Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
After everyone recuperated from witnessing Jim’s suicide, they were taken to the local police station for question. After that was done, the sergeant from the murders/suicide investigation gathered the group in the same room to talk. “You know, its normal for us to see some form of death because its our job. But for the civilians, its much harder. This is a traumatizing moment for all of you, I’m sure.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt you Sir.” Jeff spoke up “But Dr. Chan here is a psychiatrist for suicidal victims.” He pointed out.
The sergeant raised his eyebrows “Oh, really? Well, that would change everything. I was going to recommend you guys to see a specialized psychiatrist for this type of situation. Yet, it looks like I am just embarrassing myself in front of the professional here.” He smiled at Virginia, who also smiled in return. “I’ll leave you alone to talk to your friends then.” He closed the door behind him and silence rung throughout the disclosed room.
“Traumatizing is an understatement.” Freddie broke the silence with his comment.
“I know what you mean…” Deana let out a sigh. Remy patted her shoulders affectionately.
“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m beat. I know it’ll take you guys a few days to absorb this day but when you’re ready, you know where to find me. I’ll be available to talk anytime.” Virginia offered. She got up to leave and it was everyone’s cue to also get up.
When they walked outside, they saw Joanne sitting on the visitor’s seat waiting for them. “Dai Lou!” she ran over to Remy “I just heard the message from Jeff and I came as fast as I could. Are you alright?” she checked his face and arms for bruises.
“Silly girl. I’m fine. Still alive and ready to take on the world once more.” He joked.
She shook her head and moved her attention to Deana and the rest “Deana, how are you taking it?” she asked with concern.
Deana let out a sigh “It’s very surreal right now.”
Joanne nodded “How about you Jeff? Virginia?”
They looked at each other and smiled “I think we’re so use to it. It’s just a little scary to know that there are people out there that think like him.” Jeff replied.
“How are you Freddie? Oh, I’m fine, thanks for asking. You’re welcome.” Freddie’s voice mimicked the conversation he imagined would happened between him and Jo.
Everyone smiled at his little outburst “I would have asked if you were a little more patient.” Joanne replied sarcastically.
“Well, if I waited for you, I would have turned psycho myself!” he retorted. “Do you know how traumatizing that was to witness a guy jumping for that high rise building?” he pushed his head back with the back of his hand dramatically.
“Oh no, not again.” Virginia whispered. Jeff motioned for Deana and Remy to follow him and Virginia. They headed for the door quietly away from the bickering couple.
“So what difference does it make now? You were always a psycho!” Joanne argued back, ignoring the fact that the other four had disappeared through the door.
“Takes one to know one!” Freddie said smugly. He looked behind her and saw the other four leaving. “Hey, wait for us!!” he called as he pushed Joanne aside “Come on!” he said to her. She smiled as she walked through the open door he held for her.
***************
The next day, Virginia was back at work again. Every so often she would sit back in her chair and think about Jim. It was strange how your life can change with a blink of an eye. She tried so hard to concentrate on her work but her mind would wander back to Jim. She was amazed at how someone can seem so normal, yet inside their mind they are thinking of the complete opposite. It made her realize that people were not how they appeared to be. With this concept in mind, she began to think about the friends around her. She imagined any moment in their lives, they will realize that life is unfair and will chose to end it.
Virginia shook her head to move the thoughts out of her mind, but it was useless. Her worries were growing by the day. She’s never had such a bad impact from a death before. When Jeff said for both of them that they were use to seeing death, she wanted to correct him. But instead she kept quiet and her explanations to herself. Although she is psychiatrist in the suicidal department, she has never witness a suicide in her entire life. Jim was definitely the first and now its imprinted in her head. She rubbed her temples trying to push the image out but replayed the scene over and over in her head.
Only the knocking of her office door seem to snap her out of it. “Come in!” she called.
It was Joanne. She walked in timidly “Am I bothering you?” she asked almost shyly.
Virginia smiled “Of course not. Come, have a seat.” She watched Joanne walk in nervously. It was a strange sight to see this aggressive and outspoken girl to act so shy in front of her.
“I wanted to talk to you about something. Its…a situation for my friend.” She said slowly.
“Sure. I’m all ears.” Virginia moved to the chair across from Joanne. The same habit she can never change.
“Well, this girlfriend of mine is well..in love with this guy that is…uh…married. She knows its morally wrong to love him or even like him but you know how feelings are?” she seemed to be stumbling on her words. “Well, then she finds out that…he is not happy in his marriage and is planning to divorce his wife. She wants to know what she should do?”
Virginia smiled “I’m afraid this is not my department, Jo.”
Joanne nodded “I know, but I can’t think of anyone out there that can help me.”
“Actually, Dr. Marc Cheung is very good at this. Why don’t you go to see him? His office is right down the hall.” Virginia got up and picked up her phone to dial his extension.
“Wait!!” Joanne said quickly as she got up to stop Virginia. “No..I feel too strange talking to someone I don’t know. Can’t YOU give me your opinion?”
Virginia put the phone back into the receiver and shook her head “I can’t help if you’re not being honest Jo.”
Joanne returned to her seat and diverged her eyes away from Virginia’s “What do you mean?”
Virginia sighed “You are in love with Freddie but don’t know how you should approach it right?”
Joanne spun around and stared at her wide eyed “How in the world did you guess?”
She laughed at the naïve girl “Hints that you dropped? It’s a hunch.” She gave a her a little wink before sitting down “Okay Jo, spill it.”
Joanne blushed profusely as she stared down at her hands “Well…I guess it started about a few days ago…”
Virginia interrupted her “Wait. You know, you have a beautiful head but I don’t like looking at it.” She used her fingers and pushed Joanne’s chin up to look at her in the eye “There, more like it. Your eyes are much more beautiful.” She smiled “Go on.”
“Thank you.” She said shyly “Anyways, you know how Freddie and I always bicker?” Virginia nodded with a grin on her face “Well, I always thought that I argued with him because he gets on my nerves. But I realized that day at the beach that I liked him. I had butterflies in my stomach when I saw him. It make my body sweat when teases me, I use to mistaken that it was because he made me mad. But I realized that I love it when he teases me that’s why I do that in return.” She paused waiting for Virginia to comment.
“That’s it?” Joanne looked innocent as Virginia giggled “I was just teasing. Well, my friend I don’t know what to tell you really. Sure, I’ve lived with Freddie for almost two years now but I really don’t know what he feels. Especially about girls? It’s obvious sometimes that he’s gay because of the way he looks at guys.” She stopped smiling when she saw Joanne wince at her last comment “Jo, you have to realize that the reason why he realized that he was gay was because of a girl.”
“Really?” Joanne looked surprise. She’s had plenty of talks with Freddie but she never knew that was the reason for his sexuality change.
“I personally think that’s all psychological. There are a few cases where they were born that way, but its a lot more often where I see cases that people claim of a sexuality change during their teens and sometimes their 20’s. His was in the teens age.”
“What happened?” Jo asked, a little more curious.”
“A love gone wrong. You see, Freddie is the type that loves and never lets go. And well, I guess the girl he was with was not the serious type. She cheated on him endlessly until he saw her making out with another guy with his own eyes. It dramatically changed his life because he told himself never to believe any girl ever again.”
“Wow…that’s very sad.” She said to herself. “So you think I won’t stand a chance?”
Virginia smiled “Well, that depends. Do you like a challenge?”
She nodded “I sure do.”
“Go for it then. Hey, you never know, you might be the girl to change his life again.” Virginia said nonchalantly “But be careful of your feelings. Sometimes people mistaken the feeling of love for infatuation with the challenge. Most guys like that feeling of accomplishing something hard. Because its an ego thing. I’m not saying that you are feeling that way, but just KNOW your feelings before you express them to others.”
Joanne nodded thoughtfully “That’s very deep, but I get it…I do…” she smiled “It’s a wonder why Freddie never fell for you. Considering you guys live with each other for so long.”
Virginia tilted her head “Why would he fall for me?” she asked.
“I guess you are more naïve than I thought you were.” Joanne laughed when Virginia wrinkled her forehead in confusion “One, you’re beautiful; two, you’re easy to talk to; three, you’re a great friend and caring; four, you have a home and a great job, not that it makes any difference to guys.”
“Shouldn’t that be intimidating then?” Virginia asked “Those traits that you say can be described for you too. And any other girl out there. What makes a person stand out from another person is appearance. Maybe you should dress up a little more? Make him look at you and think ‘Is that the girl I know?’. Trust me, no matter what kind of sexuality the guy is, he will do a double take on a beautiful girl.”
“Thank you, that’s very helpful advice. Now to find a dress that will look good on me? Hmm…that might be a project. Would you like to help?”
“Of course. How about this weekend?” Virginia offered.
“Sounds good to me. Okay, I’ve got to get back to work before Jeff punishes me. Thanks for everything!” She gave Virginia a quick wave before rushing out the door.
Virginia smiled to herself thinking maybe a new love will come out of all this. She came home that day feeling drained of energy. But she still wanted to chat with Freddie about Jo and see if she can drag anything out of him. She didn’t see him in the living room so she tried his room. When she got to the room door she was about to knock when she heard him talking “Ma…don’t cry, please. You need to stop thinking about dad….I know you miss him…well, you still have the three of us…”
She didn’t mean to eavesdrop but her mind seem to wander about. She eventually snapped out of it and went to her own room to give him privacy. She changed into her pajamas and went to the kitchen to make her own dinner, frozen pizza. “Hmm… oven fresh.” She mumbled to herself.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Freddie asked. His face stern as he put his hands on his hips. “That’s not dinner, Ginny.” He walked to the oven and turned it off. Opening the oven door as he pulled out the cold pizza. “This is trash.” He said as tossed it in the trashcan.
“Hey! Well, don’t waste it like that.” She scolded.
“Go on, relax, I’ll whip up something for both of us.” He pushed out of the kitchen and cracked his knuckles ready to work his magic.