Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Jayd emerged with the beautiful lace sequined white gown. She felt like a princess in the dress and as she looked at herself in the mirror, for once she felt the pitter patter of her heart beating. It showed off her tiny waist and her slender shoulders and arms. She looked around for Andrew “Mr. Fung is trying on his tux.” The girl advised knowingly.
She smiled with a short nod as the girl helped her on a tiny circle podium to have a better look. She did like the dress and it fit like a glove. Jayd looked up when she heard his voice and then it stopped. She can see his reflection from the mirror in front of her. He paused long enough to sputter out “You look…perfect…” he sighed.
She turned to face him with a smile “Not just ‘good’?”
Shaking his head, he couldn’t even blink afraid the magnificent view of his bride to be would disappear. Taking her hand, he grinned like a love sick puppy “I would propose to you all over again.”
“You both look amazing.” The girl grinned from ear to ear “You would be the envy of all women.” She complimented Jayd.
“Then I should be luckiest man alive.” Andrew pulled her down the steps of the podium and stared at her with much love.
“You’re not going to cry are you?” Jayd teased.
He looked solemnly at her “If I do, will you laugh?”
Jayd looked away shyly for the first time “No, then I’d feel bad for making you cry.”
Taking both her hands, he laid them on his chest “The only way you’ll ever make me cry is if you decide not to be my wife. I promise, I won’t ever make you cry.”
She laughed, “Why would you make me cry?”
“Loving you too much.” He replied softly.
Jayd noticed the girl glancing at them with small smiles “Not here.” She whispered.
Andrew grinned “My bride to be is shy.” He teased “Come on, let’s go have dinner.” She nodded in agreement while walking back to the room to change out of her dress.
During dinner, Jayd went to the restroom to clean off the piece of food that fell on her lap. When she returned, she noticed Andrew was on the phone. He looked angry and seemed to be scolding at someone “No…don’t you dare back out now!” she stepped closer and heard him curse “Shit! I don’t need this right now.” Raising her eyes, she was surprise to hear him curse. He seldom cursed for any reason. Sitting back down, he threw her a short smile “Can we talk tomorrow when I’m back in my office?” he asked harshly.
“Tough client?” Jayd asked.
Sighing, he nodded after hanging up “Yeah, I already paid half of the bill and now he wants to back out. The money is nonrefundable, what kind of person backs out at the last minute?”
“Maybe the client has a good excuse?” she shrugged casually “There will always be people that have more important things. Did he sign a contract?”
Andrew shook his head “No, he’s a good friend. Why would we need contracts?” he mocked “That’s the last time I do any business with people I know.”
“It’ll be okay.” Jayd assured him.
He sighed and nodded “Yeah…I know.”
*************
She returned home that night and found her mother washing clothes, offering to take the clothes up to dry “You’re in a good mood.” Mrs. Lee noticed.
“I tried on my dress today.” She smiled.
“That’s good.” She nodded. Jayd got to the door as her mother advised “He’s home.” She turned to the elder lady.
“Ma…I’m getting married in a month an a half.” She reminded her “I don’t need the drama.”
“He came over to look for you earlier.” Mrs. Lee whispered. She walked quietly over to her daughter at the door “It seemed urgent.”
Jayd shrugged “Well if it is, he’ll come look for me again.” She took the elevator to the roof and began drying the cloths on the line. Halfway through, she heard footsteps behind. Turning her head, she caught him moving towards the stairs “Hey!” she called.
Steve had no choice but to turn back “Hey, I didn’t see you…” he smiled.
“Really? So you just decided to take a ride up and down the elevator?” she grinned “What’s up? Ma said you were looking for me?”
“No.” he shook his head.
Jayd stopped drying the clothes as she sighed “Don’t lie Steve. Now are you going to tell me or do I have to beat it out of you?”
Steve laughed “With your puny hands? I think I can manage to take on a dime size bruise any day.” She reached out and punched him roughly on the arm “Ow!”
“Wimp.” She snickered with a laugh “Now spit it out.”
“I’ll tell you but you have to promise me not to get angry.” He warned with raised hands.
Jayd frowned “That’s never good.”
“Just promise me.” He sputtered.
“Okay…okay, I promise.” She nodded “What is it? Are you dying?”
Steve groaned “Be serious.”
“I am! Death is a serious ordeal!” she widened her eyes but quickly laughed it off “Okay, fine. I’m serious. What’s bothering little Stevie?”
“I can’t make it to your wedding.” He said bluntly.
“What?” she let the wet clothes fall into the bucket “Why?” she took a step towards him as he backed away fearfully.
“Hey, you said you weren’t going to get mad!” he warned with a pointed finger.
Raising her hands to her hips, she tried to calm her voice “I’m not mad.”
“Tell it to the veins popping out of your neck.” Steve nodded “I can’t go because, I’ll be moving to Europe.”
“Why? You don’t like Hong Kong?” she asked with surprise.
“I just decided. I want to go back and get my masters.” He explained.
She returned to the clothes “I see. Well, good for you. Good luck.”
Steve tilted his head “Really? You’re not upset?”
Jayd rolled her eyes dramatically “Why should I be angry? I mean, who am I to you? I’m not your girlfriend.” She spat with an exaggerated laugh “If anyone has a right to be mad, it should be Lisa. Have you told her?”
“No.” he answered “You have nothing to say to me?”
“What do you want to hear?” She turned her head “Please stay, Steve for me. Come to my wedding and be my friend. I mean just because we have mutual feelings doesn’t mean we can’t be friends right?” she mocked “Who are you kidding? This is probably our only way out.”
His eyes saddened “There is another way.”
“What?” she asked with a sigh.
“Don’t get married.” He stepped closer and pulled her hands from the wet clothes “Come with me. To Europe. We’ll take Auntie too!”
Jayd shook her head “As much as Ma would like to hear you repeat that…I can’t. I have a commitment Steve. I cannot drop everything. I’m getting married.” She emphasized.
“So? You haven’t gone through with it. You have every right to leave.” He convinced “I know you love me more. Why can’t you just admit it?”
She pulled her hands away from him “Steve, look at what you’re telling me to do.” She backed away with a look of shock “I can’t do this to Andrew.”
“So you’d rather hurt all three of us? Shouldn’t he have the right to know that your heart isn’t entirely with him? How about me? I love you!” he exclaimed.
“You might as well come to the alter on the wedding day and take me away.” Jayd snorted “Why? Why now? If it were two months ago, I’d go with you in a heartbeat. But it’s too late, Steve. The chance has passed you by.”
Steve shook his head vigorously “I don’t believe it.” He reached for her hand again “Please, don’t marry him. Be fair to your heart. You don’t love the guy.” She struggled to get free but to her surprise, he knelt down in front of her “I’m begging you.” He looked up earnestly.
“Steve, get up.” She ordered.
“No.” he said flatly “You never actually said ‘yes’ to Andrew when he proposed. I know you didn’t want to. It didn’t count!”
Jayd shook her head sadly “So you think I can get out of marriage through a technicality? A promise is a promise. Do you know what we did today? My dress is fitted. It’s beautiful…for the first time, I finally realized that I’m fit for that dress.”
His eyes welled up as he ignored the choking feeling in his throat “I’m fit for you.” He said through gritted teeth “He doesn’t deserve you.”
She knelt down in front of him “Steve…If everyone is with someone that deserves them, there would leave a lot of broken hearted people out there. Not everyone gets to be with the one they love. Today, I’ve come to realize that marrying someone that loves me more than I love him can only mean a lifetime of happiness for me. It is selfish but its for the best.” She wiped the tear that escaped his eyes “Yes, I love you…but…”
“No…” he shook his head stubbornly “I don’t want to hear it.” He yanked his hands off her and got up “I guess it was stupid of me to try to convince you.”
“I’m sorry.” Jayd was sincere as she felt the tears coming.
“So am I.” He nodded “I’m sorry. I can’t come to wedding. I’d rather stab myself in the heart since that’s how it would feel if I was there.” He spat harshly.
“Steve…” She began.
Shaking his head, he headed for the elevator “I hope you have a great life with Andrew.”
She lowered her head and let out a sigh. Getting up, she finished her work and walked back to the elevator to go home. She halted at the doorstep and looked down at two white boxes. Her fingers shivered as she picked them up. They were the two gum cigarette boxes she took two days to find for Steve. Her heart racing as she walked over to his apartment and banged on the door. He opened and didn’t expect the boxes to be thrown back in his face “I don’t take back gifts that I give to people! It took me two days to find them and if you can’t appreciate them then throw them away!” her eyes red and she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
He didn’t have a chance to speak up as she stormed back to her home and shut the door “Ah Yan? What’s the matter?” Mrs. Lee was startled from the door “Why are you crying?”
“Ma!” Jayd rushed into her mother’s ready arms “I hate men! I hate them all!”
“Shh…it’s okay. Don’t cry.” She consoled while stroking her soft mane.