Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The group of six gathered at a dinner table at one of the finest Sushi bars in Kowloon. It was really Darren’s idea since he wanted to talk to all of them. Everyone was talking amongst themselves but it was Erin’s sharp eye that caught Darren squirming uncomfortably to get their attention.
“Hey guys, I think the rich anonymous donator wants to say something.” Erin pointed out.
“Thank you, Erin.” Darren sighed with exasperation “This is serious people. I need your help.”
Rebecca, Doug and Matt were still talking while Brad turned to them “Ahem! Darren’s about to admit he has an alcohol problem. Shhh!!!”
Erin stifled a laugh but Darren wasn’t pleased “No.” he said calmly to Brad “I gave that up when Mia woke up from the coma.”
“How about cigarettes?” Matt asked.
“I...I gave that up to.” Darren replied hesitantly.
“Really?” Erin tilted her head and reached for the pack sticking out of his pocket “So what are these? Bubble gum?”
“I knew I smelled it on your breath!” Brad pointed at his friend.
Rebecca raised her brows at Brad “And when did you get so close that you could smell it off his breath?” she asked teasingly.
“I think that is between Darren and myself.” Brad replied haughtily.
Darren was growing more impatient “Shhh!! Come on guys, I’m trying to pour my heart out here.”
Matt raised a hand to silence everyone “Okay gang, calm down. Let Darren speak.”
“Thanks Matt.” Darren nodded gratefully “Anyways, I have a plan to get Mia to remember everything…” before he could continue everyone began sighing and slumping back in their chairs “What?” he demanded.
Doug shook his head “You need to wake up, Darren. This is what…you’re fifth idea? It’s not going to work. The more you come up with these things, the more she will push you away. I know Mia.” He said firmly.
“I know you two went to high school together, but I got to know the real Mia, the more mature Mia.” Darren argued for his fiancé.
“Are we still talking about the same girl? The one that thought it was fun to switch the sugar with salt in the kitchen?” Brad reminded them “I was choking on that coffee for 10 whole minutes!”
Darren laughed as he recalled the situation “Yeah…that was funny.” He said dreamily.
Erin sighed as she tapped him on the shoulder bringing him back to reality “Earth to Darren.” She waved her hand in front of his face “You’re dwelling too much on the past. Mia is a different person now, you have to come into terms with it before you can pursue her again. I know you can do it…just give her more time to adjust to the changes. Showing up every other night is not helping.” She coaxed gently.
“Yeah, it’s obsession.” Rebecca pointed out.
“I know…but I can’t help it. I miss her.” Darren said sadly “Where does she go when I come over?”
Erin smiled apologetically “Sorry, I promised Mia I wouldn’t tell you.”
“Why?” Darren turned to face her “Who does she go out with? Is it that damn Dr. Chan?”
“Hey, hey…he’s a very nice guy.” Doug stood up for his friend “He only wants the best for Mia.”
“So she does see him.” Darren nodded with narrowed eyes “I swear he’s in love with her. I can tell.”
Doug shook his head “I knew I shouldn’t have told you about that crush he had on Mia back in high school.” Everyone but Darren turned to him surprisingly and he slowly explained “The three of us were best friends back in high school. We made our own group called ‘The Dorks’ because that’s what people called us. Sure it was hurtful but we grew use to it. Ethan was the smart one, hence the PHD degree…anyways, he use to get beat up a lot and Mia would always protect him when I’m not there. He owed her his life. I think he’s just trying to help her regain her memory.”
“By spending more time with her.” Darren finished sarcastically “It’s a sappy story if you ask me.”
“So you’re saying I’m a liar?” Doug was insulted.
“No!” Darren denied quickly “I trust you…I just don’t trust that guy.”
“The honest words coming from any boyfriend with a girlfriend that has amnesia.” Rebecca sighed.
“Thanks for the reminder.” Darren replied sarcastically.
“Anytime!” she said brightly.
Doug shook his head “Okay Darren, if you want. I’ll take you up to the office tomorrow to see what really goes on behind closed doors. Ethan told me about a session he was having with Mia. Then you’ll really know who the bad guy is.”
“And who is the bad guy?” Rebecca asked knowing that whatever Doug answers will push him into a deeper hole.
Doug turned to Matt “Your honor, I don’t want to answer that.”
“Sustained.” Matt nodded firmly “Court adjourned.”
Brad raised his hand “After dinner right?” the team laughed as the food arrived.
* * *
Mia knocked on Ethan’s office door. She had long ago memorized the corridors that led to his office at Yan Sum Hospital. It was soothing to know that she could trust the guy and not to mention he knew her years before. She guessed that Darren would be very upset to know all the times she’s spent with Ethan. But it was strictly platonic and very professional. He’s never once taken advantage of her hypnotic mind when trying to help her relay some memories of the past.
“Come in.” Ethan’s warm voice welcomed. Mia opened and walked in casually “Hi Mia.” He said without tearing his eyes from the pile of paperwork on his desk “Just give me a few seconds.”
Mia nodded and glanced at her watch “Times up!” she announced with a laugh.
Ethan smiled and looked up through his glasses “Okay, I know when I’m beaten.” He took off the frames and pointed to the leather lounge chair he used to have patients lie down while he examined their most inner thoughts.
She shook her head apologetically “Can I not lie on that chair? It makes me feel like a mental patient.”
“Three months of therapy and you tell me now you think it makes you feel mental?” Ethan asked in shock “Typical Mia…” he laughed when she looked sympathetic at him.
“What do you mean?” Mia asked as she took a seat on one of his cushioned chairs. She made herself comfortable while waiting for him to explain.
“Nevermind.” He brushed it away. He never liked to talk about the old past for they needed to concentrate on the present being. Ethan wanted her to remember everything, especially Darren but he knew how she felt about it. He would have to gingerly pull her into the mindset. Every time they were close, she would wake up suddenly as if she controlled her mind to not think of Darren. He failed to research more about Darren and Mia’s life together. It seemed the guy didn’t like him very much, after all he was a head doctor. He wasn’t stupid, he could sense the jealous radar within miles “Okay, so have you had any dreams lately?”
“Hmm, not lately. Since that last one I told you about a few weeks ago.” Mia recalled shortly. She dreamt of falling into an endless hole. She eventually woke up when her alarm rang.
Ethan nodded thoughtfully “I think that might be a good sign.”
“Really? Aren’t dreams made of a human’s most intimate thoughts?” Mia asked.
“Someone’s been reading my books.” Ethan teased openly.
She laughed “Hey, I gotta find a way to sleep somehow.”
He dropped his jaw in shock “Is that what you use them for!”
Mia shook her head “I’m just kidding, they’re actually quite interesting.” He nodded with satisfactory “Ethan, can I ask you something?”
“Anything.” He said honestly.
“Are you ever going to do something about your hair?” she twitched her eye disapprovingly “For some strange reason, I think you would look better with short hair.”
Ethan titled his head to the side “That’s what you use to say back in high school!” he smiled “Are you remembering stuff?”
“I wish!” she sighed “It’s just these instincts or hunches that I get now and then. I don’t think they mean anything.”
“Are you kidding? It’s just the beginning of your memory returning.” He smiled and leaned onto his knees “What other hunches?”
Mia shrugged “Nothing that I can think up on the top of my head. What is this, a pop quiz?” she sighed with exasperation.
Ethan frowned, “Sorry.”
“It’s okay, you know how you could make it up to me?” Mia asked.
“How?” he asked reluctantly. He had long ago realized the sneakiness in Mia never faded. She still got what she wanted.
“Let me see the high school yearbook!!” she blurted out angrily. She didn’t understand why he never let her see it. Surely he wasn’t that self conscious not to let her see him in his dorky stage. She knew about their group ‘The Dorks’ because Doug told her “You couldn’t look that bad!” she widened her eyes at him.
Ethan shook his head “It’s not that…I…just…”
“Sheesh, you’re speaking like a grandma. Spit it out!” she commanded.
“Fine!” he yelled back “It’s up in that bookshelf. I keep all my memoirs up there in that box.” He went to get the little ladder that he often used for his bookshelf which stood a tall 11 feet.
“I’ll get it!” Mia said excitedly as she grabbed the ladder from his hand. She anxiously climbed the ladder.
“Be careful!” Ethan scolded.
“Yes, mother!” Mia teased with a laugh. She was standing on her tippy toes and her hand reached for the box. The minute she touched it, a surge of memories crossed her mind. She remembered the school and their group sessions. It was always the three of them and Ethan was being picked on by bullies. She remembered looking around frantically for Doug but he was nowhere so she ran to his rescue.
“Mia?” Ethan shook her hand but she gave no motion. He laughed nervously “Stop messing around.”
For some reason, she took a step back and missed the ladder completely and toppled over. Luckily Ethan was there as he caught her straight in his arms. Their eyes met and she looked at him differently “Ethan…” her arms were wrapped around his neck “I remember…” she said slowly.
“You do??” He asked anxiously. But they were quickly interrupted when the door burst open and Darren along with Doug were standing there awestruck by what they saw.
“What the hell are you doing? Get your hands off her!!” Darren roared as he charged towards Ethan.
“Darren!” Doug tried to stop but he couldn’t reach him in time. He watched helplessly as Darren took Mia from Ethan’s hand as he placed her on the ground safely. Without warning, he turned to Ethan and punched him across the face.
“Darren!!” Mia cried angrily.
“Don’t you dare touch her again!” he pointed at Ethan threateningly “I told you we can’t trust this guy!” he turned to Doug “I turn my back and here he is trying to seduce her.”
“No, he wasn’t!” Mia argued. She reached out to support Ethan who had stumbled back from the hard punch. She touched his face gently “Are…are you okay?” she asked with sincerity.
Ethan shook his head “I’m okay.”
“Apologize!” she demanded of Darren.
“No.” Ethan shook his head “It’s understandable.”
“Shit, now he’s trying to be the good guy.” Darren widened his eyes with disgust.
“Stop it!” Mia yelled at him “Nothing happened okay? Ethan wasn’t seducing me.” She spat angrily “I was trying to get that box of memoirs of us back in high school. He’s trying to get me to remember things. I missed a step and fell, Ethan caught me. That is all that happened!” she concluded.
Doug nudged Darren on the back “I think you owe someone an apology.”
Ethan shook his head with a smile despite his throbbing jaw “Its okay. I think I would have done the same if I was Darren.”
“How could you with that weak arm?” Mia asked unexpectedly.
Doug wrinkled his brows “You remember, Mia?”
Darren turned to her with hopeful eyes while she shrugged casually “I don’t know. I just remember some things back in high school.” She smiled dazily “I remember Ethan use to get beat up by the jocks and I would come swooping down like Supergirl!” she laughed and it was contagious as Ethan and Doug joined in remembering the good old times.
“I’m sorry.” Darren said sincerely “I thought…”
“Say no more.” Ethan put out his hand to shake out the truce “I’m still alive, although the pain is numbing half of my face.” He was joking but Darren winced painfully “I’m just teasing.” He tried to laugh but quickly grabbed his face instead.
“I’ll get you some ice.” Mia suggested. She turned to Darren “You boys behave.” She directed the warning at him mostly and he nodded firmly. The minute she left, silence overcame the room.