Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The rest of the night flew by for Freddie as he kept himself busy. He got occasional hisses and whispers from some of his cousins, but his sister put them in their places. He forgot how overprotective she really was. That night he returned home exhausted. He wore the same clothes for a full day, it was against his fashion rule. ‘You must change within 8 hours.’
He opened the door expecting to see his friend, instead it was empty, even the lights were off. He wondered if she was working overtime again. He was so tired that he planned to sleep as soon as he got out of the shower. When he got out of the bathroom, he noticed that was shining from the living room but he was certain that he turned them off. “Ginny?” he called out.
There was no answer, so he walked outside slowly. ‘Maybe there’s a burglar’ he wondered to himself. He tiptoed as he peeked his toweled head at the end of the hallway. Suddenly he heard a loud bang, he jumped in his place as he cried out in a high pitch voice, but he quickly covered his mouth to keep himself from screaming.
“Shoot!” a voice cursed.
He peeked his head out to the living room but didn’t see anyone, the voice seemed to be coming from the kitchen. “Who’s there??” his voice shaking “I’ve got a bat.” He warned.
“You sure you know how to use it?” Virginia’s voice sang out sweetly.
He let out a long sigh of relief “Oh my gosh, you scared the crap out of me!! Why didn’t you answer?”
“I didn’t hear you!” she cried back. “We don’t have a bat.”
He rolled his eyes, “I know. I was trying to scare the burglar.” Suddenly his eyes bulged outward as he stared at the kitchen floor “Oh my gosh!! What in the world are you trying to do? Paint this floor with flour??!!”
Sprawled out on the floor were masses of flour. Virginia was trying to clean it up but she was getting white flour all over her own clothes. “I dropped it, what’s the big deal? I swear, Freddie, you can be such a drama queen.”
He flicked his eyebrows upward as he stared down at her “You know it, girl! Here, let me help.” He brought the half empty bag into the sink and rinsed a towel. Covering the mass as he collected the flour from the edge of the tile and piled it up into the middle section. She stood back and watched him clean. After he finished, he noticed that she was smiling at him “What would you do without me Dr. Chan?”
“You’ve asked that before and I answered it before. I don’t like to repeat myself.” She placed her hands on her hips “You missed a spot.” She pointed to the section he was standing on.
“Look Missy. Im a perfectionist, I’ll never leave any spots.” His eyes rolled around again as he rinsed the towel. “What are you doing with flour anyway.”
She looked away shyly “I wanted to bake some cupcakes.”
“Cupcakes? Well first of all, the flour is suppose to be mixed in a bowl. Second of all, we have no milk or eggs left. I haven’t gone to the store yet.” He opened the fridge and showed her the empty spaces.
She frowned “I didn’t know you needed that.”
He laughed “Okay, Dr. Chan, what’s with the sudden love for cooking?”
She shrugged “I guess it should be about time I learn how to cook.”
“Oh my gosh.” He covered his mouth dramatically “You’ve got a boyfriend! I knew it, is it that cute officer?” he winked knowingly.
She chuckled “Of course not! Can’t a girl learn how to cook? I can’t depend on you all the time.” She said sadly as she walked out to the living room. He was close behind her.
“What do you mean?”
“We’ll I suppose you’ll move out soon since you and you’re siblings are talking to you again. I don’t want to hold you back from your family.”
He took a seat next to her on the couch as he pushed her head into his shoulder roughly “Awww, my little baby is growing up. Don’t worry Mommy will always be here for you.” He teased.
She pushed him away “No! You cannot always take care of me.”
“Why not?” he asked innocently.
“Because you’re gay and Im straight. Maybe I’ll get married one day, but Im not sure about you. But you should be with your family, they need you right now. Your mother needs you.” She reasoned.
He let out a sigh “Ginny, come on. Get serious, you think I really want to move home when I can live here for free with you?”
Her eyes shot up from the floor “Really? You would rather live with me than your family?”
He smiled “Of course! You know, I never realized how narrow-minded they were until today. You should have seen the glares that I got from them. They just never seize to amaze me. Just because Im gay.”
“Im sorry to hear that.” She said sincerely.
“So am I. But think on the bright side, I have a great friend that won’t judge me because of my sexuality…and she supports me too! I have a roof over my head and my own room, what more could a guy ask for?”
“Since when are you a ‘guy’”? she teased.
He laughed “Since that she-boy called me a half and half. I guess in a way I need to make sense of all this. I mean, I have all the organs of a man yet I want to be a woman. I guess I’ll save money and turn myself into a real woman.”
She winced in horror at what he was saying “That’s disgusting.” She commented.
He let out a sharp laugh “I was kidding, silly!! I don’t think I’ll ever change any part of my body. I mean look at me.” He stood up flexing his puny muscles. “Im perfect, baby.”
She burst out laughing as she shook her head “Yes, you are, my dear. You sure are.”
“Well, come on, I’ll teach you a few easy dishes.” He got up ready to cook at 1 o’clock in the morning.
Virginia let out a wide yawn “Oh no, Im too tired, maybe some other time.” He leered at her with his hands at his hips “Get real, if you’re gonna stay here, why should I learn how to cook? There’s no use having two chefs in the house.” She rushed to her room before he could say anything else.
***********
The next day, Virginia left early for work since she had an appointment with a patient. Outside was the waiting room where Tracy waited patiently for her. She held in her hand some flowers for Virginia. Her face had more color and she seemed to have enough sleep. She was waiting patiently for about half an hour when she noticed a guy walking in “Hi.” He greeted the receptionist.
“Can I help you sir?” the girl replied.
“I was wondering if Dr. Chan was available, Im one of her patients Robert Fong.”
Tracy looked up and expected to see a distraught guy, instead she found him clean cut and nice looking. “Sure, please have a seat, Dr. Chan is with a patient right now, she’ll be out soon.”
He nodded politely as he took the seat one space away from Tracy, he gave her a quick glance and smiled warmly. “Are you waiting for Dr. Chan too?” She nodded in reply but didn’t speak. She was still shy when it came to strangers and most of all men.
“Judy, has Mr. Chu arrived yet?” a voice appeared from around the corner of the hallway.
“No, Dr. Cheung. Not yet.” The receptionist replied.
“Okay, let me know when he does.” Marc was a bit disappointed. His patient was already 1 hour late for the meeting. He turned around and found two people sitting in the waiting area. “Hi there.” He smiled warmly “Did you need to talk to someone?” he was eager to start a session.
Tracy shook her head shyly “No, Im waiting for Dr. Chan.” Her grasp around the flowers tightened nervously.
Robert also shook his head “Im the same.”
“Well, let me know if you guys need anything. Im down the hall.” He pointed to his office. The two nodded politely.
The receptionist smiled at the two “He didn’t mean to be pushy, he’s a new doctor here and he just wants to help.” She explained.
“I understand.” Robert smiled.
After a few more minutes, the door to Virginia’s office swung open and out came a patient. “You can go in now.” The receptionist said.
Robert turned to Tracy “You go ahead first.”
She shook her head shyly “No, I just wanted to drop off the flowers, you can go first.”
He smiled “I guess we had the same idea.” He pulled out a wrapped gift that he brought for Virginia. “Lets go in together.” He offered. She nodded in reply and got up, he put out a hand for her to go first. “After you.” He was a pure gentleman.
“Well, this is a nice welcome!” Virginia said happily as she stood up and greeted Tracy and Robert with a warm hug. “How are you two doing? You know each other?” she asked with curiosity.
“No, we just met outside. Im sorry, I didn’t introduce myself, Im Robert but everyone calls me Robby.” He brought out a welcoming hand as she shook it lightly.
“Tracy.” Her eyes glued to the ground.
“Sweetie, eyes up.” Virginia said as she pushed Tracy’s chin up. “You still need practice.” She smiled “Is that for me?” she pointed to the beautiful pink roses.”
Tracy blushed “Yes, it is. I almost forgot about them.” She handed Virginia the flowers.
“This is for you too.” Robert handed her the perfectly wrapped box.
“Oh, you guys are too sweet.” Virginia gushed a she tore the wrapping apart and revealed a square shaped leather box. When she opened it, she gasp at the beautiful silver watch inside “How did you know my watch was broken?!” she asked.
“I noticed it the last time I saw you…” he trailed off, not wanting to reveal too much to the new person.
Virginia glanced over to Tracy and returned back to Robert “Yes. I do remember. That’s very thoughtful of you. You’ve got quite an eye for perception.” Her eyes suddenly brightened “Oh, I almost forgot, I’ve got a gift for both of you.” She smiled a she reached into her drawers and pulled out two small boxes. She opened them to check which one goes to whom. “This is for you.” She handed one to Tracy and then the other one to Robert.
“You didn’t have to.” Tracy said with a huge grin that deceived her words.
“I wanted to.” Virginia said firmly, she waited anxiously for them to open their gifts. “You like it?” she asked.
Tracy practically had tears in her eyes “Its beautiful.” It was a silver cross on a silver chain “Is that engrave wording?” she asked. Virginia nodded with a wide grin.
“Mine too.” Robert said as he examined it “May you find the strength to go on.” He read out loud. “My initials are on here too!” He exclaimed. “What does yours say?” he asked Tracy as he tried to put on the chain.
“Find me in your heart.” Tracy had tears in her eyes now as she smiled “Thank you.” When she turned back to Robert, she noticed that he was trying unsuccessfully to put on the chain. “Here, let me help.” She said as she took the chain from his hand and put it on easily.
“Thank you.” He said.
Virginia looked from one person to the other. She felt a strange bond growing between them. “Tracy have you found a place to stay yet?” she knew Tracy lived in the shelter home and recently found a job. She also knew that Robert was one of the richer people in Hong Kong but due to her promise she couldn’t reveal his identity.
Tracy shook her head “Not yet. Im still at the shelter home.” She didn’t sound as sad.
“You’re staying in a shelter home?” Robert looked surprised “That’s no place for a girl like you.”
“I have no money and I just found a job. I won’t be able to afford an apartment until a few months later.” She explained “But its okay, at least Im on my own two feet.”
“That long?” he asked, his face filled with genuine concern for the stranger “Can you do secretarial work?” she nodded “Well, I’ll make a few phone calls.” He said slyly.
Virginia smiled as she watched the barrier being pulled down from Tracy as she smiled “Thank you, but I don’t want to bother you.”
“Its no bother at all. Anyways, looks like we’re on the same boat. Dr. Chan always said it’ll make you feel better by helping others, right?” he turned to Virginia for a split second before turning back to the simple beauty next to him.
“Thank you.” Tracy said as she smiled warmly. “Thank you very much Dr. Chan.”
Virginia looked confused “What did I do? You two met all on your own and Robby offered to help, not me.” She shook her head unwilling to take the gratitude.
“But if it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t have met.” Robert said matter of factly.
“Suit yourself. You know, I would love more than anything to stay and chat but unfortunately, I must go back to work.” She pointed to the patients waiting outside.
“Oh Im sorry, that’s so inconsiderate.” Robert apologized as he got up. “Come on, I’ll take you to lunch and I’ll tell you about the job.”
Tracy nodded eagerly as she got up “I’ll give you a call sometime, Dr. Chan.”
“Call me Ginny from now on. You two are no longer my patients.” She smiled proudly at how well they progressed from their depressed stage. The smile stayed on her face even when they left her office.