Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Luke had finished eating and cleaned up the mess he made. He walked out into the living room to watch television but before his butt hit the couch, there was someone at the door. He checked the hole and noticed it was the Chiu family. Opening the door, he grinned “What east wind brought the Chiu clan here to my humble home?”
“It’s not your home.” Mia entered casually “Where’s Erin?”
“Hi Uncle Luke!” Bonnie greeted from Darren’s arms.
“Bonnie!” Luke exclaimed giddily as he took the girl into his arms “Wow, you’ve gotten heavier!”
She giggled from his tickling “It’s almost my birthday.” She nodded wide eyed “Bonnie is going to be five!”
“Really? Well, I didn’t realize that.” Luke teased the girl.
Mia turned to him sternly “You knew, I sent those birthday invitations out two months ago. Where’s Erin?” she asked again.
Luke raised his eyes at Darren, who in return rolled his eyes “She gets very serious when she is in confrontation mode.”
“Wooh, what for?” Luke asked as he placed Bonnie to the floor.
“She has this theory…” Darren waved a nonchalant hand.
“Devin has a love child!” Mia exclaimed.
**************
Erin continued to stare at Daniel “Who’s Janine?” she asked again “I thought he had a meeting with the police officials?”
“I’m not sure.” His eyes wandered away “Janine is a friend.” He chose his words carefully when he realized Devin wasn’t honest about Janine and his child “A casual high school friend. Mutual friend.”
She relaxed her tensed face “Okay. Can you take me to this ‘friend’s’ house?”
“Actually, I’m not even sure that he’s there.” Daniel covered.
She turned to Carmen “We’ll talk at the meeting tomorrow.”
“Okay.” The girl sensed the anger in her tone of voice.
Daniel looked at the rest but decided to run after Erin “Where are you going?”
“Finding him.” She replied shortly while dialing Devin’s number.
“You don’t know where he is.” He sped up to catch up with her steps.
“If it’s a casual friend, then he has no reason to lie about it.” She listened for the ringing, he answered “Devin? Hey, it’s Erin. I need to see you right now.”
“Oh…um, sure, I’ll be over at your house in fifteen minutes.” He replied.
Erin spotted the hesitation “No need, I’m downtown in Kowloon. Are you close?”
“No.” he lied and could have slapped himself for it. Turning to Janine, he shook his head as he stood up from the couch “I’m…I’m with Superintendent Chow.”
“Another lie.” Erin said flatly. She hung up and spun around to Daniel “Take me to him right now.”
“Erin—” he began only to be cut off.
She raised a hand “IF you don’t help me, I’ll find my own way.” She waved for a cab but he quickly pushed her hand down.
“I’ll take you there, but you can’t be angry.” Daniel said firmly.
“It’s too late for that.” She answered “But I will not lose my temper.” She promised.
They returned to his parked car as he drove her to Janine’s apartment building “Tenth floor, apartment C.”
“You’re not coming?” she unbuckled her belt. He shook his head with a diverged glance “I understand. You guys are not at good terms.” She got out as he watched her worriedly. She entered the elevator and felt her stomach turning when the machine stopped. She walked out and found the apartment with ease, her hand raised as she knocked.
A female opened the door, she looked to be in her late forties, Erin frowned in confusion. Daniel said they were high school friends, she was too old to be their friend “May I help you?” the woman asked.
“Are you Janine?” Erin asked unsurely.
She shook her head “No, I’m sorry, you have the wrong apartment...”
“Excuse me.” Erin smiled gently as she turned. Suddenly, she realized what Daniel had done.
Daniel got out of the car and rushed towards the third floor and knocked on the apartment vigorously. Janine opened “Daniel?”
“Is Devin still here?” he asked hurriedly.
She unlocked the chain and opened “He looked worried after that phone call.” She whispered.
Devin stood up “What are you doing here?” he asked “Did you tell—”
“No time, you need to get out now. Erin made me take her here. I told her to go to the tenth floor. It’ll be a matter of time until she figures it out.” He rushed.
Devin got up as he turned to Janine “I’m sorry. Tell Ah Ming, I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I will.” She promised as she walked the guys out.
They rushed down the stairs, trying to avoid the elevator. But to Devin’s dismay, she was standing in front of the building, with crossed arms, expecting him to come out “Erin.”
“Who is she?” Erin asked calmly.
“She’s…she’s my ex girlfriend.” Devin confessed.
“Are you two back together?” She raised her brows.
“No.” he replied simply.
Erin snickered sarcastically “But you’d lie to me to see her.”
“Erin, please…” he stepped over and reached for her arms “I know I should have told you the minute I ran into her in Beijing—”
“Beijing?” Erin shook her head “That was over three months ago. Tell me Devin, when were you going to tell me? When you guys have a kid together?!” she demanded angrily. He avoided her glare and looked away without answering. Her face fell “You have a kid together.” She whispered.
He looked up “I’m sorry—” he saw her hand raise to slap him “If it makes you feel better.”
Erin slowly lowered her hand “You’d want that right? So it would take away the guilt that you’re feeling.” Chuckling, she backed away “You’re not getting away that easy. I don’t want to see you right now.” Spinning on her heels, she headed off.
“Erin!” Daniel chased her.
“Don’t talk to me.” She growled, “You’re a liar too.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to be this angry. This is my fault, I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth. I should have minded my own business.” Daniel walked on.
She halted and turned to him “This isn’t your problem Daniel. You did nothing wrong. You even tried to protect him. You’re not the one that needs to apologize.” She insisted.
“At least let me take you home.” He said before she run off again. She nodded. When they returned to the place, Devin was not in sight “You should hear him out.” Daniel said as he leaned onto the car door when he saw her staring at the place where Devin last stood.
She was hiding her tears, hurt that he didn’t have the balls to at least explain his story. Wiping a tear away, she turned to Daniel “No, there’s nothing left to say.” Getting in the car, she turned towards the window.
He nodded and started the car. Driving out to the harbor, he parked the car and turned to her “I’m here if you want to talk.”
Pushing the car door open, she ran towards the rail and belted out a loud scream. When the anger flew from her mouth, she sank slowly to the ground and sobbed openly. He was by her side with a consoling hand on her shoulder. She allowed him to pull her into his chest as he held her while she cried.
When Erin was ready to go home, he parked his car in front of her house “Thank you.” She said through a forced smile.
“Anytime.” He nodded “I’ll walk you to the door.”
“No.” she said “I’ll be fine.” She got out of the car and walked to her door. She sighed at the sight of Darren’s limo. The driver nodded when he recognized her. She opened the door and saw them sitting on the couch “Midnight snack?” she asked Mia.
“Where have you been?” Mia stood up “I’ve got huge news!”
Darren sighed as he pulled his wife back on the couch “I told you to lay off the caffeine.” He got up and walked towards Erin “Don’t listen to her…” he faded when he noticed her red puffy eyes “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She felt the lump growing again “It’s late. We have a long day tomorrow.”
“Oh no, you’re not getting away that easy.” Mia got up to stop her at the nape of the stairs “Don’t you want to hear—Oh my gosh, have you been crying?” she pointed. Erin couldn’t hold the tears as she bit her lip but the throaty sobs refused to be unheard “Erin.” She quickly hugged her friend while turning to Luke and Darren “You can tell me, what happened?” she couldn’t speak, only sob into her friend’s shoulder.
Darren turned to Luke “Uh…let’s go out, I think Bonbon wants some ice cream.” He winked knowingly.
Erin quickly looked up “No, don’t go. I might as well tell you guys. It’s going to come out eventually.” She sniffed back the tears and took Mia’s hand as she explained her findings that night.
“What did I tell you?!” Mia widened her eyes at her husband “My brain is not full of mush!”
“That jerk! I’m going to go kick his ass!” Luke vowed “How dare he lie like that.”
Mia laughed while Erin smiled despite her mood “Stop, I’m not in the mood to laugh.”
“I’m not kidding. I will go over there right now and kick his ass!” Luke insisted, “Where does he live?” he looked at the three with crazy eyes.
Mia held her stomach “Stop, it hurts…”
“What are you going to do?” Darren asked.
She knew he was talking about the team “If you think I’m going to quit over a guy, then I’ll tell you Erin has changed. P.R.A. is part of my life, I’m not giving up that easy.”
“That’s my girl!” Mia chimed in.
“But…how about tomorrow?” he asked. They had a set meeting the next morning.
Erin was emotionless “I’ll deal with it then.”