Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
After lunch with Andrew, they were on their way back to the office. Or so she thought until he asked the driver to make an unfamiliar turn “Where are we going?” Jayd asked curiously “I have to get back to work.”
Andrew patted her hand easily “You know you’d rather skip work. We’re going to start our dance class.” She nodded without answer “Don’t worry, Mr. Lau is aware.”
“Anxious to fall flat on your face?” Jayd asked with a smirk.
He laughed “Don’t get too cocky, my dear. I may have two left feet but I think you are a little out of tune for tango.”
“We’ll see.” She dared.
When they reached the Dance School, she was surprised to see the famous ballroom dancer instructor standing before them. At awe, she barely spat out a stumbled ‘hello’ to the man wearing all black “Now, we will start with the stretches.” He began while showing them somewhat difficult poses that Jayd barely got down. Andrew on the other hand was less smooth when he almost tripped over himself “Mr. Fung, not like that.” The instructor said as he corrected his posture.
He touched a ticklish spot as Andrew chuckled and quickly raised his hand “I’ll do it myself.”
Jayd stifled a laugh “Psst! You’re doing great!” she exaggerated a wink.
“Allow me, Miss Lee.” The man moved on to correct her stand.
Hours passed and Jayd didn’t realize what time it was until she glanced at the studio watch “It’s dinner time.” She whispered to Andrew, who was busy counting the steps.
“Shh…I almost got it.” He said with a touch of excitement.
Jayd had memorized the steps long before as she flowed along in his arms while he moved stiffly against the floor. Sighing, she glanced at the clock again, her mother would be worried. She let him continue practicing for another hour before putting down her foot “I hate to be pushy but my mom will kill me if I don’t at least call her—”
“Right! You have dinner plans. Why didn’t you remind me?” he said hurriedly while ushering her towards the door “Wouldn’t want Auntie to think I was stealing your time.”
Jayd laughed as he thrust her jacket into her hand “Why don’t you join us?”
“Oh…no, I can’t. I have to…go out with clients.” Andrew waved goodbye to the instructor, who looked confused they rushed out of the dance room.
She sensed the hesitation in his voice “You guys are meeting at the escort bar?” she knew it was part of his work, to go out with the big guys and it would not be pleasure mixed with business if they were to meet in a boring restaurant.
He opened the door for her as she moved inside “It’s only business.”
Jayd smiled “I trust you.” She assured him.
************
After he dropped her off, she walked into the apartment building and at first stopped at Steve’s door. Knocking on it, she waited for him to answer but to her dismay, he wasn’t home. Shrugging off the sudden heavy weight on her shoulders, she opened her apartment door ready to hear her mother’s scolding voice. But to her surprise, she found Steve eating dinner with her mother, they had saved a spot for her.
“Ah Yan? You’re home. Come join us. I made your favorite kung pao chicken.” She walked into the kitchen to get her daughter a bowl of rice.
Her eyes squinted as she stepped near Steve, who was obviously hiding his guilty face from her “Freeloading?”
“It’s not my fault. I was throwing away trash and your mom was doing the same and she invited me over. She practically pushed a pair of chopsticks in my hand!” he nodded convincingly.
“Sure.” Jayd nodded suspiciously.
He placed the bowl down “I’m serious Jayd, I would not sabotage you on purpose. I mean, I have nothing against the guy, why should I ruin him on purpose?”
Rolling her eyes with a laugh, she calmed him with a slow pat on the cheek “There, there, little Stevie. Don’t cry. I’m not going to spank you. I know you can’t help it if my mother enjoys your company more than Andrew. I don’t blame you for this.”
“Really?” he asked unsurely.
“Yes and stop acting like a woman.” She scolded playfully.
“Ah Yan! That is no way to talk to Steve. Apologize.” Mrs. Lee ordered her daughter with a stern expression.
“He’s not insulted!” Jayd argued as she yanked the bowl and chopsticks from her mother’s hand and began eating.
Steve cleared his throat as he crossed his legs politely “Actually, I am.”
She froze in place and turned to him with widened eyes “Ah Yan, I know I raised you with better manners than that.” The elder lady said as she walked around the table and took her seat. Eyes glued to Jayd, waiting for her to apologize. Steve’s winning smile appeared.
Given no choice, she gave in “I’m sorry.” She said through a mouthful of food.
“Sorry for what?” Steve raised his eyes innocently.
“Don’t push it.” Jayd gritted her teeth.
He smiled with satisfaction “Hmm, okay I accept your apology.”
Mrs. Lee shook her head “My daughter is lucky she even found a suitor. With her manners, you wonder if an ape would marry her.” Jayd’s eye twitched while Steve tried hard not to laugh, “Say, Steve. When were you born?”
“Ma…” Jayd groaned.
“I’m not speaking to you.” Mrs. Lee said stubbornly as she smiled at Steve “I do a little fortune telling and dabble in a bit of matchmaking. I just need the date, year and time you were born.”
“March 28, 1975 at around midnight.” He answered truthfully.
She repeated it a few times and quickly excused herself to fetch her worthy book in her room. Jayd used the back of her hand to him across the arm “What are you doing?”
“Ow.” He pointed to the place she hit him.
“You know what she’s going to say now do you?” Jayd mimicked her mother’s perfect posture “Aww, it appears you two have a very compatible sign. Your life weighs about 16 pounds, which means it starts off a little rough but later in life, you will do well and your love line cannot be more perfect.”
Steve laughed with a shaking head “That’s ridiculous.”
Mrs. Lee emerged minutes later “Good news.” She sat down and read it straight from the book “According to your name, it appears your life weighs 16 pounds. Identical to Ah Yan’s.” she pressed with a smile and continued.
Jayd nodded exaggeratingly but it was Steve that looked awkward as she repeated everything Jayd said to him. She turned to him “Interesting huh?”
“I’m not very superstitious.” Steve laughed nervously while he had chills from her words.
“Really?” Jayd dropped her bowl looking astonished “Well, how about that ma? A flaw!”
Mrs. Lee arched a brow at her daughter “You cannot force everyone to believe what you believe. Only time will tell how much the fortune I read is true.” She said patiently.
“To be honest, my mother took me to a fortune teller when I was younger and I remember his words were very similar to what you just read from that book.” Steve confessed “I always thought that fortune was something you make for yourself but to have it read to me twice…that’s amazing.”
Jayd’s chopsticks clinked onto her bowl as she dropped it “You’re kidding me.” Steve turned to her with a vigorous nod while Mrs. Lee beamed proudly “I can’t eat anymore.” She sighed.
Steve too nodded politely “I’m full too. Dinner was very good, Auntie. Thanks for inviting me.”
“Why don’t you two kids run out and get desert or something? I’ll clean the dishes.” Mrs. Lee insisted as she brushed them off with a hand.
“Oh no, that’s not—” Steve was forced out of his seat as Jayd yanked him by the arm and pulled him out of the apartment “Hey, I can walk on my own!” he cried when she dragged him into the elevator and pressed the button for the roof.
“Are you crazy?!” Jayd accused “Did you forget everything I said this morning?”
He curled himself into a corner, trying to look comfortable while she placed her hand on her hips and centered him “I don’t remember.”
“You know my mother doesn’t like Andrew, so stop making yourself look good. It just reminds her more of why we’re not together instead of giving Andrew a chance!” Jayd calmed down as she lowered her head “I’m begging you Mr. Yeung, please, please stop being yourself…you’re going to screw things up for me. Did you know this is the first time in my life—thank you—” she cut in as he held the door open for her. They walked onto the terrace of the roof and she continued, “that I’m actually happy. I mean, our relationship is no longer hidden and I can walk around with him proudly. And I can see him whenever I want and not worry that others are staring.”
Steve nodded “I see…so where is he?”
“Out with clients.” She mumbled.
“Oh, so work is more important than getting to know your girlfriend’s mother?” Steve grinned “What a swell guy!” he said with sarcasm.
“His work is important to him. And it doesn’t mean that I’m not.” Jayd added “I know what you’re thinking…that he doesn’t deserve to be with me. But maybe it doesn’t have to do with who fits with whom in this society? So I’m poor and he’s rich? Why does it have to matter? Just because he has people waiting on him hand and foot while I spent most of my life cleaning after myself. So what? So what?!”
She was short of breath by the time she finished and Steve instantly felt bad for pushing her “I’m sorry.”
Jayd shook her head “It’s not your fault…I just have some things bottled up.”
“So, let it out.” He sympathized.
“I just did.” She snickered “I had no idea I was feeling all those emotions.” Turning to him, suddenly she hit him on the chest “This is all your fault!”
“What did I do?” he rubbed his chest “And why do I keep getting beaten up?”
“No one’s ever asked me questions that make me think before. What kind of friend are you?” she asked.
He laughed “A friend that cares.” He leaned over the stone rail “Seriously though, you think this guy is ‘the one’? You don’t have to answer me, just answer yourself. Does he make you giddy inside when you see him? Does he truly make you happy?”
Jayd turned away with a distant expression in her eyes “If my answer is yes for all of them…”
“Then I want to be the first to congratulate you.” He smiled at her with earnest eyes.
“But if it’s no…” she smiled with lowered eyes when he looked concerned “To be honest, I don’t know the answers to those questions.” Sighing, she told him the story “When I met him over three years ago, he was very sweet…innocent and carefree. He had little to worry about but the minute his father asked him to run the company, he became more distant. It was so hard just to put a smile on his face…but I tried. I tried every single time to get his mind off of work for two minutes with me.”
“Lisa told me that she introduced you two.” Steve said, waiting for her confirmation.
Jayd nodded “How ironic. The girl that scarred me in high school ended up being the one that helped me find Andrew. She’s a very peculiar girl, always perky. Like she was on drugs.” She snickered “Well, one day I accidentally ran into her during a night class I was taking to get my architect degree. Andrew was with her and she introduced us. At first glance, I thought he was handsome but nothing else. Because knowing those rich guys, they don’t go for girls like me. We exchanged numbers but I knew he wouldn’t call. I was wrong.” A small smile crossed her face “He called and asked me on a date. His first in five years. I felt special. Before I noticed, we were dating exclusively. Literally. He told me his father would flip if he knew he was dating. I told him not to worry and I would not let anyone know.”
“And what happened to this guy that you fell for?” Steve questioned.
Jayd smiled wryly “I don’t know. I just noticed that he’s becoming this different person. He cares so much about making his father proud that he forgets I’m a girl and that I need a boyfriend there too. I really try not to be bothersome and understanding but it’s not fun taking the backseat in his life.”
“You deserve so much better.” Steve said honestly.
She chuckled “Like you?”
“Yeah.” He turned to see her staring at him “What?”
“You…you like me?” she asked the words strangely.
Steve smiled crookedly “Yeah, I thought you knew?” she shook her head blankly “From the minute I hid your doll, I had a crush on you. It was undeniable at that time but of course boys don’t know how to express their feelings. When my family moved away, I was devastated…who would have guessed we’d see each other again.”
“I…eh…I have to go home…I forgot to…clean my room.” Jayd hurried away before he had a chance to stop her. Staring at her strangely, he scratched his head wondering what had happened.