Fan Fiction |
by Jazs
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Edison stood outside, admiring the familiar surrounding around him. This is the house that he had spent almost all his life in. It has been a long time since he has been here. Everything still looked very much the same. He felt a sense of belonging but at the same time, he felt alienated. As if reading his mind, Gillian put her hand on top of his assuringly. Her smile seemed to take away all his worries, as always.
“Tell me why I’m doing this again?” asked Edison again.
“Because you’re a good little boy” replied Gillian, patting his head.
“Hey! Stop messing my hair!” cried Edison, trying to smooth his hair.
“You’re worst than a girl!” said Gillian with a laugh.
“Gillian, let’s go back. I need to go back and check my room, think I've forgotten to lock it” said Edison, swallowing a lump in his throat.
"Don't worry. I've locked it for you" replied Gillian.
"I think I'm supposed to meet up with a doctor. I already had an appointment" he said, quite lamely.
"Edison, I'm not stupid okay?" said Gillian, with a laugh.
"I don't think this is a good idea. Let's go before it's too late" Edison tried again.
“No. Not until we’ve met your Dad” said Gillian, determinedly.
“Dad’s not going to forgive me and I don’t blame him either. I’ve disappointed him” whispered Edison, sadly.
“All fathers will forgive their sons” Gillian assured him.
”You don’t know my Dad” said Edison, shaking his head.
“That’s why you’re going to introduce him to me tonight” Gillian answered as she pressed the doorbell.
“You’re asking for a World War Three, Gillian” Edison warned her.
Gillian just stick her tongue out at him when the door opened. A man in his forties greeted them at the door. When he saw Edison, his eyes brimmed with tears. For a moment, both of them just stood there, looking at each other. He then took a step forward and hugged Edison tightly before breaking down into tears. Gillian smiled warmly at their reunion.
“See? Told you he’s going to forgive you” Gillian whispered.
“He’s not my father” Edison informed her.
“You must be the pretty lady that Madam has been going on and on about! Thank you, Miss, for bringing him back” the man said, with a smile.
“I didn’t do anything” replied Gillian, blushing slightly.
“He’s my best friend, Edmund” said Edison, putting his arm around him.
“Master, you’re far too kind. Don’t be confused, Miss. I’m only a servant in this house” Edmund quickly say.
“Edmund! How many times must I tell you to stop calling me Master? I don’t believe in any of these title calling! I’ve been only away for a while and you’ve forgotten already?” cried Edison.
“I’m sorry, Ma…” said Edmund quickly and Edison shot him an annoyed look.
“Edison” he finished, barely audible.
“Good” said Edison, smiling happily.
“Hello Edmund and you can stop calling me Miss. My name is Gillian” Gillian said, with a giggle.
“You know, of all the girls he brought home, you’re the first to say that” said Edmund.
“Really? Just how many girls did he bring back home?” Gillian teased, eyeing at Edison.
“Isn’t Mom waiting for us?” Edison cut in, sarcastically.
“Come in! Come in! Madam is waiting for you!” Edmund said quickly, ushering them in.
Gillian felt so warmly welcome in this huge mansion, which initially she thought it would be cold. She felt so small when she entered Edison’s mansion. Her fear soon vanished for she was wary of being able to fit in. Everyone is like family here; no one is above anybody else. Edison treated everyone with respect and love. At that moment, Gillian felt herself falling deeper in love with the man standing in front of her. She was so into Edison that she did not see where she was going and banged into someone.
“I’m sorry” Gillian apologized quickly.
Slowly looking up, she saw an elderly man staring at her sternly.
“Dad…” Edison managed to say after a full minute of silence.
His father remained silent and continued staring at them.
“Uncle” Gillian greeted him, politely.
“And you are?” his dad said, extending his hand out.
“Gillian” she replied, with a smile.
“Nice to meet you” Mr Chen said.
“Guess I’ll help Aunty in the kitchen” Gillian said, flashing Edison a knowing look.
“I’ll show you the way” Edmund offered.
“Gillian…” started Edison but Gillian had already disappeared into the kitchen with Edmund.
“So, you’ve finally found your way back, huh?” his father started to say after a moment of complete silence.
“I wasn’t sure if you wanted me back” said Edison, looking down.
“And yet you came back” said his father sarcastically.
“I’m sorry. I really am” whispered Edison.
Silence.
“I couldn’t leave her. She had no one else” continued Edison.
Silence.
“I would understand if you want me to leave, Dad. I just want to see you. I love you, Dad. Merry Christmas”
Silence.
Looking at his father, who remained expressionless, Edison took his coat and turned away. He was heart broken at his father’s reaction. He never put up his expectation too high, knowing his father’s hard cold character. However, unknowingly, with Gillian’s constant assurance, his perspective of his father began to change. Subconsciously, his hopes began to rise with her encouragement. It was only now did he realize that his father would never change.
“Are you going to let him go off just like that for the second time?” Gillian’s spoke up from behind.
His father turned back to face Gillian as Edison stopped dead in his tracks.
“What do you mean?” asked Edison’s father, with an amused look on his face.
“Edison is your only son, Uncle. You can deny all you want but the fact that you still love him. I can see it in your eyes, in both of your eyes that you still love one another” explained Gillian.
“My son is dead” he said, quite coldly.
Before anyone knew it, Edison’s mother threw a tight slap on his father’s face. It came so sudden that neither of them knew what to do. The look of disbelief was written all over their faces. Edison’s mother was always the quiet and calm one. She usually would give in to her husband and would never resort to any sort of violence, not even slapping. She was basically the glue that kept the family together.
“How can you say that in front of our son?” she cried, tears streaming down her eyes.
“Mom, it’s really alright” Edison said, quickly.
“Do you know how much that hurts? To hear it coming out from your own mouth?” she continued.
“He doesn’t feel! If he did, he would not have turned his back and walked away last time!” his father spat back.
“Do you know that Edison’s has the two greatest gifts ever? He knows how to love and to forgive” his mother sobbed.
“He knows how to make a fool of himself and betrayed us too! The press had a field day over this and the reputation I’ve tried so hard to build up crumbled into pieces, all because of him!” he yelled back, angrily.
“Don’t you dare raise your voice at Mom!” cried Edison, unable to control his anger anymore.
“This is Christmas! Why are you all screaming at each other? This is the season to be happy! I was really looking forward to tonight because I wanted to feel a part of a family again! You have a perfect family but you don’t seem to appreciate it!” said Gillian, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Gillian, are you okay?” asked Edison, worriedly.
“I would do anything…anything to spend more time with my family” Gillian sobbed uncontrollably.
“Gillian, honey…” Edison’s mother started to say.
“Don’t pretend to give me that pitiful look. I’m not going to change my mind” said Edison’s father.
“Why you…” cried Edison’s mother, angrily.
“Please don’t fight anymore. I’ll leave. If Dad don’t want me here, I’ll leave” said Edison, finally.
“Please, don’t…” cried Mrs Chen, heart broken.
“I love you, Mom” he said, hugging her tightly.
“Let him go” said his father, pulling his wife back.
“Merry Christmas” Edison greeted them before walking away.
“To lose your pride in front of your loved one is better than to lose your loved one because of your pride. You keep that in mind, Mr Chen” Gillian reminded him before following Edison.
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Gillian followed Edison as he walked aimlessly around town. They’ve driven to town in silence and Edison decided to park his car and go for a walk. He had his head hung low and he had not spoken a word since they left his parent’s. She too was at a lost for words as she followed him from behind. Suddenly, she really could not find the right words to tell him. She felt guilty for she was partly to be blamed for this entire mess. Suddenly, Edison stopped and without realizing it, Gillian banged straight into him.
“Gillian, look where you are going” said Edison, teasingly.
“Why did you suddenly stop?” asked Gillian, rubbing her head.
“I was wondering whether you were following me or not. I’m not that used to having peace and quiet whenever you’re around” he replied.
“I’m sorry, Ed” she apologized, quietly.
“For what?” he asked, lightly.
“For everything. I shouldn’t have encouraged you. I shouldn’t have given you false hopes. I shouldn’t have…” cried Gillian.
“Thank you, Gillian for everything. I’ve always wanted to come back and it was you who gave me the courage. It wasn’t your fault, Gillian. You were only trying to help” he cut in.
“I wish your Dad isn’t this stubborn. You do know that he loves you, right? He was just too proud to admit it” Gillian said.
“Hey, it’s Christmas. Let’s not talk about my dad” he said, forcing a smile.
“Christmas is ending in three hours time” Gillian sighed sadly, looking at her watch.
“So let’s make the best out of it!” he cried, taking her hand.
“Where are we going?” Gillian asked, excitedly.
“Where do happy people go?” asked Edison, with a wink.
“The theme park?” asked Gillian uncertainly.
“The theme park it is!” replied Edison, with a big smile.
“Gee…this feels really weird. Usually I’m always the one comforting you but now it looks like the other way around” said Gillian with a small laugh.
“You seriously need some cheering up. Those frowns are going to take a few years off your life!” Edison joked back.
“If I had that long…” Gillian muttered under her breath.
“Huh? What?” Edison asked her.
“Nothing” she replied quickly and quickens her pace.
“Gillian, I hope you don’t mind me asking. Why did you get so choke up back there? Something about you wanting to spend more time with your family?” asked Edison, out of the blue.
“I miss my own family. That was it” she answered, with a small smile.
“You sounded really dramatic” he commented.
“Well, I am after all Gillian, the Drama Queen!” she said, sticking out her tongue.
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They spent the last few hours in the theme park, going on every single ride. Just as fast as it came, Christmas was soon over. At a stroke of midnight, the theme park was closed down, leaving the both of them exhausted but happy. Gillian was happily carrying two gigantic teddy bears that Edison had won for her. He decided to win them for her after she kept whining the entire night of how inconsiderate he is for not getting her a present for Christmas.
“Thanks for making this for me. I really like it” said Edison, patting the blue shawl around his neck.
“You’re welcome” she replied, relieved that he likes it.
“EG Design…. what does that stand for?” Edison asked jokingly, referring to the tag on the shawl.
“Edison & Gillian” she said with a shy smile.
“EG…I like that” said Edison, smiling back.
“It’s really sad that Christmas is now over” sighed Gillian suddenly.
“It’s really sad that my birthday is now over” Edison continued.
“You’re such a baby!” teased Gillian with a smile.
“Anyway, this I for you” said Edison, giving her a beautifully wrapped present.
“Whatever for? I thought you didn’t buy me anything!” asked Gillian, taken aback.
“For Christmas! I was just playing with you” answered Edison with a laugh.
“Isn’t it too late now? Christmas is over” said Gillian with a pout.
“Who said so? Don’t you know that there are twelve days of Christmas?” Edison informed her.
“I like that! Twelve days of Christmas!” she said excitedly as she tore open the present.
She gasped in awe when she realized what it was inside the box. It was a beautiful and delicate pink angel, complete with a pair of wings and a halo. She fell in love with it almost immediately. Edison helped her turn the key behind it and a lovely tune begin to play as the angel turns around. As she looked closer, she was surprised to see that the angel’s face looked really familiar. It looked exactly like her.
“But how…how…” started Gillian, in a shock.
“I’ve had it specially made to look like you” replied Edison.
“But Edison, that must have cost a lot!” cried Gillian.
“Anything for you, my angel” he said.
“I’m not your angel” said Gillian, blushing red.
“Thanks for everything, Gillian. You don’t know how much you’ve done for me. God was kind to send me an angel in a form of you” he replied.
Because of her, he learnt to smile again
Because of her, he learnt to laugh again.
Because of her, he learnt to let go
Of the love he so deperately clinged on
Because of her, he learnt to love again.