Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
After dinner, she felt her stomach go queasy but she would be excusing herself if it weren’t for Andrew’s quick thinking. He ate the rest of her lamb chops after a few bites claiming she was on a diet. Mr. Fung was not offended as he disregarded the plate switching. Dessert was a mousse chocolate cake that was too sweet for her taste but she finished it anyways “Is that how you keep your tiny figure?” Mr. Fung joked.
Jayd laughed “It’s my secret.” She smiled widely but didn’t realize some chocolate was stuck on her teeth. Andrew winked at her strangely as he showed his teeth and licked it with his tongue. She was quick to retrieve the smile. Groaning inside, she knew the night could not get any worse.
The elder man sipped on his hot tea as he turned to Jayd “Are you coming to our anniversary dinner party next month?”
“Yes, sir. I wouldn’t miss it.” She was careful to smile softly.
He nodded mechanically “Good.” Turning to Andrew, he asked “Can you go to the library and get that redwood box in the safe?”
“Yes, father.” He replied and got up to leave the room. Throwing her a smile, he left the room.
“Andrew told me how much he resembles you. I think its great to have someone to look up to.” She complimented wisely.
Mr. Fung nodded “I suppose I did not do all bad considering I only have one son.” He laughed “My wife could not make it to dinner but she would have liked you.”
Just from the comment, she felt suddenly at ease “Thank you.”
“There is no need for politeness. We are practically family.” He grinned, “My son is quite fond of you and frankly I’m not.” His bluntness nearly made her heart stop “But after meeting you, I’m beginning to see why my son adores you.” She felt the rollercoaster ride moving up but she was waiting for the drop “Eventhough your stature is no match for someone like Andrew, I could not stand in the way if it was true love. Tell me, what does your parents do?”
“My mother works in a manufacturer for a sewing company. My father passed away when I was young. Car accident.” She explained shortly.
“A broken family.” It was more of a comment than a question to Jayd “I am surprised at how well you came out. Most turn up on the streets or join the wrong crowd.”
His ignorance only made her realize how wrong the family’s morals were. She bit her tongue to correct him, instead she smiled “My mother did a very good job. She worked two jobs for years to support us until I got this job.”
She was saved by Andrew’s return as he handed his dad the box “What’s inside?”
Mr. Fung smiled as he opened it and appeared a beautiful emerald necklace filled with tiny diamonds on the chain “This was a gift from the Queen of England to my wife when we helped her design the Federal building many years ago. My wife never wore it, instead she found it too much for her taste. I would like for you to have it.”
Jayd was taken aback and stunned by the generosity, maybe she was wrong about him “No, I couldn’t take such an extravagant gift. Frankly, my mother would kill me. Literally.” She smiled nervously.
“It is just a gift. You can sell it and take the money to support your mother until her old age.” He was aware of how vicious his words were but he was testing her strength. She turned to Andrew, who sat motionless “I mean, you only wanted money from Andrew, that would only explain why you chose to be with him for over three years and not once did you complain. My dear, I had no idea girls like you existed. So much patience.” He insulted her bluntly.
Her blood boiled with anger but she refused to be put down by the man “I was not aware that you thought this of me. I guess it was foolish of me to think that I could win you over with my boring personality. My mother never took a handout from anyone those years she worked hard to keep a roof over our heads and I’m sorry to disappoint you but she raised me to take gifts for free. There is a consequence to every decision and when I walk out that door, I will not return because I have never been this insulted in my life.”
“Jayd, don’t disrespect my father.” Andrew scolded openly.
She got up to leave when he stormed past her and stood in front to block her way “Maybe you haven’t noticed but I was not myself today. And I have to add that you weren’t either. Where’s the guy I fell in love with? I hate that I have to act stiff and snotty just to fit in and I hate that I don’t have money like your family because maybe then I would be accepted!”
She was ready to push him aside when Mr. Fung laughed “I would have given you ten points for biting your tongue through most of the evening but now I give you a hundred points for standing up to me.”
Confused, she turned to Andrew, who too laughed, “I believe your test failed father.”
“Test?” Jayd asked.
“Father didn’t believe me when I said you were outspoken and you would stand up if the moment came up. He said that no woman would dare argue with him. Actually his exact words were, she will run out of the house in tears.” Andrew laughed with a shaking head.
Mr. Fung relaxed his tense face as he nodded for Jayd to return “I’m sorry if I insulted you but I had to test you.”
“It’s alright.” She said “If you would have pushed further, I might have punched you in the face.”
He laughed humorously while Jayd turned to Andrew strangely. He leaned from the arm of the couch to her ear “Actually, my father has a great sense of humor.” She nodded with a weak smile while the two laughed and recalled her burning red face.
***************
Steve grabbed the togo bag and rushed out of the barbeque deli. Running home at top speed, he took the elevator to the roof and appeared to be out of breath as he approached her “Soy sauce… chicken… legs.” He handed her the bag “I thought…you said…it was… life threatening?”
“It is!” Jayd grabbed the bag, she was still dressed from the dinner with Andrew and his father “I had turtle soup! Turtle! It’s a pet, not a food! And lamb chops…ew…it gives me the worst stomachache. The last time I had it, I was in the bath—”
“I get it!” Steve stopped her before she finished.
She opened the box and grabbed the leg and gave it a good bite and yank “Hmm…now this is food.” She moaned with satisfaction while Steve leaned on the rail and took in deep breaths “I told you to stop smoking. It kills your lungs. Look at you.” She pointed at him with the leg “You’re wheezing from a two block jog.”
“Four blocks. The place you told me about was closed down. I had to go further to find another one.” He eyed her evilly.
She grinned with a greasy lips “Oops.”
“So I take it, you did well at the dinner?” he asked.
She shrugged “Okay, I guess.”
“Why?” he was curious, she seemed relieved somehow but not happy.
“It was bizarre. The whole dinner was a scam. His father wanted to see me crack. Well, actually he wanted to see me cry and run home to mommy. He drilled me about how I really wanted to be with his son for the money…” she drifted away “Nevermind. It was a strange night but it ended nicely. He took me home himself and he held my hand the whole ride home!” She was practically squealing.
“You mean he doesn’t normally do that?” Steve realized slowly how strange her boyfriend really was.
Jayd was use to it “He’s not cold or anything, he’s just not a big fan of affection.”
“But you are.” He reminded her.
“What’s your point?” She frowned.
“You know I’m not a nosy person.” He began.
She laughed, “Actually, I don’t. I just met you two weeks ago. Sure I’ve known you since I was ten but we didn’t really ‘know’ each other.” She explained.
He looked saddened as he turned over the rail “I know. To be honest, I don’t have much friends. Well, none that I care to see again. It was lonely in England during the school year. I often sit in my room just chatting online to strange people that I have no intention of meeting.” Sighing, he continued “I didn’t know how I managed to get my degree considering how much time I spent thinking about what I was doing there and what I was doing with my life.”
After a long moment, he turned to see if she was still there. She was holding her chicken leg and pretending it was a violin stick and stroking it back and forth “What a sappy story.” she rolled her eyes “Next you’re going to tell me that you wanted to commit suicide.”
“Have you no pity?” he asked with quivering lips.
Jayd laughed as she patted his head with her greasy hand “Pity is for the stray dog with the three legs that live down the block from us. Pity is for the homeless man that eats a bowl of rice a day that he picks from the trashcan behind the deli. Pity is for the old woman that drags her cart up and down the street to find empty cans. Pity—”
“OKAY!” he groaned, “You’re making me feel horrible. I’m a horrible human being.”
She smiled “You’re not. I have no doubt that it was lonely for you living and going to school by yourself. But you have to remind yourself how good you have it. You’re healthy…as soon as you stop smoking.” She quipped “And you have an apartment to live in and you have a job. What more could you ask for?”
Steve nodded slowly “Optimistic.”
“My ma taught me well.” She nodded proudly and started on another leg.
“Speaking of your ma, isn’t she home yet?” he glanced at his watch “The last boat came in half an hour ago.”
She speedily threw the leg into the bag “Crap! I forgot.” She rushed down the stairs with Steve laughing after her.
“Take the elevator.” He advised, “It could be a tad faster.”
“I’m too impatient to wait.” She jumped down the steps with her high heels. He was about to warn her when she tripped over a step and twisted her ankle “Ow!”
“Jayd!” He rushed to her side “Are you okay?”
“Yeah…stupid leg!” she scolded while pulling herself up with the help of the rail and Steve.
He wrapped her arm around his shoulder and helped her down another flight of stairs before taking the elevator “Did you run hurdles with heels in high school?” he joked.
“Don’t make fun of crippled people. You’ll go to hell.” She snickered while rubbing her leg “I don’t think I could walk.”
“It’s not broken.” He glanced at it shortly.
“How do you know? Oh…that’s right. Dr. Yeung has x-ray vision.” She said sarcastically.
“Your tendon is not that swollen and plus if it’s broken, your foot would not be able to stay in it’s original shape. And you would be crying like a baby because the pain would be even excruciating for the biggest, strongest man.” He concluded.
Jayd pressed her lips together in defiance “Yeah, like that makes any sense.”
He laughed “Suit yourself.” He helped her out of the elevator but she was walking extra slow. Sighing, he lifted her up with both arms “We’ll never get to your apartment if I let you walk.” He used his elbow to ring the doorbell.
Mrs. Lee opened the door and didn’t expect her daughter to be carried by Steve “What happened?!” she exclaimed worriedly.
“Ma, open the door. Your daughter isn’t the lightest girl in the world.” She nodded to Steve who was breaking into a sweat. The woman stumbled to open the lock as she held the door for Steve to enter “I tripped on the stairs.”
“I’ll get some ice.” Steve set her down on the couch and rushed to the kitchen.
“Aiya! What did I tell you about running down the stairs?” the elder lady scolded.
Jayd rolled her eyes “It’s a little too late for warnings ma.” She lifted her leg on the coffee table “Oh my God!”
“What? Does it hurt?” Mrs. Lee asked worriedly.
“No, it’s huge!” she pointed at her ankle.
“Not if you ice it down for the next hour.” Steve returned with the plastic bag of ice as he placed it over her ankle making her squirm “It’ll numb the bruise and keep the blood leveled “Don’t walk too much on this leg. You’ll be limping for a few days.”
“Are you sure I don’t need surgery, Dr.?” she sniffed “Do we have to amputate?” she squealed and grabbed him by the shirt “I need my leg!”
Steve turned to her mother, who was shaking her head at her daughter “I would check the hospital records if I were you, Auntie. She’s a little strange to be your daughter.”
“And your eyes are a little small to be glaring at people. Tell me, do you see a strip when you look around or do you have to open your eyes really wide?” She teased.
“Cheap shot. My eyes are always the first people aim for. You’re not any different.” He snorted while adjusting the ice bag.
“Fine, quit your crying. Thanks.” Jayd smiled as she nodded him to the door “It’s getting late and we have work tomorrow. You need rest to carry me down the stairs.”
He laughed “Remember, ice for one hour.” He pointed sternly and turned to her mother politely nodding “Good night, Auntie.”
“Good night.” She smiled and closed the door after him. Walking back to her daughter, she raised her brows “He’s a nice kid.”
“So?” she frowned at her mother strangely.
“You can think about it.” She hinted.
“Ma!” Jayd groaned as she gathered the ice and slipped into her room before her mother could give her the third degree.