Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Hong Kong 2004
The Po Lin Temple stood high above the Lantau Island for all to see. The drive was long to the ferry and often gave her a queasy stomach after launching. The day was warm like any other, the sun soaking up the people’s energy. The two sat on a round foam like seat on the ground, across from them was an elder monk. His beard white and long below his neck, he spoke of much caution and wisdom but all she heard was superstition.
“The world is getting closer to its origin. What comes up, must come down. If there is a beginning, there will be an ending.” He sighed tiredly like he was running out of air in his lungs “But alas, it is unstoppable.”
“What is Master?” Kevin asked, undoubtedly intrigued by the old monk’s secretive words.
“The world is ending!” Alexis cried with annoyance at her childhood friend, whom she recently discovered lived a city away from her home in Sa Tin “He’s said it like ten times.”
He ignored her outburst for he was use to her disbelieving in signs and future readings “How will we stop from world extinction?”
The old monk shook his head while he draped his fingers around his white beard and stroked it “You cannot stop it from happening, but a chosen one will stop it from spreading.”
“What will spread?” Kevin asked eagerly. Wanting to learn more by each minute passing. He often came to see the monk with no name to ask about the future. He admired the wise man and was amazed by the things he foresaw.
Alexis slouched her back and leaned onto her elbow with absolute boredom “Can we go now?”
“Shhh!” he hushed at her.
“Wait.” The monk raised a hand at her “Sit up.” He instructed.
Kevin turned to his friend, who was unwilling to be pulled into yet another scam “Why? So you can look into my soul with your penetrating brown eyes?” she mocked and laughed at the sarcastic comment. He threw her the famous glare and she was done, pulling her back straight she sighed and raised her brow at the man.
He nodded slowly and the smile was creepy as it spread across his wrinkled face “Yes…the strong forehead, the stubborn eyes and the unbelieving words. I had seen this before in a dream.”
“What is it Master?” Kevin turned to his friend strangely “What do you see?”
“She is the calling.” He laughed suddenly causing her to jump in her seat.
“Whatever. Kevin, let’s get out of here. I’m getting the chills.” Her eyes glued to the laughing man while she yanked at her friend’s arm.
He gave in to her tugging as he stood up with her “Wait Alex, I think he has more to say.”
The man’s laugh abruptly stopped and he shook his head, eyes distant into the horizon. She shivered from his echoing laugh “Come on, he’s done…” she urged in a whisper.
Kevin faced the man as he bowed carefully “Thank you Master.” He turned to advise Alex to do the same but she was long gone. Rushing out after her, he found her rushing down the long flight of stairs in front of the giant temple “Alex!” he called while chasing after her.
She didn’t stop until she was at the foot of the hill, breathing hard while leaning against a tree “Thank…God…I…got…away.”
“What is your problem?” he asked while catching his breath.
“Look, we may be friends but I don’t have to believe everything you believe. The man’s a con artist.” She stopped to take a breath “How could you keep falling for that?”
“He never asks me to donate money.” Kevin argued.
Her eyes bulged “But you still give it. See, he’s a better con than you thought.” She turned and walked slowly down the stairs leading to the harbor “I can’t believe I’ve let you talked me into going five times. Each time, it’ something else but I swear Kevin, this is the last time. He’s gone over board with that ‘calling’ shit.”
“Don’t curse.” He said in a brotherly tone “You know I don’t like that. Anyways, what makes you think his words are a bunch of mumbo jumbo? Maybe it is true? You will be responsible for saving the world?”
This time it was her turn to laugh with her head thrown back “Yes, because I’m the smartest, strongest, boldest person in the world.” She shook her head while leaning on another tree to rest “The only thing I’m good at is grooming. Which reminds me, your eyebrows need some trimming, they look worse than your spiky hair.” She pointed out.
“Sometimes it’s not about strength or courage, it’s about the inner power that you allow to come out. Bringing out a different side of you…” he faded away when he saw a spider crawling onto her shoulder. She was deathly afraid of animals and insects were the worst “Alex…don’t move…” he cautioned slowly stepping towards her.
“What? What are you doing?” she asked strangely. Suddenly her eyes bulged out “Is there something on me??” She screeched. He raised a finger to his lips while she turned her head to the side and caught the creature on her shoulder. Before he had a chance to calm her, she yelled at the top of her lungs while flinging her arms like a bird. Wailing while she charged at Kevin “Get it off me!!!”
When he noticed the spider had jumped off her after she flapped her arms up and down, he began laughing “It’s off.” He managed to say between chuckles. Alex leaned her head onto his chest with a long sigh “You are such a girl.” He shook his head and patted her head like a puppy.
Suddenly, she punched him roughly in the arm “It’s all your fault. Stop taking me to these spiders infested places!! You know how I feel about them.”
He rubbed his arm yet he was still laughing, “Since when did you become so deathly afraid of animals?” he recalled her having a puppy when she was small, but when he saw her again, she practically jumped from a stray dog.
It was an embarrassing story that she didn’t want to tell anyone “I…I can’t remember.” She said in a worthless lie “Come on, I’m going to be late for my manicure and pedicure appointment.” She turned and headed towards the ferry.
The wavy ride made her nauseous as she sat at the foot of the boat, people stood around enjoying the view of the harbor while she gripped her stomach in pain. Kevin shook his head as he approached her with a bottled water “Here, drink some water.”
Alex shook her head “No…thanks.”
He took the empty seat next to her as he nodded at her hand “Give me your hand.” She looked at him strangely but did what he asked. He dropped the blue seasick pill into her hand “I know you forgot your pills this morning.”
Her lips looked paler than usual as she dropped the pill into her mouth and drank the water to wash it down “Thanks.” She turned to him with a small smile.
“Don’t thank me. Thank that guy over there, I borrowed the pill from him.” He pointed to a man in his late forties. He nodded at the two with a slow smile.
Alex turned a ghastly pale color “You…you borrowed the pill?!” her voice trembling. Kevin nodded with raised brows “You don’t know where it’s been!!” she began sticking her finger down her throat to throw up the pill while he watched her with a stifled laugh. She only got red in the face from trying “It’s not funny!!” She groaned while punching him in the arm.
“Miss So, it’s not a big deal. What if it’s expired and the color use to be white but now it’s blue. It won’t kill you.” He added with a teasing grin. She leaned over the rim and forced herself to puke again while he laughed and pulled her back “I’m teasing! You are still gullible as always.”
“I hate you.” She growled with a vengeance while storming off to the opposite end of the boat.
He followed her with the echoing laughter “Really? Just a minute a go, you thanked me and looked at me like I was your savior.”
“Shut up, Kevin!” She snapped without turning back causing a few people to stare at them with curiosity.
He rolled his eyes and stepped directly over cane making him trip. He got a hold of himself and was ready to yell at the careless person when he noticed it was a walking cane “I’m sorry, was my cane in the way?” a gentleman asked kindly. His eyes were glossy and it stared in one direction.
“No, I wasn’t looking.” Kevin said quickly as he handed the can back to its rightful owner.
“Well, you’re ahead of me.” He cracked a smile at his own joke.
“Excuse me.” He nodded but realized the man could not see. He walked on and turned back to glimpse at the man. It was the way he said those words that made him shiver. He quickly found Alex, who was still huffing but had gotten over her seasick.
When they were safe on land, he followed her into the salon “What are you doing?” she turned and snapped on him.
“Come on Alex, don’t be mad. You know I can’t stand having you being mad at me. Just tell me that I’m forgiven and I’ll leave you alone.” He said with innocent eyes.
She pouted her lips and stopped her foot “I…I’m still mad.”
“Fine, then I’ll stay with you until you stop being mad.” He said casually and walked past her to have a seat on a swivel chair.
“Sir, you cannot sit there unless you are going to have a manicure done.” A woman instructed with a wagging finger.
Alex’s lips curled into a smile “Wait Jane, he is having one.” Kevin raised his brows suspiciously at her “I won’t be mad anymore if you join me.”
He sighed, “Fine, if that’s what it takes.”
Insistent that he choose a color, Kevin gave in to a pearly pink color on his fingers and toes. She was having her sweet revenge while he allowed her to have it. He was passive and often called a pushover when he was younger, maybe that’s why they got along so well. She was use to getting things her way and people waiting on her hand and foot. She was the only daughter in the family therefore her parents spoiled her to death, giving her everything and anything that she wanted.
After they were done, they walked out of the salon together, perfectly primped. She couldn’t help but laugh at his embarrassed face while he tried to hide his nails “Oh come on, it’s not the first time.” She giggled while linking her arm through his.
“But it’s the first time with color.” He reminded her making her smile even wider “I’ll let you have it this time.”
“Just like the other times?” Alex quipped, “You know Kevin, I’m getting tired of you trying to act like a man. Why can’t you just admit that I’m right and you’re wrong so we can move on with our lives?”
He stopped in his steps and tilted his head at her “Maybe you haven’t noticed, but I am a man.” She knew she had taken the teasing too far “If I wasn’t a good friend, I wouldn’t let you win all the time.”
Alex rolled her eyes “Yeah and I wasn’t a good friend, I wouldn’t let you drag me to that stupid temple to listen to that stupid monk babble on and on about the world ending.” She finished dramatically with her arms flaring to the side.
“Don’t call that stupid. He’s very wise and his words will come true.” He shook his head at her warningly.
She laughed while walking backwards “Yes, they are so true. And that crap about me being protected by a higher being is all true too, I suppose. Hm…what do you think will happen if I walk backwards right now?” she asked while continuing down a street.
“Alex, stop.” He groaned tiredly.
“Ooh, look I’m walking backwards.” She said making gestures with her hands “Eyes closed too, see…” She blocked her vision and suddenly tripped over the curb while a car was zooming towards her direction.
“ALEX!!!” Kevin raced towards her but he knew he would not make it.
Her hand was pulled up by a strong grip as she felt herself almost had a date with death. She was a hair away from being roadkill “Are you okay Miss?”
She nodded shakily “Thank you—you…you’re blind.” Alex felt sick as she waved a hand in front of his face.
Kevin witnessed the amazing rescue as he thanked the guy “Thank you so much!” It was then that he noticed, “You’re the man on the ferry!”
“So, we meet again.” He smiled with a nod “You should be careful, Miss.”
Alex nodded, still shaken up while the two watched the blind man walk down the street himself with a can. Kevin shook his head at her while she smiled guiltily “No harm, see?’ she said weakly.