Fan Fiction |
by Mimosa
“What’s with that long face you’re pulling?” Ada arched her brow at Kevin, who leaned against the wall sulkily.
“I guess you girls don’t need a ride this morning, huh?” He bit his lips, and tilted his head to indicate the silver BMW parking notably in the apartment’s lot. “You know, next time please give me a buzz.” A taste of mockery in his tone “I’d have saved a trip!”
“Oh please, stop being a baby!” Ada rolled her eyes and stepped aside “The car’s here doesn’t mean the person’s here! Are you going to stay out there?” She asked when Kevin made no effort to move himself pass the door.
“You don’t tell me the car drove itself here, do you?” He scratched his head confusedly
“Wait till she gets up and you could ask her yourself!” Ada closed the door and returned to her coffee.
“What?” Kevin exclaimed in horror “She’s NOT up yet?”
“Ada!” A shadow with rumbled hair emerged from the bedroom door. She stopped for a second to acknowledge Kevin’s presence, before rushing to the washroom and cried again from behind the closed door “Ada, why didn’t you wake me up?”
“I couldn’t really wake you up, Flora!” Ada said flatly “Somebody called and gave me specific order not to ‘disturb’ your sleep, that you might need more rest, that you could report to work anytime you please today!”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Flora’s hand froze over the water’s faucet “Who?”
“Who else?” Ada chuckled “Our group leader, Doctor Lo, of course!”
“Oh!” Flora was clearly taken aback.
“Him?” Kevin grumbled with a hint of dismay “Why would he do so?”
“Well,” Ada chuckled “Our Flora didn’t come home until 2 something in the morning, driving Lo’s exquisite car. You go figure, Kevin!”
“She… she…” Kevin stuttered “She and him…”
“She and him what, Kevin?” Ada eyed Kevin innocently
“You said… you said…” Kevin paced back and forth “You said Flora and Gallen, they might… Arg” He fluttered his arms wildly, grunted, then clutched his head
“Gosh,” Ada sat back, amused “You mind is so dark, Kevin!”
“What do you mean?” Kevin groaned “You thought so too!”
“Hey” Ada protested “I only meant Flora might accompany Gallen since he was quite upset yesterday after the Jia Jia’s unfortunate, I didn’t imply anything else!”
“You… you… arg! You almost killed me there!” Kevin dropped himself on the couch
“Not me, it’s your petty jealousy!” Ada laughed “It blinded your judgment!”
“I’m so not jealous!”
“Admit it!” Ada wiped her coat off the tea table “Time to go, Mr. Driver!”
Flora waited until Ada’s voice diminished from a safe distance outside the apartment, before emerging from the bathroom. She touched her burning cheek, and smiled shyly to herself. It was simply nice to know he cared.
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[Grantham Hospital – Pediatrics Cardiac]
“Somebody happens to pass by the library sometimes today?” Nick strolled in with a list on his hand “I need these few articles.”
“Why don’t you go online, Nick Gor?” Annie lifted her head inquiringly…
“These date back to 86, not available online…” Nick explained
“I’ll go!” Flora typed up a few entries into her computer, snatched the list from Nick’s hand, and rushed out of the room.
“What’s with the rush?” Nick was puzzled “I didn’t even have time to tell her where the library is.”
“She’ll find out!” Ada said with a meaningful glint in her eyes, to which Annie laughed, leaving Kevin and Nick totally baffled.
“I don’t get it!” Kevin declared sulkily “What’s so funny?”
“Yes,” Nick agreed “What’s going on?”
“Well,” Ada cleared her throat “We have a little theory, but it needs a little experimental result to be verified and confirmed!”
“Do you have an ‘experimental plan’?” Nick played along
“I think we do!” Annie nodded firmly “Follow me!”
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[Flora]
“The journal session is on the third floor, Miss!”
“Thank you!”
I ran all the way up the three double flights of stair, and found myself panting in front of the door to the journal session of the vast library. I put a hand on my chest to calm myself, and pushed the door.
The room was utterly quiet, and utterly vacant. The reading tables were occupied by only two persons in white coat, but neither of them was the one I expect. I bit my lips, trying to hide my disappointment. I might be late. He must have done with his search and headed back to his office by now. Or worse yet, he might be sitting in some other library. Well, just like my friend Carmen always said “If two persons are decreed to meet, they’ll meet.”
I looked down at the list on my hand, sighed, and proceed to the row of computers to begin my now-turn-boring mission. It took me a few minutes to get the indices. These were indeed very old articles. I got up with another stifled sigh, and dragged my feet toward the tall, gloomy shelves.
Those old journals were surely filled with dust. I hated them. I hated Nick for making me do this. Oh wait, I did volunteer for this, didn’t I? Well, I had sort of some incentive to get myself through the painful process, but that incentive was nowhere to be seen.
I traced my fingers over the volume number, 41, 42, 42 supplement, 44… Great! Now the particular volume I needed wasn’t here. Frustrating!
I guessed it wasn’t only the missing volume that made me that frustrating!
I took a deep breath, summoned my patience, and continued to the next item on my list! What the demon with this? Another missing volume?!?
I yanked a journal off the shelf carelessly, and winked at the sudden sting in my eyes. “Urg!” I stomped my feet, this was the last thing I needed to top up the frustration. I came here to find him, I couldn’t find him. I came here to find Nick’s articles, I still couldn’t find any by now. And now this dust in my eye!
“Are you all right?”
That was a very warm and deep voice.
That was a very familiar voice.
I spun around, and for no reason, tear swam in my eyes.
“What’s wrong, Flora?” His voice was a little alarming. Did it mean he cared?
“Oh, it.. it’s just… something in my eyes!” I wasn’t exactly lying. There was dust in my eye. Only it no longer bothered me.
“Come here!” He caught my hand casually and led me out of the dark aisle toward the window, where sunlight was flooding in. I blinked, causing two drops of tear to roll down my redden cheeks.
He gently lift my chin up and lowered himself to me, “It’s okay, Flora!” He whispered soothingly “I know it’s not comfortable, but I’ll have to keep it open to blow the dust out, okay?”
He carefully wiped the teardrop off my face with the soft sleeve of his white shirt. It was a little uncomfortable, not the dust, but the way he was being so close! So attentive!
He blew, quite gently, but I still jolted back a bit, and lost my balance. Gallen was deft to catch me… his arm so strong and warm around my waist.
“Sorry!” He withdrew his hand quickly, his face reddened in such an adorable way.
“It’s… it’s fine” I turned away hastily, “Thanks!”
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[A few aisles down]
“Man!” Nick uttered disappointedly “I thought we were about to catch them red-handed, kissing!”
“That silly friend of yours, Nick Gor!” Ada grunted “Is he a man?”
“Hey!” Annie protested “My Dai Gor is a man all right! That’s why he’s not taking advantage of the situation!”
“Where’s Kevin?” Ada realized for the first time the absence of their fourth partner in crime. He was still by her side when they witnessed the little episode by the window.
“There!” Nick nodded toward the reading area, where Kevin was rushing after Flora. Ada glanced sideway at Annie…
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[Grantham]
“We must do something!” Ada tapped the pen on her palm “We must push the experiment forward to some positive results! These two definitely need some catalyst!”
“Any idea?” Nick sat back on his chair, looking from Ada to Annie
“I was thinking… but I would need you two to help!” Annie said
“Like?”
“Like you, Nick Gor, will start to court Flora, while Ada will start to show my Dai Gor some attention!”
“That’s good!” Ada nodded approvingly “I could do that!”
Nick glanced at the over-enthusiastic Ada with a hint of discomfort “I’m not so sure…”
“Come on, Nick Gor!” Ada gave him an encouraging pat on his back “Not that you really have to success in courting Flora! Just to tick Gallen Gor off, you know!”
“Hey” Nick cried indignantly “What make you think I am worry about not success? If I want, she’ll be mine in no time!”
“Right!” The girls rolled their eyes. “You will, but it’s not the objective of the game!”
“Precisely!” Nick pointed at Ada “I’m glad you remember that!”
With that, he got up and strolled out of the room. Annie looked at Ada mischievously
“I think somebody is a little nervous of you getting on with my Dai Gor!”
“Nonsense!” Ada scolded laughingly as she got up with her huge stack of paperwork “Tell Kevin I’ll be back in 15 minutes.”
“Sure!”
“And by the way, Annie dear” Ada poked her head back in the room “You should worry more about how to let Kevin know you care for him!”
“I’m not!” Annie pouted “I don’t like him anymore!”
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