Fan Fiction |
by sUm^MeR
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JOEY:
“Jo,” he leaned closer to my ears, “Do you mind if I,… uhm, hold your hand?”
Do I mind? Of course I DON’T! Oh my God, is that even a question?
Do you even know why I even want to go watch this freaking Frankenstein movie? Well, it’s because I want to spend this hours with you. Having you sitting beside me is more than enough for me. But now, you, asking me whether you can hold my hand, that was just… more than I expect. It’s like a bonus.
“Uhm… I need to warn you, though.” I said cautiously, a bit hesitant to reveal this, “I have a rough hand.”
“Oh… ok.” He seemed very relieved. Probably relieved that I didn’t reject him? He’s such a fool. There wouldn’t be any sane girl who would say no to that question.
“So can I?” he asked again.
“Yes.” I finally answered, charily.
His warm big hands slid right under my left palm, and carefully, he laced his fingers through mine. I felt a surge of heat went through every blood cell in my body. At first, I almost thought I was swimming inside a flame. But later on, the heat turned into cozy warmth as I squeezed his hand back gently.
God, have I said that I absolutely love this bonus. Well, in case, I haven’t… I want to say it again.
God, thank you for making him holding my hand.
=========================
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The movie was still on, and it was about to reach its climax, the scariest peak. While other people were wincing inwardly, shrunk in deep terrors of watching the scene,…
These two were, on the other hand, embraced in their own blissful smiles.
Even after the movie had finished, they sat still at the second floor of the movie theater, watching the crowds passed by. They were still smiling, hands attached to each other’s. It’s like their smiling nerve had conked out and made them stuck in those silly expressions incessantly.
But let’s just say we understand. People who just fall in love always behave so stupidly, don’t they?
~~~~~~~~~~
Zou Zai Dian Ying Yuan Di Er Lou
(Sitting on the second floor of the movie theater)
Kan Ren Qun Zuo Guo
(Watching the crowds passed by)
Zhen Me Na Yi Tian De Wo Men Dou
(Why did both of us on that day…)
Wei Xiao Le Hen Jiu
(Couldn’t stop smiling for such a long time)
~Ni Ting De Dao (You can Hear) :: Jay Chou.
~~~~~~~~~~
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[Present]
Jo was slightly surprised when she heard the song playing from Nic’s car stereo. She turned to him, only to catch him tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, following the rhythm of the song. His mouth muttered the lyrics.
“Zhi Dao Bu Neng Tai Yi Lai, Pa Ni Hui Ba Wo Zhong Huai, Ni De Xiang Wei Yi Zhi Pai Huai, Wo Shi Bu De Li Kai. (Knowing that I can’t be too dependent, afraid that you would spoil me, your fragrance silently lingers, I cannot bear to leave).” Realizing that Jo was looking at him, Nic turned to her, “I love this song, you know. Jay Chou’s songs are quite nice, aren’t they?”
“Yea, I agree.” She said, surprisingly.
She admits that after Hebe forced her to listen to some of Jay’s songs, they began to grow on her. Hebe was right. Jay’s songs aren’t the type that would attract your attention the first time you hear them.
“Jay Chou’s songs are, the more you listen, the better it gets.” Hebe had praised once, “You can take one nice song by other artists, and play them fifty times in your CD player, and you WILL get sick of it. But not the same with Jay’s songs. You can repeat his songs a thousand time and you still want to hear more of it. That’s his magic.”
That Hebe, has finally been successful in poisoning her to enjoy Jay’s music. But well, that is never a hard thing to do, as Jo has always been a fan of his songs even before he got famous. It’s just that it took a while for her to realize that there’s no way she can forget about him just by not listening to his music. She knows that their memories are like ghosts in her mind. It keeps haunting her regardless of her stubbornness to not seeing anything that reminds her of him.
After she met Jay at the Planetarium, spent about ten minutes at the coffee shop together, surprisingly, she found herself feeling okay to see his face on billboards or on magazine covers. Even now she starts to question; why had she been so freaked out of just the thought of seeing him?
Trauma, she answered herself. Have you ever felt traumatized by something? Let’s say were once badly bitten by a Terrier, and you know it hurts. Do you think when you see this creature on discovery channel, or on magazine article, you would be able to gush over it, or say how cute it is? You won’t, because you know that little doggie could hurt you, and you try your best not to stumble upon anything that would remind you of a Terrier, as it would recall back the horrible feeling when you were bitten.
It’s the same with her. She was once bitten by love, and since Jay was the only man she had come to love, avoiding him, to her, would be the best way of forgetting.
But now, she had seen Jay in flesh, and surprisingly, still survived. Apparently, she has managed to accept their silent breakup with a full heart. Moreover, Jay seems very content with his life. She remembered how he gave her his blessing,
“I hope he loves you more than I did”.
He obviously has gotten over her, and most probably, it had been since a long time ago.
That’s why right now; she should learn how to get over him. This time, she has promised to let this feeling go completely, and put their story behind. Yes, let’s just learn to take it as… part of her past. A bittersweet past.
“Jo, have you think about my question lately? You know, about being my girlfriend?” This question had been asked by Nic so many times before, so it didn’t nearly come as a surprise for Jo.
“I don’t know, Nic. You’re a nice guy, and all. It’s just that… I’m not ready.”
“Jo, I’m not going to stop asking you this until you give me the definite yes-or-no answer.”
Jo’s head drooped. She remained silent.
“Why, Jo?” Nic questioned her again. “Still can’t get over your ex? Please, it’s like four years ago…,” This word sounds like someone just slapped her hard on the face. Sometimes she wished Nic weren’t such a great lawyer, who knows how to corner her with his arguments and guiles, or who just focused on trying to win the case without bothering whether or not his questions hurt other people’s feelings.
“No, it’s not that. I… I have gotten over him,” she stuttered. Or at least, that’s what she’s trying to do now. From now on, she must treat Jay Chou simply as a celebrity, a far away stranger she never got to know personally. Only then, she would have her freedom back.
“Then, give me a chance, will you? At least give yourself a chance to accept someone who can love you, take care of you, and make you happy.”
“Nic, I don’t know whether I can trust you.” Jo still couldn’t help wondering. He is such a perfect guy, and if he wants to, he can get himself a much more attractive girl to be his girlfriend. But why her?
“Jo, do you still think that I only like you because of your voice?” Nic chuckled in disbelief, “Listen, I like you because of who you are, Jo, not what you can do. Listen, be confident in yourself. You are a great person. Guys will fall for you, and you should never question that.”
Is that really, Nic? Hmm, maybe you’re right. I have such a low self-esteem, and that’s why I can never believe that a guy, who’s as perfect as you, or as perfect as Jay, would be attracted to me.
She turned her head to Nic and came to think that maybe, she shouldn’t be so narrow-minded. Nic is a nice guy. He really deserves a chance. And it’s not just for him, but it’s for her too. She should give herself a chance to let another guy enters her life. Jay is just part of her past, while Nic, he is her present, and might also be her future.
“I care about you, Nic.” Jo finally said transparently, “But… I still don’t know whether I will be able to… love you.”
“Jo, you don’t need to do anything. All you need to do is…. accept me in your life, and I won’t ask for anything else. I wouldn’t ask for this relationship if it becomes a burden for you.”
Jo took a deep breath. Nic is really too nice. It’s really hard to turn down such a nice guy. Sigh, perhaps she should really try it out. Maybe this way, it would make it easier for her to forget about Jay.
“Well?” Nic cocked one of his eyebrows.
Jo slightly nodded her head.
“Wait, is that an answer? Did you just say yes?” Nic quizzed her anxiously.
She smiled, “You think?”
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===== flashback [Camping trip–chapter 8] =====
“The night is beautiful…,”
“Mm,” Jo nodded as she found herself staring at the starry sky with him. “Ironic, you can see night sky with bright shining stars only when you’re out of Taipei.”
“Hmm… actually, I know a place where you can see bright starry sky like this… right in the middle of Taipei.” Jay said as he lied himself down on the grass, with both hands behind his head. “Even brighter than this one…,”
“Liar! There’s no way,” Jo turned to him with a furrowed forehead, disbelieving his absurd statement.
“You don’t believe me?” Jay put his palm on his chest, as though he was hurt that she had doubted him, “Alright, when we come back, we’ll go there together, okay?” he smiled mischievously.
Jo stared at him, smiling lopsidedly as she threw a handful of small rocks on his shirt playfully, “Hey, you tricked me!”
“Alright, you caught me.” Jay laughed as he pulled himself back to a sitting position and dusted the dirt off his shirt, “Well…, is that a yes or a no?”
“You think?”
“I think?” Jay pretended to think hard, “I think it’s a YES.”
She laughed, “You learn fast.”
======= end of flashback ========
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“Huh?” Nic knotted her eyebrows, “I don’t think of anything. I just want to hear you say it.”
She laughed. Nic didn’t get her joke like the way Jay did. However, Jay and Nic are two different guys. She realizes she should stop comparing every guy with Jay. Or else, she would never feel satisfied.
“Okay.” She finally answered, leaving Nic’s face brightened up almost immediately.
“Really, Jo? Really?! Oh thank you!” he squealed in exhilaration. His left hand quickly grabs hers, “Jo, I promise I will treasure you with all my life. And I won’t ever let you down.”
Jo smiled. Maybe this isn’t so bad at all. She could sit quietly without any burden, thinking whether Nic loves her or not, like the way she always tried to guess Jay’s feeling for her, because with Nic, everything is clear. Nic wouldn’t hesitate to say out loud what he feels about her. Nic made her feel safe, secure.
This is it, Jo. Stop looking back and start looking forward. This is your new step in life.
Good bye, Jay.
From now on, I will try to erase you from my heart.
And welcome to my life, Nic.
I promise I will learn to love you the way I have loved Jay.
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Note:
Those of you who's confused. Remember that this "---------------------------" means you're just crossing the line from flashback to the present.
As always, your comments would be highly appreciated. ^^
Love & Take Care
sUm^MeR
02/06/05