Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The following day, Kathy received a knocking on her apartment door. She had just woken up and was about to cook breakfast since she did not have class that day. She opened the door and found Wong standing there wearing his dark sunglasses and a cap over his blond dyed hair “What’s with you?” she asked as she returned to her eggs cooking on the stove.
“I think I’m being followed.” He whispered then quickly closed the door behind him.
“By whom?” Kathy asked.
Wong hovered over her shoulder “The one armed man.”
He began laughing hysterically while Kathy gave him an evil look “Ha ha. You’re so funny, I forgot to laugh.”
After breakfast, they walked down the busy streets where shops were open. Everything that Kathy chose was either too innocent or not short enough. She picked up a flared black skirt “How about this?”
“Too high school.” Wong answered.
She put down the skirt for the 10th time that morning “How about this shirt?” she chose a dark blue shirt, it was tight fitting but the neck line was so high she wouldn’t need to worry about bending over.
“You look like a nun.” He said flatly. “Mel Gor would not go for a girl that wore that.”
“Well, what do you want me to do? You shook your head at everything I picked up. How about you chose?” she asked casually.
“I was waiting for you to ask!” he smiled as he shook his head “Come on, let’s go to MY story.”
Kathy frowned as she hesitantly followed “Why do I suddenly regret asking?”
Wong took her to a little shop in the Toronto Mall called ‘Hot Topic’, the clothes were dark and almost creepy. Kathy would have never guessed that she would be caught dead in a store like that. Wong grabbed a few outfits including short skirts and short shirts as he shoved at her “Here, try these.”
Kathy frowned as she held up a v-shaped piece “What’s this? A hair bandana?”
“No, it’s tube top.” Wong pointed out. Her eyes bulged out as she gave it back to him “Uh uh…Mel Gor asked me to give you an edgy look. You have to try it.”
She let out a sigh “I wish I never met him…” she walked into the changing room with her head low and her feet was dragging against the carpet.
Wong was looking around for more stuff when he came upon a pair of net stockings. He threw it over the curtain where Kathy was changing “Put this on too.”
Kathy looked up and a ball hit her straight in the forehead “Ow!” she cried when the balled stockings hit her. “Watch where your throwing that.” She continued to shake her head unable to believe that she was trying on gothic clothing. “Neil would have a heart attack if he saw me now.”
“Who’s Neil?” Wong asked.
Kathy rolled her eyes “Don’t listen when I’m talking to myself.”
“Sorry. Come on, are you done yet?” he whined.
“Hold your horses!” she smoothed down the short black skirt but it seemed useless because that was the longest it would be. She had on the black fishnet stockings and a red bandana tube top. She walked out covering her now flat belly “There.” She exclaimed and raced back into the dressing room.
“Hey..I didn’t even see it!” Wong cried as he barely got a glimpse of her. She sighed and came back out. He looked at her up and down “Very nice, but you’re missing something. Boots.” He snapped his finger. He found a pair inside the store, it was black and knee high. “Try it on.”
“The things I do for a favor…” Kathy began mumbling as she struggled to put the boots on “And to think…all this wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t nosy…or been so nice and tried to help a complete stranger…” she zipped up the second pair and stood up “That’s the last time I do anything nice…” she placed her hands on her hips “There, is that better?”
Wong stared at her with a grin so wide, who knew the innocent looking girl could be transformed into a gangster chic. “It’s perfect.” He breathed. “Come on, let’s pay for it and show Mel Gor now.”
She widened her eyes “Now?”
He nodded eagerly, he couldn’t wait for Mel to see her transformation “Pay for it.” He urged. “I’ll pick out a few more outfits so he can see.”
Kathy looked at him strangely “Gees, if I didn’t know better, I would have guessed you were gay or something. Guys hate shopping.”
Wong laughed loudly with his head shaking as he picked out a few more shirts. She was at the register desk as the girl rung up her purchases. She took the wad of money that Mel had given her the night before and paid for it. The two walked out of the store with two bag full of clothes. Kathy was covering herself when Wong stopped and pull out a long black jacket from the bag “Here, before you draw anymore attention to yourself.”
Kathy took the coat thankfully as they headed towards the exit. They reached a different bar where it seemed almost like an underground club. The two entered the darkened room. She quickly spotted Mel sitting at the bar talking to Roach. His eyes did a double take on Kathy. A slow smile spread across his face as he got up “Well, don’t we look cute.”
Kathy groaned “Cute? This is cute? I look like a damn hooker.”
“How much are you charging?” Roach whistled loudly as he got up to check her out.
Kathy took the jacket and wrapped it around her body “That’s it, I’m not doing this anymore.”
Mel turned to Roach “Apologize.” he ordered.
“Sorry, Miss Kathy.” He said without much feeling.
“Well…an apology is not that necessary.” She suddenly noticed all the eyes were on her and she was the only girl in the joint “You guys are not gonna rape me or something right?” she noticed the hungry eyes staring at her up and down.
Mel laughed “If I wanted to, I would have done it the other night. Don’t worry, no one is allowed to lay a finger on you or I’ll chop it off personally.” His threat did the trick as the other guys turned away and continued their own business. He smiled at Kathy “Now then, let’s start the tough lesson.”
“What tough lesson?” she asked feebly.
“Come on.” He reached for her arm and led her into a secluded room. Roach and Wong were allowed inside while the other guys stood guard. “You got the look, now you need the attitude. Janet is brutal with words.”
“So I heard.” Kathy snickered.
He nodded in agreement “So you need to be tougher.” He pointed to a circled table with two chairs. “Have a seat.” She nodded and took the seat from him “I’ll pretend to be Janet.” Kathy had to smile at the thought of the big tough guy posing himself as a girl. “Wipe that smirk off your face, bitch.” He spat.
Kathy wrinkled her forehead “That was uncalled for. At least warn me.”
“Why the hell should I?” he crossed his arms. “Mel Gor belongs to me. If you want him, you have to go through me.”
She tilted her head “Sure, you can have him.”
Mel let out a short laugh “Katie, you have to fight back. That’s exactly what she’s gonna say. If you answer that, she’ll just laugh in your face..she’ll probably slap you too.”
“No…she wouldn’t…would she?” she turned to Roach and Wong.
“She slapped me.” Wong pointed to his left cheek.
Kathy frowned “Well, how should I reply?”
Roach was thoughtful as he tried to help her out “Maybe say like…Over my dead body, slut!”
Wong clapped his hands “That’s good…I like that. Then maybe you can slap her and start a fight or something.”
Kathy quickly stood up with her hands in defense mode “Wooh, I aint fighting any girl.”
Mel looked up at her “Don’t worry, you don’t have to fight anyone. If she dares to hit you, I’ll have her taken care of.”
“Is violence always the answer for you? Why do you always have to beat someone up? I mean, this world is not based on killing and war…You might not know this, but there is a peaceful world that you have never seen.” She retorted angrily.
Mel turned to the two shocked guys, they looked surprised that Kathy would have the guts to say that to him. “Get out.” He said and the two quickly obliged. Kathy looked like a scared kitten, she had noticed his angry tone. Mel looked at Kathy with hardened eyes “I have seen that peaceful world…it’s fake, it’s just a lie you tell yourself when something good happens. But those things…good things…they never last forever. You’re naïve if you think that it’s a good world we live in.” he got up and took off his leather jacket showing his tattoo “Do you know why I had to get this?”
Kathy shook her head “Because it’s cool?”
Mel smiled at her response “Cool? No. It's a reminder, where I came from and how I got there. It covers my first scar from a brutal fight. Let me tell you a little story. When I was growing up, I was under the impression that life was perfect…like a storybook. Nothing can ever go wrong. I told myself this every time I was bullied or teased for my glasses or braces. When I finally got contacts and took my braces off, I thought the teasing would stop. But they never did. It started since the day I stepped foot into grade school and until High School. That’s when I realized it had nothing to do with the glasses or braces. It was me… the kids wanted to tease me.”
“Did your parents know?” she wondered out loud.
“Know? Of course they did, how could they not see the bruises that were on my face and body each time I came home from school? But they chose to not see it. Because in their perfect little world, nothing bad was ever known. So, I told myself from that day forth that I would never be teased again. It was either that or the death road. But I guess it’s the same now huh?” Mel chuckled at the irony of it all. He thought about committing suicide until Joe Gor came along and saved him. He taught him how to be everything he is that very day.
“I understand why you would be angry at the world…” she stopped when he snapped his head over at her.
“Angry? You’re damn right I’m angry! I never got anything good out of this life. The only good thing was taken away from me!!” tears were brimming at the corner of his eyes now and Kathy came to realize how tough life was for him. “I was kicked out of my home at the age of 16, dropped out of high school and found myself dealing drugs at the alleys to make extra cash. Joe Gor was murdered and left on my doorstep the day I was kicked out. How could I blame my parents? They were scared…scared for their own Goddamn lives!! NOT mine…but their own.” He wiped the tears that were coming out with the back of his hand.
“My life may not be as bad as yours, but I know the feeling of being teased. To the point where I would cry myself to sleep in hopes that when I wake up I would no long be teased for my outside appearance.” Kathy began with a distant look in her eyes “But I guess I’ll always be more fortunate, but my reason for living is still alive. He’s my best friend, the same guy that stood by my side every time someone teased me. He never cared how fat I became, he still remained by my side. I’m sorry that Joe Gor was killed, but don’t you ever feel tired of the violence?” she said softly not wanting him to blow up again.
“Tired?” he turned to her with earnest eyes “Every single day of my life…but what can I do? I stepped foot in it, I can’t get out now. My boys are countin’ on me. I’m like their father figure now. They let go of their lives to follow me, how could I be so selfish as to leave them at a time of need? Violence is the only answer I know. It’s the only way I solve any problems. So excuse me if I seem a little cruel.” He pounded down the beer he had finished halfway.
“I’m sorry…” Kathy didn’t know what else to say.
Mel looked up and smiled “Sorry to bring you down. It’s not your fault, I shouldn’t be angry at the world. I’m glad I ran into you that night…I don’t think I have ever thanked you for saving my life.”
Kathy laughed “Oh, you’ve done enough, trust me. If you’re going to thank me again, give me a warning so I can move out of the country.”
He joined in with her laughter “You are one special girl. That best friend of yours is lucky to have met you. He would be luckier if he had you for a girlfriend.”
“Too bad…” she sighed at the thought of Neil. They haven’t spoken in weeks. She wondered if he was so busy? But then she came to realize it was always her that called him. Maybe she was trying too hard? Maybe he didn’t want to talk to her anymore? Or maybe he was too busy with his own life to care about her?
Mel sensed her questions “One thing at a time. You help me this time and I’ll help you get the guy of your dreams.”
Kathy shook her head sadly “I told you…he doesn’t like me.”
“Have you asked him?” he asked.
“No.” she sighed “But I know because he never told me he liked me. Maybe I should just move on instead of dwelling over something that can never happen. I’m holding onto a dream that will never be reality.”
“Man, that’s deep.” Mel shook his head, Kathy had to laugh at his action. “Anyways, go home and rest. I’ll have the guys pick you up this Saturday.”
Kathy frowned “But I’m not ready.”
“You are, you just don’t know you have it in you. I’ve seen the angry looks, the snappy judgments, the sarcasm and you definitely got the look.” He eyed her carefully.
She laughed “Hey, behave now.” She got up “Okay…then I’ll see you this weekend.” Mel stood up to walk her out. Kathy didn’t know why but she felt the urge to hug him, maybe she felt that he needed one. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave his body a little squeeze “I wish I could take the anger away but I know you are the only one that could make it disappear. Whatever you do in life, don’t regret your decisions.”
He was shocked by her warm words, he felt choked up for once in his life as he returned her hug. They pulled away “Thank you. You’re a very sweet girl. I promise, no one will ever hurt you again.”
She smiled and nodded “I’ll try my best this Saturday.”