Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
That morning, Annie was called into Miss Lai's office. "You wanted to see me?" she carried a few files in her hand as she tried to balance her steps.
"Sit down." her boss said sternly. She got up and slammed her office door shut "Annie, I don't like to yell at people with everyone's presence." that was an understatement since she often raised her voice at Annie in front of the whole office.
"Yes." Annie said respectfully.
"I see that you have befriended the office freak." she was refering to the obvious, Jacky. "I don't know why Jim would hire him, but he's my boss, I have nothing else to say. But you are MY assistant. You're work has been lagging behind, I gave you this file early this morning and its still not done."
"But I also have 10 other letters to type up..." Annie quickly stopped at the dangerous glare that Miss Lai gave her. Annie lowered her head "Im sorry, I'll try to work faster and more efficiently."
"Thats more like it. I've seen you talking to Jacky alot lately. I assume the quality in your work is effected by him? Now if I see you talking to him one more time, consider yourself unemployed." She began opening up the file that layed on her desk "You can go now." she said without looking up.
"Yes, Miss Lai." Annie carried the files outside to her desk. Her face still fuming from the what just happened. She wanted to reason with that lady so bad. The files were all given to her by Miss Lai, its not her fault that the stuff kept coming in. She specifically tries to talk to Jacky during her breaks. Yet, she still gets yelled at. 'Its gonna be a long day.' Annie thought as she sighed and dropped the files on her desk.
Feeling so frustrated inside, she had to take deep breaths to calm herself down. Jacky instantly noticed her disturbed face. She was mumbling to herself and she did not look too happy. He decided to probe a little and see what the problem was. Needless to say, it was her boss overworking her but he wanted to hear it from her. "Hey there, grandma." he joked as he leaned his elbow over her cubicle.
"Jacky, this is not a good time." she warned, her tone deep and controlled.
"Oh, its never a good time for you." he looked around and pulled a nearby vacant chair and sat down. Crossing his legs as he peered over her shoulder "What cha doin?" his tone cute and casual.
"Its called working. Unlike you, I actually have work." her voice emphasizing her frustration.
"I know the best way to relieve stress. Shopping. I know this goodwill store that has all of your favorite clothes. Flower prints, stripes, big cargo pants and get this, ruffles at the neck!" he burst out laughing at his joke. He knew that she hated ruffles.
"Stop it." she said through clenched teeth. He continued to laugh as she spun her head to face him "Shut up!!" she yelled loud enough for a few people to hear. "Stop it with the jokes! As you can see, its not funny, no one's laughing." her face turned red as she continued "I don't like the grandma jokes okay? Now can you just leave me alone?"
Jacky got up and pushed the chair he was siting on with his feet. It rolled away slowly as he put up his hands in defense and his head whipping side to side "Excuse me. Maybe you need a midol or something for that pms?? I was just trying to cheer you up. There are no need for insults!" he spun around and stormed off.
"Wait...Jacky." she said slowly, but it was too late. He was already back at his seat. 'Great, I just lost my only friend.' she scolded herself. She made a note to apologize to him after work. But when she was gathering her purse, she didn't see him anywhere.
************
Tia was watching tv in her apartment when she heard a knocking on her door. It was a slow rythimic sound, she got up to open it. She found Jacky's long face behind the metal door. Tia smiled "What's wrong, your 'girl' dumped you?" she teased.
He didn't seem to care about her joke, he walked in slowly with his head lowered to the ground and his shoulder slumping "What am I going to do? Im in love." he said bluntly.
Tia widened her eyes as she began to laugh, she was so loud that he had to cover her mouth. "You continue to laugh and I'll tell everyone where that pretty little scar is." he threatened. That was the only thing she was afraid of, her scar was located on her left butt cheek that he saw when they were small. She was embarrassed about it since that operation at age 6.
She stopped laughing immediately and pulled away from his grasp "So what do you want me to do?"
"Just give me a shoulder to cry on." he began to lean on her shoulder like a sad puppy but she swiftly moved away and he fell face flat onto the couch.
"My shoulder is not used for such dispicable purposes." she said sarcastically.
"Just my luck, two girls with pms." he sighed as his face was still burried in the couch cusions.
"No, Im mad because you didn't even tell me that you had a crush on my friend, Annie. I would have helped you." he sensed a little hurt in her voice.
Jacky sat up on the couch "I had to protect myself and Annie, afterall who knew what you would have done."
Tia looked away thoughtfully "True. I would have told her you had some hideous disease or something. But since I personally know Annie, I would have helped." she nodded firmly.
"Its no use. She's mad at me....grandma jokes never use to bother her?"
"Grandma jokes??!! Oh my gosh, you stupid naive little fake gay boy. She hates grandma jokes!! She was called that throughout high school. One time I made some comment like that, she was mad at me for weeks!! I finally yanked it out of her and she told me the reason behind the joke." she shook her head sadly. "She'll hate you forever now."
"Great!" he threw up his hands dramatically and slumped back into the couch.
Tia reached over and placed a palm on the top of his head "Can't help you now. You're a lost cause, my son."
"Not if I can help it." a twinkle in his eye along with a crooked smile that formed micheviously on his lips.
"What are you going to do?" Tia looked concern as she sat up from her seat "Im afraid to ask. Look don't you dare do anything to her. I'll kill you, I really will." she pointed at him threateningly.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic. I was talking about her self esteem. You know how she's always so down at the mention of men or boyfriends? She has no confidence in herself at all. What if I can change that, maybe she won't be mad at me anymore."
Tia looked puzzled "How are you going to raise her self esteem?"
"Make over." he smiled victoriously "Actually, I tried that a few weeks ago but it didn't work out. Hmm...if I appear to be mad at her then maybe she'll come around and apologize?"
Tia nodded slowly "True, if I know Annie, she will definitely apologize because she wouldn't risk losing a friend."
Jacky rolled his eyes "She's my friend too. Anyways, I guess I'll just over exaggerate."
"Just act natural then." Tia quipped. She ducked from the flying hand that was aiming at her head. Suddenly her faced grew serious "Jacky, she's a great girl. Don't hurt her."
"I couldn't hurt her if I wanted to. Im afraid she might end up hurting me, since she thinks Im gay and all. Can you imagine the reaction at the meeting when I walk in as Jacky Hung, Vice President?" he shook his head "I don't care about anyone else but her. I don't want to hurt her in any way."
Tia layed a hand on his shoulder "Welcome to wonderful world of love."
***********
The next morning, Annie was at work early to wait for Jacky. She even baked a some cupcakes for him. It was her way of apologizing. She eventually returned to her desk when he never showed up. He strolled in an hour late and sat down. He glanced at her but she was working, he picked one of the 10 cupcakes on the tray and quickly devoured it. It was still warm from the oven, he guessed she probably cooked it in the morning. Smiling as he thought about her in an apron. Although according to his plan he was still mad at her, he couldn't help but have one cupcake. At the morning break time, he walked over to her desk and put the tray down. "Are you trying to make me fat so you can make fun of me??!" he demanded as he pointed to the cupcakes.
"Jacky, I..."
He cut her off "No, you look. I don't appreciate having people yell at me, but when I consider you a friend, you're suppose to laugh at the jokes and not take them seriously." his hands on his hips as he flipped himself around and walked off.
"But..." it was too late, he was already gone.
She sighed as she looked at the tray of cupcakes. She counted them and found one missing. A smile appeared on her face, he had eaten one at least. She didn't want to waste them so she brought them in the kitchen and left them there for whomever that wanted one.
Jacky returned to his desk not looking back at her. He had to the fight his craving to eat another cupcake. After a few minutes, he snuck a peek at Annie, who was back to work already. Suddenly, he saw Peter walking from the kitchen with a cupcake in his hand. Then he saw another guy walk out with another cupcake. He jumped from his seat and raced into the kitchen. He found a few people looking at the cupcake, he worked fast as he reached for the tray and covered it with his body. There were 6 left. "This is mine, thank you very much!" he was careful to hide it behind him and away from Annie's eyes. He didn't want her to catch him sneaking it back. When he got back at his seat, his head was hidden behind the cubicle as he ate the rest of the cupcakes.
His stomache growled with disapproval after a few minutes, he might as well swallow them whole 'I ate them way too quickly' he thought to himself. Jacky layed his head on the table as he rested. His hand was clutching his stomache in pain. After a while, the pain was still there so he got up and poured himself a glass of milk from the fridge. After he drank it, his stomache was feeling even worse. He looked at the clock constantly to see when it would be lunch time. When it got closer to 12, he raced towards the bathroom. "Jacky, wait, I want to talk to you." Annie said when she waited by the elevator for him.
He shook his head as he continued on to the bathroom. He had to relieve himself and fast. She sighed as she watched him disappear down the hall. He was still mad at her, she was beginning to feel really guilty for raising her voice at him. She went to lunch by herself that day for the first time.
At the end of the day, Annie made sure that her apology would be excepted. She stood by the elevator waiting for him once again. When she saw him leaving his desk, she made sure there was eye contact. He was looking away and walking towards the elevator. "Jacky." she said when he continued to walk on.
He continued to walk on but she put out both arms to block him. They sidestepped each other for a while until he sighed "Why don't we try tango now?" he said sarcastically.
"I want to apologize for yesterday. I didn't mean to yell at you like that. I had a really bad..."
"Well, everyone has bad days, Annie!" he said almost angrily.
"Im sorry. Please don't be mad." her eyes looked even bigger through the glasses.
"Fine, let me get you a makeover." he crossed his arms.
She looked reluctant "But, I thought we covered this subject?"
"No, you covered it. Come on, it'll be so fun!!" he gushed as he grabbed her arms and shook her.
"Will you stop ignoring me then?" she hated seeing him mad at her.
"We'll be better friends!" he promised.
Annie let out a deep sigh "Fine."
He clapped his hands happily as he pulled at her hand "Come on, we're going to the salon."
"What?! Right now?? You already have this planned??!" she was surprised.
He rolled his eyes as he pushed the elevator button "Of course!" he laughed when she gaped at him. "Close your mouth, dear, Im not a dentist." on the way down he was giggling none stop. Even Annie had to join in, he seemed so happy.