Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Beijing, China
Doug was strolling the market with Ah Kiu when she turned to him “Doug, I feel like having an apple, can you buy me one?” she pointed to the fruit section. Nodding, he gave her one last glance before walking over to the woman. A grin slid on her face as she walked towards the steamed potato vendor.
“Hot yams! Buy them while they’re fresh!” he advertised.
Ah Kiu tilted her head to the side as she bent over to sniff the yams “It does smell good.”
“Yes, Miss. They are delicious. Only five dollars for one.” He grinned.
She picked one up with a napkin provided “You don’t remember me do you?” she asked with narrowed eyes.
“I’m sorry?” the man’s smile faded slowly “I don’t think we’ve met.”
She peeled the unpaid yam “Of course you don’t recognize me.” Ah Kiu said smugly “I was full of dirt and wore beggars clothing. I was starving and asked you for one, you told me to buzz off. I begged and said I would work for free in exchange for one yam…and you know what you said?” she turned her ear towards him and took a bite of the vegetable.
The man quickly took notice of the group of men circling him suddenly “I…I don’t recall, Miss.” He gulped back the fear.
“You said go to hell.” She breathed
Ah Chung crossed his arms “I hate men that disrespect women.”
Ah Kiu dropped the yam deliberately as she spread it under her shoes “Oops…it was just too hot.” She said with a short nod at Ah Chung who turned to his boys. They began throwing punches at the middle aged man while Ah Kiu turned over his steamed container of yams and stomped on all of them, destroying each one with special interest.
Doug returned and found her missing. He noticed the circled crowd as he groaned “Shit!” pushing through, he stopped the guys from killing the man “Stop it! What the hell are you doing? You want to get arrested?!” he demanded while helping the man up.
“Please, don’t kill me…take all you want.” He begged desperately while bleeding on the head.
“Sorry, mister.” He pulled out a wad of cash and handed it to him “Take it and go see a doctor.” Standing up, he turned sternly at Ah Kiu, who refused to make eye contact “Get back now!” he ordered.
The boys backed away while Ah Chung laughed easily “Hey, Doug Gor…it’s okay. We were just teaching the man a lesson. Months ago, he forced Siu Jei to go hungry. These kind of heartless people deserve a good beating.” He reasoned.
Doug shook his head “When did you become a policeman? Is it for you to judge?” he snapped. Nodding away, he said, “We’re trying to stay low. You want to make a scene than go rob a fucking bank.” Taking Ah Kiu’s elbow, he pulled her along.
She followed along obediently as the group began to follow him back to the run down motel they were staying in. He sent out a few guys to buy tickets back to Hong Kong. That night, while they ate their last dinner in China, the guys were vibrant and lively as they drank the night away. Ah Kiu laughed when Ah Chung lost yet another round of drinking games. She turned to her left “Doug—” her smile faded when she noticed he was gone. Getting up, she walked out of the restaurant and found him sitting on the curb. Joining him, she smiled “Still mad?”
Shaking his head, he replied “No. I just can’t stand it when guys get drunk.”
“You don’t drink?” she asked sounding surprise.
“No. I stopped.” He made up “Long story short. Got drunk and slept with a brother’s girl. Not good.”
“Wow…yeah, that’s not good at all.” He snickered a laugh. Ah Kiu turned to him “I’m sorry.”
“About?” he turned to her with raised brows.
“This morning. I didn’t mean to bring attention to us. It’s just…well, that man was very mean to me before. He hit me.” She pulled up her sleeve and showed him her scar “It’s a burn from the hot yams. He knocked it out of my hand and when I went to pick it up, he hit me.”
Doug’s eyes darkened “I’m sorry to hear that. But payback is not always the correct answer.”
“That’s not what Dai Gor says.” Ah Kiu argued.
The question came up in his mind again “Hey, I never asked you. Why did you end up on the streets? I’m surprised Hung Gor didn’t go searching for you.”
She turned to him, ruffled brows “Dai Gor didn’t tell you? I could have sworn he talked about me.”
“Maybe he did, I have short term memory.” Doug lied.
Ah Kiu smiled “It doesn’t matter. I’m just glad it’s over. Hopefully, my life from now on will only get better. I don’t want to think of the past. Gor is dead, I have no one else but those guys.” She pointed her thumb to the restaurant “They’re the most loyal of them all, even when Dai Gor died, they refused to break apart. I’m just glad that you’re here. Someone for them to look up to. I know they don’t say it but it’s hard taking orders from a girl.”
“I just hope to make a positive influence in their lives.” Doug smiled warmly.
“You sound like a teacher.” She teased “But it’s good. You know these guys…they’re either orphans or were kicked out of the house by their parents. I can relate a lot and I feel their pain each day, wondering if you will find food in the dumpster that can keep you moving for another day. Did you know how I survived?”
Doug was intrigued by the girl, she seemed so feeble yet her mind was strong. It only reminded him more of Hung Gor and what a crazed man he turned into “How?”
“I was jinxing myself. I wanted to curse myself, in hopes that God will not let me win.” She chuckled with a distant look “And he did, every day. I found enough food to survive.” Doug felt bad for the girl but he had no way of consoling her for she had her own mindset “A few days before I ran into you at the Temple, I really thought that I was going to die. It had been a whole week since I’ve found any food. Its like they knew I was coming to dig for food.” Tears cradled her eyes but none fell “When I thought I was going to die, I forced myself to get up. I said there were bigger and better things out there for me. I made myself believe that my planned life was better than this. I would not let defeat take over me. I pushed myself to get up and find a new place to find food.” She turned to him as a tear fell from her face “That’s when I saw the Temple.”
Doug sighed “Fate. Fate didn’t want you to die.”
“No, it was you. You found me. If it weren’t for you, I would have never gotten my new life. I have you to thank, Doug.” She leaned in and hugged him unexpectedly “I see you as my guardian angel.” She giggled, “I know its silly.” She pulled away “But it’s true.”
“That’s a huge job for me.” He said with a crooked smile. She continued to stare at him with admiration as he remembered “We should get to sleep early, our flight is at 7am tomorrow.”
“You’re right, I’ll gather them.” Ah Kiu got up happily as she skipped back inside to group them back to the motel.
****************
“You look very pretty tonight.” Devin complimented as they shared a dance together after a home cooked dinner.
She looked down at her plain jeans and sweater top “Your taste have changed.”
He laughed “Maybe. But I think you are the most beautiful when you don’t try to be.”
“Really? So I’m actually ugly when I put on the make up and dress up?” she teased.
He leaned down towards her ears “You can never look ugly.”
“Good answer.” She replied. Their lips met in a kiss but was quickly interrupted with a ring of the phone.
“Don’t answer it.” Devin said as he leaned in to continue the kiss.
She backed away with a laugh “It could be important.”
“Well, I’m not answering it.” He said stubbornly holding onto her.
Erin shook her head as she reached out to pick up the phone “Hello?”
“Oh, I’m sorry…I must have the wrong number.” A male voice replied, sounding confused.
“Doug?” Erin recognized his voice.
“Erin?” he checked his cell phone again “I dialed Devin’s number, what—Oh…I get it.” He said slyly.
She could hear the grin in his voice, while Erin flicked a brow up “Nevermind that. What did you need?”
“Is Devin with you?” he laughed.
“I’m hanging up.” Erin sighed.
“No, no!” he cleared his throat “Okay, I’ll be serious. Since you two are there, put me on speaker.” Erin placed the phone in the receiver after pressing the intercom button “Testing, testing…”
“We’re here.” Devin sat down on the single couch “What did you find out about Hung Gor’s sister?”
Erin turned to him with widened eyes “Hung Gor’s sister? The one he used in the name for the sewing manufacturing company?”
“Actually, the only sister he has.” Doug replied “Apparently, he’s left everything in her name, including his secret gang.”
“How did you find out this stuff?” Erin asked in amazement “The Doug I know doesn’t even get this lucky.”
“Hey!” Doug exclaimed “I am capable of working. Anyways, I know Ah Kiu personally. I saved her life.” He said heatedly.
“You did?” Erin shook her head “Okay, start at the beginning.”
Doug sighed “Okay, so we were ‘kidnapped’ to China.” He emphasized while Erin smiled “That first night, I was so hungry from the small dinner and you know I have to eat a big one to—”
“Focus.” Erin warned.
“Right…anyways, I went to the kitchen and caught a food thief. It turned out to be Chan Yan Kiu. I felt bad for her so I told her that we would meet every night at that time and I would bring her food.”
“Is that why you kept disappearing after we went to bed?” Devin asked.
“Yeah. Anyways, on the final night, she didn’t show up. I was afraid she would turn up dead somewhere and my conscience would not let me hear the end of it so I went to go look for her. I found her being chased by a bunch of guys. They turned out to be Hung Gor’s gang. Well, the remainder that was left back in China.” Doug finished.
Devin shook his head “If they find out who you are, you’re going to be shark food.”
“Well, not now. They think I’m Ah Gam.” Doug whispered.
“What?!” Erin cried “Are you crazy! You can’t impersonate Ah Gam.”
“Apparently I am. They have no clue.” Doug said.
“Maybe this will work.” Devin observed.
Erin turned to him “Are you mad? Not only are we their primary target for destruction, if and when they find out Doug’s identity, you think they’ll let him walk away on two feet without chopping the upper parts first?”
Doug stammered, “Uh…yeah…I think she has a good point.”
“No, listen to me.” Devin raised a hand “This will work. You’ve earned Ah Kiu’s trust, even if she finds out the truth, the most she’ll do is make you leave. Gangsters always hold their words. Keep on pretending to be Ah Gam. Erin, I want you to go to the city jail and talk to Ah Gam. Find out as much as you can about Ah Kiu. Report to Doug so at least he has a backup in case someone questions him.”
“I don’t think he’ll talk. “Erin was hesitant to carry on with the plan.
Devin smiled with confidence “You’ll find your way. You always do.” He turned to the intercom “Doug, you still there?” when he didn’t reply, he called again “Doug?”
“Yeah, I’m still here. I was just busy throwing up. Man, is that how you two are together? I’d rather you guys fight.” Doug joked.
“Don’t tell Mia.” Erin warned.
“Oh…hold on.” There was short click. The two exchanged glances “Okay, I had to cancel my second call to Mia.” He laughed.
Devin laughed while Erin sighed, “Jessie thinks you’re dead.”
“What?!” Doug’s voice screeched.
“Oh…whoops, did I say that out loud?” Erin asked sweetly.
Doug sighed with relief “That wasn’t funny.”
“My point taken.” Erin replied with a smile “Keep in touch.” She hung up the line before he had a chance to say anything else.
“Don’t worry, it’ll work.” Devin patted her hand “Now, where were we?” smiling, he swept her into his arms and swayed with the music still playing in the background.