Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Billie forced her smile to stay plastered as one by one, Tony’s friends and relatives came to scrutinize her. With each one passing, she felt more relaxed and able to carry on herself. She smiled while Travis told the made up story for the hundredth time that day “So you see, Billie really didn’t want to be the bad person by telling Tony that she didn’t see a future with him. In the end, she decided that it was eating her alive and was about to tell Tony the truth. Instead, he was the one to announce that he had been dating this girl for months and are getting married. She was quite relieved but what girl would not be hurt by that?”
The second aunt to Tony frowned “That’s not the story that I heard from Tony.”
“Naturally, he would want to protect his own reputation. I mean, what guy would be stupid enough to tell the truth? To face his family and friends and say yes, I was wrong. I cheated on my girlfriend. It’s not in their nature to do that.” Travis concluded.
The elder lady nodded in agreement “You do have a good point.” They were saved when someone called her from behind “Excuse me. You two have a great time.” She smiled warmly and got up.
She let out a deep sigh “Jesus, I though she was going to stay here for the rest of the night.”
“It is night already.” He pointed out to the windows. The light was fading “So, Miss Cheng, how do you feel now? Any better?”
Billie smiled with a tilted head “Why are you so nice to me?”
He wasn’t expecting that question “Well…I guess it’s.... I couldn’t stand and just watch you get ripped apart. As much as Kyle would disagree but I never find reprimanding someone to be a good trait that humans—I can’t.” he sputtered out laughing “I can’t even make fun of you…”
“You were doing pretty good.” She complimented.
His eyes drifted to the front of the stage where the bride and groom just finished cutting the cake. After that, there would be dancing and the closing ceremony. They began clearing the floor as the lights dimmed “Would you like to dance?” Travis stood up as he bowed at the hip like a gentleman with one hand behind his back.
She shook her head “No, not here.”
His eyes twinkled as he reached for her hand “Come on.”
“Where?” she grabbed her purse as she allowed him to pull her towards the double glass doors to the earlier ceremony.
“You don’t want to dance inside, so we’ll dance here.” He sprawled out his hand at the open meadow. The chairs were cleared out and only the flower canopy was present. He led her under the streamer of fresh flowers “Take off your shoes.”
She frowned at him strangely but decided it was no harm. Her toes blended with the grass as it tickled the bottom of her bare feet “Okay, Mr. Surprise, what now?”
“We dance.” He peeled off his second sock and took her hand as one wrapped around her waist “The music is better out here.”
“And the people.” She added with a laugh as they swayed to the music. She felt silly but it was refreshing to do things out of the ordinary. She missed those days when innocent love was all she worried about and work was only second on the list. He did the most romantic things for her, picnics on the top of a building and long walks along the countryside. Breakfast in bed.
Suddenly, her smile began to fade as she lowered her head. He was instantly concerned “What’s wrong? Did he do this for you?”
“No.” she replied honestly “But similar.” Sliding her hand away from his, she stepped back “Thank you Travis for tonight. I expected today to be one of the worse days of my life, if not the worst. Instead it’s turned out to be quite pleasant and probably the most fun I’ve had in years…”
“But…” he knew there would be one.
She slid her feet into her heels “But it just reminds me that I’m not ready for any kind of relationship. Only student and teacher.” She smiled “Or friends if you want. But I warn you, being my friend has no advantages. I will pick on you and be very overly protected of you as well as criticizing.”
He laughed “So in other words, no changes.” Nodded, he reached for her purse on the ground “I can deal with that.”
“You’re not hurt are you?” she asked.
“No.” he said simply “Come on, I think we’ve paid our dues at this God forbidden hell.”
“You took the words right out of my mouth.” She linked her arm through his as they walked out of the place together without saying goodbye to anyone.
****************
Anton waved goodbye to the well dressed men as they exited the bar together “Next week! Don’t forget.” One guy pointed at him with a drunken laugh.
“I won’t.” he replied with a smile. He turned his back to look for a cab when he saw something stirring by the alley at the corner of his eyes. Curious, he walked over and found Anesa glued to the wall “Anesa?”
“Darn, you found me!” she grumbled.
He laughed with crossed arms “Why are you following me.”
She smiled weakly “I…um…wanted…um…”
“Call me when you’re ready to fess up.” He turned his heels as a secretive smile crawled on his face.
“Wait!” she raised a hand to stop him. Straightening his face, he turned to her with raised brows “Well, you know how you were saying that you couldn’t find a job that was not connected to your…you know…past.” He nodded “How about I get you a job in my company?”
“Aren’t you a fashion designer?” he recalled.
Anesa smiled “You remember.”
“I remember a lot of things.” He said with a double meaning “What’s the job?”
She was suddenly hesitant to tell him “My assistant. But you don’t have to take it!” she added quickly.
Anton laughed with a shaking head as he turned and called for a cab. She was disappointed by his reaction as he opened the door to the car and stopped to turn to her “You coming?” Her face lit up as she skipped over to him and got in the car. He came in after her and closed the door “Tong Lau Wan Chai.” Anton told the driver as the car began to take off. He noticed her surprised expression “The other night, you said you were curious to know how well known I was back then. It has been almost over six years, what do you think has changed?”
“A lot.” Anesa said, “There should be a new Dai Lou and out with the old. I don’t think you even need to hide from them.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Once a gangster, always a gangster. You’re life may change but the name will always be stamped on your grave. The movies make it cool and prestigious to be a gangster but you don’t see the downside until you want out and it still follows you everywhere.” He said with a distant look in his eyes.
Anesa nodded “I believe you.”
The car stopped finally as he paid for the fair and took her hand “Stand behind me.” He guided. Her eyes widened as he took her towards an old run down Spaghetti House “Are you scared?” he stopped her at the door.
“I could pee in my pants if a cat jumped out right now.” She whispered.
He laughed with a shaking head as he opened the door and walked in. They were greeted by two large men, muscles pounding “How many?”
“Two.” Anton said coolly as he peeled off his jacket and handed it to Anesa. He unbuttoned the black shirt and his tattoo instantly caught the bouncers attention.
“Come in.” one of the men said politely as he opened the door for them.
She was at awe with the underground club. They were on the second floor and the doors were completely soundproof. The music was pounding as they headed for the stairs. Heads turned their direction and it quickly intimated the talkative Anesa. She held onto his jacket and tried hard to ignore the glares that threw her way. Opposite from what Anesa was feeling, Anton was confident as he strolled over to the bar and ordered two drinks. But before they could get their hands on it, a guy with a full body tattoo walked over and pounded his fist on the counter “What the hell are you doing here? No Tigers allowed.” He clenched.
Anton smiled at the familiar rival’s face “Haven’t you heard? The Tigers dispersed years ago. This bar is an open bar to the public and I was only showing my friend what an underground club looked like.”
Tongue tied, he decided to scare him the old fashioned way. Snapping his fingers, he motioned for his boys to get up. A good amount stopped what they were doing and walked over to him “Chiu Gor!” they hollered in unison.
“My boys don’t want you here.” He smiled smugly.
Anesa got on her tippy toes as she pointed to the guys behind Chiu Gor “Twenty five guys.” She whispered to Anton, who still did not budge.
“We only want our drinks.” Anton replied casually as he took off his shirt and handed it to Anesa. Without warning, the club stopped moving. Almost the rest of the men stomped their way over to Anton and stood behind him with ready fists.
“An Gor!” their bark was louder then the other group.
Anton turned to the boys “You don’t have to call me that anymore. The Tigers are no longer a gang.”
“Once a Dai Lou, always a Dai Lou. No matter where you go, we’ll always have your back.” A familiar face replied with honor as he held his head up high. They were proud and ready to die if Anton would lose a strand of hair.
He spun around at Chiu Gor “Did you hear that?!” he pointed “They are ready to die!” the guys behind him roared in response. Anton’s smile appeared as he relaxed his face “But all I want is a drink.” He said simply.
Chiu Gor knew he was defeated, pounding his fist on the counter, he cried “Where are his drinks?!” The bartender cowered as he slid the drinks on the counter “This one’s on me.” He said with a fake smile.
Anton grinned crookedly “Thank you. I’ll have to buy you a drink some time.”
“Sure…sure.” He backed down and waved for his men to go away.
Anesa was not only feared for her life, she was in shock to see how much power he still held at the tip of his hand. Taking the shirt from her, he put it on “An Gor, come back and lead us. We know you can get the Tigers running again.”
He patted the pleading guy on the shoulder “Hak Chai, the Tigers are over. I’ve moved on and I hope you guys will too. Find something you want to do, get married, get a job, get a new life. This will be the last you’ll see of me.” He pulled the guy in for a hug “Take care and stay out of trouble.” He warned. Reaching for the shot, he pounded it down and turned to Anesa “Come on.”
“Wait.” Anesa stopped him as she reached for her drink and finished it in one gulp “Can’t let good booze go to waste. It’s a sin.” She smiled. Nodding, he reached for his suit jacket but she mistaken thought he was trying to take her hand. Entwining her fingers through his, she smiled shyly “Okay, we can go now.”
He was about to correct her but she looked too happy and he didn’t have the heart to tell her that he was reaching for his jacket not her hand. Smiling slightly, he nodded. Taking her home, he finally broke free from her grasp “Good night.”
She lowered her head timidly “Thank you, I had a great time tonight.”
He laughed, “I thought you were scared?”
“Not as long as you were there.” She said and before he could leave, she leaned over and kissed him on the lips lightly “Night.” Turning her head down again, she scurried into the apartment building.
He touched his lips as his eyes cringed strangely “Good job, Anton.” He sighed with a defeated shake of the head. Turning, he walked towards the cab that was waiting.