Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Jenna curled her legs comfortably on the bench as she savored the dipped fish balls “So…what’s your story?” she asked between chews.
“Story?” Ah Chung asked. He tried to ignore the cute way she was chomping on the snack.
“Yeah. You know, how you dipped into the gangster world. How you made it to the top. How many women you slept with and why are you still single.” She added as he laughed at the latter question.
Shaking his head, he tilted his head sideways “You really want to know?”
She glanced at her watched “Sure, I’ve got a few minutes to spare before my bedtime.”
Smiling, he nodded “I grew up in a family of four. One younger sister, she should be 20 this year. Very smart girl, but my mom always said it ran in the family. I did well in school too that is until Junior year in high school. I was mixed with what the other students called the ‘wrong’ crowd. But I liked the feeling of being feared. Because I was a puny kid, the other jocks used to tease me and play jokes on me for fun. One day, Lam Gor came to my rescue and from that day forth, I followed him. He eventually became one of Hung Gor’s top assassins. But unfortunately, he died under a mission. Before he left, he said to me ‘Chung, remember that wherever you go in life, always remember one word. Loyalty.’ And…he never came back.”
Jenna had stopped eating but she was subconsciously twirling the stick in circles “What did your parents think?”
“I didn’t give them time to think. I ran away.” He popped the last fish ball into his mouth and got up. Walking towards the rail, he took in the night breeze.
“If you saw your sister again, what would you tell her?” she asked curiously.
He sighed “Apologize for being a horrible big brother. But I have no face to look for them. Even before I was initiated into the gang, I didn’t want my parents to get involved. So I told everyone that I was an orphan so my family would not run into any trouble even if I was in deep shit one day.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you.” Jenna said earnestly. He didn’t really belong there but she was in no place to give him that advice.
He shrugged carelessly “The deed has been done. Hung Gor always said you could never erase your past, but you can draw your own future.”
“From the man that kills without a blink of an eye.” Jenna murmured under her breath.
“What was that?” Ah Chung heard her mumbling incoherently.
“Nothing. That was very deep.” Jenna nodded convincingly. Ah Chung agreed with a short nod “Hey, so what would you want to be had you not joined the gang?”
He didn’t have to think twice “Policeman.” Jenna raised her brows with surprise “It’s a power thing.”
She laughed “I guessed.”
***********************
Reina pushed her foot on the brake causing Mia’s head to fly back “Damn it!! Traffic at this time?” she pointed.
Mia rubbed her neck “Next time warn me before you decide to give me whiplash.”
“Sorry, the guy suddenly stopped.” Reina pointed ahead “What time did Erin say to pick her up?”
“Three.” Mia answered.
“Think we’ll make it there in five minutes?” they were at least 10 minutes away from the hospital. Reina sighed as she groaned “Come on!!!”
Mia turned to her friend strangely “You’re a little impatient. I’m sure Erin can wait. She can’t go anywhere else.”
Erin sat in her hospital room, a duffel bag in hand as she looked at her watch again “Late…of course.” She sighed and made herself comfortable on the bed.
“Miss?” a nurse walked in with new sheets. Erin looked up with a smile “I’m sorry but you will have to wait somewhere else. We have this room reserved for a new patient.”
“Oh, sure. Of course.” She said politely while moving outside. Her eyes met with the cafeteria sign as she entered the place. Her eyes searched for an empty seat. She found one and sat down. Looking around, she locked eyes with someone “Aunt Eve.” She greeted.
Eve smiled “Hey.” She looked around and walked over a few chairs to sit with Erin “How are you? Chuck told me about your incident.”
“I’m good. They released me but I’m waiting for my ride.” She nodded “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, visiting a friend.” She smiled weakly “I was going to see you next—”
Erin raised a hand “No need to apologize. I’m not a big fan of visitors anyways.” She laughed when Eve looked relieved “How’s my little cousin?” she patted her stomach lovingly.
“Growing too big if you ask me.” Eve laughed “I worry for my back.”
“Erin!” Mia cried from the doorway. She and Eve turned to the huffing voices as it got closer “We… looked everywhere…for you…” she said between breaths. Reina nodded in agreement.
Erin frowned strangely “Why didn’t you guys just have the receptionist page me to the front?”
Reina flicked a brow up at Mia “Someone said it was not allowed.”
“That’s what Ethan told me!” Mia exclaimed with a dropped jaw.
Erin rolled her eyes as she collected her bags “Maybe he didn’t want you to go paging him whenever you get to the hospital.” Turning to Eve, she smiled warmly “Bye, I hope your friend feels better. Tell Uncle Chuck I’ll be over for dinner next Saturday.”
“I will. Take care girls.” Eve said sincerely.
Reina took Erin’s bag while Mia linked her arm through Erin’s with a short laugh “It’s been awhile since it was just the three of us huh?”
Laughing, Erin nodded “Yes, boy the single days are over. You’re married with a kid and Reina is getting married this year…and me…” she chuckled.
“I would have bet you were the first to marry.” Mia sputtered but quickly earned a look from Reina.
“It’s okay.” Erin noticed the glare she gave “I would have bet that too.”
“Did you eat yet?” Mia asked “Cause I could eat a dog…but I won’t! No, that would be cruel.”
“What’s with her?” Erin leaned into Reina.
“Darren took her to this exotic food festival and she had a bite of dog meat before she realized what it was. She threw up the rest of the night and Darren was punished.” Reina whispered while Erin tried hard not to laugh.
Mia over heard the whispering as she lifted her chin “Yeah, no sex! Who said women can’t use sex as a weapon?”
Erin shook her head at her friend as her eyes followed down the hall with a group of men walking towards them. They saw Ryan, Ben and a few other recognizable Tigers. Moving aside, the girls yield to them. Ryan met eyes with Erin, as she smiled secretly, noting that she was fine. When the hall was cleared, the girls continued and didn’t start talking until they were out of the hospital and safe in Reina’s car “Why do you think they are at the hospital?” Mia asked.
“Sum Gor.” Reina and Erin answered in unison.
*************
“Son, you’re here.” Sum Gor greeted happily.
“Sum Gor.” The rest of the guys said politely.
“Hm.” He acknowledged.
“How’s your heart?” Ben pretended to care.
“It’s still beating.” Sum Gor patted his chest like a rock “A little heart attack can’t harm me!”
Ryan smiled “Maybe you should cut some fat out of your diet? Mo Gor has been very worried.”
Sum Gor turned to his son “One too many peiking duck skin.” He laughed amusingly “How are things?” he asked Cheung, his trustworthy guy.
“Good, we’ll be able to pin that liar shortly.” He answered firmly.
The boss nodded happily “I can’t wait to see the look on Hung Gor's little sister's face when she realize that her brother’s trustworthy right hand is all a fake.”
Ryan made eye contact with Ben, who quickly picked up the hint “What are you talking about dad?”
“You remember that guy at the Phoenix Inn. Doug, that’s what he called himself right?” he turned to Cheung who nodded in response “I have hard evidence that he is just a big imposter. How much money do you think Chan Yan Kiu will give me for this information?”
“A lot.” Ben snickered.
“Exactly.” Sum Gor laughed merrily “Now, we just need to get her alone. But this Doug guy is always with her.”
“Leave that to me Sum Gor.” Cheung promised.
Sum Gor shook his head “No, I want On Chai to do this.”
Ryan turned to the bedridden man “Me?”
“You have this thing with his girl right?” Ryan nodded “This is your chance then. Lure him away and I’ll make sure the girl returns to you.” Sum Gor had a plan he knew would be impossible to miss “Now excuse us, I have some things to tell Cheung. Son, you wait outside too.”
“Yes, dad.” Ben nodded. The guys walked outside and away from the other members standing guard “What now?” he whispered to Ryan when they were out of earshot.
“We have to find out what they are planning. I have to warn Jenna and Doug.” He hissed.
**************
“Sum Gor, you really think the plan will work? I think this Doug guy is smarter than we think.” Cheung was cautious.
“Hmph! If he thinks he could pull the wool over my eyes…” but he had to agree with Cheung “But you couldn’t find anything on his current status?”
“No, just his background. He came from a single family, parents have moved out of the country and he’s the only child. His current work is undetermined. All I found was that he used to teach a taekwondo class six years ago. Everything else after seems to be blocked.” Cheung answered, his brows flustered “I’m not sure why.”
Sum Gor smiled crookedly “Looks like our little liar is not as simple as he appears to be.”