Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
“Not bad…” Darren observed his wife’s work on Ben’s finished hair dye job.
“Of course.” Mia said smugly.
Linda looked at Ben’s scar that her friend worked on for the past hour “May I?” he nodded in answer “Wow…it’s amazing Lorrie.” She gushed.
“Thank you.” She curtsied “That will be two thousand dollars please.” She placed a hand out.
Mia nodded to Darren “Pay the pretty lady.”
“I was kidding.” Lorrie giggled.
“I was going to say. I’ll smack you upside the head if you take my boss’s money.” Linda laughed “You’ve helped me so much financially, this is the least I can do.”
Darren smiled warmly “You know you get paid in exchange for work. I don’t give it out for free, no matter what Mia says.” He added with a laugh.
“You’re just being modest.” Linda disagreed.
Mia frowned “Do you two want a room?”
Carmen raised her brows “Wow, I think that’s the first time I’ve seen Mia jealous.”
“What’s jealous?” Bonnie asked innocently.
Ryan decided to answer “Jealous is when someone is mad at someone else for having something they can’t have.”
She was even more confused “Oh…”
“Linda, can I see you in the kitchen?” Mia used her bossy tone.
Darren smiled as the girls disappeared “Aren’t you going to make sure she doesn’t pull Linda’s teeth out?” Carmen asked in shock.
“Mia’s all talk.” He answered. Knowing his wife too well “She was never a violent person except during her pregnancy with Bonnie.”
Mia arched her neck after they entered the swinging door separating the kitchen. He didn’t follow, turning to Linda, she asked “Anything new?”
Linda shook her head “Nothing. He’s been very professional with the lady clients. No one really hits on him. They’re either old enough to be his mom or too young to legally touch.”
“Good…good.” Mia let out a throaty laugh.
“But Mia, you really think Boss will cheat on you? He’s so noble and honest.” Linda was quick to stand up for him.
“Every man will be tested once in his life.” Mia said wisely “Even if they don’t actually cheat, they think about being with another woman. It’s the excitement of not getting caught or just having sex with another woman that’s not your wife.” She narrowed her eyes and nodded “Oprah.”
“Who?” Linda asked in confusion.
“Don’t you people read or watch tv?!” Mia threw her hands up in defeat “Anyways, I’m just trying to slow down the process of him being…oh…curious.” She chose her words wisely “If he does, you come tell me.” She pointed a finger threateningly.
“Yes, mam.” Linda saluted with a solemn face.
When they returned, Ryan and Ben were getting ready to leave “Devin just called. They found Sum Gor’s location. We have to take action right now.” Ryan pulled his arms through the denim jacket and nodded to Darren “We’ll keep in contact.”
“Be careful!” Carmen gave them the last piece of advice before the guys disappeared.
************
Sum Gor was an overweight man but he oozed of power when he walked into the restaurant. His boys cleared out the place, chasing any existing customers that were taking up room. He placed his arms behind his back, a part of the tattoo snuck through his black short sleeve shirt. His eyes covered by a pair of sunglasses, it was his trademark. No one ever read his thoughts through his face.
The manager came out with a pathetic face “Sum Gor…please, must you chase all of the customers away?”
“What?!!” one of the guys barked “You dare yell at Sum Gor?”
“I wasn’t yelling.” He cowered like a closing flower.
“I say you were yelling!” the guy threatened with widened eyes.
Sum Gor raised a hand to retrieve his men before they began to beat up the manager “Eh, we are here to talk business. I don’t want to see blood until tonight. Sit down.” He turned to his men and waved a hand as they sat down in unison “No, tonight is very important, we want to make sure that Hung Hing will lose all face. They think they can promote a weak girl to take over and challenge us? They’ve got fucking balls.” He chuckled as the guys roared with laughter “Now I want you guys to surround the Phoenix Inn and don’t let a soul get out…” suddenly his eyes caught on someone passing the open exit. Two guys were being chased and his heart nearly stopped when he recognized one guy. Nodding to his top guy “Cheung, find out what’s going on out there.”
“Yes, Sum Gor.” He stood up respectfully and rushed outside.
Ryan blocked another slash and the dagger hit his skin this time. He whipped his arm back in pain while blocking Ben’s body. The group of guys were surrounding them into an alley “Look kid, we don’t want to kill you. Get out of the way, we only want Ah Mo.”
“Ah Mo?” Cheung was well aware of the young guy’s identity of Sum Gor’s son. Getting closer, he nodded to the guys “What the hell is going on here?”
“None of your business old man!” one guy barked and the other began laughing.
Cheung kept his cool as he reacted quickly and whipped his arm out to steal a dagger. Slicing it through one of the guys, he pointed “Fuck off or I’ll make sure the next wound is deeper.”
The backed away slowly and rushed away “Thank you.” Ryan bowed his head.
“If they chase after you again, tell them Cheung Gor of Tigers will burn their house down.” He said and turned his back.
“Cheung Gor!” Ben called out after Ryan’s wink.
“I don’t know you.” He said with his back turned.
“Please.” He fell to his knees and Ryan quickly followed “I want to see Sum Gor.” He lowered his head.
Cheung Gor weakened at the sight of the bruised guys. Nodding, he waved “Follow me.” He walked them into the restaurant with all eyes staring. Some guys looked ready to pounce while some recognized the faces as they began whispering “Sum Gor, someone’s here to see you.”
Hiding behind his glasses, it was hard to see if he was happy to see his lost son “Sum Gor.” Ben knelt down “I’ve returned.”
“Do I know you?” he sipped his tea calmly.
Ryan glanced at Ben and quickly knelt down “I know everyone thinks that Mo Gor ran away from that war in 99 but when I found him, he was really hurt—”
“I didn’t ask you to talk.” He cut in.
Ben crawled closer “I was injured from head to toe and was knocked unconscious. When I woke up, I saw that the brothers from the Tigers were dead and more from Hung Hing. I thought I was going to bleed to death. Luckily On Chai was around and he saved me.” He nodded to Ryan. Eyes pleading “I wanted to come back.”
“Then why didn’t you?” he asked without emotion. But in truth he was touched by the story.
“I could barely walk on one leg.” He continued with a cowered head “On Chai took care of me and I finally healed in a month. When I returned to see you, I overheard some of the guys mentioning that they were setting up the funeral date for me. I realized that you thought I was dead. Then I heard someone else started a rumor that I ran away and faked my death to get away because I was a chicken. I was very angry and wanted to show my face but I had no face to see you. I couldn’t show my sorry ass after a month. I’d rather you think I was dead. Months turned to years and we tried to stay out of the triad world but they eventually found me. We were chased by Hung Hing.” He completed the speech nobly. Ryan had an internal smile and made a note to mention Carmen how great of an actor her cousin was.
“Stand up.” Sum Gor ordered.
“Sum Gor…” Ben frowned.
“I said stand up!” he snapped, “Get out.”
Ben was surprised by his reaction but remained calm and nodded “I know you can’t forgive me. Please accept my bows as a return for your many years of leadership.” Kneeling, he bowed three times. Looking up, he gave Sum Gor one last glance “On Chai. Come on.”
Ryan nodded obediently and followed Ben towards the exit “Keep walking.” He whispered when he noticed Ben was hesitating.
“Wait.” Sum Gor stood up. The guys exchanged hidden smiles as they turned to him. He reached out unexpectedly to hug Ben in a tight embrace “Welcome back, son.” The other guys stood up and applauded.
He had tears in his eyes and he didn’t care that the tears slid past his sunglasses onto his cheeks. Ben smiled happily “Sum Gor!” he called.
The man laughed heartily “Silly boy, call me Dad. Everyone knows.” He raised his arms to keep the noise level at a maximum “It’s a great day today!” he threw his head back with a laugh “Let’s eat.” He showed him to his table as a few guys moved out of the way to make room for the two heroes.
“I overheard the Hung Hing guys talking about a meeting tonight at Phoenix.” Ben began.
“That’s how we got caught and they chased us.” Ryan chimed in.
“What’s your name, kid?” Sum Gor asked.
“They call me On Chai.” Ryan was grinning like a monkey, finally he acknowledged him.
“Who did you follow?” Sum Gor was looking for flaws and he knew it.
Ryan answered without pulling his eyes away “I was with Seung Gor from Lo Gwai but he died seven years ago in a battle with Hung Hing.”
“Yes, I heard about that.” Sum Gor nodded in approval “He was a great fighter. I hear those bastards snuck up on him.”
“Yeah, I vowed that I will take down Hung Hing one day.” Ryan said with great honor.
He snickered “Believe me, we all do. They’ve been on top long enough. Now that the dragon is dead, they’re trying to bring up a girl who knows nothing about it.”
“A girl? Who is she?” Ben asked.
“Hung’s sister.” Sum Gor replied.
“What a joke.” Ben snorted.
“Exactly what I said.” He smiled proudly “Don’t worry, we’ll make sure they don’t sleep well tonight. I want them to shiver each time they see a Tiger down the street.” He vowed.