Sunday, April 4, 2010

Love Me Again - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 – Ticket to home



Beep.

“Hi! This is Genie. I'm out for a moment. Please leave your message at the tone, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks!”

Beep.

“Hey, Genie, dad here...”

Shuffle.

“I sent you your plane tickets back here in Taipei. I was really hoping you could get back as soon as possible. Cecille and I were hoping that you could help us for the wedding preparations.”

A sigh.

“And yeah... we really want to meet your boyfriend, so make sure to bring Calvin with you, all right? I miss you, pumpkin.”

Genie opened the door, and heard her dad's voice on the phone. She immediately rushed on it, and answered the call. “Dad?” she said. She panted as she catch up her breath. “Oh, pumpkin. You're there?”
“I just arrived. I heard something about bringing Calvin? Where?”
“Well, I sent you your plane tickets back home. You know that Cecille and I are getting married, right, my forgetful and cute daughter?”

Genie smacked her head upon hearing that. And yes, she have forgotten about the wedding. “Dui bu qi....” she said. She heard her father laugh again. “That's the problem with you... you tend to forget everything because you're always busy. Anyway, make sure to come home as soon as possible. Aside from the wedding, there are somethings we need to discuss...”
“About what?”
“About you and Calvin.”

She let out a groan.

“Come on, pumpkin... you're not getting any younger. Although there's a slim chance that Cecille and I can give you a little brother... I want to see grandsons of my own.” he said. She let out a laugh at what her father said. “Don't you worry, daddy... Calvin will have to convince me a lot first before we I could agree to marry him.”
“So, it means that he already proposed to you?”
“Yeah, but I'm still unsure about the marriage thing, dad...”
“Well, if I were you, pumpkin, I will accept it. A guy like Calvin is hard to find nowadays.”
“Let's see that. Maybe I will accept it after the wedding.”
“OK. I need to go now, pumpkin. Make sure to come home as soon as you got your ticket, all right?”
“Will do.”
“Love you, pumpkin.”
“Love you too, dad.”

She ended the call, and then slumped on the couch, letting out a sigh. “Daddy... don't pressure me to get married!” she groaned.

--

Beep.

“I'm not here. You know what to do.”

Beep.

“Danson, sweetie, this is your Aunt Cecille. I'm still your favorite aunt, right?”

A chuckle.

“Anyway, I will be needing your help regarding my wedding. Your Uncle Joey's daughter will be the maid of honor, and you're the best man, remember? And as the best man, you are obliged to help me out with the wedding.”

Shuffle.

“And I know you are just sleeping, so better get up now! I'll meet you at the cafe at 1 PM. Love you!”

Danson slowly opened his eyes, and took his alarm clock. “11 AM... great..” he groaned. He put the clock back on the table. He turned to his side to get more shut eye.

Beep.

“I'm not here. You know what to do.”

Beep.

“DANSON TANG!”

His Aunt Cecille's loud shout is more than enough to wake up all the sleeping cells in his body. With that, he sat on his bed, and then took the phone. “I'm awake now. Thank you, Aunt Cecille!” he said. “I knew you would be sleeping your ass off the whole day if you would. You have to go... now!
“But you said -”
“Now!”
“Aunt Cecille! Can you please give me some time?”
“If you didn't go out to party last night and slept with some random girls, then maybe I wouldn't have to wake you up!”
“Aunt Cecille... you know that partying is part of my job. I own a bar with my friends, remember.”

He heard a sigh at the other end of the line. “All right. Now, will you get up and meet me at the cafe?” she said. “I thought you want to meet me at 1 PM?” he asked. “A girl can always change her mind, right?”

--

“Why can't you go with me?” Genie asked her boyfriend, Calvin, as he helped her with her luggage. “Honey, you know that I have some work to do.” Calvin said. He looked at his girlfriend, and saw her pouting at him. He let out a smile, and then joined her at the couch. “Honey... you know why I'm doing this, right? It's for our future...”
“Just go with me, please? And besides, I want you to be my date on my dad's wedding.”
“I will be your date, don't worry. I'll go to Taipei as soon as I settled all the cases I'm handling.”
“But I want you to be there... and dad said he wants to talk to you...”

Calvin let out a smile. He put his arm around her, and pulled her to a hug. “I think it's you that your dad have to talk to. You still haven't given me the answer to that thing I asked you 3 months ago...” he said. He was pertaining to his marriage proposal. “I told you I will give you my answer on the wedding.” she said, still pouting at him. “All right, I won't pressure you. Don't worry, all right? I'll come as soon as I'm done with work. Then, you'll give me your answer, and we'll talk to your dad about our plans.” he said. Genie smiled at him, and nodded her head. As she looked up at him, he smiled at her, and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

--

“Why should I be the one doing this?” Danson complained as he accompanied his aunt to the biggest flower market in Taipei. “Where the hell is your maid of honor, by the way? She should be the one who should go with you, not me!” he said. Cecille just smiled at her nephew. “Don't worry, in a few days, all of your suffering will come to an end. Xuan Xuan will come home this week.” she said. Danson stopped walking upon hearing that name. “Xuan Xuan?” he asked. Cecille looked at him, and nodded her head. “Genie is her English name. But her dad calls her Xuan Xuan.” she said. Danson looked away from her, trying to remember where he heard that name before. “Xuan Xuan... Genie... it's really familiar Aunt Cecille.”
“Don't tell me you dated a girl named Xuan Xuan or Genie?”
“I can't remember... but I don't think so. Maybe she is some classmate I had back in college or in high school.”
“Well, it's a relief if you didn't date her.”
“But is she pretty?”

Danson let out a perverted smile upon asking that question. Aunt Cecille smacked him in the head. “You are not allowed to play with my future step-daughter, Tang Yu Zhe.” she said firmly. Danson massaged his temple. “Awww... but auntie... look at it this way. Since she is coming home, she needs someone to look after her. Besides, you and uncle Joey would be really busy with the wedding, right? And besides, I bet she is pretty.” he said. “Well, basing on the pictures I've seen, yes. She is as pretty as her late mother. But you are still not allowed to flirt with her, you understand?” she said. Danson just nodded his head. As his aunt turned her back on him, he let out a playful smile. “Let's see about that...” he thought.

--

The car finally arrived. As soon as he heard it, Joey got out of the door. The car stopped in front of him, and a petite girl got out of the door. “Xuan Xuan!” Joey shouted with glee. Genie smiled at her dad, and walked up to him. “Daddy!” she said. The two hugged for a while. “I missed you, pumpkin. I'm glad you're finally home.” he said. Genie looked up at him and smiled. “I'm glad to be back home, daddy...” she said.

--

“Oh, so Xuan Xuan finally arrived then... that's great! Oh, don't worry, Yu Zhe and I will be there for dinner. All right. See later, baobei... I love you too.”

Danson rolled his eyes in disgust as he heard her aunt sweet talk with her fiancee on her mobile phone. “So, the maid of honor have arrived?” he asked as his aunt turned to her. Cecille nodded her head. “Well, I guess my job as your best man ends here, right?” he said. “Not so fast, young man. You still have to help me AND Xuan Xuan with the preparations. You are going to drive us around.” Cecille said. Danson could only let out a sigh. “Slave driver...” he muttered under his breath.

But at least, the fact that he's going to meet a pretty girl soon is all worth it.

Or not.


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Labels: fan fic, Love Me Again