Friends
Chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
They were a high school kids, on holiday by themselves for the first time in Canada, along with their other friends…but their friendship stretched way back to…what? When they were five years old? Alec and his twin sister Seri were the only friends that Vicki had ever had…Seri was her best friend, while Alec…Alec was the one who would challenge her to climb the highest tree, or have ruler fights with her, in true Jedi Knight fashion while gentle Seri watched them and laughed…they were always together, and in true childhood innocence, believed that nothing would change…they would always be happy, and together…Vicki exploded into peals of silvery laughter as Alec slipped on a patch of ice and fell on his butt…
He finally caught her, and was threatening to rub his handful of snow right into her laughing face when Vicki, whose sides were aching from laughing too much suddenly heard something. Putting her finger to her lips, she looked pointed to their left, where they could hear voices…Alec looked at her, and they advanced slowly…and saw a young couple standing there…kissing. Suddenly, a cold shiver ran up their spines…Alec and Vicki looked at each other with sombre eyes…deep inside, they had a sudden flash of clarity and they knew, things would never be the same again…but their young minds would not yet fully comprehend what the changes would mean…Vicki’s eyes suddenly twinkled and Alec knew instantly what she meant. They grinned conspiratorially at each other…and fired their snowballs…Seri and Nicky gasped, and turned to look, in stunned amazement at the two figures crazily laughing at them…romance forgotten for the moment, they were once more like children as they joined the battle…
******SIX YEARS LATER******
“Seri, look!” Vicki’s excited voice drew her friend’s attention to a stack of albums she was flicking through. “Here’s those photos of when we were in Canada, remember? When you and Nicky first started dating…” Grinning at her friend, who blushed, but sat down beside her. “Look, remember this photo? That was when I made Alec be my model snowman…” They both cracked up laughing at the picture, where poor Alec was half encased in snow, with a silly hat on his head. Someone rapped Vicki lightly on the head, and she leaned backwards to see Alec grinning at her. “Hey, how dare you still talk about that? I nearly froze to death!” She only laughed up at him, her round eyes were filled with merry. “Serves you right, for putting snow in my sleeping bag! Hey, what are you still doing here? Shouldn’t you be heading off to Nicky’s place for the party? Only girls allowed here tonight, you know!” She grinned mischievously up at him. “Well, I DO live here you know! Anyway, I’m just about to head off now, just wanted to wish my sis good luck.” He gave his twin sister a gentle kiss on her cheek. “I hope you and Nicky will be very happy, Seri.”
Seri smiled up at her brother, tears brimming…she so wanted it to be tomorrow, her wedding, when she’ll be joined together forever with Nicky…yet, she was going to miss this place, miss these two people who’d been the centre of her life for so long. Vicki, seeing her face, wiped gently at her eyes. “Hey, you’re not allowed to cry, remember? You’re going to be the happiest woman in the world, and Nicky…well, he’s a lucky guy, right Alec?” Alec nodded. “And he’d better know it too,” Vicki continued teasingly, “since you’re abandoning me to live with this monster alone here…” “Hey, who’s the monster here? You’re the one who insists I get up at the crack of dawn! Mornings only exist to keep night and afternoon bumping into each other, you know!” “You’re just a piggy…snoring away till the sun sets…” Alec made a pig face and did oink noises at her…Seri couldn’t help but laugh. “You guys, stop it! I’m not sure it’s safe to leave you guys here alone…you might end up killing each other!” They looked at each other, then gave her such innocent “who, us?” looks that it made her laugh again. “We’ll be fine,” both engulfing her with hugs, reassuring her, the gentle one in this group, that somehow…they would live with these changes...
“Do you, Serena Su, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?” Seri smiled straight up into her husband’s eyes with tender trust. “I do.” “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Nicky slowly lifted the snow white veil to drown in the deep, brown eyes of his soul mate who smiled up gently at him. Their happiness shone on their faces as Nicky leaned down to kiss his bride, now and forever, to seal the promise of everlasting love…Vicki, who was watching this beautiful dream come true from beside Seri felt her eyes getting watery…her heart suddenly yearned for something like this…a fairytale come true…she didn’t believe in fairytales…but this was so beautiful…then she noticed Alec standing behind Nicky, staring fixedly at her, with a comical mixture of merriment and emotion in his wickedly twinkling eyes…she hastily blinked away the wetness…and narrowed her eyes mock threateningly at him as he made an exaggerated sorrowful face at her. She couldn’t help but smile. That Alec…he always made her feel better…
They all applauded the flushing, radiant couple as they walked out of the church and Alec took her hand and grinned down at her. “Don’t worry…I’m sure it’ll happen to you someday…” She rolled her eyes at him, as if! “Ha! Fairytales don’t come true, not for someone like me anyway. I’ll probably end up as some old spinster sitting in a silly old rocking chair!” She said it in a joking tone, but he could sense the sadness that was always just beneath the surface…he only grinned back at her, his best friend, and say, in a theatrical manner, “Well, then I’ll just have to be an old, grumpy bachelor to keep you company, otherwise…you might forget which buttons on the microwave to press and die of starvation!” He dodged her light punch, then, laughing, the best friends went out to wish their dearest sister a happy life…
“So, who’s moving?” Alec and Vicki turned to give their friend Shelley a puzzled look. They’d just stood on the steps of the old, majestic church and watched the happy couple drive off on their honeymoon, Vicki barely holding onto the flood of tears thanks to Alec’s continued teasing. “Huh?” Alec and Vicki looked at each other, bewildered, then back to the girl. “Who said anything about moving?” Alec asked, looking at Vicki for some kind of response, but she shrugged. “Why?” “Well…I just thought that…um…isn’t it sort of, well, awkward?” Shelley blushed, not wanting to reveal the true reason behind her question…but luckily Zac came to the rescue. “Yeah, you know, a guy and a girl…together…” Vicki rolled her eyes skyward, much to his chagrin. “Oh come on! It’s the twentieth century, for crying out loud! But you’re right,” she drawled, pursing her mouth thoughtfully, but Alec saw the twinkle in her eyes, “It is a bit awkward…” “Really?” Zac pounced in eagerly, “Well, I know there’s this apartment for rent…” But Vicki ended with a whinging tone, “But how am I to sleep without Alec’s thunderous snoring next door?” She laughed and dodged Alec’s mock attempt to hit her head. “Nah, seriously, I can’t be bothered moving…besides, we’ve only lived in the same flat for what, three years? And we haven’t managed to kill each other…yet!” They grinned at each other, neither of them noticing the disappointed looks on their friends’ faces.
As they made their way to their cars, to head off to the party afterwards, Vicki gave Alec a sober look. Perhaps Zac had a point…it was inbred Chinese tradition, after all…but still…she thought rebelliously, I don’t care! Seri’s just gone, and…and they’re my best friends…the only family I have, I refuse to lose Alec because of some stupid custom! She shied away from that…from the thought of being alone…again. No, she thought determinedly, her lips curving into a smile, no matter what, I know that won’t happen…whatever the future holds, he’ll always be here…my friend… Alec shot Vicki a look as he drove, his mind still uneasy, despite the casual way Vicki had dismissed Zac’s idea. The world had already turned upside down on him…now that his closest sister was gone, well, truthfully, it had changed all those years ago, the first time he and Vicki had watched Seri and Nicky together…but it was so…definite now. It had always been the three of them, together, since they were five…he wasn’t sure he could handle losing his best friend too. “Hey, Vic, you’re not really considering moving out, are you?” he asked lightly, to reassure himself. He didn’t like this uneasy feeling inside him, nor did he want to consider what it meant. Change was inevitable in life…but it was too much to handle, at one go. Vicki gave him a sombre look, then smiled at his uneasy expression. “Of course not,” she said, her tone as light as his, “Who else will wake Your Piggyness up every morning in time for work?” He made a face at her, and they both laughed, forgetting the whole thing. Neither of them wanted to think about that…a world without someone just next door, to listen to all the woes and joys as they venture boldly forth along the road of life, a world without the person who knows when and when not to say anything…a world without their best friend.
*Alseri Windrider stared at her blood stained Sword of Truth, her mind filled with horror at what she had done…and…my brain is turning into mush…* Vicki stopped typing, her mind already in the ‘off’ mode. It was already 3am in the morning, and her big, round eyes were bloodshot. But I have a deadline by end of next week, and Seri and Nicky are coming over on the weekend to celebrate Christmas with us, and there’s that stupid party tomorrow night…heck, no, TONIGHT…checking her clock. Damn Alec Su and his stupid ideas…she blamed her flatmate and best friend shamelessly for her largely unwritten novel, it was all his fault for thinking of stupid Thursday video and pig out nights. It had become a tradition over the last year they had lived in the same apartment…they would take turns to hire out videos, and spend the whole night killing their brains with videos and their teeth with popcorn and other assorted junk food while arguing loudly over the lack of taste of the person who hired the videos. As Vicki preferred romance and comedy videos, while Alec liked horror…there was plenty of fun things to argue about…but definitely, Vicki thought, as she rested her weary head on the table for a brief moment, last night had been a mistake. She really shouldn’t have procrastinated over this latest addition to her novel series for so long, and she’d meant to start getting down to work last night…but she couldn’t resist Alec…the horrible man had hired out her favourite films to tempt her out of her room!!! And she was too weak…she grinned sleepy to herself. At least he’s stewing in his own room now too…she thought nastily, trying to get his stupid programming done…hope he…he’s as distracted as me…stupid, irritating, annoying…Alec Su…her eyes closed as she drifted off to sleep.
Alec Su came out of his mind fog from staring at the computer as he noted that the typing noise had stopped from next door. He grinned. Poor Vicki, she’s probably drifted off to sleep again, he thought amusedly, she’s really not an night owl like me…he saved his work and quietly went into the hallway and into Vicki’s room. After Seri’s marriage and moving out, he and Vicki had continued to live in the same apartment they and Seri had rented when they left university. Now that Vicki was a famous fantasy novelist, and Alec was a well off computer software designer, they really had enough money to BUY their own apartments but neither had wanted to move out, nor wanted to live alone. They didn’t really care what others thought about the living arrangement either. After all, they lived in separate bedrooms and besides, they had unanimously agreed that if either had a girlfriend or boyfriend that didn’t like it, then it was THEIR problem…neither were willing to give up a friendship of nearly twenty years for some guy or girl they would only date for a few months.
Alec Su’s lips curved into a small smile as he observed the girl slumped over the table, her long, silky hair moving ever so slightly in the breeze from the open window. She was sound asleep. He shook his head affectionately at the still figure, before walking in to close the window, then gently clicking on the SAVE button on the screen with the mouse. She would scream her head off if something happened to her manuscript…he thought amusedly, scanning the last few lines she had written, and winced at *my brain is turning into mush…* He thoughtfully deleted that for her before he resaved the document and turned off her computer. She’s sleeping like the dead, she’s not going to wake up till tomorrow morning at least, he thought, and looked down at her with a slight worried look. It was winter, and she catch the death of a cold like this…perhaps if anyone else was watching, they would have been disturbed at the impropriety of his next action…but to them, who had known, fought, and occasionally fallen out of trees onto each other for nearly twenty years…it was as natural as breathing. The impropriety of it never even crossed his mind as he leaned over, and picked up her slight figure, and gently put her into her bed, covering her with the blanket. “’Nite, Vicki.” Turning off the light, he closed the door behind him softly.
Sitting back down in front of his own computer with a sigh, he glared at the screen. Usually, he loved what he did, designing new computer games…it was the perfect job for him…but right now…curse Vicki and her stupid novels! He thought irritably, now I can’t concentrate after reading those few lines…he had a sudden urge to reread her stories again. Both he and Seri had been there at the very beginning when she had designed the characters and written the first book…and really, they were his favourite books, though he would die rather than let Vicki know. He glanced quickly at his watch…3.10am…hmm…maybe I can spare an hour to just skim through the best bits…He grabbed his copy of the first novel from his shelf, and grinned at the first page. Vicki had written, *Dedicated to my best friends, who are also my only family, Alec and Seri. Thanks guys, I would never have made it without you. This story is ours* Yes, indeed, she had made this their story, in many ways…for one thing, the name of the heroine of this series said it all. Alseri Windrider. Al-Seri was for Alec and Seri, and Windrider…he grinned in remembrance at how they’d cracked up laughing at the last name. It stood for Vicki, it was her last name…well, sort of. It came from their earlier childhood years…
They had had a Star Wars passion from their childhood…poor Seri had had to sit and watch so many times while they ‘battled it out’ with their light sabres, or really, their wooden rulers, but still…and because of their being twins, Seri was naturally Princess Leia while Alec was Luke Skywalker…but they had been stuck for the ‘role’ for Vicki. Alec grinned in remembrance. He’d suggested Chewbacca…due to Vicki’s wild, unruly hair, but she had proceeded to beat the crap out of him with her make shift light sabre…declaring proudly that she could be whoever she wanted to be. She had made up a character out of nowhere, Vicki ‘Windrider’, since they were ‘Skywalkers’ a female Jedi, and just stuck out her tongue when Alec had taunted her that there were no female Jedis… “There is now!” she declared. And so it had remained…Vicki had always been imaginative, he thought ruefully, no wonder she turned out to be a novelist…but a fantasy one, she never wrote romance. Alec’s face sobered as he considered his friend. She didn’t believe in romance, or love…the kind that lasts anyway. Truthfully, he wasn’t sure he did either, but at least he did not deny it’s existence like she did. He alternated between worrying for her and her distrust of true love…and being glad of this distrust when he sees another cute, handsome guy wooing her…he wasn’t really being selfish, not really. It was just…he couldn’t imagine living without his friend, that was all. He shook his head to clear these silly thoughts, and glanced at his watch. Shoot! 3.30am….he hurriedly flicked to his favourite part and started reading…the part where Alseri the sorceress and warrior, met her friend and companion, Alvic…
The persistent, irritating noise pulls her roughly from her dreams…from the one she was about to see…the one that she ALWAYS failed to see because her dream always ended there…she sighed as she gave up trying to go back to the dream, and opened her eyes reluctantly. The sunlight streamed through the window to light up her room…and the bloody ringing was still refusing to give up. Vicki sighed and groped around on the table beside her for her mobile. Her sleep-ridden eyes registered the name on the screen. Oh great…Vincent. What the heck is wrong with this guy, she thought irritated, running her hand through her sleep-tousled hair frustratedly, it’s bloody seven am in the morning! For a moment she was irrationally considering just turning off her phone and dropping back into bed…but then she sighed, and pressed ‘YES’. “Hello?” she said tiredly. After all, he WAS her boyfriend…she winced as his loud, demanding voice drove away the last residue of drowsiness within her. “Mmm, uh huh…yup…” she muttered to his continual questions as she wondered, bemusedly, why the heck does he ask me where I am, anyway? Where ELSE would I be at 7am in the morning? She felt a sudden mischievous urge to answer “In Alec’s bed, why?”, her lips curving into an impish smile, but then decided against it. If Vincent was rich enough to have almost everything in the world, the one thing he would never have would be a sense of humour…
Her eyes closed as his voice droned on and on in her ear, her attention drifting. Maybe, I can go back to sleep just like this…it’s not like he would miss my responses…she sat up suddenly, her eyes wide. Her STORY!!! Yikes, I almost forgot…wasn’t I doing it last night…shoot, what? Four hours ago? Her startled eyes glanced at her silent computer, then finally her mind registered the fact that she was IN her bed…Alec must have put her to bed, and saved her document for her again…how on earth will I survive without that man? She grinned ruefully, but then, it WAS his fault I was up so late…him and his stupid wonderful videos…THAT must be why Vincent is so worked up, she realised. Because I didn’t go to his stupid dinner with his friends last night, and stayed home with Alec…but it WAS Thursday, our video night ma, I can’t break tradition…her train of thought stop abruptly as something else finally surfaced in her memory…the meeting! Yikes! She hurriedly explained to Vincent, who reluctantly hung up after extruding a promise from her to have lunch together…she agreed hastily, and jumped out of bed, walking quickly to the bathroom. She had a meeting at 9am with her editor about her novel, and then she had to do frantic Christmas shopping, and then there was that stupid party tonight…she winced at the tasks ahead, none of them good. But nonetheless, she had to placate her editor for her slow progress in her novel… God, this headache she was from lack of sleep isn’t going to help, she thought grumpily, still out of sorts from her rude awakening. Her mood was definitely sour as she showered, and got ready for the day ahead.
Alec lifted his weary eyes from the computer screen as he heard Vicki stomp down the hallway, banging the bathroom door. He shook his head amusedly, Vicki the morning person acting grumpy in the morning? Definitely a new sight…normally she was so bubbly and awake in the morning it made him want to throw something at her bloody cheerful face…he was the one who hated the AM letters. But he had heard the mobile ringing as well…he frowned, his face darkening slightly. Maybe it was Vincent Yip again…heck, who else would it be at seven am in the morning? Alec grimaced as he made his way to the kitchen, thinking of Vicki’s latest boyfriend. It wasn’t that he was jealous…well, not really. He had always gotten along just fine with the guys that she dated, just as she was ok with the occasional dates he had, probably because both knew that they weren’t serious…Vicki was too cautious to let a guy too close to her. And because…he smiled slightly, none of those other people who had flitted in and out of their lives had ever come between them, or their friendship.
So no, it wasn’t that he was jealous, it was just that…his forehead crease briefly as he tried to understand the animosity he felt to the guy…perhaps it was the way he acted so possessive of Vicki and her time, always barging into their conversations and their outings like it was his right to do so, or the way he acted like he owned the world…or maybe it was simply the way he disapproved of Vicki living with Alec and their friendship…as if Vicki shouldn’t have him for a friend…as if Vicki shouldn’t have a friend that Vincent didn’t like! That’s it, he decided, that’s why he annoys me so much. It’s because he treats Vicki like she’s his possession or something…how does she put up with the guy? Perhaps it was mean of him, but he couldn’t wait to see the last of this man…always, before, he had felt concerned over Vicki’s inability to trust and stay in a relationship, but this time…he felt a flush of guilt, I can’t wait till she sends him packing…she deserves better than that, much better…
Her feet dragged slowly to the kitchen, her whole stance was tired and dejected despite her smart outfit and her done up hair. She was a bit taken back at seeing him. “Alec? What on earth are you doing up so early?” She grinned, despite her tiredness. “Has the sun come up from the west today?” She asked in a teasing tone. He frowned mockingly at her, “I’m up late, actually, and was TRYING to be a considerate friend, but…” Her eyes lit up as she saw what he was holding in his hand. “Chinese tea!” She beamed and reached greedily for the cup, but he held it away, saying in a huffy tone, “But since you are being so mean to me, I might as well poor it down the drain…ow!” She punched him lightly on the arm. “Give it, you meanie…I feel too dead to argue with you this early in the morning.” He lifted his eyebrow mockingly. “This from Vicki, the morning person?” But he handed it to her and she sipped it, her face taking on such a bliss look that Alec started laughing. She ignored him and cradled the cup as if it was something precious… “You and your obsession with Chinese tea!” She stuck her tongue at him. “Well, you’re no better with your disgusting black coffee…” It was an age-old argument. Vicki despised the bitter taste of coffee, and chinese tea was like her passion, it was more like a comfort thing…
“Well, I’m off to bed now…it’s all your fault, I was up till 5am rereading your novel! So I had to stay up till now to finish off the programming…” He swatted her head lightly as she pulled a face at him. “It’s your own fault, don’t blame me! Besides, who was it that KNEW we both had deadlines to meet, and STILL hired out my favourite movies?” He made an innocent ‘who, me?’ look at her, and she grinned. Sighing, she stood up and pulled on her coat. “I’ve got a meeting with Greg at 9am, and then lunch with Vincent before some shopping, need anything?” “Nah, not really…so you’re going to be out all day?” His eyes darted to the big Christmas tree in the living room, and…he grinned…the presents underneath the tree. Vicki noticed immediately and shook her finger at him mock fiercely. “Uh huh! Don’t even THINK about it, Alec Su!!! If you even PEEK at the presents…” she left the threat hanging in the air as he made a wry face at her. She laughed. “Besides, the special present isn’t even down there yet, I’m collecting it this afternoon, so…” She reached across and pulled his earlobe like some scolding mother. “Be a good little boy, or Santa won’t give you any presents this Christmas!” “Ow, alright alright! Who wants to look at your silly presents anyway!” “YOU do! Every year!” He gave her a sheepish look, and said in a meek voice, “Alright, I’ll be a good little boy…MUMMY!” She looked him right in his twinkling eyes, and the both of them burst out laughing…
She sighed inwardly as she sipped at her glass of ice water, and glanced at her boyfriend discretely. Vincent Yip. The man who had dated her for the last two months, showering her with flowers and expensive gifts, taking her to the most expensive places. But why was it that now, when she was with him, she felt completely suffocated and bored? He was trying, wasn’t he? But then, all this, she thought, all this is nothing to him, with all his wealth, he’s never really given me anything that meant anything to him. He talks to me about all his problems and accomplishments, but what about me? He’s never heard a single thing I had to say…he doesn’t even take my job seriously! And…to be completely honest, she thought, her round eyes were shadowed as she thought, I’ve never really opened to him…is it that I’m not trying hard enough? But, then, do I even want to try with this man? She wasn’t sure anymore, he had become more and more cold, more possessive and suffocating as the days went by, and she was startled to realise that she no longer felt anything at all for him, except maybe, plain irritation. Maybe she had felt a tiny spark for him at first, she had tried, like she always tried when she entered a relationship, giving him and herself time to see if the spark could develop into something more. But it’s just not working, she decided, studying his cold face, maybe I’m not being fair on him, but I can’t keep lying to myself…this is another failed relationship, if, she thought amusedly, mocking herself, if it ever was one in the first place! She knew she herself had a problem…she just couldn’t trust people, to let them in…her faith in love and marriage…in a love that lasts forever…that faith had been killed a long time ago. She tried so hard to be normal, to go out on dates, to be in relationships…but deep down, she never expected any of them to last…nothing ever lasts…except for friendship. Alec’s face flashed through her mind, and it warmed her. Yes, he would never leave me…friendship is forever…
“Vicki? Vicki!!!” his voice broke into her thoughts. “Hmm?” she looked questioningly at him, his cold, powerful eyes glaring at her for her lack of attention. “I’m sorry Vincent, I was up late last night doing my novel…” “Oh, you and your silly writing!” he scoffed, “I still can’t understand how you survive by spinning moonbeams!” She felt a faint buzzing as anger rose from deep within her. “I survive because people find my novels worthwhile to read,” she said steadily, with quiet dignity, but inside, she was fuming. How dare he? How dare this man, who’s never even read a novel in his life, criticize my writing? As if he even reads anything but financial reports…maybe he should, she thought a bit spitefully, it might give him the sense of humour he was born without! She stabbed at an unoffending piece of lettuce with her fork, keeping her head down as she fumed, she knew she was being slightly unreasonable…well, only slightly, she admitted, but she couldn’t control this…all the repressed anger and irritation she had felt for the last few months were about to erupt. Not wanting to snap his head off, she tried to keep her silence, but her head shot up at his last comment.
“What? What did you say?” her voice trembled slightly with emotion, but he didn’t see the warning signs…he never did see what she thought or felt. It was always him, him, him! “I said, my friend had an apartment he wanted to rent out in Peppermint Grove, the same suburb as me. I took it for you.” “I never said anything about moving,” she remarked quietly, her tone ominous, but he failed to catch even that. His voice was lordly as he said, “Come now Vicki, you’re my girlfriend now, after all, you can’t really expect to keep living with Alec Su, after all, he IS a guy, it’s just not proper!” “Why can’t I?” He talked right over her, his mind already decided. “If it’s a problem with money, then I’ll pay for it, alright? Now, the apartment will be ready by next week, so I’ll send some people over to help you pack next Wednesday, alright?” “No.” Her quiet tone finally caught his attention, and he looked at her, frowning. “What?” “I said no, Vincent. I’m not moving.” His face darkened, and he glared at her, his voice fierce as he demanded, “Why ever not? It’s all been arranged!” “I’m not moving, Vincent,” she said in a tone that was final, “I don’t need my life to be arranged, not by you, not by anyone!” “It’s because of Alec Su, isn’t it?!” His voice was filled with rage and jealousy as she stared at him in surprise. “Alec? What has Alec got to do with anything?” She stared at his dark, angry face as he exploded, “It’s because of him isn’t it? It’s always Alec this and Alec that, you’re more like his girlfriend than mine! You’re mine, Vicki, and I won’t let you live with another guy like this! It’s not right!”
His anger may have daunted the many others into submission, but Vicki’s eyes sparkled with anger as she stared back defiantly at him. The spark she had once felt was gone, as she stared at his handsome face that had turned ugly, she realised what a fool she had been…but not anymore! I refuse to be treated like some…some kind of possession, I refuse to have my life ruled! “You can’t ‘not let’ me do anything, you don’t own me, I’m my own self, Vincent Yip! No one rules my life, not Alec, but certainly not you!” She stood up abruptly, but he grabbed her arm in a grip that hurt. “Vicki, what do you think you’re doing?!?” he whispered furiously, his eyes darting around to see if other people were watching. “What does it look like?” she asked him mockingly, shaking off his arm, “I’m leaving!” “Stop making a scene!” he ordered her in a harsh whisper, and she gave him an incredulous look. “Is that all you’re worried about? Making a scene?” She rolled her eyes, and started to stalk away, but Vincent sighed exasperatedly, and followed her. “Vicki, why must you be so stubborn?!? It’s all arranged and…” “Because it’s my nature! Quit trying to change me Vincent, because it won’t work…let’s break up.”
He stared at her incredulously, unable to believe what she had just said. She was just toying with him…just lying through her teeth like all the other women… “You can’t mean that…women always say one thing when they mean the other…Vicki, I’m only doing everything for your own good…” The stuck up, snobby, chauvinist pig! She thought angrily, but it made her feel better. Any guilt she felt over dumping him had vanished. “I’m not like other women, Vincent, I mean every word I say. We’re finished. I’m tired of having you trying to rule my life.” She turned to walk away, but he grabbed her arms in an iron grip. “You can’t do this, Vicki Zhao, you’re mine! You can’t just walk away from me like this, after all I’ve done for you! What about all the money I spent on you, and the apartment…” She broke away from him grip, giving him a disgusted look. Money, why does it always come down to that…she said offhandedly, “So bill me.” And walked out the restaurant, leaving him staring after her…
***********
The phone rang, and Seri looked up, flustered from dusting the house. She picked up the phone, saying in her sweet, gentle voice, “Hello?” A familiar voice came down the phone line, “Seri?” Her face broke into a smile, “Hi Vicki!” Then she noted her silence, and asked in a worried tone, “Is something wrong, Vicki?” She was relieved as Vicki laughed, her voice merry. “No, something is very right! I’ve just broken up with Vincent Yip, and I feel…so relieved! I can’t believe how relaxed I am!” Seri laughed as she sat down on the couch, cradling the phone to her ear. Thank the Lord, finally! Even Seri’s gentle soul had been annoyed by the possessive and money hungry Vincent Yip…she felt a little guilt at the gladness that flooded her right now. Vicki had finally seen through him… “I’m glad for you, Vicki…are you really alright?” the concern in her voice was very apparent, and Vicki smiled as she imagined her friend, with the little crease in her gentle forehead as she worried over her…dear Seri, she was such a caring soul. “If you really want to make sure, do you want me to come over? I’ve got a bit of time after I pick up your brother’s present…you can comfort me as much as you want then.”
Seri hung up on her friend feeling a bit melancholy. Poor Vicki…ever since they were children, Seri had known Vicki’s inability to trust people to get too close…her faith in love had died the day that her father…Seri’s eyes clouded. Her dearest friend’s struggle to believe in a love that will last, to convince herself to let go and risk loving, and being loved made her eyes fill with tears…dear Vicki, will she ever find true happiness? Will she ever learn that love doesn’t always go away? Seri looked at the photo frame on the wall, at the picture of the three of them, her, Vicki and Alec, frozen in a moment of childhood innocence and laughter. She, who had always stood beside them, her gentle eyes watching as they joked and played, laughed and cried together, had already seen, long ago, something that they were both still so very blind to. Will they ever see? She wondered as she touched the glass gently. Will they ever see what’s been there all along?
It was cold, SO COLD! He shivered, and moaned in his sleep, his hand groping desperately for his blanket which should be there…but wasn’t. Struggling desperately to STAY asleep at all costs, he flipped over to escape the source of coldness on his chest, his face…but then the biting cold attacked his neck, chilling his sensitive skin and dripped down his neck. He shivered as he felt the chill down his spine and his skin break out into goose bumps…he made an exasperated noise and dragged his eyes open, wincing at the ‘bright’ light of the lamp shining in his face… “Wha..?” he muttered, confused, his mind foggy from sleep…was that her standing beside his bed? Why was she here…so cold…why…his hand fumbled at his neck and touched something cold and wet. Huh? He moved his hand, and stared bemusedly down at the melted ice on his hand. Ice? But…he was in bed…wasn’t he? Ice…?
Oh tian…his silly, astonished expression was too hilarious! She bit her lip to stifle the giggles that threatened to explode out…trying to give him a bland look. Finally he looked up at her, at her sparkling eyes dancing with laughter, the empty ice trays on the ground, and knew instantly what was going on here. His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he gave her an accusing look…he looked so ridiculous in his PJs, with melted ice dripping off him….and that expression on his face…she couldn’t hold it in anymore. Vicki cracked up laughing, her sparkling eyes dancing merrily with laughter.
“Oh hush up!” he said irritably, pushing the pile of melted ice and water off him, “It’s not funny, you almost froze me to death!” But this only made her laugh even harder…the expression on his face when he stared at the ice….she gasped for breath, spluttering, “Yes…yes it is…” He looked at her, struggling to stop laughing, and an evil glint came into his eyes. “Oh, you find that funny? I can give you something even more funny…” Without warning he leapt up off his bed and grabbed her startled body, tickling her unmercifully down her sides. She screamed and wriggled frantically, struggling to get away unsuccessfully. Both were hysterical with laughter by now. “Stop…stop it…Alec…” she gasped, out of breath from laughing too much. She collapsed onto his bed in a vain attempt to get away from his unmerciful hands that attacked her weakness…her ticklishness! “Say you’re sorry first!” he crowed triumphantly, his eyes dancing with laughter as he leaned over her, attacking her sides. “Ok…OK! Sorry…” she managed to wheeze out, and he relented, stopping his attack and laughed down at her merry face. At her round eyes that sparkled with laughter up at him, her dear, familiar face…and his heart did a strange flip. Suddenly a strange intensity appeared in his eyes, banishing the merriness as he looked down on her.
Vicki laughed and then looked up at him, right into his eyes. For a moment there, she thought she saw something change…there was a strange expression in his eyes as he looked into her…something that made her caught her breath. What…the laughter faded from her face as she looked up at him puzzled, and abruptly he looked away, moving off her so she could get up. “Alec?” she asked, puzzled at his manner, but felt a tiny bit of relief as he turned back to her with his usual smiling face. “What’s the matter, Vicki? It’s like…what? Only 5pm in the afternoon…I only got to bed at 11am!” he groaned exaggeratedly, doing a lazy stretch, but Vicki hit him lightly. “You lazy pig! The sun has almost set…it was time for you to get up anyway…” He raised his eyebrow at her sceptically, “And?” He knew that look on her face… “And I need a favour…” “What is it?” he asked warily. “Be my partner at the Ball tonight!” she said in a rush, and hurried on as she saw the horrified expression on his face closely followed by denial, “Oh please, please, you MUST help me…” she wheedled in a little girly voice, “I totally forgot that I need a partner tonight…and,” she put on her most pitiful look, “I broke up with Vincent this afternoon, I can’t face everyone alone right now. Please Alec…”
His heart did a peculiar thump…she broke up with that creep? At last! But…he gave her a concerned look. “You OK?” he asked simply, his eyes filled with concern that momentarily warmed her. Suddenly serious, she dropped her pitiful act and smiled at him, shaking her head. “No need for a hug this time…but you still owe me a tub of ice cream!” she said light-heartedly, and he smiled in relief. That was their tradition…no matter what happened, they always knew that the other would be there to make everything alright again, be it a hug, or just a tub of ice cream and their presence. Hugs were for serious breakups…ice cream was merely therapeutic salve for the ego for admitting that the relationship had been stupid. “Anyway, I’ll take a rain check on the ice cream…come to the Ball with me!” she said cunningly, and Alec sighed, giving up. He hated occasions like these, and he knew Vicki didn’t like them that much either, but to think she was making him go…but it WAS Vicki…and she was staring at him with those big round eyes… “Fine!” he threw his hands up in the air in defeat. “I’ll go.” “Yes!” she punched the air, and grinned impishly at him. “It’s at 7pm…so hurry!” She gestured impetuously to the bathroom. He stared at her for a minute, and groaned, rolling his eyes before making his way to the bathroom, dragging his feet…this was going to be a LONG evening…
The first thing Alec’s sharp eyes noticed as he stepped into the living room was the new, intriguing box that was wrapped in silvery paper underneath the tree. His lips curved into a smile as he considered it…should he risk Vicki’s wrath and sneak a peek at it, his special present for this Christmas? But then…she HAS had a rough day, what with the meeting with her editor this morning, and breaking up with Vincent…but she IS dragging me to some stupid Ball…hmmm, he battled with his conscience as a speculative glint came into his eyes. He made one step towards the tree…
“Don’t even THINK about it, Alec!” her warning voice came from the bedroom where she was getting ready. He stopped abruptly and grinned ruefully. Man, they really had lived together for too long… “Think about what?” he called innocently as he changed his direction for the kitchen instead. “You know what!” The phone rang as he was making his coffee, short and black, and he picked it up. His sister’s voice greeted him. “Hey Seri!” he said cheerfully, as he made his way back to the living room with the phone to his ear, his coffee in one hand. “What’s up?” “Alec! Vicki broke up with Vincent Yip…she has told you, right?” Alec grinned at the concern in his sister’s voice, saying rather happily, “Yep, she has…hey, how did you know about it?” He listened attentively as Seri told him how she had spent the whole afternoon talking with Vicki, and what had finally made her break up with that boyfriend of hers…he frowned slightly as he pondered on this strange happiness he was feeling. Sure, to be honest, he had disliked the guy, but it wasn’t that, not completely…was it because Vicki seemed so unaffected by this, another break up? But why would that make him happy? As her friend, surely he wanted her to find someone who loved her, and who she could love…didn’t he?
He murmured absentminded replies to Seri’s continuous talk as he tried to clear this strange and new confusion in his mind…his lack of sleep wasn’t helping, he thought grumpily. I wish I could just say stuff this Ball, but she needs me…ah heck, it can’t kill me, he thought ruefully, as he hung up on his sister finally, after making arrangements with her for the Christmas Eve dinner tomorrow night. Why do I keep feeling there’s something missing…something wrong…he frowned, puzzled, something I need to do…what is it? He stared thoughtfully at the mistletoe they’d strung up in the middle of the room to catch the unwary…OH LORD!!!
His eyes were wide with horror, he’d forgotten the most important thing of all. VICKI’S SPECIAL PRESENT!!! He smacked himself in the head, I was supposed to collect it this afternoon, but totally forgot…oh lord, they better be open tomorrow, he prayed, though it was Christmas Eve tomorrow…but he HAD to get it or Vicki would kill him! He shook his head ruefully, I can’t believe I’ve just been sitting here wondering what special present Vicki’s got me, and NOT remember I haven’t collected hers yet! What an idiot…the special present was also another tradition of theirs…he grinned wryly as he remembered all the past Christmases they had spent together. They were allowed to get each other a silly present, only if they got a special one too. It was the perfect excuse to act like total kids for the one day, and get the things they would normally feel too childish to admit to wanting…like last year, they had proved yet again they had lived again for far too long when they got each other the same ‘silly’ present…a kid’s Star Wars Light Sabre!!! The whole Christmas morning had been spent re-enacting the light sabre fights they used to have as children…he smiled ruefully in remembrance. When Vicki used to beat the crap out of him with the ruler aka light sabre…
“Alec?” her soft voice interrupted his thoughts. Still smiling, he turned around, and froze, his heart pounding fiercely…he stared at her, unable to speak. It…it was the same Vicki…yet…not…she was beautiful! In a simple, pure white, shimmering dress that flowed all the way down to her ankles, her hair done up with sparkling clips so only tendrils of hair caressed her cheek…the only ornament adorning her was the tiny silver locket she had always had and the little silver snowflake earrings Alec had given to her on her eighteenth birthday…she looked like an angel, so precious and rare. He could only stare at her, speechless…his mind was a complete mess. He had seen her dressed up before, many times…yet…had she always been this beautiful? Oh yes, of course she has, you twit! He scolded himself, still totally confused, then why am I reacting like this? Why…why is the blood rushing in my veins…why can’t I think straight? She’s still the same Vicki I’ve known for the last twenty years…right? Yet there was a strange flood of emotions within him…as he stared at her, he suddenly knew, with startling clarity, that he would not sleep peacefully for a long while…
“Alec? Hello?!? Earth to Alec Su!!!” He jolted out of his preoccupation to see Vicki giving him a puzzled look. “What is wrong with you? Do I look that bad then, hmm?” she asked lightly, her eyes twinkling with humour. She was totally unprepared for him to step up to her and kiss her softly on the lips…a light caress that made her heart stop beating for a brief moment. She stared up at him, stunned…astonished at his action, as well as at the sudden rush of emotions within her, emotions she’d never had before…and certainly not with Alec. “What…what was that about?” she asked breathlessly, her voice a bit trembly as she struggled to deal with the sudden rush of strange excitement within her. Alec looked at her confused, flushed face, and mentally shook his head…don’t scare her, you nut! Besides, this is Vicki…he smiled deviously at her, and said lightly, by way of explanation, “Mistletoe.” She gave him a startled look, then up above them…she caught Alec’s eyes, twinkling with humour, and cracked up laughing. He joined in, their merriment momentarily wiping out the sudden, unfamiliar awkwardness between them…
She shook her finger at him mock scoldingly, “You are SUCH a bad man, Alec Su!” He only grinned at her, and she sighed exaggeratedly, as she gave him a proper look over, “A man who can’t even put on a bow tie properly! It’s crooked.” She leaned over and straightened it for him with their usual familiarity, yet he caught his breath at her closeness…yes, indeed, something was very strange today, he thought to himself, making himself look elsewhere…perhaps I’m coming down with something…maybe that’s all it is…maybe…He forced himself to say casually, “Quit fussing mummy! Shall we go now, and put me out of my misery?” He offered her his arm with exaggerated reluctance, and she laughed up at him, her eyes dancing with laughter. Taking it, she said mockingly, “Don’t worry, little boy, mummy will take care of you.” He rolled his eyes as they left the apartment together, “Someone just shoot me…”
********
Vincent’s eyes narrowed as he watched them enter the ballroom together, looking very much like a perfect couple…his mouth tightened as he saw her laugh at something the man said, her beauty enhanced even more by her natural, relaxed smile. She looked perfectly happy, and content…how could she?!? How could she look so…so happy when they’d only just broken up? She was supposed to be sad, to be miserable without him like all the other women…damn it! He clenched his fists impotently, his eyes furious. There was no way he was going to believe that she and Alec were just friends…damn them, damn them both! People were already whispering about Vincent showing up with another date instead of Vicki, and he had told them he had dumped her, but it grated on his nerves…and from the speculative looks they were giving him, and the pair of friends now chatting amiably with Vicki’s editor, he knew that they were already wondering the truth behind his words…his face grew black. He, the rich and handsome Vincent Yip, the most eligible bachelor around, didn’t need to take this! Spinning around, he grabbed his date’s hand, and dragged her away…
Another pair of eyes was also watching the pair laughing over some stupid joke Alec had cracked. He was alone here, at the command of his father, and completely, utterly bored by the company he was keeping. Excusing himself, he approached them with a friendly look in his eyes. “Hi, my name is Matt Lee,” smiling warmly at Vicki who had turned to give him a surprised, but not unfriendly look. “May I have this dance?”
She laughed again, shaking her head amusedly as Matt cracked another joke at Ms Fong’s hairdo…that…that it looked like a chicken had died in there, what with all the feathers sticking out…oh lord! Vicki had to cover her giggles by coughing, her eyes twinkling up into his grinning face. Hmm…who would have thought I would be having so much fun? She thought to herself. I mean, I only just broke up with Vincent this morning…I guess I was really over him, if it doesn’t even bother me…Matt isn’t that bad a guy…though there’s something strange about him…Vicki pondered bemused. Something different…he’s like Alec, she realised suddenly, as Matt flashed her another brilliant grin. No…more like, in terms of how he makes me feel, he’s just acting friendly, I…I don’t feel ‘chased’…unlike with Vincent, and all the others, I felt so suffocated, but now, I’m just relaxed…he’s not ‘hunting’ me…I wonder why…Even if he was, I doubt he would touch my heart, she thought bitterly, her eyes suddenly very distant as she remembered her past, somehow I don’t think anyone ever will…I don’t believe in fairytales…
Her heart suddenly jumped as he appeared next to her. She stared at him in surprise, why was his face so sombre all of a sudden? And why…her pulse was doing an irregular beat…Post break-up with Jerk Syndrome, she told herself hurriedly, and managed to ignore the sudden breathlessness feeling that had come over her. For a moment there, in the shadow of the dim lights of the ballroom…he had reminded her of the man in her dreams…the one who she never saw the face of…quit it, Vicki, she told herself irritably, stop acting like a lovelorn girl…it’s not like you’re even UPSET over the break up this morning! “May I have the next dance?” He bowed exaggeratedly, his lips curved into a wry grin. She couldn’t help but smile…giving Matt an apologetic look, she stepped out of his arms and into the arms of the man who was the most important person in her life…her best friend, Alec…
His arms closed around her as he took her around the ballroom floor, their movements flawless as she gave him a questioning look. “What?” he asked, giving her an innocent look. “What was that all about?” Vicki asked, giving him an amused smile nonetheless. “Nothing!” he protested innocently, but then grinned at the disbelieving look she gave him. “Well, seeing how you DRAGGED me here, shouldn’t I get at least one dance, as your date?” he joked, avoiding her question…to be truthful, he wasn’t sure why he had done that…no, deep inside, maybe he did know, but he didn’t want to think about it…not yet. It…it was too much to handle…too big a thing to consider now…why he’d suddenly disliked the idea of her dancing and laughing with a complete stranger…why he had suddenly wanted to pull her away…had something changed, in that split second in time? Or had it been like that all along, and he’d only just realised the truth? He shook his head…content now only to hold her in his arms, this girl who had been his closest companion for the last twenty years, who had been his dearest friend…
Vicki was surprised at his sudden sombre mood…she could sense that something was bothering him. “Alec?” He smiled down at her…there was something in his eyes that she could not read. “Nothing, just…tired, I guess.” “Oh.” She knew that wasn’t it, and he knew that she knew, but they were silent as they danced till the music ended, neither willing to break the silence as they dwelled in their own thoughts. It…something was different tonight…and it disturbed her. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to know what it was, why her face suddenly felt so hot she had to hide it on his shoulders as he held her. As the final note died away, they moved away, and Alec looked straight into her round, shimmering eyes as he leaned over and brushed his lips ever so lightly on her hand. Her breath caught for a single instant as she stared into his dark, sombre eyes, at the strange intensity within them…then just as suddenly, it was gone as he grinned teasingly at her. “Well, now I’ve done my duty, can we go home now?” he said in a whining tone, “I’m soooo tired!” Vicki let out her breath shakily, relieved, and laughed at little piteous face he pulled. “Oh alright!” she said in mock exasperation. Then she grinned, “Besides, these heels are killing me!”
*******
Alec swore furiously as he saw the sign on the door. *Closed 24th-28th December*. Oh lord, this can’t be happening, I’m SO dead! Why didn’t I remember earlier? He scolded himself, sighing. He had left Vicki’s present here to be fixed and he was supposed to pick it up yesterday…damn it! What the heck am I going to do? Find another present before the shops close in…looking at his watch, another hour?!? Why me?!? He asked silently, casting his eyes skyward comically. Why am I always the person searching frantically for a Christmas present at…5pm on Christmas Eve?!? He grinned as he remembered he’d been in such a situation last year. That’s why he had DELIBERATELY gone out to shop for Vicki’s present early this year! He had finally found her a pair of earrings that matched the old style of her silver locket, only they had to be fixed…and he, the scatterbrain, and forgotten to pick them up! Great…now what? He wandered the down the street, his mind clouded…this is not good…
Suddenly he froze in his footsteps as something in the window caught his eye. His breath caught. It was perfect…but…should he? His eyes were sombre as he stared at the tiny porcelain statue in the glass window. They had read the tale together, so very long ago when they had had a craze for a while on myths and legends…yet, this story had always stayed in his mind…it was such a poignant tale, and…it reminded him of her…of Vicki. Dare he do this? Dare he put a name to these strange emotions he felt inside him every time she looked and smiled at him? Dare he risk this, to hint what was changing between them…to risk losing what they had had all this time, their friendship? He…he knew her too well, Vicki Zhao, her fear of letting love come too close lest she gets hurt…her distrust of fairytales…yet, could he hide it forever? Could he hide it from her, from himself? Steeling himself, he took a deep breath, and walked into the shop…
A flying missile catapulted from the wooden utensil straight into his face. Alec stood there, stunned silent as the splotch of thick, ruined pudding dripped from his face in the midst of Vicki’s hysterical giggles. He clawed the pudding from his eyes, wiping them clean so he could glare at the culprit with the wooden spoon still held in mid air, shaking as she laughed. He advanced on her threateningly, but she backed off quickly, her lips still quavering from trying not to laugh at the sight of him…the chocolate pudding smeared on his face… “No! No…I’m sorry, noooo!!!!” She ducked as he reached out to smear the pudding in his hands on her face. “Alec! Stop it! Seri and Nicky’s coming over in two hours!” Grabbing his hands, she gave him a pleading look, trying not to giggle as a drop of pudding dripped from his chin. He narrowed his eyes at her, trying to look fierce as he considered. “Fine…I shall let you off THIS time…” She relaxed her hold. Quick as a flash, his finger shot out and dabbed some pudding on her nose. “That’s for punishment!” Laughing, he ran away as she wrinkled her nose at him…
On the whole, it didn’t go too badly. They even remembered (just in time!) that there was a packet of stuffing inside the turkey they had to pull out and stuff it with…last time, they had discovered that WAY too late…when they were serving it at the table! And Alec helped Vicki remake the pudding, and the soup was fine…on the whole, there was no cases of food poisoning, as Alec remarked, so it must mean Vicki’s culinary skills were improving. Then he had to dodge as Vicki tried to hit him. “Come on you guys! Stop acting like such children!” Nicky called from the table where he was helping Seri clean up. “Yes Daddy!” they both replied simultaneously, and then exchanged speculative glances as Seri blushed, and Nicky started to fiddle with the forks. “OK, confess now,” Vicki began, “What is it?” Then she froze as she stared at her dear friend, stunned. “Oh my god, you’re pregnant!” Seri turned a deeper red, and nodded timidly. Alec and Vicki exchanged a broad grin, then started jumping up and down like silly kids as they crowded around their sister, bombarding her with questions… “Oh oh oh!!! Can I be the god mother?” Vicki asked, excited. “Me too! Me too!” Alec interrupted her excitedly, “I want to be the godfather!” “You nitwit! You ARE the uncle!” “Oh…opps…” Alec muttered with a sheepish look. Vicki rolled her eyes exasperatedly, and then they all burst into laughter…
****
“Hey.” Her soft voice reached his ears, and he looked up, smiling at her, saying quietly, “You remembered.” His dark eyes were filled with shimmering lights as he gazed at her from under the Christmas tree, and her heart missed a beat. What…what was this strange feeling within her…why was her blood was racing in her veins…this strange excitement when she gazed into those deep, shadowed eyes…it’s just Alec…good, safe, dear Alec…wasn’t it? Yet for some strange reason…she felt a shiver up her spine…there was something different…shaking her head, she cleared her mind of the disturbing thoughts. She forced herself to smile at him, in his pale blue PJs, illuminated by the many coloured lights that shone down on him from the tree. “How could I forget?” she asked in a soft voice, “We only do this every year.”
They laid side by side beneath the tall Christmas tree, taking comfort in each other’s presence as they watched the many sparkling lights above them, shining so mysteriously. Ever since they were kids, and Vicki had spent her first Christmas with the Su family, they had down this…they’d only been ten, she had never seen a Christmas tree before. She had sneaked down the hallway to lay beneath the Christmas tree, her eyes wide with wonder as she watched, enchanted by the sparkling fairy lights…and he had joined her, silent in what had become a ritual for them. In that single moment in time…all pain and sorrow would be banished…in such a moment in time, she can forget all that had happened to her…in such a moment in time, under the spell of the magical lights…she could still believe in fairytales…
As the clock struck twelve, they turned to look at each other, smiling in the glow of the sparkling lights…leaning over, Alec kissed her gently on the forehead. “Merry Christmas Vicki.” “Merry Christmas, Alec,” she whispered softly, and they smiled, for this moment, at perfect ease with each other and what they saw in each other eyes…the unspoken truth between them…
“Oh lord, save me!” Alec groaned as Vicki tore the shimmering paper to reveal the VCD set inside. Vicki squealed in happiness, “Yes! Thank you Seri!” and reached over giving the grinning girl a big hug. Alec rolled his eyes skyward in exasperation. “Why me?!? Seri…” he began, looking at his smiling sister with a mock accusing look in his eyes, but she only laughed at him. “Well, we girls love it, and besides, you don’t have to watch it!” “Yeah!” Vicki agreed, sticking her tongue out at his disgusted face. “Oh great, now she’s going to take over the TV with Huan Zhu Ge Ge land for the next few weeks…thanks awfully, sis,” he said in a voice dripping with sarcasm, “Just what I wanted for Christmas!” The others laughed, and Vicki threw a present at him, which he caught deftly. “Stop being such a grouch Alec! Just because it’s 7am in the morning…open your own presents!” “Yikes…don’t remind me…I swear, I must be sleep walking right now…” he muttered as he struggled with the bright ribbons. Vicki and Seri exchanged a wry glance, smiling.
*Because it reminds me of you* The words written on the card gave Alec a jolt, causing his mind to wake up fully. He shot Vicki a quick look, but she was too busy talking to Nicky to notice…she had written the same words he had on her card…Lord, he groaned to himself, did I really do that? Did I really dare to get her that present? For a while there, everything was so…normal, so everyday that he’d forgotten all about it. Suddenly he was filled with a strange excitement…he couldn’t wait to see what was in here! Could it be…she had gotten him…he repressed the wild thoughts going through his mind as he tore at the paper, and opened the box within. For a moment there, he stared, bemused at the object in his hands, his mind confused…it was a crystal snowman.
He looked up straight into Vicki’s twinkling eyes…and both dissolved into laughter. The weird feelings disappeared as normalcy took it’s place, the memories of their long friendship had resurfaced…when she had half buried him in snow…to build a snowman…he gasped for breath as he struggled to stop laughing. “What is so funny?” Nicky asked curiously, and Seri shook her head, puzzled also. “She…she…” He couldn’t say it, breathless he just shoved the snowman and the card into their hands so they could see for themselves. Almost calmed down, he made the mistake of catching Vicki’s sparkling eyes…and they both cracked up again. Seri and Nicky could only stare at the two of them, then at each other, shaking their heads in wry amusement.
The floor had started to pile up with Christmas paper and ribbons…as Vicki reached for her last present, Alec’s present, Nicky suddenly looked at his watch and swore. “Hey guys, we gotta go.” “Huh? Why?” Alec asked, suddenly uneasy…he was already nervous, no longer sure it was wise to buy what he did…now, he wasn’t sure if he wanted Vicki to open it with Nicky and Seri here, or without them…Seri rolled her eyes as Nicky grimaced. “We have to go and have breakfast with my parents.” Vicki and Alec exchanged glances. “But I thought they don’t believe in Christmas and all that,” Vicki began, but Nicky just grinned wryly. “No, they don’t, but they DO believe in the fact that it’s a public holiday.” Seeing their puzzled looks, he continued, “Public holiday…must spend with them or else you’re not filial…get the drift?”
****
After the couple had left, Alec made some flimsy excuse about cooking breakfast, and walked over to the kitchen, leaving Vicki staring after him in astonishment. Alec? Offering to cook breakfast without an argument? The question of whether or not it would be edible was not the only query in her mind, to say the least. Then she finally remembered what she had in her hand…it was Alec’s special present for her. She shot him a look, but he was busy avoiding her eyes…hmm, she thought, feeling slightly ill at ease now, why is he acting so weird? Flipping over the card, she read *Merry Christmas Vicki – I had to give you this, because it reminded me too much of you. Your best friend, Alec* Uneasy, yet very curious, she unwrapped the box very carefully, and opened it.
Her breath caught in her throat…her eyes were suddenly shadowed as she stared at it, her mind and heart disturbed. Only he would give her something like this…only he would know her this well, too well…yes, it was very fitting, it represented all that she felt and thought within her…and…all that had haunted her life since she was a child. The irony that was behind it all…this symbol of all that she was, it…it was from a legend, a fairytale, yet it also represented her disbelief in fairytales, in love…she looked up, meeting his dark, sombre eyes as he watched her expressionlessly, waiting for her reaction. “Thank…thank you, Alec. It’s…it’s very beautiful.” Making an effort to control the tears that threaten to fall, she struggled to make light of the situation. “But where is the other half of this? Shouldn’t there be another part to this scene? Or did you run out of money?” Her grin faded as he watched her, his face serious. The strange intensity in his eyes burned into her soul, making her breathless as he said quietly, “I cannot give you the other part of this…it remains to you to find it yourself…when you stop fearing to look for it, for what lies beneath the lantern, you would not need the lantern to see…”
He turned and walked away quietly, leaving her staring after him…with the strangest expression in her eyes. What…what was he saying? He…she…Vicki stared down at the figurine in her hands…of Psyche*, the maiden holding up a tiny lantern as she peered into the darkness…in her fear, in her doubts, in her distrust of true love, she lifts the lantern to see who the person next to her really was, to find…Cupid, the God of Love…and in doing so, she lost him…for many, many days, going through all sorts of trials and tribulations to find him again. What did Alec mean…that she was like her, lifting up the lantern…yet, Vicki herself was too afraid to look, to find what was beneath the light…to SEE who was beneath it…could it be…her breath caught, as she stared at him uneasily, her best friend who was busy mucking around with the frying pan in a desperate attempt to cook. He…no, it couldn’t be…he couldn’t…
****
Alec Su stared out the window, his attention no longer on the computer screen before him. The stars twinkled in the sky, as if mocking him, mocking his inability to tell Vicki the whole truth, to tell her everything…to tell her what he had only just discovered himself…but then, even if he did say it, then what? He knew her too well…that gift from him had touched the elusive inner core of Vicki Zhao Wei…now she was in her room, with the excuse of having to finish off her novel, yet…from the sounds he was hearing, her thoughts were as disturbed as his was. He winced in concern for her keyboard as he dimly heard her banging away at it…what…what had he done? Someone once said to him that a girl and a boy could never be friends…he and Vicki had been determined to prove them wrong all these years, yet now…he wasn’t so sure they had…this…this feeling within him, these turbulent emotions that had so suddenly come to plague his life, and hers…were they really new? Or had it been there all along?
Alec heaved a sigh, clicking the Save button on his screen in exasperation…damn it, he swore internally, I can’t think anymore…I don’t believe this…it’s just Vicki…if only…if only what? If only she didn’t have this fear of love…if only she wasn’t so elusive of everyone and everything that came too close…if only her father hadn’t left her mother when she was four, and she hadn’t watched her mother die bit by bit…would it be all so much different? Would they both have been together a long time ago, instead of being just best friends? He didn’t know…he didn’t know if these strange emotions were but some fleeting illusion, if he was just kidding himself…or if he had been hiding it from himself all these years…he didn’t know anything anymore! Frustrated, he turned on the radio, and collapsed into bed…
Perhaps it was just a coincidence…or maybe, Fate had taken a hand in it…the song struck him straight to the core. His eyes wide, he listened to the words, every single one of them imprinting in his mind…
“Remember when we never needed each other?
The best of friends, like sister and brother
We understood, we’ll never be alone
Those days are gone, now I watch you so much
The night is long, and I need your touch
I don’t know what to say
Never meant to feel this way
Don’t want to be alone tonight
What can I do, to make you mine?
Fallen so hard, so fast, this time
What did I say, what did you do
How did I fall in love with you?
I hear your voice, and I start to tremble
Brings back the child that I resemble
I cannot pretend, that we can still be friends
Don't wanna be, alone tonight
I wanna say this right, and it has to be tonight
Just need you to know
I don't wanna live this life, I don't wanna say goodbye
With you I wanna spend, the rest of my life
What can I do, to make you mine?
Fallen so hard, so fast, this time
Everything's changed, we never knew
How did I fall in love with you?
Alec Su sat up in his bed, his eyes wide as the strains of music flooded his mind, the words repeating within the silence of his soul…the best of friends…how did I fall in love…lord, it’s true, his eyes staring at the photo frame by his bed…at the picture of three young children…at a girl with a pair of round, sparkling brown eyes…I…I’m really in love with my best friend. I love Vicki Zhao…
[Sorry, I was listening to this song last night, so couldn’t resist…it seems sooo fitting to Alec’s situation here…it’s called, “How Did I Fall In Love With You,” from the new Backstreet Boys album, the Black and Blue. Do try to find and listen to it, it’s great!
*Psyche and Cupid is a Greek legend. Briefly, Psyche was so beautiful, she made Venus, the Goddess of Love jealous with all the attention she gets, so Venus sent Cupid, her son, the God of Love to make Psyche fall in love with some horrible monster instead…only Cupid fell in love with Psyche. He took her with him, only she never saw his face…he only met her at night…in her fear and doubt of him, of love itself, she did what she was not supposed to, she lifted the lantern…to find true love…the God of Love. But then, Cupid gets hurt by the oil that dropped from the lantern, and leaves her…and she goes through many trials and tribulations to find him…*GRIN* that’s basically it…for anyone who’s even interested!
She paused in her steps as her eyes fell on the statue on her shelf. Her breath caught…slowly, almost reverently, she reached out to touch the tiny figure’s face…Psyche. Her heart did a strange flutter as his words came back to her, floating through her memories unbidden. “I cannot give you the other part of this…it remains to you to find it yourself…when you stop fearing to look for it, for what lies beneath the lantern, you would not need the lantern to see…” He…he understood her well, too well that it was almost frightening. Oh Alec, Vicki thought sadly to herself, I do want to see, I really do…it’s just that…her eyes glimmered with unshed tears, tears that she had repressed for many, many years…tears that she had sworn she would never cry, not over anyone or anything ever again. I…I’ve been afraid for so long…I don’t know how to stop…
On slightly unsteady feet, she stood on tiptoes, muttering a quiet curse as she had to do a little jump to reach a box on top of her bookshelf. She blinked rapidly, wiping at the wetness on her face a bit awkwardly as she sat on her bed, the old, wooden music box in her lap. She caressed the lid gently with her hand, feeling the coarse grains of the wood under her fingertips. Despite all these years, despite all this time she had spent on learning to be strong, to shut out the world before it got the chance to hurt her…Vicki Zhao still could not forget, still, that deep sense of lost and fear overwhelmed her as she remembered. Fear of being alone again, of being left behind, of having to watch a person walk around like an empty shell…alive, but already dead inside…watching her mother die slowly, bit by bit, right in front of her young, innocent eyes…this gut-wrenching, cold fear still swept over her every time she remembered. No…she didn’t want to see, to love…she didn’t want to become like her mother…she didn’t want to watch love disappear again…she didn't want to lose him, couldn’t lose him, not her one and only friend, the only person she could trust. And she would, she would if she let herself go, if she let herself fall into that trap…why couldn’t things just stay as they were now? She would be content just to have him beside her, always beside her in the same house, just next door…to share all their dreams and problems, all their thoughts and feelings…to grow old together…she didn’t want to lose him, not ever…
******
A scream pierced his uneasy sleep filled with visions, so many visions of her. Alec sat up in his bed quickly, startled out of his wits as there was thud, followed by the sound of a door crashing open. Vicki?!? What the…he struggled to get up, falling over his tangled bedclothes. Struggling to get on his feet, he started for the door. “Vicki? What…” his voice trailed off as his door crashed open and a whirlwind lunged for him. Completely bewildered, he stared down at her, his mind still foggy, his arms automatically moving around her, holding her to him with a natural ease. “What is it?” he asked urgently, “Fire? Burglars? What?!?” “COCKROACH!” Her shrill shriek finally penetrated his mind fog after awhile, and he couldn’t help it…he began to laugh, his whole body shaking as she held onto him for dear life. “It’s not funny!” she protested, hitting him in frustration, “It FLEW at me, damn it! I nearly had a heart attack!”
Alec bit his lip, trying to suppress his laughter as he saw her face, still pale from the surprise attack. “Vicki, it’s just a cockroach…I’m sure it didn’t fly at you on purpose…” he shut up as she glared at him fiercely, still clinging to him despite everything. “I don’t care…get rid of it for me! NOW!” Alec laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation as she pushed him towards the door, Vicki still staying quite a distance behind him. This had happened before, of course, but…“What IS it about you and cockroaches…” “Just go!” she slammed the door behind him quickly, hiding in the safety of his room. “Hey!” he began to protest, but sighed as her voice came through the door. “Tell me when you’ve gotten rid of it!” Shaking his head in resignation, Alec Su smiled wryly as he went to arm himself with a slipper and a can of insecticide…ready for battle.
Vicki sat down on his computer chair, for the first time, strangely uneasy at being in his room. What is the matter with you?!? You’ve only wandered in and out of here countless times for the last few years…but somehow…she jumped as a thud came from her room. Thank goodness, she thought as relief flooded through her. Vicki started to grin wryly to herself, her awkwardness vanishing as her mind wandered off…she knew it was childish, her reaction, but she couldn’t help it…she HATED cockroaches…the sight of them would send shivers down her spine. And that one…it flew at her! Natural instinct had taken over…screaming, she had ran for safety…here she paused, sobering. Into Alec’s arms…she jumped slightly as the door opened.
“The deed…is done,” he announced, and she grinned at him. “My knight in shining armour…” she said wryly, then faltered at his serious expression. “Wha…what?” she asked uneasily. “Umm…did you throw something at the cockroach? Well…” he began awkwardly. Her eyes widened as she remembered…oh lord…she didn’t! “My box…” her voice faded away as she saw what he held in his hand. With trembling fingers, she took it…her silver locket…in two pieces. It had broken along with the box when it had crashed into the wall. “Sorry, Vicki…think you kinda killed it…” His heart started to beat faster as he saw her face drain of blood, her round eyes glimmering. “It’ll be alright, Vicki…it’s just the clasp holding the locket together that’s broken…I…I can get it fixed for you,” he said hurriedly, moving towards her to pull her into his arms. She went into them unresistingly, taking comfort in his embrace. “I can’t believe I did that, I can’t believe I was so stupid…” “Don’t cry…Vicki, it’ll be alright, I promise…please don’t cry…” he pleaded hoarsely, his heart aching with a pain that took his breath away. He couldn’t stand to see her cry…to see those tears on her dear, familiar face…he reached up and wiped the tears away with a gentleness that made her breath caught. Heart fluttering wildly, she stared up into his deep, dark eyes that was filled with an intense emotion as they pierced her soul…
She felt as if she was drowning…there was nothing but his dark, intense eyes that pierced her soul, as if he was reading everything that was her. It…it was suddenly so hard to breathe, to think…a wild surge of emotions flowed through her veins as her heart was suddenly filled with a strange yearning…to let him see, to open up to this one person she trusted the most in the world…the only one she dared to trust. Like a stunned bird, she couldn’t move…she was staring up at his mesmerizing eyes, at his lips that were so close to hers she could feel his warm breath on her skin as they stood together, unmoving. Her round, sparkling eyes were watching his lips as if enchanted, breathlessly…they…they were so close to hers…almost touching. Then…they were. An electric tingling ran down her spine as his lips pressed against hers lightly. Almost automatically her arms twinned around his neck as he groaned softly at the taste of her lips, pulling her closer to claim her mouth again. She closed her eyes as he kissed her deeply, passionately, with an urgency that took her breath away. Her whole body felt weak and trembly with that strange, intense emotion that only he could evoke within her…
Finally he broke away, his breathing hoarse as he tried desperately to control himself, of that desperate yearning within his heart. He…he had kissed Vicki…sure, he had on a number of occasions before, but this time, it was different. This…this kiss had shattered all the illusions between them, that single moment in time meant that he could no longer hide what he had only just realised himself, what he had felt all along…almost frightened of the consequences of his action, he could not look at her, for fear of what he might see in her eyes, of what he might not see there. Yet his arms refused to let go of her, this person he knew better than anyone, this person he knew was afraid of love, yet he loved her with an intensity that stunned himself…
Vicki’s heart was beating frantically as they stood there…what had just happened? That…that kiss…could…could it be that they…confused and bewildered, she didn’t know how to interpret this strange, fluttering within her, this strange mixture of fear and longing…fear of what this might mean, of the inevitable change it would bring to her life, to their lives. She didn’t want him to change, didn’t want to lose her best friend, yet…she had felt something almost akin to regret when he had stopped. Was…was this what love was? She…she didn’t want to fall in love, didn’t want to let her mother’s fate repeat itself in her, yet…this was Alec…and she trusted him with her life, didn’t she? She…she didn’t want it to change, to lose this precious friendship between them, yet…she felt strangely happy, her mind was almost giddy as she stood in his steady embrace. Confused at the conflict within her, she could only look up at him with flushed cheeks, speechless.
He finally met her eyes…her round eyes that were filled with confusion and bewilderedness. Yet, there was no rebuke in them, instead he could feel the apprehension within her. His heart jumped. She…she felt it too, this sudden intensity between them, then maybe, just maybe, he could…his knees felt weak at the look in her eyes. How was it possible for him not to have known sooner, that it had taken him almost twenty years to realise that this need for one another was called love? The fear and hesitancy in her face made his heart ache, he knew her too well, her fear of loving, of letting people in…of getting hurt. Yet surely she knew he would never hurt her, surely he could prove it to her…he could not stand the silence anymore. “Vicki,” his voice hoarse with emotion. “I…” Her heart was in her mouth, what…what was he going to say?
“I…” The sudden ringing made them both jump in shock. Stunned, they pulled away from each other as their hearts beat frantically…it…it was the phone. Numb with shock, Alec could only turn around and pick up the handset, answering it almost absentmindedly. “Who is it?” “Alec, it’s me.” “Who’s me…mum?!?” he said incredulously, then looked at the clock. “Mum, it’s 3am in the morning here!” Then his eyes widened with shock as he remembered…spinning around, he could stare dumbfounded at the empty room. Vicki…oh crap! His mother had the worst timing in the world… “Hmm?” he asked almost absentmindedly. “I said, you aren’t asleep yet, anyway! What’s wrong with you, Alec?” “Oh…nothing, nothing’s wrong,” he said hurriedly, the last thing he needed was his mother finding out that…that…he collapsed onto his bed with a sigh, resting his weary head on the pillow. His mind was too bemused to pay much attention to his mother’s idle chatting. His parents lived in LA, and his mother had the tendency to ring up whenever she felt like it, usually some time during the early mornings for him, but still…did what just happened, really happen? He still could not believe it himself, that he and Vicki had…and what was supposed to happen from now on? Alec groaned to himself in frustration…why on earth did his mother have to ring just now? He…he needed to talk to Vicki, to sort this out, yet…he was almost afraid to, afraid of what it might bring.
“It’s Vicki, isn’t it?” “Wha...what?!?” Alec sat up, shocked as his mother’s voice finally penetrated his mind fog. “There’s something going on between you and Vicki, isn’t there?” she guessed cannily, her voice filled with delight as she took her son’s stunned silence as affirmation. “Finally! Oh my goodness, when did it start? Why didn’t you tell me? James, James!” calling for her husband. The two had longed for ages for something like this to happen, for they had known Vicki since she was young, and loved her like a daughter. With the strange wisdom that happily married couples often possess, they had seen instinctively what the two young ones had been blind to. “Guess what, dear, Alec and Vicki has finally…” “Mum! There…there’s nothing going on…of course not,” he denied quickly, his voice sounding fake even to himself as he strived to calm his pounding heart. How the heck had she guessed…why oh why did he have to be surrounded by devious women? The last thing he needed was his mother muddling with this…as if life wasn’t confusing enough as it was right now… “Come on dear, I don’t believe that…tell me the truth. Or I’ll ring Vicki…” “Mother! Don’t you dare!” He almost shouted in the phone, his voice horrified. Dimly he could hear her laughing. “Well then, tell me.” Alec sighed as he gave up. “I’ll tell you when there’s something I can tell, OK?” “No, we want to hear all the details right now…” Alec groaned as his eager parents droned on and on in the phone, already planning a wedding for the relationship he was only just beginning to dream about…with the girl he had loved all his life, but never knew truly till a few days ago. Truly, when change comes, he thought almost ruefully, it comes in a rush…
******
Finally escaping the clutches of his parents with the vaguest responses possible, Alec felt drained as he walked to the kitchen for a drink of water. His heart stopped as he saw her, lying beneath the Christmas tree, her gentle, beautiful face illuminated by the multicoloured fairy lights. As…as if, she was some kind of angel, he thought, breathlessly. If he had not known the truth already, this would have revealed it to him…this sudden surge of emotion that rocked his mind. He loved her…this precious, gentle angel beneath the fairy lights…this fragile, and lonely girl who had always feared being alone, but had been even more frightened of letting someone close. But he…he won’t let her stay thus forever, he won’t let her be alone, won’t let her be frightened forever. A fierce longing wrenched at his heart to hold her, to wipe away that ancient fear that haunted her so...suddenly, he knew he had to speak, to tell her the truth that he could no longer hide from. “Hi there,” he said lightly, trying to sound casual. “May I join you?”
Vicki looked at him rather apprehensively, her round eyes sparkling with the multicoloured lights, but she nodded. Her heart which had calmed down somewhat started to pound rapidly again as he laid down beside her beneath the Christmas tree. She stared unseeingly up into branches lit up with many colours, her mind whirling at his presence next to her. This…this strange unfamiliarity between them…it was as if suddenly, he was a complete stranger. She was unnerved by his presence, by the faint warmth that flowed from his arm that was next to hers, yet she felt comforted at the same time. This…this strange confusion, this uncertainty, was this love? This unfamiliar tension between them, that…that kiss…her face flushed as her body felt weak with the memory. Could she…could they…
“Vicki.” Just her name, but her heart jumped at the sound of his voice next to ear, at what she heard within it. Sitting up on one elbow, he looked down on her, his eyes filled with an intensity that made her heart flutter. His hand felt so warm, so safe as he took one of hers, entwining their fingers. She could not deny the truth she saw so clearly in his eyes, nor the rush of emotions within her, yet…she could not let go of the shadow the past had cast on her life. She…she longed to believe, to believe in the beautiful dream his eyes were so clearly offering… “Alec,” she whispered hoarsely, her eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she admitted the truth to him, the only one who understood. “I’m scared.” Scared of letting go of the fear, scared of loving…scared of losing you…her eyes spoke silently. Alec caught his breath, his heart ached for her, for the insecurity that haunted her, for the courage it took for her to admit it…her hand felt so right in his, in this firm grip he never wanted to let go.
“I…I’m scared too,” he admitted, his eyes soft as he looked into hers. He feared losing her too, feared of what this step might bring to their lives…but it had to be taken, they could not stand at this brink of change forever. “But we…we can try together, Vicki. Give me…give us this one chance?” I will never hurt you…never ever hurt you…let me banish that fear from your life…let me make you believe in love again…she could read the unspoken words in his mind as clearly as if he had said them out loud. A warm, joyous feeling flowed within her, yet she couldn’t banish the last little worry from her mind. “But…but what if…I can’t…forget, Alec?” she asked timidly, her eyes filled with pain and sorrow. “What if I can’t…” “Then I will wait for you forever.” The simplicity of his words took her breath away. “I won’t leave you alone, Vicki, I’ll never leave you, no matter what. You know that. Trust me. Believe in me.”
His heart was in his mouth as he watched her anxiously for her response. Please, please Vicki, give me this chance…this one chance to show you that love doesn’t always go away…his heart stopped as she pulled her hand away from his grasp. “Vic..Vicki?” he stammered, his voice filled with pain, then widened as she gave him a tiny smile, her eyes sparkling with something almost akin to mischief as she crooked her little finger at him. “Pinky swear?” His heart started beating again as he laughed weakly in relief. He reached out and grasped her little finger with his, sealing the promise between them. He settled down back next to her, the two of them silently watching the almost magical dance of fairy lights above them.
“I…I do trust you, Alec.” Her soft whisper made him look at her in surprise. “I just need a little time, that’s all. I do believe in you…” “I know,” he said quietly, giving her a serious look. “And I will always be here for you, waiting for you, no matter what happens.” Tentatively, they smiled at each other as the fairy lights sparkled on, unnoticed…
