| Fan Fiction |
by [killerhunter]
“Let go, Mike.” She demanded. “It’s time to let go already. We’ve dragged on for too long.”
“How about Myolie?” He said as he started to tear up. “You’ve to think for our daughter, Sheren. She needs a mother. She needs you by her side as she grows up.”
Sheren shook her head sadly, “Please tell Myolie that I’m sorry that I can’t take her along with me.”
Michael’s hands began to loosen his hold on his wife when he saw the determined expression on her face. He took in a deep breath as he took a step back from her.
“Is this really your final choice?” He asked her once again.
“I don’t wish for Myolie to know about this. Can you keep it a secret?” Sheren requested. “As a compensation…for neglecting me during the past years?”
Michael did not need to do so. He knew it. But he still agreed to his wife’s last appeal. This was because he knew how much it would hurt Myolie if she were to know the truth behind her mother’s departure from the family, since he too grew up in a single-parent family, and could imagine and understand how much love and care the child had lost without her mother by her side in her growing-up days.
After Sheren had left, he turned and saw his eight-year-old daughter peeping out from her bedroom. She looked up at him in confusion and frustration, trying to comprehend the thoughts and actions of the adults, but it was too profound and difficult. She had heard her mother’s complaints and cries, and her parents’ endless arguments too many times before – how her father was always concentrating on his career in the Air Force and neglecting the family.
“Honey…” Michael knelt down in front of Myolie and looked at her, trying to put on a bright smile and hide away his misery.
“Is Mummy going to come home, Daddy?” She asked him, clutching the small musical box in her hands.
Michael remembered about his promise to his wife, and deliberately hardened his expression at her, giving her a fierce glare, “Don’t ever talk about your mother again! She’s not coming home, and never will! There will only be just you and I left here.”
Myolie got scared by him as she cried out immediately, “I hate you, Daddy…”
She threw the musical box at him, but Michael failed to catch and it fell onto the ground – shattered and broken, just like the girl’s little heart. Shutting the door, she ran to the bed and hid under the blanket, hoping that it was merely a nightmare – that her mother would still be by her bed to wake her up in the morning just like before.
“I hate myself too, honey.” Michael muttered as he picked up the musical box parts on the floor, trying his best to suppress the tears in both eyes.
She never saw her mother again. From words and rumors of her relatives, it was said that her mother started a new life with her family in Canada. However, it was as if God had taken pity upon her and sent her another gift a few years later – Raymond Lam.
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“Hey Myo!” Raymond called out to her, before grabbing onto her arm and swung her around. “Hey calm down okay?”
“Only you can remain so calm at this time.” Myolie snapped back at him, while he chuckled and gently wiped the tears away from her face.
“Don’t just argue with Dad whenever you see him.” Raymond said. “He has his reasons too.”
“Yeah…like for my own good?” Myolie mocked. “He has used that excuse for the past fifteen years, Ray.” She turned and continued walking down the pavement.
“He loves you.” Raymond pointed out.
“No, he loves himself most.” Myolie corrected.
“Still pissed over your mum’s departure, are you?” Raymond saw through her like always.
She kept silent. She did not wish to admit to that fact which had been bothering her right until this day. She was unable to let go of the blame that her mother left because of her workaholic father, and it was no better that her father seemed to have further buried himself in his work and career after that – it was as if he wanted to avoid facing her. Luckily, there was Raymond around – indeed he was like a big brother to her initially, taking care of her and playing with her, thus making her feel that she was not alone in this world. However, as they grew up into adults, Raymond moved out of the house to stay in the Air Force’s hostel, after he decided to follow into Michael’s footsteps to pursue a military pilot career, and she knew that this was probably the proudest achievement in her father’s entire life – but sadly, she was not the one to have brought him the glory. This was when love started to blossom as they found themselves to be getting along better than how they did with their previous lovers, since they understood and knew each other extremely well. There were some initial hesitations in bringing the relationship further to a different level, but in the end, it was Myolie whom took the first step out and convinced Raymond that they had a future together.
“Will you become to be like him next time?” Myolie questioned as she sat down on the bench in a nearby park.
Raymond was beside her as he placed his arm around her and pulled her closer towards him, “You will always be my first priority, Myo. No one…and nothing can ever replace you in my life, not even the Air Force.”
She smiled sweetly as she turned and looked at him, “What’s so interesting to be a pilot in the military anyway? It’s so dull.”
“Gosh, you’ve absolutely no idea how thrilling it is to be able to fly a fighter jet!” Raymond exclaimed. “But I’m still a rookie in there. It’s nothing compared to Dad. He’s the true masterpiece, Myo.”
“Stop talking about him, can you?” She pulled away from his arms, as she turned gloomy.
Raymond cupped her face in his hands and kissed down lightly on her lips, “Sorry, baby. Don’t be angry, okay?”
She smiled and kissed him back. However, just when they wanted to take the smooch further and deeper, Raymond’s cell phone started ringing, and they had to break apart.
“What’s the matter?” She asked.
“Some emergency exercise.” Raymond replied. “Got to run now, baby. Let’s have dinner tonight, shall we?”
“I’ll cook.” She smiled.
He nodded, and quickly left. She continued to sit there, dazing out as her mind wandered back to many memories of the past.
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[4 Hours Later, Air Force HQ]
Raymond sat down on the stool and took a rest. It had been a hectic day after he returned – plane checks, drill exercises……There was barely a minute when he could take some breather. But he enjoyed the process – it was one of his goals in the next few years to be driving the fighter jet planes. He had seen Michael in one of those before, and it was absolutely awe-inspiring and cool.
“Raymond?” It was a familiar voice.
Raymond looked up and saluted to the man, “Good afternoon, Captain Michael.”
Michael nodded with a smile and patted on Raymond’s back, “Do away with the formalities for now. It’s just a chat between you and me.”
Raymond grabbed another stool for Michael to take a seat on. He noticed that his adoptive father was looking pretty troubled and tired – he had to rush back to the headquarters just hours after he came back here to Florida following a completed mission in the Middle East. There was hardly any time for the man to take a good break, but Michael never had any complaints. Raymond began to realize that Michael had truly aged over the years.
“What’s up, Dad?” Raymond asked, as he carried on cleaning up the tools before placing them back into the container.
“Sorry about this morning.” He apologized.
Raymond shook his head, “I should be the one making the apology. I didn’t…I mean, I kept my relationship with Myolie in the dark, and didn’t tell you about it. I know I’ve erred gravely.”
“No, it’s not like that. I know that I’ve no position to object your relationship.” Michael explained. “It’s just that…I hope both of you have really thought over it clearly – that you’re dead serious, and not fooling around only.”
“I’m really serious in dating Myo, Dad.” Raymond confirmed.
“I know, Ray. All these years, you haven’t disappointed me. You’ve really done me, yourself…and your father proud.” Michael said. “It’s Myolie whom I’m worried about. She’s young and playful. I’m just afraid…that she might being you trouble next time.”
Raymond smiled when he heard that this was what Michael was so concerned about – his main point of objection over their relationship. “Dad, I’ve confidence in Myo. She’s more matured than you think actually, although I won’t deny she does carry a little of the shadow over your divorce with her mother.”
When Raymond said that, Michael seemed to be deep in thought as he remembered about the day when Myolie never truly addressed him as her ‘Daddy’ anymore after Sheren left their home – since then, it was always calling him by his first name, or a curt ‘Dad’. Myolie merely went from bad to worst as she turned really rebellious during her teenage years. However, after spending a day in the remand center for being involved in a gangster scuffle, she learnt her mistakes through the hard way and was back onto the right path again, though her relationship with Michael was still stagnant at the same level.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to rake up the past.” Raymond realized that it had slipped out of his mouth earlier on.
“No…” Michael shook his head. “Not your fault. I just thought that I should let you know something.”
“What?” Raymond asked.
“About Myolie’s mother and me.” Michael’s voice got softer – he had never talked about this to anyone all these years, and by doing it now, he seemed to have some difficulties relating this secret to another person. “It’s the true reason behind the divorce, but I promised Myolie’s mother not to divulge it out – she wanted to spare the hurt which might be inflicted upon Myolie, and I agreed. Since you and Myolie are serious with each other, I guess you ought to know about this too. I’m hoping you can bring some solace to her.”
Raymond listened on with great interest. He could almost feel the heaviness weighing inside Michael’s heart as he spoke of the secret which might potentially hurt his daughter’s emotional state even further.
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[Super-Mart]
Myolie pushed the trolley around the supermarket, while examining the frozen beef steak. As she placed the groceries in the trolley, she recalled that Raymond had mentioned about finishing his supply of chocolates in the hostel, and wanted to help him get some. At that moment, a young child of about eight had knocked into her while running past by her side, and he fell onto the floor. Myolie immediately put down the chocolates and attended to the boy.
“Little one, are you alright?” She asked concerned as she checked if he had hurt himself.
The young boy grinned and shook his head, “Big Sister, I can’t reach that shelf. Can you help me get the chocolates?”
Myolie looked at the direction where the young boy had pointed towards. She smiled and helped him up first, before going over to retrieve the chocolate brand which the young boy was talking about.
“Here you go.” She bent down and passed it to him.
“Mummy will be happy!” He chirped on delightedly.
Out of curiosity, she asked him, “Your mum’s favorite chocolates?”
He nodded with a grin, before he ran off, seemingly in search for his mother.
“That’s my mother’s favorite as well.” Myolie sighed as she stood up and grabbed the chocolates before throwing them into the trolley and moved out of the tidbits section.
At that moment, she heard the young boy’s voice as she turned around and saw him with a middle-aged lady, presumably his mother. However what took her more by surprise was how this lady resembled her mother, even though she had not seen her anymore for the past fifteen years.
“Honey, who helped you there?” She wiped the perspiration off her son’s forehead.
“Big Sister.” He answered. “Mummy, this is for you.” And then, he planted a peck on her cheek. He turned his head around and caught sight of a familiar figure, “Mummy, Big Sister is the one whom helped me just now!”
Their eyes met. Strangely enough, both felt a weird, yet strong sensation welling up within themselves. It was as if they had recognized each other at first sight. Just then, another man joined the lady and young boy. The lady snapped out from her daze, and hastily left the supermarket with her husband and son. Myolie struggled internally for a very long time. She knew that if she missed this chance, she would never get another in the near future. Abandoning her purchases aside, she rushed out of the supermarket, and searched for the family anxiously. She finally found them heading towards the car park, and ran towards that direction.
“Sorry…” She called out to the trio.
“Big Sister!” The young boy grinned at the sight of her – somehow, he felt that this lady seemed to bear a resemblance to his mother.
Myolie smiled back at the boy, before her gaze returned to the lady standing there looking hesitant and shocked.
“How may I help you, Miss?” It was the man whom asked.
“Adam…she’s an old friend…” The lady told her husband. “Can I have a little chat with her first? How about you take Jason back to the hotel?”
He nodded with an understanding smile, “Alright, be careful. Give me a call when you’re done.”
When the car had driven off, the lady looked over at Myolie as she reached out to touch onto her hand – this immediately had Myolie in tears as she knew that this touch was so familiar – a mother’s stroke.
“You’ve grown up.” The lady finally broke the silence between both of them.
Myolie swallowed hard as she whispered, “Mum…”
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I know I shouldn’t have been so selfish – I robbed away your privilege of having a mother’s love, of having a perfect and happy family when I chose to leave your father back then. But we had no love for each other already, and a divorce was the only solution for both of us, because I was already seeing someone else out there at that point of time. Michael was a very good man, but it was a pity he came short of being a good husband for me. But I know that he loves you very much – so much that he was willing to keep the marriage for the sake of giving you a complete and healthy family. But for me, I did not wish to carry on living that kind of life anymore. I did consider taking you along with me, but my new life forbade me from doing so. I even wanted Michael to keep this secret for me until you’ve grown up and understood the adults’ world – I was afraid that you might bear hatred towards me, and I wanted to leave a good memory of myself in your heart. Your father had agreed to keep all of these as a secret – but not for me. It’s because of you.
I’m sorry, Myo. You should have known this right from the start. All these years, it had not been easy for you…and your father as well.
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[2 Hours Later, Apartment]
“Wow!” Raymond exclaimed as he stared at the dishes on the dining table, before giving Michael a nudge on his arm. “Dad, these are all your favorite dishes!”
Michael could not help but smile as well. It was actually his first time tasting his daughter’s cooking, since both of them could hardly sit down in peace together, let alone having a meal. Therefore, Myolie would always try all means to avoid being alone with her father. After hearing the story account from Michael earlier on, Raymond was determined to help both of them to reconcile, since he thought that it was worthless for both of them to continue their relationship in this way when he knew that both loved and cared for each other – it was just that small prick in the heart which prevented them from taking a step out to talk. Michael had made Raymond keep that a secret as well, but the latter felt that Myolie had the right to know the truth – after all, she had already grown up and could understand about what was going back then. However, Michael said that it was not so simple. Because of her mother’s departure, it indirectly led onto creating many other obstacles between both of them, and they accumulated over the years that now even the truth might not salvage their relationship.
“Honey, I’ve something for you.” Michael thought this was a good opportunity, and gave her the birthday gift. “Happy birthday. Sorry I couldn’t…”
“Your work is always more important than me.” Myolie interrupted as she put down her chopsticks on the table. “I understand that, and I accept it.”
“I don’t mean that, honey.” Michael tried to explain.
“I met Mummy today…at the supermarket.” Myolie revealed. “She told me many things…many, many things which I’ve completely no idea about…”
Michael was taken aback. He had not expected it.
“Can you please…please stop thinking that whatever you do is truly for my own good? Can you just let me decide what’s good for myself…just once?” Myolie said. “I know how it’s so difficult for you having to juggle in between the roles of a dad and mum at the same time. But all I really need is just some of your attention and love. I don’t need you to bring your military rules and treat me like one of your subordinates back home here. Neither do I need you to give me promises, and then break them later on. Michael, you’ve absolutely no idea how much you’ve missed out in my life – how I needed you in some phases of my days, and you weren’t and couldn’t be there for me. There were some happy and…sad events in my life which I really hoped I could share with you, but you just pushed me further away. I hated you when you always prevented me from talking about Mummy. Have you ever asked me what I really wanted?”
Michael stared at her speechless. Everything he did – and he could swear on his life, that he always put Myolie’s interests best at heart, although he had to admit sometimes that he found himself struggling over the best method to teach and guide his daughter along the path.
“I’ve given you the best that I can provide, Myolie.” Michael finally spoke with a slight hint of desperation that she would understand his intentions.
Myolie shook her head and whispered indignantly, “You’re just making my life more miserable.”
With that, she stood up and left the dining table, before grabbing some things and exited the apartment.
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After clearing the dishes and table, Michael headed back to his room. He had no mood to continue on with the meal, especially now that Myolie was not there eating with him. It was meaningless already. He looked down at the musical box and started tearing up when he recalled how she had thrown him the harsh words that he had single-handedly made her life more miserable when he meant the best for her each and every time. Perhaps he was really wrong – no, he was wrong. He had just caused his own daughter to hate him. Letting out a long, heavy sigh, Michael then took in a deep breath and headed over to the cupboard, before opening it. He pulled a huge carton box out, and carefully placed the musical box in there – together with all the other birthday gifts he had bought for her over the past years but had no chance to give her.
At that moment, his cell phone rang, and he picked up the call.
“Yes I know, Sir.” He said. “I understand everything, Sir.”
“Then what’s your decision then, Michael? The Air Force will need your service in this crucial period.” The voice said over the other side of the line.
“I’ll accept it, Sir.” Michael finally answered.
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She just walked on aimlessly on the streets. She had no idea where her destination would be. She really did not wish to start another argument with him, but somehow, those words just came out very naturally, as if they had been bottled up within her for a very long time. After her long conversation with her mother in the afternoon, she then realized what he had done for her all along – that he did care and love her more than she thought he had.
Right at that moment, she stopped abruptly in her track, before taking a few steps backwards and hid around the corner. She had unconsciously come over to the hotel which Sheren had been living in. Looking through the glass panel, she had caught sight of Sheren and her new family having their meal in the hotel’s restaurant. Her every little action – the tenderness, the concern, the affection for her two other sons, deeply tugged at Myolie’s heart. It was something which she never experienced again after her mother had left. She tried to take in a few deep breaths and held back her tears, but they just stubbornly trickled down her cheeks. It was hard for her to watch her mother having a happy and fun time with her new family members, and even more difficult for her to witness the attention and love her two other half-siblings had received. Just then, she felt a firm, yet gentle hold around her back. Turning around, she saw him looking both worried and empathetic.
“I know I shouldn’t blame Dad for everything that had happened, like Mummy leaving the family.” Myolie confessed as she was choking on her tears. “But I just hope that he can care for me the way how Mummy cares for them. It doesn’t matter to me if I can’t have Mummy to stay by my side as I grow up, but why do I also feel that I’m like without a father too?”
“Don’t hold it back.” Raymond nodded his head to show his understanding, and gently placed her head against his shoulder. “Cry it out and you’ll feel better.”
She buried her face in his chest and sobbed really hard – she could feel the anguish, guilt, regret……every single one coming out from her all at once. Raymond could only lend her his shoulder, and patted on her back to give her reassurance. He understood Myolie well – he knew that she probably hated herself more than anyone else right now.
However, he also felt that she ought to know something as well – an important piece of information about Michael. The United States had been bracing and preparing herself for the upcoming war in the Middle East – Michael had been assigned the frontline mission up in the air to launch the first attack.
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[Nightfall, Apartment]
She stepped into the house, and found it empty. Raymond had to rush back to the camp for another emergency exercise, and she knew that it had something to do with her father as well. Although her father seldom mentioned about his work to her throughout the years, she knew that it carried a certain degree of danger and risk in it.
Contemplating for a moment, she hesitated in front of her father’s bedroom, before deciding to go in. Everything was neat and tidy, being in the place where they should be – it was just like her father’s character. Her eyes landed upon a photo frame as she picked it up from the dressing table. A faint smile inevitably appeared across her face as it showed a younger Michael and the seven-year-old her in the playground – she remembered that she had fallen off from the swing back then and was bawling out, but it did not take Michael very long to coax his daughter to smile for the camera again with his silly and playful antics.
Biting on her lower lip as she recalled that scene in her childhood memories, she realized that they had shared too few moments together in each other’s lives. She tried to take her thoughts off the past, and quickly placed the photo frame back to its original position, before her eyes caught sight of something in the slightly-ajar cupboard. Proceeding to open it, she gasped in surprise as she saw the contents inside the huge carton box. Slowly, she went through each and every one of it – it was all about her, from her nursery graduation to her achievement of a scholarship to pursue a degree in one of the most established music schools in the state. Her every single birthday gift had been exactly something she had wished for in each year. Blinking her eyes in disbelief as the tears flowed uncontrollably, she began to realize that he was actually trying to walk together with her through her journey of life. But it was her whom never made an effort to take a look around.
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[Air Force HQ]
After the meeting, Raymond had bumped into Michael at the corridor.
“Dad, Myo knows everything already.” Raymond said. “About the mission, I mean.”
“Why did you…?” Michael questioned.
“You can’t hide it from her, Dad. She’s your daughter.” Raymond reasoned. “Why didn’t you tell us about your injury? Why didn’t you explain to Myo that it was because you had been seriously injured in the previous mission that you couldn’t rush back in time to celebrate her birthday with her?”
Michael had not expected Raymond to find out about this so soon.
“We’re a family, Dad.” Raymond continued on. “No matter what happens, we’ll stay together strong and united.”
“Does Myo know about it already?” Michael asked – his tone obviously being softer and gentler now.
Raymond nodded, “She has a right to know.” When Michael kept silent, he carried on speaking, “You’ve hidden your concern and love for her in the past fifteen years. It’s time to show her that you love her, Dad.”
Michael was clueless – it was easier said than done. It was like an invisible barrier had been created between both of them already. Could he and Myolie really patch up their scarred relationship?
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Michael stood at a distance away, and saw his daughter sitting on a swing as her hands held onto the musical box – no, it was not the new one he had gotten for her; instead it was the old one which she had unintentionally broken it when she was eight. He knew that she most probably had seen the contents in the huge carton box. When he had reached home earlier on, he had seen a note left on the dressing table in his bedroom.
‘Dad,
I’m down at the playground near the park. Can we talk?
Myolie’
Michael walked over and joined her on the swing beside hers. She turned around after noticing his presence.
“Do you like those gifts?” He broke the silence first.
Myolie looked deeply into his eyes and nodded her head, “I like them very much – all of them.” She paused for a second before adding on, “Thanks.”
Michael smiled faintly. It was such a simple and short ‘thanks’, yet it touched a raw nerve in his heart.
“I…I want to apologize to you for…about everything…in the past…” Myolie started speaking as she looked down on the musical box, before lifting her head up. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”
Michael laughed softly as his eyes were brimming with tears, “Silly girl, it’s none of your fault at all. I shouldn’t have kept everything from you, and did what I thought it’s supposedly right for you. I should be sorry instead.”
“No…” Myolie said as she could feel the remorse in herself.
“You know something, honey? I tried to correct your grandfather’s mistake – back then, when your grandma left the family like your mum did, he threw the harsh truth right into my face. I couldn’t accept it at all – I couldn’t accept that I would be now growing up in a single-parent family…and I was really upset back then…” Michael went onto explain. “And then, I didn’t want you to become like what I once was. I thought that it was best if you hadn’t known about anything, because that would be what I wanted back then for myself. I forced my own thoughts and feelings upon you honey…and I shouldn’t have done that……I’m really sorry for being such a lousy father…”
Myolie finally understood the reason behind her father’s decision, “No, you aren’t a lousy dad. You’re the best father I can ever have…and I shouldn’t have blamed you for Mummy’s leaving.” She stood and walked up to her father. “The truth was…she abandoned both of us…you and me…”
Michael got up as well and gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks. She would always be his little girl.
“Do you really have to go for the war?” Myolie asked in a whisper.
Michael nodded, “The country needs me.”
“Even if it’s for me, can’t you stay?” She was afraid that she might lose her father.
“I’ll definitely return home safe and sound for the sake of you.” Michael gave his word. “I promise.”
Myolie leapt forward, and hugged onto Michael very tightly with both arms, “Make sure that you don’t break your promise this time.”
Michael chuckled softly as he answered, “Everything’s going to be alright, honey.”
Myolie smiled after hearing his reassurance, and finally told him her heartfelt words.
“I love you so much, Daddy.”
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[1 Year Later]
His greatest wish had been fulfilled…right at this moment – he was walking down the aisle with his daughter, before handing her over to a man whom he knew he could trust fully and she could rely for the rest of her life.
“Take good care of Myolie, Ray.” Michael said as he placed her hand on Raymond’s.
He then took a seat at the front bench, and watched the couple exchanged their vows. All these years, he had only a really simple wish for his daughter – she did not need to make huge bucks, nor be very smart and famous. He wanted her to have a fulfilling and enriching life.
And now, he knew that she was now walking on the path leading to that.
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THE END~