Fan Fiction |
by Mimosa
“Ouch, it’s still hurt!” Nick winced as he touched his chin gingerly with his finger.
“I’m so sorry, Nick Gor!” Flora apologized profusely as she looked at Nick, feeling guilty and helpless. Her face became a lovely shade of blush, especially in the soft candlelight illuminated from the centerpiece. Gallen forced himself to tear his gaze away and to focus his attention on Nick.
“You’d better keep the ice pressed well on it,” Gallen warned “unless you want to go to the lecture hall tomorrow with a black chin, Doctor Cheung!”
Nick looked thoughtful “Well, that wouldn’t reflect too good on me, would it? The students might think I was involved in some street fight…”
“Very likely!” Gallen nodded with a soft chuckle.
“Does it look very bad?” Nick murmured wearily, “Not good! I have to go and do some damage check!”
With that, he got up and bounced toward the men room. Gallen looked after Nick with his eyes brows rose until the later disappeared around a corner.
“I feel so bad knocking him like that!” Flora bit her lips
“I’m sure Nick doesn’t blame you for that, Flora…” Gallen nodded a courteous thank as the waiter filled his glass with water, “It was just an accident!”
“I think I should go get some oilmen for him to help the pain go away!” Resolutely, Flora got up, only to see her hand being caught in Gallen's. So briefly did he made the contact, but it was enough to make her halt in her step, enough to make her feel the electric current shot up her arm.
“Don’t go, Flora!” He got up quickly and extended his hand at her chair. She shook her head
“Let me go!” She stepped sideway to go around him, but he was quick to move along and blocked her way. She stomped her feet lightly “Why are you stopping me? Do you enjoy seeing Nick in pain?”
“Don’t get me wrong, Flora,” he said, sounding a little dispirited “I was only joking! Why do I want him to suffer?”
“Then why don’t you let me go?” Flora lifted her chin challenging
“Because there’s no place nearby for you to get what you want to get” Gallen said wryly.
“Oh!” Flora sounded defeated
“But my mother has a bottle that I could give to Nick after dinner!” Gallen hastened to add as he saw the disappointment on her face “How about that?”
“Well, I guess!” Flora answered feebly as she sat back down. Gallen did the same. “How long has Nick been gone?”
“Well,” Gallen checked his wrist watch “about 10 minutes. By the way, where’s the rest of the group?”
“I don’t know where Kevin is, but Ada and your sister decide to have pizza instead of joining us!”
“That doesn’t sound like Annie!” Gallen exclaimed as he brought his brows together “Did she tell you why?”
“Her car broke down, she said!” Flora shifted her glance up to find Gallen already on the phone.
“Annie? Are you okay? What happened to your car? Call me back and let me know where you are. I’ll pick you up!”
“She wasn’t answering the phone” He said as she looked up inquiringly “I left her a message already!”
“So, what are we going to do now?” Flora asked “Just wait?”
“Well, are you hungry? We could order some appetizer for you first, Flora!”
“I think we should at least wait for Nick!”
“Sure, if that what you wish!” Gallen waved off the waiter with an apology, and shifted his glance to his water glass “Flora, since when have you found out Jerry was me?”
Flora was clearly taken aback by the question. She was expecting it to come, but didn’t expect it to come this early “The very first day ... You mentioned Jia Jia!”
“I should have guessed when you said Eileen’s name the day Jia Jia died,” he shook his head incredulously “that you and Darling Harbour are one and the same!”
He now fixed his glance to the centerpiece. She played with the pattern on the embroidered table cloth. “So…” they broke the silence at the same moment.
“You go first!” He looked up
“I… Eileen…” She started, and stopped
“She’s been the meaning of my life!” he said softly
“I figured that!” she clutched the table cloth, feeling the bitterness in the back of her mouth, and the tingling of tear at the corner of her eyes.
“Until you knocked my camera off that day, on Darling Harbour, Flora!” Thought the soft glow of the candle light, he found her perfect complexion blushed a shade deeper and her pretty lips parted slightly as she let out a small surprise gasp.
“You mean…?” She didn’t seem to believe her own ears “You don’t mean it…?” She looked up, and immediately drowned in the enigma of his eyes.
“I mean it!” They told her in utmost sincerity.
“I don’t believe it!” She whispered. “I need…”
“Some time?” He guessed, and lowered his eyes “I know I’m rushing. We’ve just met for only 10 days... I don't expect...”
“You are the silliest!” She uttered under her breath as she got up and headed for the through door led to the terrace. She only needed some air.
He hurried on her heel.
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[Same restaurant – Balcony dining level]
“Annie, you’re crushing my shoulder!” Kevin grumbled “You could see just as clearly from YOUR seat!”
“Shhhhh” Annie hushed “They could hear you! What do you think they are talking about?”
“How do I know?” Kevin retorted sulkily “Nick Gor didn’t implant any microphone on that table, and sorry, I don’t know lip-reading!”
“That’s a good idea, the microphone!” Ada sighed “We didn’t think of it!”
“Hello everyone!”
“Shhhhh” All four of them said, and turned to find the puzzled waiter “I only meant to ask whether you ladies and gentlemen are ready to order your food!”
“Would you give us another ten minutes?” Nick waved the waiter off impatiently “Thank you!”
“Sure, Sir!” The waiter leaned forward curiously “What are you all looking at down there?”
“Could you please excuse us!” Kevin sneered, and the poor waiter scurried off apologetically.
“Hmmm…” Annie rubbed her chin thoughtfully. She had returned to her seat. “I bet my silly brother is talking about work again, and driving Flora Jie crazy!”
“Why must she be crazy talking about work?” Kevin frowned “She enjoys talking about work!”
“To you, Kevin!” Ada laughed “Of course Flora’s rather talk to you about work than listen to your minute plan of your life!”
“Why do you think they’re talking about work, Annie?” Nick didn’t sound convinced. “I swear he was a little jealous seeing me and Flora that close!” He touched his chin again “He rubbed the ice quite hard!”
“Oh come on, Nick Gor!” Annie laughed “We all know you have to press it hard so the blister won’t swell! Anyway, see that? They sat so straight, and they don’t smile! As if they were in a business meeting!”
“Such a waste!” Nick sighed comically “Look at this romantic setting! Listen to the wonderful melody! Are they human?”
“They are!” Ada nodded her head “Just extremely obstinate ones!”
“Hey, where is Flora going?” Kevin sprang up, and immediately got pushed down by the other three
“Careful, Kevin!” Ada scowled “You make them see us, and I’ll kill you!”
“Lady and gentlemen, what may I help you?” The waiter stopped the gang as they hurried themselves after Flora and Gallen.
“Er…” Nick scratched his head, then wrapped his hand around Ada’s shoulder “My girlfriend here doesn’t like the table you gave us. Can we have that table next to the window looking out the terrace?”
“I’m terribly sorry, Sir!” The waiter shook his head “But I’m afraid that table is reserved!”
“Would you negotiate?” Nick tried “It’s very important that we have that table!” Pushing Ada gently, he pointed out “See, she’s all upset!”
“I’ll try, Sir!” The waiter suppressed a sigh, and began going through his list… Ada pointed at Nick’s arm on her shoulder with a stern face. Nick removed it with a broad grin “Sorry, circumstance called!”
“Right!” Ada rolled her eyes, and quickly joined Annie and Kevin…
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[Terrace]
Ocean breeze caressed their skins, reminding them of the short moments they had shared. Just like this, just them and the sea… Sydney… Cheungchau…
He leaned slightly against the wall and watched her. Her hands were resting on the balusters, her profile printed vividly against the dark blue background of the clear summer night. The breeze played with her soft hair, baring part of her tall beautiful neck and shoulder. The petite dress hugged her curves, accentuated the creaminess of her skin. She was beautiful! Not just impressively smart, but startlingly beautiful! Those lips, not only did they give out comments that amused him, they were, at this moment, causing a wave of sensations to wake inside him. He had not felt this way for such a long time. Since the day Eileen passed away…
“Flora, I understand you might not accept me, but I thought I just give it a try!” He advanced a step, and she could feel his breath so warm behind her ear. She shuddered. “Are you cold? We should go inside!”
“I don’t want to go inside,” She said.
“No?” He asked.
“No!” She turned around with a faint, shy smile. It was alluring. It was inviting.
“Really?” He asked with the familiar twinkle in his eyes, placing his hands on the balusters where her hands had been, encasing her.
“Really!” She leaned back a little, her smile a little more vivid. Shy… Yet tempting!
“Sure?” He sought for her eyes, lowering and tilting his head. His arm brushed momentarily against hers though the thin fabric of his summer shirt, and she trembled. He looked deeper into her eyes "Yes?"
She lowered her long lashes, her smooth complexion glowed ... Her lustrous lips quivered...
Gently, he caught them in his...
She widened her eyes... The sensation! So strange, yet so amazing.
He moved away a little, question mark in his eyes... "You don't like it?"
She shook her head, blushing deeper!
He squinted his eyes knowingly "You've never done this?"
"I.." she stammered "Of course I have!"
"No you haven't" He grinned "You had your eyes wide opened just now, nobody does that!"
"I.." Her face was a lovely ripe peach "You're so bad, I hate you!"
She attempted to turn away, but his arms had closed around her "Close your eyes!" He whispered...
She struggled lightly... but softened as soon as her lips once again caught in his.
Still a little strange...
Warm...
Soft...
Tingling...
Amazing...
More than she had imagined, that day in his room…
More than words would say!
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[Inside – Main dining level]
Annie fanned her eyes “This is just sooooo beautiful!”
Kevin pouted.
Ada shook her head smilingly “At least our effort is paid off!”
“Sir!” The waiter spoke politely to Nick “I’ve checked, you could have this table right there, not too close to the terrace, but you have a nice view of the ocean!”
“Actually” Nick scratched his head again “I think my girlfriend wants to go back up stair now, to our old table! I’m sorry for putting you through all the troubles!”
“No Sir, I only pity you!” If the waiter was annoyed, he masked it well “Such a girlfriend you have!”
“It’s worth it!” Nick chuckled “I love her!”
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