Chapter 3 – Taming the Shrew
Move 1: The Flower Shop.
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The elevator opened, and Ella got out immediately. As she walked inside the office, everyone paused to greet her. “Good morning, Ms. Chen.” the employees said. “Good morning.” she said bluntly. She walked to her office, and saw it opened. She then looked back, and found her secretary behind her. “Ms. Zhang, why is my office opened before I arrived?” she asked. Angela shrugged her shoulder. “I'm sorry, Ms. Chen. I just arrived, and I don't know why someone opened your office.” Angela said. Ella let out a sign. She opened the door, and saw her office filled with different kinds of flowers. Her office officially became a flower shop. She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes to calm herself down. Then, she turned to face her curious employees. “Who the fuck filled my office with flowers?” she shouted in anger. She could see their knees tremble as she glared at them.
“I did.”
Everyone, looked back, and saw Chun. He was holding a long stemmed rose on his hand. He let out a smile at Ella as he walked towards her. Ella could only sigh in exasperation upon seeing his face again. “Forgive the intrusion, but I only want to fill your office with lots of flowers, so that you can feel relaxed while working.” he said. Ella only shook her head. “Yes, of course, I can relax, but how the hell will I work if you filled my office with flowers! This is an architectural firm, not a flower shop!” Ella shouted angrily at him. Chun let out a chuckle. “Oh, come on, it's not like I filled every inch of your office with flowers.” he said. Ella opened his office wide, and Chun saw that there is flowers in every inch of her office. “Tell me, who can properly work in this garden?” she said.
Ella walked inside her office, and then took a bunch of flowers. When she got back, she dumped all the flowers onto Chun. Chun was stunned at what she did. “Thank you very much for the flowers, Mr. Wu. But I would appreciate if you take all the flowers, and put my office back to how it looked like before you made it into a flower shop.” she said.
Chun could only flinch as he tidied up his suit. He let out a sigh as he watched her leave. “Everyone, to the conference room. Now!” she shouted. He saw the guys glare at him as they followed Ella. “Thanks, mister. Because of you we're going to hell once again.” One of Ella's male employee told him. Chun let out a groan, and kicked on the flowers on his feet. “You heard the lady, clean up the place, not mess it up.” another male employee said.
Move 1: Failed.
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Move 2: The cake.
--
Chun sat at far corner of Ella's favorite cafe. He looked at his watch, and saw that it's almost 4 PM. According to his source, Ella would always come to this cafe to have a cup of coffee, a break from her office. As the door opened, he saw Ella come in. He immediately hid himself but opening the menu on the table. He took a peek as Ella sat on her usual seat, which is by the window. He saw the waiter walk up to her to take her order. After a while, he saw the waiter retreat to the counter.
He put the menu down, and then called the waiter that Ella was talking to a while ago. “Yes, sir?” the waiter said. “I'll have cafe americano, and two kiwi cakes.” he said. As the waiter jot down his order, he eyed on Ella. “And please send the other kiwi cake to that lady by the window.” he said. The waiter paused, and looked at Ella. Then, he looked back at Chun with his eyes wide opened with shock. “Are you sure, sir?” he asked. Chun nodded his head. “Don't worry, I know what I am doing.” he said. The waiter looked at him hesitantly. “Are you sure?” he asked. Chun nodded his head. “100%.” Chun said. “Are you really really sure, sir?” the waiter asked again.
Chun gave him an annoyed look. “If you ask me that one more time, I'm going to have you fired. Just send the kiwi cake to her, all right?!” he said angrily. The waiter nodded his head, and went back to the counter. “What was that, Danson?” another waiter asked. “That guy wanted to give a kiwi cake to Ms. Chen....” the waiter said. The waiter looked at Chun, and shook his head. “It's either he wants to kill Ms. Chen, or he wants to be killed. But you know the cardinal rule. Don't worry, I'll back you up. Send the cake to Ms. Chen.” the other waiter said.
After a while, the waiter came back with Ella's orders. He placed her Mocha frappucino on the table, as well as the kiwi cake. Ella gave the waiter a confused look. “Danson, I did not order for this. And you know I don't eat this because I'm allergic to kiwis.” she said. “I understand, Ms. Chen, but that man over there insisted...” he said, pointing at Chun. Ella looked at the direction where Danson is pointing, and saw Chun. Chun looked at her, and gave her a smile. Ella felt all her blood rushing up to her head upon seeing him again. “He obviously wants to kill me. Don't worry, Danson... I know you're only doing your job.” she said. She took the cake, and then approached Chun.
Chun looked at the girl standing beside her and let out his boyish smile. “Oh, hi Ella.” he said cheekily. Ella could only let out an evil smile at him. “Hello Mr. Wu. I don't know if you're stalking me, and wanting to kill me.” she said. Chun gave her a confused look. “Why would I want to kill you?” he asked. “Because you sent me a kiwi cake.”
“So?”
“I am allergic to kiwis.”
He felt as if someone poured cold water on him. He forgot that she is allergic to kiwis. He flinched as he let out an embarrassed smile. “I... I didn't know... I'm sorry...” he said. Ella glared at him. “Now, you know.” she said. Then, she dumped the cake over his head.
Move 2: Failed.
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Move 3: Serenade
--
One afternoon...
“There she is!” Mike said as soon as he saw Ella got out of the building with her secretary. Chun got out of his car with a guitar on his hand. “Ready?” he asked Mike nodded his head. Then he looked at Show, and gave him a thumbs up sign.
As Ella walked down the stairs of the building, she heard a loud strum from the guitar. She looked down the stairs, and saw Chun with a guitar on his hand, and his friends. “This song is especially dedicated to Ms. Ella Chen.” Chun announced. With that, everyone around the building stopped and listened to them as the trio started to sing.
Don't be afraid
I can meet you half way
We cant always know
Where the road ends up
But with some luck
I know we can go
Where-ever we imagine
Why should we wait
Later on maybe too late
Cause where can we run
When you see there's half a chance
That we might really become
Whatever we imagine
Ella flinched as she listened to them sing. Their voice are not in synch. Aside from that, they kept on missing the right notes. Instead of being amused by them serenading her, she felt a headache coming. And to top of it all, they were murdering one of her favorite songs. As the continued to sing, she thought of a way for them to stop. Just then, one of his male employees walked up from the stairs, with a hot coffee on his had. She walked up to him, and then took the cup on his hand. “Ms. Chen?” the employee asked in both confusion and surprised. She walked down the stairs to approach Chun.
And I imagine you and me
Just taking shots at what we see
And if we falter
Take away the dust
And just outlast them all
You ought to see
All your heroes in me
But if we get wise
We can break the walls we make
And you can see in my eyes
Whatever we -
They stopped singing the moment Ella poured the hot coffee over Chun's head. “Can you stop following me, doing stupid things and annoying me?! The next time I see you around me, I swear I'm going to call the police!” Ella shouted at him. Both Show and Mike were surprise at what she did. On the other hand, Chun was flinching in pain because of the hot coffee. “Ouch... ouch... ouch ouch ouch!” Chun exclaimed. Show glared at Mike, totally ignoring his friend who is in so much pain. “It's all your fault, Mike! We practiced this already and you can't even get the right melody!” he scolded him. “I told you I don't sing, all right!” Mike said to Show. Then, the two looked at Chun, who was glaring angrily at them. “Can the two of you stop arguing, and send me to the hospital now?!” Chun shouted at them.
--
His face is red. No, he isn't blushing, but because of the hot coffee that the man-hater poured on him than afternoon. “I swear to God, I am going to get back at that bitch!” Chun said angrily as he clenched his fist. He punched it to his other palm. “I told you, it won't be easy to make her fall for you... so if I were you, you better give me the key of your car.” George said. Chun could only glare at him. “Maybe you should give up on her, Chun. It's no use chasing after her. Look at you... you got yourself a black eye and a burned face because of chasing her.” Mike said. George nodded in agreement. “And not to mention... she kicked you in the groin, right?” he said. “I will never give up. For sure, she have a weakness. I have to find that out.” he said.
“I think I know where her angst is coming from, Chun…” Show said as he came in. He placed an envelope on the coffee table. Chun took the folder, and saw a marriage license inside. “Ella Chen… Calvin Chen…” he read. Then he looked up at his friend. “Who is Calvin Chen?” he asked. “Calvin Chen is Ella’s long-time sweetheart since high school. They met during one of the soirees organized by their schools. They went to the same college, worked at the same company… they were supposed to get married seven years ago, but the guy backed out on the day itself.” Show explained. Chun let out a smirk as he looked at the marriage license again. “So, this guy is the reason why she hated men?” he asked. Show could only shrug his shoulder. “Most definitely. I’m not seeing any other reason why. Calvin Chen is like her first love. And so, with him leaving her all alone, she was broken hearted, and swore off all guys roaming on earth.” Show said.
Chun let out a smirk as he eyed on the marriage license again. This information could be of good use for him in the future. “So, she was dumped by her ex-boyfriend, huh?” he said to himself. Then, he looked at his friend, and smile. “I think this information will come in handy...” he said.
--
Ella walked out of the restaurant, and as she looked up, she saw Chun walking towards her direction. “Oh no, not again...” she said as she shook her head. “Hi, Ella.” Chun greeted her. Ella let out a sigh, and gave him a stern look. “Look, Mr. Wu. I have no time to play your stupid games. Can you, for once, leave me alone?” she said. “Why? I'm just being friendly...”
“You were actually flirting with me.”
“You should be happy that you're my type. And besides, you were the one who flirted with me first.”
“I only did that to get back at you for breaking my best friend's heart.”
“Well, I want to get back at you too for punching me that night, for kicking me in the place where you shouldn't kick me at all, and for give me a first degree burn that almost ruined my handsome face.”
Ella let out a sigh. “Handsome face my ass!” she thought. “And besides, I am just being friendly. I really want to get to know you much better...” he said. Ella folded her arms, and smirked at her. “Get to know me? And then what? You'll seduce me, and sleep with me? Please, I am not that kind of girl” she said. Chun just let out a smile at her. “I know you're not that type of girl, Ella. That's why I keep on chasing you... you're so challenging.” he said. “Well, you can try to find another girl that can challenge you, Mr. Wu. I know your the playboy type, and there's no way I can fall for someone like you. I am smart enough not to fall for your charms.” she said.
Chun let out a smirk as he folded her arms. “Let's see about that.” he said. Ella turned her back on him, and as she made a step away from him, she heard Chun speak again. “I wonder why you hate men... oh, I think I know why. You got jilted by your lover at the altar, right? I'm guessing that's the reason why you became a man-hater.” Chun said. Ella paused for a while. Then, she slowly turned around, and saw him smiling. “Someone told me that you were supposed to get married, but that Calvin Chen guy left you... I could understand why. Maybe he have suffered so much in your relationship. If I had a girlfriend like you, I will leave you as well.” he said.
Ella could only glare at the man before her. She walked up to him, and then grabbed him by his collar. “You...” she hissed at him. “You don't have the right to assume things just because of some hearsays. And you don't have any goddamn business with my past.” Chun let out another smirk. He took her her hands off his favorite shirt. “Relax, babe.... I'm just trying to find your weakness. Too bad, you let it show.” he said. He smiled triumphantly at her. “You don't know all about him, all right? You don't know how my relationship was with him.” she said. Then, she stomped on his feet, and stormed away from him, leaving him flinching in pain once again.
--
“Do you, Ella Chen, take Calvin Chen to be your lawfully wedded husband?” the priest asked her. Ella let out a smile as he looked at Calvin. “I do.” she answered. Then, the priest turned to Calvin. “Do you, Calvin Chen, take Ella Chen, to be your wife?”
Calvin lowered his head, not answering the priest's question. Ella could only give him a confused look. She noticed that there was a gloomy look on his face that day. “Ah Ru...” she whispered. Calvin looked up at her sadly, and stared into her eyes. “I... I'm sorry, Jia Hua...” he said. “I'm sorry... I... I can't marry you...” With that, Calvin turned her back on her and left the altar, leaving her confused and devastated wife behind.
Ella swerved on the side, and then pressed on the brakes, making her car halt in an instant. As her car stopped, tears began to fall from her eyes. She bit her lips as she leaned back on her seat. “Ah Ru... why? Why did you have you leave me? Why can't you marry me? Why?” she asked. All of Ah Ru's memories suddenly came back to her when Chun brought it all up. She knew back then that Ah Ru loved her so much, and he is the only man that she loved. She gave her everything to him, and even planned the future with him, but then on their wedding day, he chose to leave her. Up until now, she still wonders why he left that day, never to be seen again. Was there someone else that he love? Isn't he ready for marriage yet? Was there something she have done that caused him to walk away from their wedding?
Theirs wasn't a perfect relationship, she knows that. They had their ups and downs, and she thought that their ten-year relationship is more than enough to make their marriage work. But even before they could start their new lives together as husband and wife, he left her all alone by herself. And it took her a long time before she could finally forget everything and move on. Now, Chun came into her life, making her remember the past she had tried to forget. The lavender roses, the song he serenaded to her, the restaurant where they met, all of it triggered her to remember Ah Ru once more. And she hated him for making her remember her past.
Ella held on to the steering wheel, and leaned her head on it as she cried. “Ah Ru... please come back... I... I still love you...” she whispered as she cries.
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