Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Billie parked her car near the Star Ferry as she skipped over the harbor. He had texted her to meet him there. She spun in a circle but didn’t see him, maybe he was late she thought to herself. Suddenly, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist from the back “You’re late.” He whispered into her ear before giving her a peck on the cheek.
She chuckled while wrapping her arms over his “A matchmaker’s work is never done.”
Travis laughed, “So I take it they’ll be okay?”
“As okay as two love birds on a tree.” She sang “So, what’s the plan tonight?” she turned her head to get a better view of his eyes.
“Dinner, dessert and maybe…” he lifted a brow seductively.
Billie broke away from his grasp with a laugh “Mr. Cho, I am not the kind of girl that sleeps on the first date.”
He crossed his arms “There’s a first for everything. Anyways, it’s not even a first date.”
“Oh yeah?” she asked timidly.
“A first date would be over a candle lit dinner with the perfect wine and the perfect mood.” He described.
“So what is this?” she smiled while imagining the perfect night.
Travis sighed “A start of a beautiful relationship.”
“How corny.” She teased and reached for his hand. They walked along the little shops looking at clothes and shoes but it was only a distraction long enough to look at each other adoringly. A few people stared in envy as the two passed by with childish grins. They ended up buying an egg and ham sandwich from a vendor ran by an old woman along with two milk tea drinks.
Travis opened the sandwich for her as they settled on a bench, he handed her the sandwich with a smile “What?” he asked when she smiled secretly.
“You seem different.” Billie noticed, “Like the weights were lifted from your shoulder.”
“In a way they are.” He smiled with a nod.
“So…what’s your story?” she asked curiously “I told you mine, it’s only fair that you share yours. It couldn’t be as bad as mine.” She added when he had a look of hesitation.
He swallowed the last bite “Promise you won’t laugh.”
She rolled her eyes “I promise.”
“Pinky swear.” He raised his pinky and she quickly interlocked them “About five years ago I had been dating this girl for a few years. I swore I would marry her eventually. But one day, she came home and dropped a bomb. She was pregnant.” Billie’s face whitened “It’s not mine.” He confirmed “She had an affair for over three months and didn’t know how to tell me. She asked for my forgiveness and blessing to marry this guy. She had no other family here, an orphan.” He looked down at the sandwich “I felt obligated to help her. I agreed and she asked me to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day.”
“Amazing.” Billie shook her head in sarcasm.
Travis smiled wryly “There’s more. On the day of the wedding, when the groom was on his way over to pick up the bride, there was a car accident. He died instantly, I had to give her the devastating news. She was a mess…I felt somewhat responsible. Maybe if I disagreed to the marriage, they would have just eloped instead of doing an actual wedding.”
“Sweetie, you didn’t want it to happen.” She reached out a hand to him.
The lump in his throat grew “Up until today, I still give her money to support her and her child. Three years…” he let out a throaty laugh “How stupid am I?”
She smiled and unexpectedly leaned over and kissed him on the lips “No, you’re not stupid. You are the most amazing man I have ever met.” She whispered. Lost in the moment, he dropped the sandwich and melted into yet another warm kiss.
They continued the kiss back at his apartment as he clumsily threw the keys inside and closed the door. She helped him lock it as he kissed her randomly on the face. Shifting his hands to her shirt, he began unbuttoning her top while she pushed her shoes off her feet “Annie?!” he yelled randomly.
Billie stopped “She’s not joining us.” She warned teasingly.
He laughed, “No, I was just checking to see if she’s home.” Picking up her shoes and purse, he pulled her into his room and locked the door.
“Cute.” She observed his room.
He stepped closer to her “My boxers are cuter.”
She couldn’t help but tease him “Really? Oh, hey! You’ve got a great view of the harbor.”
He crept behind her and wrapped his body on her back “Did I tell you about the story of my ex-girlfriend that cheated on me and had a kid with another man but I still give her money for support?” he kissed her on the neck and moved his way down her back.
“You probably used this story with so many girls to get them in bed.” She joked.
Travis laughed “Yes, but so far only one is working. That is if she’s willing to fall for it.”
Billie’s face turned solemn “I am willing.” Closing her eyes, their lips met again in a passionate kiss that shifted to the bed. He seemed to be in a rush getting his clothes off, not waiting for her to help him. She couldn’t help but giggle, “You’re in a hurry.”
“It’s been four years, what do you think?” he laughed as he melted on top of her. They took their time to get use to each other’s bare body. He was gentle as can be the first time but within an hour of rest, he noticed she was asleep. He leaned down to kiss her goodnight but she woke up from the response “Sorry, did I wake you?” She smiled, staring into his eyes, there was no other place she felt more comfortable in. Using her hands, she pushed his face towards her again as they shared another moment.
***************
She woke up the next morning from the light shining through the curtains. Cringing, she looked around at the stranger room and smiled when she remembered the night before. Turning to his side of the bed, she noticed a yellow note stuck to the pillow ‘Good morning, gorgeous. You rest tight, I’m going out to get us some breakfast. Don’t worry, Anesa is out with Anton.’
Billie’s grin grew as she stretched and got out of bed wearing his pajamas. She freshened up and tied her hair back for a face wash. She guessed Anesa wouldn’t mind if she used it. Her face devoid of makeup but it was still ivory white. When the doorbell rang, she bounced her way over to open it. Thinking it was Travis “I’m starv—” she abruptly stopped when faced with a stranger “Hi, can I help you?”
The man was balding and his eyes were beady. His thin lips curled into a smile “Hi, you must be Anesa. I was looking for Travis, I’m his boss Mr. Chan.”
“Oh.” She quickly opened the door for him “Actually, I’m not Anesa.”
“Oh?” he played coyly but he very well knew who she was “You must be his girlfriend then.”
She smiled at the word “I guess you can say that.” He made himself comfortable on the couch as she frowned suddenly “Wait, Travis is a novelist, how could he have a boss? He told me that he worked from book to book.”
“Oh did he?” Mr. Chan asked with extra surprise.
Billie smelled something fishy “Who are you really?”
“Just as I said, his boss.” He raised his brows and smiled comfortably “I think it’s so great of you Billie, to take him eventhough he’s a reporter, a profession I hear you really despise?”
She could feel her breathing quickened “Wh…what?”
“Yes, he’s a reporter for the daily news.” He pulled out a card to show her that he worked there “Why, it’s not like Travis to be untruthful to his girlfriend.”
“You know me?” she couldn’t keep her hands to stop shaking and eventually crossed them over her chest.
“Why of course. You were responsible for chasing away three of my best reporters after taking a semester of your class. Tell me, Miss Cheng, what is your secret? What do you do to these men that make them slave over you like chocolate over ice cream?”
She had stopped listening after seeing his card. Slumping on the couch, she shook her head in denial “He didn’t…why…he lied to me?” lips quivering as she covered her mouth to keep the cries from escaping.
“Well, I’m sure he didn’t mean to. Afterall, he was just looking for a story.” the man continued innocently. Each word only felt like daggers to her heart “I guess it would be easier now that you two are an item for you to sit down and do an interview with us?”
She snapped her face at him with much hatred “Get out. GET OUT NOW!” she pointed to the door. Tears escaping her eyes as she held the door open for him.
“Please, do tell him that I dropped by. I had no idea I would get a surprise to meet you.” He laughed while stepping out the door.
She slammed it shut and dragged herself over to the couch. Her emotions were swimming in confusion, all the trust she put on him, all the compliments, pouring her heart out about Tony felt suddenly stupid. How naïve she was to believe that there was one decent man out there. In the end, all he wanted was a story. A story of her to sprawl all over the front pages and forgotten the next day. Curling her head onto her thighs, she let the sobs erupt.
Ten minutes later, he came back with bags of groceries “You know what they say, you can’t just buy one thing.” Laughing, he nodded to her “Did you sleep well?”
She was frozen on the couch, her back facing him “Some man came to see you.”
“Oh really?” he asked casually “Did you scare him away?” he teased.
“Yes, I threw him out.” She said calmly.
Travis laughed humorously “That’s my girl. Who was he?” he separated the eggs and placed them into the fridge.
“Your boss, Mr. Chan.” She said through gritted teeth.
He let the egg slip from his hand as it crushed against the floor in a splat “What?” he asked nervously.
“Funny how a novelist like yourself would have a boss?” she got up slowly and turned to him with tear stained face “Or the question should be why you didn’t tell me you were a reporter?!” she cried angrily.
“Billie, I’m sorry…I swear I wanted to tell you.” He rushed over to take her arms but she whipped herself away from him “When you told me the story about Tony, I realized if I came out and told you, we would not have our chance.”
“And you think we would have a chance now? You of all people should know how much it hurts to be deceived by someone you love.” Billie wiped the new tears away harshly “Did you ever think of the consequences before you decided to keep this from me?”
“I did. I swear Billie, I hate the job, I was going to quit next week. I found a job at Anesa’s company. I thought if you didn’t know about it, it wouldn’t hurt since I won’t be there any longer.” He tried hard to explain but she was too angry.
“That’s a great bunch of bullshit!” she spat harshly and marched to his room to change into her clothes. Grabbing her purse, she stormed out only to be blocked by him “Move.”
“Please Billie…I’m sorry. I should have told you at the beginning. You have to admit, we make a great pair. And last night…you can’t forget about last night.” He begged with pleading eyes.
Billie sharpened the edge of her eyes at him “Don’t ever mention about last night again.” She threatened in a low voice. Pushing him aside, she ran out of the building. When she reached the street, her head was spinning, she felt devastated. She found her way home somehow and slumped onto her bed. She could hear Ellena’s giggles from her room, she was talking to Kyle over the phone.
Minutes later, the doorbell rang. Ellena emerged from her room after the third rushed ring, she opened and found Travis looking disheveled and hastily dressed “Hi Ellena, is Billie home?”
She tilted her head strangely “I thought I heard her. Didn’t she spend the night with you?” he nodded “What happened?”
“She knows.” He grabbed the metal door “Please, ask her to come out, I really need to talk to her.”
Ellena nodded as she knocked on Billie’s door, she opened it when there was no response “Billie…” she began.
“Tell him I jumped out of my window and died from the landing.” She looked up with glassy eyes “He can use that in his story. A perfect ending for me, the bitch of the south.” She said coldly.
She knew her friend wasn’t in the right state of mind as she returned to Travis “It’s not a good time.” She whispered.
He understood “Okay…I’ll call her later.” Giving up, he turned and went home.
Ellena returned to Billie’s room with careful steps “He’s gone.” She advised. She sat on the bed corner in front of her “What happened?” Billie looked up with trembling lips “Dear…” she waved her into a hug.