| Fan Fiction |
by ruwee
Later
*Written under the name: Desperate_Soul from Guatemala
www.winglin.net/fanfic/mwaks
*Take note that I ain`t updating Later just by the fun of it. Yes, I`m writing for fun, but I`m really into Later, so I don`t just update it because I need to. I update it when I`m in the mood and feel like doing so and have the right mood. I don`t update it if I`m not on the mood.
--
December 4, 2008
As soon as she woke up, she registered his number on her phone and called him up to come as soon as possible to her residence and accompany her for Christmas sale events and buy a house full of gifts.
He, respecting her decisions in agreement, rushed to her residence to come pick her up with the thought of deciding to tell her his departure on the 26th. He wanted to cherish this Christmas with her, even before his departure, but even before he could jump off from bed, his phone rang again…
We’re still a few steps away from forever
In our hearts, we’re counting down
We know it better than anybody else
We must reach happiness
We’re still a few steps away from forever
In our hearts, we’re counting down
Because of you
I have stored a map of the future in my eyes
He waited, letting the song finish its chorus until he picked up his phone and answered the call. The call was from his boss, last time he checked the screen. “Wei?” He asked the other person on the line. He heard sounds of footsteps on the other line, even before someone answered.
“Sorry,” He heard a deep voice and assumed that it was indeed him. “I’d really like to apologize to you now in advance, Mr. Wu.” His boss coughed on the other line and apologized once again.
“Why?” He asked, out of curiosity, wanting to know why he was apologizing to him.
“Your business trip,” He paused and coughed once again. “I’m so sorry, but the business trip would have to push through on the 6th of December.”
Chun was left hanging, unable to speak. It’s as if he just lost the gift of communication, letting his boss think that he just hung the phone up. His boss asked, “Are you still there?”
“But sir…” He paused, trying to think of ways to prevent the business trip from pushing through. “I have already made plans for Christmas.”
“Don’t worry,” His boss on the other line let out a light chuckle. “This would only be for a week or so, not a month, at least. You’ll come back home just in time for Christmas, is that alright?”
He heaved out a sigh of relief and licked his lips before replying. “Okay.” He agreed and there perhaps wouldn’t be any chance to back off. He felt even more nervous to tell her that he’ll be leaving this Saturday, but he really had to tell her, no matter what happens.
--
She glanced on her clock that approximately read 9:00 AM. Where is he now? She asked herself, fidgeting back and forth on the front porch of her house. She often is optimistic, but this time around, she sure isn’t. Maybe because she just got off from bed and for the first time, impatiently waited for him. To make it even worst, she has her ongoing and irritating monthly period that made her uneasy.
He arrived 15 minutes later. She heard a car pull off to a stop and the doorbell ring as she rushed off the gate and opened up for him.
“Let’s go?” She asked and pecked him on the cheek, hooking her arms with his, obviously ready to leave.
He parted slightly away from her and opened the passenger seat for her. Once that they were settled, he put his left hand on his lap—the other hand holding her left hand, “Ella…” He started, shaking in nervousness as he gritted his teeth, not knowing what to say next. He thought of further reactions from her and felt scared. He felt scared that she might hate him for not telling her earlier, but then he had to tell her. He really had to tell her now or never will they see each other again.
“Ella…” He whispered yet again and heaved out a sigh, fluttering his short eyelashes, clashing with his lower eyelids.
Ella scratched the back of her head, annoyed with the cracking of his voice and obvious nervousness, “Chun, Chun, and Chun.” She mocked, pulling her left hand away from his grip as she cupped her face, trying to control her temper.
“I don’t know how to tell you…” He paused and turned to face her. “I don’t know how to start.” He obviously looked like he currently is carrying all the burden of the world, which we all know isn’t the true fact.
“Oh, please.” She pleaded, almost on the verge of crying. Her voice told her so and he had no second thoughts about it. “Don’t tell me you’re breaking up with me?” She faked a cry, because she is can most confidently say that he’ll never do that. Then, reclined her seat back and wriggled a little to feel even more relaxed.
No, of course not,” Chun said in exclamation, his voice louder than the usual, trying to put up a front that that wasn’t perhaps what he wanted to tell her and will never be. “Let’s just talk about it later, alright?” He tried convincing her. “In the meanwhile, let’s just enjoy the day and make out the best out of it.” He smiled nervously and pecked her quickly on the lips, making her feel not that anxious about what it is that he needed to tell her.
--
They were in the mall, roaming about and going inside and out every shop Ella found interesting—hand in hand. She was busy, running back and forth every single thing that interested her and she came up to buy, while Chun was busy carrying all her shopping bags. It took a while until they settled, it took a while until Chun’s smile vanished because he won’t be able to see her happily jumping about in the mall once he leaves. There sure are a lot that he’ll be missing about her. Generally, you can say that you can never leave her, because she’s become his energy and flow in life. If there’s no her, there might be no possible Chun too. He just doesn’t know what he’ll do or what he is doing now if ever he didn’t meet her.
“I can carry some of those, if you want.” Ella teased, knowing that Chun just won’t give it to her. That he’d rather suffer than see her doing something she just can’t. “They look so heavy, I’m beginning to pity you that you won’t even want me to carry just a few.”
Chun heaved out a sigh and sarcastically said, “I can give you three paper bags, if you want.”
“Okay.” Ella nodded in agreement and grabbed 3 out of 8 paper bags from Chun. “In the meanwhile, let’s go to the food court and relax.”
“Oh, sure.” Chun just smiled. Smiled at the fact that she’s still optimistic as ever, even though he knew that she was still bothered by what he wanted to tell her.
“Zun, look at that!” Ella said in exclamation, probably too excited to be calling him with his nickname that she’s given to him. She was pointing to what people can call symbols of Christmas, mistletoe, a Christmas tree and a couple of Christmas lights. At least, that’s what he thought that she was pointing to. But unknown to him was something more, something more that caught the corners of her eyes. Something red and green, something that was unique, yet she didn’t know what to call it.
--
“So, about the thing I wanted to tell you,” Chun started, glancing from time to time on his food then back at Ella to see her reaction, while they ate in the car.
“Yeah, tell it already. If you won’t, I’d lose burden, because I will be happy to announce our break up.” Ella said. Sarcastically, though, while licking her ice cream. The ice cream that got distorted a little while lately—just because Chun was the one who stuffed the ice cream onto the cone. He took the risk of doing the job of the owner of the Fiorgelato ice cream shop and scooped the ice cream on her cone.
“I know it’s not much of a speech anyway, but…” He paused. “What I’m going to tell you.” She nodded in agreement, waiting patiently for whatever he was about to say.
“I’m leaving this 6th of December for a business trip. My boss said that I’d be back just in time for Christmas, so that I’d be able to spend my Christmas with you. It was originally dated on the 26th that I leave, but they changed their mind. I accepted it because the main reason I did so is that I’d still be able to spend my Christmas with you.” He stopped and heaved out a sigh. “Oh yeah, the one on the 26th would’ve been one month.”
Her reaction was priceless. Her mouth opened, but now words would come out. She pulled on a long face for a while, and then faked a smile. “You said that what you’re going to say isn’t that much of a speech,” She looked uneasy. “But you just said out a lot, that I’m not able to speak.” She shuffled her feet uncomfortably and scratched the back off her head. “I guess that it is fine, perfectly fine.” She managed to say, forcing all her optimistic side of the system out of her body. She rose two thumbs up and showed it to him, but he was only overwhelmed.
He knew that she wasn’t showing her real feelings about the situation—her true reactions. “Is it really?” He asked to assume that what he just heard off was not and would never be a lie. “It’s easy for you to say, but hard for me to clarify.”
“Wouldn’t you want to take this as something positive, because I permitted you to do so and push through with your trip?” She asked, opening up to her pessimistic side. “It’s not like you still need my permission, anyway.”
“I know there’s something you want to say.” He chimed, the tone of suggestion building up on his voice, encourage her to continue on with whatever it is that she still wanted to tell him, “I would love to hear most certainly that you care. I need your permission for heaven’s sake, Elle!” He continued and closed the container of the food shut, losing appetite.
Those words flew right to her ears. That even if it was yet to be said, she’s heard it already, loudly and clearly. She flung her arms open and reached out to hug him, her cheeks pressing unto her chest. “I’ll miss you. I most certainly will and you need not ask.” She muffled out a soft cry and remained in that position for a little while with him.
“I promise that I’d be back before the 25th ends and we’ll celebrate together.” He whispered and kissed the top of her head.