Fan Fiction |
by Mimosa & Carmen
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[Flora's house... ]
FLORA: But I don’t know you!
MAN: (removes his shade and beams at Flora) Flora jie, it’s me, Raymond!
FLORA: (exclaims excitedly) Oh my God, Raymond. I couldn’t recognize you. You’ve grown up so fast!
Last time Flora saw Bowie’s little brother, he was a skinny 18-year-old with thick lenses that covered half of his baby face. It’s been 5 years already. Time does fly. Little Ray has grown into a tanned, handsome, well-built man. His smile, however, is still as sweet and babyish as Flora remembers of him years earlier…
FLORA: Do come in, come in Ray! When did you come back? Are you staying here? When did you graduate? Have you landed a job?
RAYMOND: (laughs) Flora jie, which question should I answer first?
And at that moment Raymond pauses and stares at the girl in front of him with utmost surprise! Why, it’s Michelle!
RAYMOND: (grinning broadly) Hi, the Earth seems quite small. Michelle, right?
MICHELLE: (smiles) Hi, you’re Sam’s colleague, is that correct?
FLORA: Uh, you two know each other?
RAYMOND and MICHELLE (in unison) Yes, we do.
Flora eyes Michelle inquiringly, as the later hastily clarifies:
MICHELLE: Oh, I’ve met Raymond just this morning in Sam’s office…
FLORA: That’s right, you’re a psychologist now huh Ray? Would I have some discount when I come to you for consulting?
RAYMOND: (laughs heartily) Jie, you have Dai Gor… You will never need to set foot into my office… (turns to Michelle) So Michelle, you’re still going to college, I guess?
Flora soon finds herself ignored by the two. She chuckled… If Flora is not mistaken, Michelle totally enjoys Raymond’s company. They do look lovely together, but is it true that Michelle and Sam is going steadily? Flora shakes her head…
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(TV STATION, ATE SET)
___Lunch break…___
Gallen thinks he hears some soft voice inside the storage room… Has he seen Roger left with his own eyes? Gallen should be the last one to leave for lunch this afternoon. Curiously, he pushes the door open. . There Flora is, on her hands and knees, looking attentively at a narrow slit between two giant shelves:
FLORA: Valentine, baby, be a good boy, come here, come!
Gallen raises his brown. Who is that Flora calling?… Flora seems too occupied to realize Gallen has kneeled down next to her… He, too, stares at the opening…
GALLEN: (whispers) Who’s Valentine?
Flora startles and falls onto her side
GALLEN: Oops, sorry! Didn’t mean to scare you…
FLORA: (sits up straight and blushes lightly) When did you come in? Why don’t you go to lunch with everyone?
GALLEN: Why don’t you?
FLORA: I have to find Valentine… He escaped from his cage…
Gallen’s face broadens into a grin. The hamster! How cute of Flora to name the little guy. Gallen chuckles
GALLEN: Valentine? Such a fancy name!
FLORA: (pouts) I like it!
GALLEN: (smiles) Sure Helen, he’s your pet!
FLORA: Come on, help me to lure him out… (accusingly) I think you scare him off!
Gallen opens his mouth to protest, but at the second thought keeps the comment to himself. He springs up and rushes out of the room...
FLORA: Hey, Gall! Are you going to help me at all?
But Gallen has already gone. Flora bites her lips, what kind of friend is this guy? Leaving her alone in trouble just like that? Flora sighs and squats down on the floor, knees under chin. Little Valentine seems to be quite content in the dark little haven of his. He doesn’t seem to pay any attention to Flora at all. What would Flora do now besides waiting?
She sits there, on the floor, mind wonders… She still can’t believe Gallen has just walked away. How rude!
Now if Bowie is here, he would know how to cheer Flora up!
Thought of Bowie brings a smile to Flora’s face. She holds up her wrist to see the little bracelet glistening under the sunray cast from the window. This little piece of jewelry has never left her side since her birthday of last year… Flora closes her eye lids and trails off into the lovely surprise party Bowie had for her…
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[Flashback]
May 30th, 1997:
FLORA: Today and you are busy too? (pouted) Why would everyone become so busy all in a sudden?
BOWIE: (sighed) Sorry Flora, I’ll make it up for you this weekend okie? So sorry! Sorry!
Flora felt only a tingle of disappointment before her jollity took control again
FLORA: (chuckled) Just messing with you. I’m not that unreasonable, buddy (laughed) Hey, where are we going? You have just missed the turn to get back to my place!
BOWIE: Oops
FLORA: (concerned) Are you feeling okay?
BOWIE: Ah, just a little tired that’s all.
FLORA: I’ll drive!
Bowie waved the idea off, laughing inside. They’d just passed another light
FLORA: (reproachfully) Bowie?
BOWIE: What?
FLORA: You should make that turn to bring me back home
BOWIE: (hastily) Oh, I just remember I need to get something from a friend. He lives near here. Would you mind if I just stop by for a sec?
FLORA: Sure, go ahead (Curiously) Who is that?
Bowie pulled through a gate into a small parking lot.
BOWIE: Come with me
FLORA: But why? I’d rather wait inside the car.
BOWIE: Ah, the neighborhood is not safe!
Flora glanced around her unconvincingly. The place looks neat and quite private. She got out of the car and followed Bowie into the apartment complex.
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The moment Bowie and Flora got crossed the door step, a roaring cheer would be heard down the hall. Flora blinked. She was indeed surprised. This was the first surprise party Flora ever had… All her friends and acquaintances were there. Sweet Bowie! He must have spent quite a lot of time and energy into this. And Flora knew perfectly how crazy Bowie’s schedule was. She was so grateful to have a friend like him…
Presently a loud voice on the speaker grabbed everyone’s attention:
ROGER: May I have your attention please? We’ll have a little game. Calling birthday girl!
Before Flora knew, she’d got pushed out into the middle of the room. The strobe lights danced on her, accentuated the loveliness of her face and the slenderness of her figure… Circling around her were her friends and colleagues… The loud voice on the speaker belonged to her cousin Roger. Roger was cute but, yes, loud! Staying very close to Roger was the director. Flora knew him well. Another tall, stylish man standing on the other side of Roger caught Flora’s attention. She knew him by sight but not yet learned his name. Must be one of the actors!
ROGER: Dear Flora, Happy Birthday to you. Today we’ll present to you the 5 finest male creatures on Earth. Calling Moses!
Flora grinned at her manager, while Moses turned slightly red and stayed put at his spot.
ROGER: Calling Louis!
Louis flashed his charming smile and with only one quick stride, stepped next to Flora.
ROGER: Calling Gall… Hey hey you, Bowie, I have not yet call your name
BOWIE: So what? I know you will, just helping you here!
ROGER: Fine! Have it your way! Calling Gallen!
So that was his name! Flora laughed at herself. She should have been able to guess that. She had heard Roger talked about Gallen countless time.
ROGER: (gave a comical flourish bow) And the best of them, Roger Kwok. So this is the rule. Birthday girl will draw to get each of us a partner. Then we’ll dance. The trouble is that you will have to dance within the size of the newspaper. If your feet stick out, you out! Music please!
It was a lot of good laughter. Moses was out right after the first round. Gallen danced well, but was the second to go nonetheless. He was too careful not to touch Ada… Louis, Roger and Bowie competed wholeheartedly until Bowie defeated all by having both of Flora feet skillfully on his right foot, and his left foot on the air. The newspaper had been folded 5 times and now had the size of half his foot. Yet he was able to maintain the pose for the longest.
“Mission impossible” ended in roaring laughter, with Bowie skipping on his left food and rubbed the cramp away from the other. Flora rolled her eyes but couldn’t help laughing herself.
ROGER (breathless from the contest) Now the reward for the winning couple… They will have a chance to … Er hem .. sing a song for all of us!
Bowie stopped his skipping and stared at Roger with daggers in his eyes
BOWIE: That’s what you call a reward?
FLORA: Why do I have to sing? It’s my birthday!
Roger held his hands up in the air, as the other chanted on to rush Bowie up to the little stage. Bowie finally yielded… He grabbed the microphone…
BOWIE: A song for all of you. The latest song by Bowie Lam, “No Word”, dedicated to our lovely Flora!
All eyes were on Bowie. He cleared his throat, adjusted his pose, then closed his eyes and swung his head as if to dance along a melody… Everybody was waiting. The room was so quiet.
Then Bowie suddenly opened his eyes again…
BOWIE: Thank you , thank you!
ALL: What? Ah no! What? What?
BOWIE: That’s the song! No Word, right?
Another wave of laughter shook the room and sent everyone to the floor
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Flora had laughed a little too much that night. Bowie was simply the greatest friend to have.
BOWIE: Had fun, Flora?
FLORA: (grinned broadly) It was great
BOWIE: Here for you!
FLORA: What is it?
BOWIE: Open it!
Flora cooed excitedly… The bracelet was indeed lovely!
FLORA: So, Bowie, was it Gallen’s house?
BOWIE: Uh huh
FLORA: He sure knows how to live!
BOWIE: You call that living? He’s a slave to all his modern gears. See the whole set of home theater and the stage? Cost him a fortune! The guy is mad.
Flora smiled and nodded. Bowie didn’t mention the collection of Robert de Niro movies she found on one of the sleek chromic shelves. Every single one of them! Flora chuckled amusingly to herself… She’d found a formidable competitor for her own collection.
[End of Flashback]
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(Back to the storage room)
Flora is startled once more by Gallen, who's obviously breathless from running. A tiny package is on his hand.
FLORA: Huh? What’s that?
GALLEN: Treat for Valentine. He loves this stuff. Just put it right here, then he will come out.
Flora eyelids flutter, so that's why Gallen rushed out earlier, to go get the food...
FLORA: (chuckles) The route to a man’s heart
GALLEN: (smiles) is through his stomach!
Flora giggles. Gallen squats down next to her. Together like a pair of 5 year-olds, they hold their breath and watch with intense interest as the little hamster made its grand appearance.
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P.S. Don't worry, my cute Moses will come back shortly, ;) Next chapter is on Sammul and the Chan's family. Good luck to Sam on his Mission Impossible: "Meet the Parents", ha ha ha...