Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
***** You are cordially invited to the celebration of matrimony for:
Andrew Fung & Jayden Lee
The ceremony and reception will be held at the Mandarin Oriental.
Please RSVP: Mr. Steven Yeung & Guest ****
Steve placed the invitation down next to the letter. Taking a look around his now empty apartment, he knew he would miss the place. Eventhough it had been only half a year since he first moved in, a part of him was attached. Most of his belongings had been moved early that morning, all that’s left was a duffel bag. His eyes trailed the zipper as he opened it and pulled out the comic book that she had so thoughtfully found. Returning to the dining table, he left it behind too.
Not expecting a visitor, he was surprised to see Lisa there “Oh good, you’re still here. I need your help.” She collected her ruffled blue dress to walk easier.
“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at the wedding?” Steve asked.
“Okay, white shoes or blue?” she held up both pairs for him to see.
“Blue.” He answered without thinking “You came all the way here to ask me?”
Lisa laughed as she struggled to put the shoes on with one foot hopping “Of course not. I’m here to take you there.”
“Lisa—”
“No, I don’t want to hear excuses!” she raised a hand at him “Today is her wedding day. How could you not come?”
“I didn’t RSVP.” He said simply.
“You can sit on my lap!” she reached for his hand “Now come on.”
He yanked his arm away “Lisa. I can’t go there. I think you know why.”
She sighed, “Yes, I know everything. Biu Gor confessed and believe me, I gave him an earful.” She nodded.
He snickered “Would it matter? You’re not the one he needs to tell this to. I took the bait, so what face do I have to go see her? She’s just going to hate me forever.”
She shook her head at him “I think she’ll be happy with you. Regardless of the situation. Isn’t she worth fighting for?” Lisa asked, “You love the girl don’t you?” he nodded “Then what the hell are you doing here?”
Steve frowned “I can’t Lisa. I’m afraid.”
“Afraid of the outcome?” she questioned.
“Afraid of rejection.” He sighed “Don’t worry, she’ll forget me and she’ll be happy with Andrew. I’m sure of it.”
“Why? What happened?” Lisa turned her head suspiciously “What did you do?”
Steve relaxed his frown “It’s not what I did, it’s what I said. She’s certain Andrew can bring her happiness. What more could I do?” He turned briefly to the table “She’ll understand everything when she reads the letter.”
Lisa walked over and picked up the letter addressed to Jayd. She noticed the four pack of cigarettes “You smoke?”
He turned and smiled “Not anymore.” Suddenly, he had an urge. Stepping over to Lisa, he pulled out two specific boxes from her hand “It’s not real.” He winked “I’m going to go now. See you around.” He picked up his bag and left her staring at the gum cigarette boxes in wonder.
*******************
Jade sat in the bride’s room with her mother. She was dressed and her hair was whisked into a French twist and curls squeezing out of the ends. Tiny white flowers filled the top of her head making a crown like object. The veil sat below the curls and her makeup was soft and silky. But her eyes deceived the happy occasion “Honey, are you okay?” Mrs. Lee tapped her bare shoulder.
“What ma?” she looked up with a dazed expression.
“I asked if you wanted to wear the necklace I got you or the one that Andrew got you.” She was worried for her daughter.
“Yours.” Jayd smiled warmly.
Mrs. Lee knelt in front of her daughter wearing the traditional Chinese dress “Are you sure?”
Before she had a chance to answer, there was a knock at the door. Andrew peeked his head in “Can I come in?”
“It’s bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony.” Mrs. Lee scolded lightly.
“It’s okay.” Jayd patted her mother’s hand “I want to talk to Andrew.”
Mrs. Lee nodded as she left the room. Andrew turned to his bride with a sigh “You look like…an angel.” He breathed.
She stood up as he approached her “I’ve been thinking…”
“Oh, that’s never good.” He joked.
Jayd turned to him with a solemn expression “I thought that if I could find someone that loves me as much as I love him, we would be perfect. As it turns out, I loved him more…but now, it’s turned around.” Andrew’s smile eventually faded “I told myself that I couldn’t back out of a promise. But yesterday when I turned in that new architectural project for the new hotel in Kowloon and you said ‘Good.’. I realized something.” She smiled despite the tears coming out “I would always just be good.”
“Jayd…I don’t understand.” He shook his head.
“It’s not just the file, it’s the way I look even when I dress up for you, its still just good. I don’t want to be good. I want to be breathtakingly beautiful. I want to be speechless when I walk into a room and you look at me and only me. I know I’m babbling and maybe I sound a little crazy.” She laughed “What’s ironic is that I found a guy that looked at me like that. A guy that would do everything for me.”
“Steve?” Andrew asked. She nodded, tears down her face “What a joke.” He laughed with shaking head.
Jayd frowned “What?”
“I wasn’t going to tell you but with your speech, I know I have to. Steve is not real.” Andrew began. Her eyes widened “He is a casual friend of mine that I met years before. I asked him to do me a favor. After three years into our relationship, I realized that I needed one last test before I really settled down. I wanted to know for sure if you were the one for me. So I asked Rodney to help me give you this test. I did some research on your background and found out where you lived and who was your neighbor. There was a young boy around your age that moved away. I eventually traced down the real Steve Yeung and asked him for all the information about him and about you that he could remember.” Andrew curled his lips to a crooked smile “I convinced him to help me. Anyways, I had Rodney memorize all that information and come into the picture. His job was to try to win you over and convince you that I was not the guy for you. If he failed, then we are meant to be together.” He was proud for what he did
Jayd was baffled, she felt the room rumbling under her feet. She was amazed at the trouble he went through just to test her loyalty “I don’t know what to say…” she managed to breath out in a whisper.
“Don’t you see? Without this test, we wouldn’t have made it here. Any doubts that you will have are all fake…he’s not even real. That night you caught me talking on the phone at the restaurant, that was Rodney. He suddenly wanted to back out from our plan, but I had one more test for you. Luckily, he carried through. And when you stood up to him, I couldn’t have been more happy.” He grinned.
“You were there?” she wrinkled her brows.
“Yeah. I knew you needed help to forget him fast. So I left the gum cigarettes in front of your apartment. I guess it worked really well.” He shook his head “When you opened that door and threw it at—” the pain hit him quick as the slap pushed his face to the side.
Her chest heaved up and down “I can’t believe you!” she cried angrily “Not only didn’t you trust me, you made me love and hate someone that I didn’t even know! And how could you stand there and think that I am not going to walk out that door?!”
“Jayd…but I did it for you. It was just a test.” He tried to convince.
“Well, it worked.” She collected her dress and stormed out.
“Jayd!” he called while running after her.
Jayd stormed through the alter and headed to the front where a microphone was ready. The group gasped and people began to whisper “There is not going to be a wedding today. Sorry to waste your time but Andrew will explain.” Her eyes cut through his as she took the side exit. When Andrew tried to stop her, his father got up with a look of anger. He knew he had to explain.
She returned to her apartment building in hopes that he wasn’t gone yet. Turning the knob on the door, she walked inside to an empty room. All that’s left was a dining table. On it was some items. Her breathing calmed as she noticed the comic book and two packs of the cigarette gum. A letter was folded and addressed to her. Her hands were shaky as she picked it up slowly. Afraid of what might be inside. She took in a deep breath and began reading:
‘Jayd,
By the time you get this letter, I would no longer be in the same country as you. I don’t know if you are now Mrs. Fung or if his conscience took over and he decided to tell you the truth. Whatever the matter is, I want you to know the truth. I am not Steve Yeung, your childhood friend. My name is Rodney Kwok, a real estate agent that met Andrew years before when he was buying a new house. We became friends and he told me about you. One day he approached me with a proposition, he wanted to test you and make sure that you were loyal for him. At first, I thought he was crazy but he could be a very convincing guy. I agreed and studied all the material that he gave me, I actually never met the real Steve Yeung.
I didn’t anticipate actually falling in love with you. I truly thought you were in love with Andrew. But with each day passing, I realized how wrong he was for you. He didn’t deserve you. I tried to hint to you but each time I would be caught in the act. Although he wanted me to test you with all my heart, he didn’t expect that I’d turn and try to warn you.
But this is all useless to you now I’m sure. Whatever I said, whatever he said…it’s just two bastards talking out of their asses. I tell you all this to open your eyes, not to convince you who was the better guy. Because frankly, there is none. There is no need for words now but I want to leave you with one last thing. I truly do care about you and everything I did or say is from the heart. Each compliment, each smile and each laugh was real. Wherever you go in life, I hope that you still keep that open heart. That wonderful, big heart of yours. The guy that has the right intention will come along, believe that. And when he finds you, he won’t let you go without a fight.
I’m sorry for the pain that you have to endure but what relationship doesn’t involve any pain? I don’t know if this letter leaves you laughing ironically or crying. I hope it’s the first for your sake. I know better to ask for your forgiveness but if we ever get a chance to meet again, I hope that you’re in a better place. I’d give anything to see that infectious smile again but I guess that is my punishment.
Love,
Rodney aka Steve
P.S. I quit smoking.’
She chuckled through tears from the last comment. Her tears dripped over the letter as she picked up the box of cigarettes. It was then that she noticed they were not the same brand that she bought for him. The edges were cracked and crinkled, they were the ones that she threw at him. He took the ones she gave him? She looked around and began digging through whatever he had left in the bedroom.
Jayd wasn’t sure what she was looking for but she searched through a bag of trash that was left behind. There was only junk and trash mail that he received. Defeated, she took the letter and comic book with her home. Changing out of her dress, she yanked the flowers off her head and stuffed everything into a box she got from under her bed. Addressing it to Andrew’s house, she decided to mail it back to him.
Later that night, she headed off to a bar by herself. She wanted nothing than to forget that day. Waving to the bartender, she ordered “I want the strongest liquor you have.”
The guy chuckled “Miss, that will get you drunk in one shot.”
Jayd snickered “That’s the point.”
He frowned strangely at her “Are you okay Miss?” he noted her fancy hairdo.
“Just fine.” She chugged down the shot and grimaced with disgust “Oh God!”
“Too strong?” he laughed.
“Perfect.” She winked “Another three please.” She ordered.
He was worried for the girl “Miss, you’re obviously upset, it’s not the best time to drink.”
“Are you kidding? It’s the perfect time to drink!” she exclaimed “I have money.” She nodded vigorously. The alcohol was moving through her system fast as she pulled out her purse and flipped it upside down as everything poured out “Oops…” she laughed giddily.
The bartender caught the lipstick ready to roll off the bar top as he shook his head and put her things back. Then his eyes caught something from her wallet. Her license “Jayden Lee?” he read.
“Yeah? So?” she grumbled while taking another shot.
“Jayd! It’s me…Stevie. Little Stevie.” He pointed to himself.
She squeezed her eyes together “Stevie? Yeah right, like I’m falling for that one again!” she laughed hysterically “I’m not stupid! Wait…I am…” she buried her face in her hands.
“What’s wrong? Why are you so upset?” he took away her shot glass she was licking.
Jayd shook her head “Nothing…nothing now.”
“Hey, how’s that boyfriend of yours? I remember a while back, he asked me about you when we were young. I wondered why he was so curious but he mentioned that he was writing a will and named you as the soul heir. He needed information about your childhood so if he dies, they will know who you are because there were many Jayden Lee’s in Hong Kong. Although I didn’t agree…” He looked up to find her lying face down on the bar table. Shaking his head, he turned to the other bartender “Cindy, I’m going home first!” the girl nodded as he took off the apron and collected the drunken mess in front of him. Taking her purse, he glanced at her address and took her home that night.