and didn’t notice an in-line skater about to collide with her. Xi Men pulled her away and Xiao you landed on his chest. After the skater passed by, she broke away from him.
XI MEN
Xiao You, wait.
XIAO YOU
I’m done waiting for you, Xi Men. Goodbye.
EXT. 5TH AVENUE – DAY
Shan Cai and Xiao You exited Rockefeller Center, then walked down 5th avenue, passing by shops and boutiques. Shan Cai and Xiao You looked at window displays and something caught Shan Cai's eye.
SHAN CAI
Wow! What a beautiful pair of shoes!
XIAO YOU
Yeah, it is. You want to go inside and try it on?
Shan Cai nodded and they entered the shoe store.
INT. SHOE STORE
They asked the saleslady for Shan Cai size and she tried the shoes on when they came. Shan Cai really liked that pair of shoes and wanted to buy it. When she saw the price, she almost fainted.
SHAN CAI
What?! It’s so expensive! I can't buy this!
XIAO YOU
Yes you can. You have the money, right?
SHAN CAI
Yes but I'm not going to spend it all on a pair of shoes. Never mind.
(to the sales lady)
Miss, sorry. Umm, I'm not going to…
(a beat)
...Miss, I'm going to take it.
EXT. SHOE STORE - DAY
XIAO YOU
What changed your mind?
SHAN CAI
Jing once told me, everybody should have a good pair of shoes. That pair of shoes will take you to good places.
XIAO YOU
Oh. What good places you want to go to?
SHAN CAI
I just hope this pair of shoes will lead me home.
XIAO YOU
Taipei?
SHAN CAI
As long as I can be with Dao Ming Si, I'm home.
XIAO YOU
Don't worry, Shan Cai. You and Dao Ming Si are a pair of shoes.
SHAN CAI
What do you mean?
XIAO YOU
Just following your analogy. Just like your pair of good shoes, one can't be without the other. You and Dao Ming Si are made for each other.
Shan Cai smiled at her friends comforting words.
XIAO YOU
And i'm pretty sure if you look inside the shoes, it says it's made in Taiwan.
Shan Cai bursted into laughter. She looked and did found out the shoes were indeed made in Taiwan. Xiao You joined her in her laughter.
SHAN CAI
Then, how about you and Xi Men?
XIAO YOU
Why mention him out of the blue?
SHAN CAI
Coz someone has to.
XIAO YOU
But there's nothing to mention.
SHAN CAI
How can you hold onto something for so long and let it go so quickly?
XIAO YOU
All this time I deluded myself I'm in this open-ended unrequitted love with Xi Men. And that someday, if just i break down his playboy facade, he'd finally open his heart to me.
(beat)
But instead, I finally woke up from the dream.
SHAN CAI
so...what you mean is, you're over Xi Men?
XIAO YOU
I-I guess.
SHAN CAI
You guess? You mean you don't know? You're not sure?
XIAO YOU
I'd know when i get closure.
SHAN CAI
And you're trying to get closure by being mad at Xi Men. Is that why you've been avoiding him and being mean to him?
XIAO YOU
I'm not mad at Xi Men. I'm way pass denial and anger.
SHAN CAI
So to summarize, you're not mad at Xi Men and you're not over him either.
XIAO YOU
I - All i'm trying to do is to move on. I returned to Canada, thinking geography is on my side. But then, here he is, in New York, for no apparent reason. He's either right in front of me or chasing after me. He's a roadblock that I can't...
(searches for the right word)
...Seriously, I'm running out of prepositions when it comes to Xi Men!
SHAN CAI
Xi Men also wondered why you returned to Taipei, now you're wondering why he's here. Come on, it's pretty obvious to everyone why.
XIAO YOU
And isn't it also obvious to everyone that Xi Men and I wouldn't work out? You warned me against him, F3 wasn't encouraging either, even the gods agreed and shipped my whole my family to Canada.
SHAN CAI
But none of us were able to stop you, right?
XIAO YOU
I'm moving on.
SHAN CAI
But you never stopped.
XIAO YOU
I given up all hopes. Xi Men and I, we're impossible.
SHAN CAI
They also said Dao Ming Si & I are impossible, but we worked out. well...working it out.
XIAO YOU
i know, but that's rare. it's not an everyday thing, or else Xi Men and I will have our own soap opera.
SHAN CAI
So alright, what's the conclusion to this moving on process for you and Xi Men?
XIAO YOU
Be friends. Ugh.
SHAN CAI
IS that what you want?
XIAO YOU
What I want didn’t work out for me and him. So let’s try what he wants.
INT. LEI'S APARTMENT
XI MEN
Be friends?
Lei got two cans of beer from the refrigerator and handed one to Xi Men.
HUA ZE LEI
You and Xiao You used to be great friends. Don’t ruin the friendship just because you failed to be something more.
XI MEN
(sarcastc)
You mean be like you and Shan Cai.
HUA ZE LEI
Hey, we happen to enjoy a --
XI MEN
Dysfunctional
HUA ZE LEI
Unconventional, but highly rewarding friendship she and I both benefit from.
XI MEN
That’s great for you two. For me and Xiao You...
Shan Cai and Xiao You entered the apartment, and they saw Lei and Xi Men. Before anybody could exchange feign pleasantries to anybody, Lei stood up, grabbed Shan Cai by her arm and stepped out of the apartment with her.
LEI
(to Xi men and Xiao You)
We'd leave you both to talk.
Lei closed the door behind them. Xiao You and Xi Men look at each other awkwardly. Xiao You broke eye contact by speaking first.
XIAO YOU
What are you doing here, Xi Men? Shouldn't you be with Xiao Gen right now?
XI MEN
I should be with you.
XIAO YOU
Why should you now? I was with you the night before I moved to Canada, and you did nothing. I was with you the morning on a rooftop building to see a friggin’ billboard I spent many sleepless nights looking for and you did nothing. I left everything in Canada to be with you and you...you chose Xiao Gen.
XI MEN
I’m not with Xiao Gen.
Xiao You backslapped Xi Men on his right shoulder.
XIAO YOU
You said you’re going to see the billboard. You didn’t show up again?
XI MEN
i did!
(massages his right shoulder)
and ouch.
XIAO YOU
But if you did show up, then Xiao Gen didn’t.
XI MEN
Xiao Gen and I showed up. We both came to see the billboard but—
XIAO YOU
You did nothing. Predictable. The moment you actually feel something real, you let it pass you by.
Xi Men disagreed with her and narrated what exactly happened that morning with Xiao Gen.
EXT. TAIPEI - BUILDING ROOFTOP - DAWN
Xi Men opened the door. He and Xiao Gen looked at the direction of the billboard. As the sun rose, they both blankly stared at the sign for a moment.
XI MEN
It's not there.
They continued to stare at the sign. Then Xiao Gen broke out into laughter.
XI MEN
What a disappointment. What is this, seriously!? They should have told us if they were going to take it down!
XIAO GEN
I think that's kind of impossible.
(beat)
Gee, I feel like it was a waste getting nervous over it now.
(glances back at the sign)
But time did certainly pass. What I was saying before was, ever since we met again, all we can talk about is the past. You did notice that too, right Xi Men?
Xi Men nodded. Xiao Gen reminisced the morning she was on the roof by herself.
XIAO GEN
It's sad, but that's the truth. I think it had to be then, or never.
XI MEN
(momentarily looks down)
A few years ago that morning, I guess that was our one and only time.
XIAO GEN
I'm no longer that same girl back a few years ago, nor that same girl when we were kids. Isn't it the same for you, Xi Men?
Xiao Gen raised her head and smiled.
XI MEN
Yeah, I guess you're right.
(turns to face Xiao Gen)
But, let us go back to that time for just now.
(looks straight into Xiao Gen's eyes)
Xiao Gen, I did love you. i'd always be grateful to you for being there for me back then.
Xiao Gen's face saddened as she remembered their good old times as children.
XIAO GEN
(now smiling)
I did love you, too!
XI MEN
Xiao Gen also said that love, once lost, no matter what we do or how much we try, it can never be found again...so then it ended.
Xiao You listened in astonishment to Xi Men's recollection.
XI MEN
But I don't think we ended it in a way that we'll never see each other again, and she'll probably come over to my house for a visit again.
XIAO YOU
Is that okay with you?
XI MEN
(solemn)
Yes.
Xi Men pictured the image of Xiao Gen when they were at the same building rooftop.
XI MEN
(content)
Strange thing is, when I saw the her back as she left through the door, she looked like a sister who had finally grown up. Now it really ended.
♫Today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you
By now you should've somehow realized what you gotta do
I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now
Backbeat the word was on the street hat the fire in your heart is out
I'm sure you've heard it all before but you never really had a doubt
I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now
And all the roads that lead to you were winding
And all the lights that light the way are blinding
There are many things that I would like to say to you
I don't know how ♫
XIAO YOU
So you and Xiao Gen are friends again... and we’re friends.
XI MEN
Xiao You, we’re...
XIAO YOU
We will be friends again too, right? I mean after we get over all our drama and B.S. out of the way, it will be good if we can finally be friends, wouldn't it?
XI MEN
My story with Xiao Gen has definitely ended, but our story was just left unfinished. I thought...didn't you say you want it all?
XIAO YOU
I do want it all.
XI MEN
I do too.
XIAO YOU
And by "all" you mean kiss, date, and bed me?
(beat)
That's not what I want Xi Men. I thought I did, but I don't. All i ever wanted is to be a part of your life, without any condition. You often bargain with love, giving women a one-week limit and never promising forever. But forever is just another measure of time no different than your one-week. i refuse wo de zui ai (my true love) to be quantified like that.
(beat)
we're two different people who want too different things. We should be just friends.
XI MEN
Then you're out of luck. I don't need another friend. Xiao Gen already took that place. when she and i didn't see the sign...
XIAO YOU
You can’t let a stupid billboard dictate your heart, Xi Men. Don't you know, no matter how much time has passed and how much space we have between us, i still can't seem to get over you? Because i realized, my love for you is not bound by time or space. you don't have to climb no buildings or catch a sunrise. pick any place, pick any time, wo de zui ai will be there. But then, just coz it didn’t work out with you and Xiao Gen, you can run to me. I’m not gonna be your sloppy seconds.
Xiao You turned away from Xi Men. She has her hand on the doorknob of her bedroom door but Xi Men stops her from opening it and made her face him.
XI MEN
No, you’re not. I don't regret what happened with Xiao Gen. In fact, I'm glad things turned out the way they did. Coz through her, I knew love; but I found it in you. It didn’t work out with Xiao Gen coz I know it’s you. You’re it. All of it. So now I'm brave enough to admit wo de zui ai (my love), and have cofindence to be loved; because the longer I deny it, the harder I can’t. You’re too strong to fight, Xiao You. I surrender.
Xiao You placed her hands behind Xi Men’s neck and kissed him.
XI MEN
Whoa, Xiao You--
XIAO YOU
Confidence, Xi Men.
Xiao You resumed kissing Xi Men. Xi Men, with his hand still on the door knob, opened her bedroom and they dragged each other inside. without their lips separating, Xi Men kicked the door behind him.
INSERT - BED SCENE (wink*wink)
♫I said maybe, You're gonna be the one who saves me?
And after all, You're my wonderwall ♫
EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - ROOFTOP - DUSK
SHAN CAI
Do you think it's wise to leave them both down in there?
LEI
Those two have been dragging it for too long. It's about time they talk things out.
SHAN CAI
Funny you should say that, have you talked to Jing?
LEI
(shakes his head)
What about you and Ah Si, worked things out yet?
SHAN CAI
(shakes her head; then laughs a little)
Look how ironic things are now. Back then, you were the one after Jing--
LEI
And you were the one after me.
SHAN CAI
(smiles)
Conceited. Not untrue, but conceited.
LEI
(smiles)
And Ah Si was after you.
SHAN CAI
Now it's the reverse.
(beat)
Lei, do you think things could have worked between us if they happened differently?
LEI
That's the thing about us, isn't? They never are, aren't they? But I have no regrets. I know that no matter who ends up with who, this thing between us, whatever this is, we will always have it.
SHAN CAI
Yeah, it is one of the best things that came out of this. We have one good constant thing in our lives we can always count on. We're lucky, do you know that?
LEI
We can always brag, can't we?
INT. LEI’S APARTMENT
Inside Xiao You's bedroom, Xi Men and Xiao You lie contentedly in each other's arms. Unlike the time Xi Men took up her proposal on her last night in Taipei, they were holding each other more intimately and have a happier and loving expressions on their faces. While savoring their bliss, they hear Shan Cai coming back and they quickly scrambled out of bed.
Shan Cai entered the apartment.
SHAN CAI
Xiao You, I’m back! Xi Men left already? Lei and I were talking about you guys and i told him about our shoe analogy. i said a girl shouldn't be afraid to give everything for what she wants, whether it's a pair of shoes or for the one they love. After all, you were the one who encouraged me to buy the shoes. But Lei said it's not credible coming from me coz i'm the girl who'd rather buy cheap imitation for a fraction of the price. On ordinary circumstances he'd be right. but this time - for a pair of good shoes: every dollar i have from my graduation money; the money i got when i return to taipei- zero dollars; but having the real thing: priceless. Why give up everything you want to settle for something less? After all, we're in New York. Dare to dream the impossible dream, can't we? So my advice to you Xiao You is for you and Xi Men to--Whoah. Oh my God.
Xi Men and Xiao You came dashing out of the bedroom upon hearing Shan Cai's arrival. Xi Men wasn’t exactly properly dressed and Xiao You was wearing his polo shirt. Shan Cai was too shocked to scream. This wasn't exactly what she had in mind. Not that she would ever had it in mind.
XIAO YOU
Xi Men and I...we, um, we made...up.
XI MEN
Shan Cai, are you alright?
Shan Cai slowly moved her head, dunno if she’s shaking her head or nodding.
SHAN CAI
I, whew, Lei. Lei left to go...some place. Um, I, I’m meeting Dao Ming Si. We’re visiting his dad...
(beat)
So. You two. Made up. That’s--I’m going now.
Shan Cai quickly left the apartment. Xi Men and Xiao You laughed. Xi Men gathered Xiao You in his arms and kissed her on her forehead.
XI MEN
Are you still worried whether we will have a week or forever?
Xiao You shook her head and looked him in the eye, smiling back at him.
XIAO YOU
No, because i know each moment we have like this will last me a lifetime.
XI MEN
Then i'd make sure we'd spent a lifetime to have every moment like this. From now on, all my yi qi yi hui are all about wo de zui ai.
You're my true north, Xiao You, my shining star. that's why i'll never be lost.
Xiao You embraced Xi Men tightly. She then lifted her head and Xi Men gave her a slow passionate kiss.