EVERYTHING FOR LOVE

[avic]

HELLO THIS IS MY FIRST FANFIC.....


HOPE YOU LIKE IT!!!^^



Fan Fiction

§¤§¤§ Everything for Love §¤§¤§


Forewords

~*~*~*~ELLA~*~*~*~
At quite a distance, I can really see who the girl seating next to Chun Wu is on a bench in the village park where we live in. I suddenly stopped pedaling. In my anger, I took off my baseball cap and threw it at in the small basket in front of my bike.

My best friend, Chun, had a really big crush on Angela Zhang since she and her family moved into our village. He just can’t make moves to win her because he knows she already has a boyfriend. According to guys, she is really pretty and sophisticated, which I don’t feel sorry I can’t really see. I find it unfortunate that almost all our male neighbors drooled over her. I mean, duh? What did they see in her? Boobies? NO. Curves? I don’t really think so. Brains? Definitely! NOT! If you’re gonna ask me, well, she acts as a goddess and is a real snob. Almost every single girl in our village hated that woman for her extremely dreadful attitude, even me and my cousins, Hebe and Selina.

I watched as Angela laughed softly as she patted Chun’s shoulder. It seemed very obvious with that hideous look in Chun’s face that he is enjoying every moment of it. I rolled my eyes and imitated the way the hateful swank laughed intolerably. Then I twitched my lips in pure disgust. Ughh!

Fortunately, so I say, even though that Chun is a playboy, he still has virtues. It’s not like him to snake some girl no matter how much he likes her. He knew very well that the girl is currently with Danson Tang, and the two were together for almost a year now. My cousin Selina knew it well because she has a huge crush on Danson. Well, that’s about it.

I had accepted that fact that she may be prettier than me, and that no matter how terrible her attitude is, no guy can actually see it. OBVIOUSLY, no exception, not even Chun. But what can I do? I have no right to get mad at my best friend for liking the girl I hate the most. After all, I’m just a close friend. In fact, we’ve been friends since kindergarten. He lives next door to my house. For him, I am just a friend and probably, that wouldn’t change forever. We shared our innermost secrets but I have this one secret I can’t evidently tell.

Yes, I love him more than just a friend. I loved him so much like a pathetic fool. I love him but he never knew, for I can never tell him how I feel. Sounds stupid to you, huh? Yes, but I knew him a lot to gamble my feelings for him. I could never be his type. He likes girls like Angela, and I am no Angela duplicate. I have dark short hair and am boyish. I wear sweater, jeans, and tennis shoes. I have never worn 3-inch high heels in my life. I love playing tennis, soccer, baseball and basketball, things which Chun and I share the same interests. Nevertheless, he only sees me as a friend—no, scratch that—his BEST friend.

But does that make any difference at all?

*********************************************************

Devonaire_Fallus presents:

Everything for Love

starring:

Main characters:
Ella Chen
Chun Wu
Hebe Tian
Jiro Wang

Supports:
Angela Zhang
Selina Ren
Danson Tang
Calvin Chen
*others to be discovered as the story continues...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Okay you guys! This is my FIRST fanfic… and I have a feeling you may say I already am a terrible writer. Well, this is only the beginning… who knows? Maybe I’ll get to impress you miraculously… hahaha… nothing’s impossible if you just believe. So I’ll be really happy for your comments, criticisms, and reactions, whatsoever. I promise I’ll appreciate them the best I can and improve my writing, well, somehow. I guess, that’ll be all for now! Hope you will support my fanfic! i'll be updating my first chap.. so see ya!^^

Warning: Language... PG-13^^

[avic]

this the first chap....
hope you like it...^^


§¤§¤§ Everything for Love §¤§¤§
by Devonaire_Fallus


Chapter 1
I'm No Tomboy!


Ella held into the handle tight when she saw Angela’s hand on Chun’s leg. She can’t actually believe how that swank can flirt with other guys like as if she doesn’t have a boyfriend. She wanted to wring the low life’s neck and skin her alive. She sighed harshly and continued riding her bike until she reached them. Angela almost jumped when Ella didn’t stop the bike and bumped the bench where the two were seated.
‘Success!’ she cheered in her mind.

“You!” Angela snapped at her. She pointed her finger at Ella.

“You, too!” Ella pointed back at her with her eyes wide.

“Ella?” Chun garbled. In her own understanding, she knew Chun wanted her to stop and she didn’t like that.

“Chun?” She mimicked the tone of his voice, and then covered her mouth, pretending to be shocked.

“Oops! By the way, I think there’s something wrong with the brake.” She looked at Angela, who looked really d**n mad. “I’m really sorry, Angela. You’re still alive, so there’s no need for you to freak out like that,” she said mockingly.

“Ella,” Chun said her name with the same tone again.

She just looked at him. “Listen, Chun, I was really looking for you, didn’t you said you’d help me finish the plate for my project?” Ella and Chun are Architecture students and were studying in the same school. It has been a routine for them to help out each other every time the other has a project and needs an assistant.

Ella watched as dismay clouded Chun’s face. That means the guy has to stop his “flirting game” with his crush for a while.

“Well, I guess I gotta go, Chun. See you,” Angela said before flashing him a smile. She raised a brow on Ella before she flipped her hair like she was a shampoo endorser and walked away like a ramp model in her miniskirt.

For the second time that day, Ella twitched her lips in disgust. She got off her bike and let her bike on the grass. “I can’t believe her. And I can’t believe you too, Chun,” she told him. She sat on the bench and he sat next to her. He stared at her as if she did something wrong.

“How can you flirt with a girl who already has a boyfriend? This isn’t the first time I saw you two flirting with each other. Reality check, Mr. Wu, that girl already has a boyfriend, his name is Danson Tang and in fact, one of the most popular and cutest guys in our university remember? I thought you don’t like snaking girls who already have boyfriends? What happened to your “virtues”? Are those for real, huh?” she looked at him exasperatedly.

“It’s not like I’m pursuing her or something. I was just being friendly,” Chun defended.

“Friendly? Ha! That’s why you’re so happy with her hands on your legs, is that it?”

“Watch your mouth, Ella.”

She just looked at him with her you-are-pathetic look.

“Well, why are you in such a wrong timing?” he asked her suddenly.

“I totally did you a favor, keeping you away from ‘temptations’? Besides, that plate we are going to do is really hard. If we don’t start by now, we wouldn’t finish it in time. Whenever you’re the one who needs my help, you even wake me up in the middle of the night just to help, but you…” she stopped when she saw him not paying attention to what she was saying. The jerk is actually daydreaming. She sighed sadly.

“What exactly do you like about her?” that was the very first time she asked him that question. They barely talk about Angela because she hates her as a ‘topic’.

“About who?” Chun asked.

“Who else?”

“Angela? Well… it’s a guy thing.”

“Do you love her?” She’s not as innocent as a first-grader to not understand what he meant by that. But she did not know whether to feel relieved or disgusted.

Chun didn’t answer. ‘Silence means yes…’ Ella felt really heavy inside.

“Angela, someday, you’re gonna be mine,” he whispered dreamily as if she was not there, a naughty smile playing on his lips. She stared at him with twitching lips. Chun suddenly looked at her and caught her with her sour expression. “Are you jealous, Ella?”

“What?!” she exclaimed.

“Well, I figured you get pissed off whenever we talk about Angela. Do you have a crush on me?”

“Stop saying such insanity, Chun,” she told him with gritted teeth. She swatted his back.

“Ouch!” he said almost laughing. “Why do you have to keep it a secret even to me? I won’t shun you away even if you tell me you’re a lesbian.”

She gave him death glares. He just said she is a lesbian. Even her parents think of her that way. She’s good at sports, especially basketball. She even played one-on-one with Chun and beat him a couple of times. She knew she was boyish, but she is really a girl in heart.

“I am no tomboy!” she exclaimed.

Chun looked at her from head to toe. She is wearing a blue T-shirt and denim jeans. “Where’s your cap?”

“It’s in my bike, why?” she looked at Chun dumbly as he laughed as hard as ever.

She slapped him on the shoulder.

“If…if you’re not a tomboy, then why don’t you still have any boyfriends?”

“Why? Because I’m only nineteen, and I’m not really into a hurry when in comes to love. I want to finish my studies first then graduate happily.”

“I don’t even know if you have a crush!” She looked away.
‘If he only knew he is the answer to his own question.’ She actually started liking him since she was thirteen and her love for him grew and grew everyday. “Hmmm… let’s see… this is the hundredth time you asked me that question, and this will be the hundredth time I won’t answer it.”

“I don’t believe you… it’s impossible you don’t like anyone yet,” he told her.

“Maybe, you REALLY are a tomboy… and you like Angela that’s why you hate it when I’m WITH her…” he teased.

“What did you just said, Chun Wu?!” she shouted at him. Now, she’s really MAD.

“Hey, hey! I was only kidding! Please spare me!”

“Do you want me to kill you, as in this instant? Wait, I still need your help with the plate… Ok then, I’ll spare you,” she said calming down.

Chun sighed. “What is it, Chun?”

“Can’t you really tell me the person you like?” Chun asked her. ‘Yes, I can’t tell you… because that person is you. Maybe I should think of someone else… I have to… so you will stop pestering me about this thing.’ She thought for a while then it hit her.

“Ok then,” she muttered.

“So, who is it?” Chun asked excitedly with a smile on his face.

“Danson,” she said after a while.

“Huh?” she saw his smile disappeared from his lips.

“I like Danson Tang Yu Zhe.”

*******************************************

How's the first chap??? Feel free to leave comments!!! Thanks a lot! (^^)v

[Feelingerang Fuuko [Keisi]]

wow! nice chappie! keep it up girl! anyways, is this also posted in winglin? i'm a winglin lurker hahahaha

[lunaris]

wah. baket nag disappear ang smile sa lips nia? ano ang role ni danson dito? wahahhahha.. i smell rivalry... nyahhahaha

[avic]

yes I already completed it....
it is posted in winglin...

[avic]

ok!!! this is the chap. 2
hope you like it

Chapter 2
Plotting Against the Queen of Swanks:


It’s been a week since Ella ‘confessed’ to Chun that she likes Danson. She felt relieved, in a way, that Chun believed her when he told him who the person she likes is. He stopped asking her about it since then. She reasoned out that the reason why she hated Angela a lot is because she is the girlfriend of Danson, which pretty makes the two of them rivals. She expected that Chun wouldn’t really like her answer. Naturally, he did not like Danson because he is also his rival. At least Chun would stop asking her about her sexual preference anymore. Ella also felt guilty at the same time, but she guessed had no better choice.
=======================================================

“What?” Hebe exclaimed when she heard what her friend, GuiGui, told at the other line of the phone. Mrs. Tian looked at her daughter in surprise. Beside her was George, her insolent younger brother. He looked at her with a meaningful look before shaking his head in a father-like way.

“I’m sorry, Hebe. The bar, Rock Craze Bar, offered a very huge talent fee. We have no reason to say ‘no’ to this big offer,” GuiGui told her apologetically. She was the drummer of their all-female band, The Celestials, while Hebe was the vocalist and lead guitarist. They have been playing in bars and cafes for almost five months now, and she had gotten really close with GuiGui and Rainie, the group’s back-up vocalist and bass guitarist. The three of them met because of George. Rainie is a cousin of one of George’s friends, and GuiGui is her close friend. That time, the two were finding someone to set as their vocalist for their band. She joined the group because she liked singing very much; she even composed brilliant songs for the band. “But… I’ll think about it first, GuiGui, I’ll call you when I make up my mind,” she said as she hung up.

‘Of all the bars and cafes in this world… why the hell is it the Rock Craze Bar?’ Hebe asked herself… somehow, she never wanted to think about that place again. ‘I don’t want to go to that place again! It’ll just remind me of him!’

Who is this ‘him’ she is talking about?

==========================================================

“Omigosh, Hebe, look at the pregnant dog!” Selina whispered her when they spotted Angela. They suddenly stopped when they saw her coming. Unfortunately, she lived just a few houses away from theirs. She then remembered how she and her two cousins beat the swank up one time.

Just a couple of months ago, Angela said some pretty harsh words on them that made them blow their tops off. She pulled Angela’s hair like a weed, Selina slapped the girl's face really hard and Ella gave the swank a black eye. They were taken into custody because of that incident. Honestly, she felt quite happy because she had given the girl a piece of her mind. Still, Angela’s swollen scalp, bruises and black eye could never be enough for someone as evil as she was.

“What do you think should we do, Heb?” Selina whispered to her again. “A: Let’s both raise her a brow or B: Let’s pull her hair again?”

She clenched her fist. It had been two years since she violently laid her hands on Angela and yet she still felt the same anger over her. “C: Let’s just ignore her as if she never existed,” she replied. That’s because her father told her that if she ever pick another fight with Angela, she’ll be grounded for a month. Selina looked at her intently. She can’t believe what Hebe just said. “Is that you, Hebe Tian?”

Hebe was about to say something when she saw what Angela just did. The swank grinned mockingly at them and formed a letter “L” with her fingers. When Angela mouthed the word “losers,” she instantly felt murderous. She found herself in front of the woman and giving her death glares. The hateful woman appeared unaffected and raised her an eyebrow.

“What the hell is wrong you?” she told Angela fiercely.

“Nothing. Maybe you’re the one who’s got a problem because you’re blocking my way,” the swank told her.

Hebe instantly felt herself reached the boiling point. “The hell with you, we’re not doing you anything wrong, but you kept on pestering us with your dirty tricks. I think you have issues, big psychological issues. I think you need a shrink to get out of your psychopathic condition.”

“What’s the matter? You’re affected? If you aren’t a loser, why do you have to overreact? I think you are just guilty,” Angela spat back at her and rolled her eyes.

“So you think you’re a winner, huh?” Hebe confronted her.

“Of course. I’m happy. I have everything. I have a love life… which you and your wretched cousins don’t have. You people are just…pathetic.”

She gritted her teeth. If only she hadn’t promise her dad she won’t pick a fight with this scrooge anymore. “pregnant dog,” she muttered.

“Will you get out of my way? You’re wasting my time,” Angela said sternly.

“Sucks to be you then,” Hebe fought back.

“Will you get out of this world? You don’t belong here you insolent hateful swank!” Selina said insultingly.

Angela glared at Selina. “I think it’s you who don’t belong in this world, Ms. Barbie girl.” She was pertaining to Selina’s hobby of collecting Barbie dolls and all other cute girlie stuff.

Selina’s jaw dropped. She hated it when people tease her about her hobby. Hebe thought her cousin was about to erupt but she felt relieved when Selina just took her hand and led her away from Angela. “I hate you! Go away!”

“Ditto,” Angela told them sneeringly.

She growled in anger. “Swank!”
“God! How I hate her so much!” it was Selina again.

“We need to do something, Selina. We have to teach that wicked girl a lesson. We have to think of a way to avenge her, but not physically.” She was really serious with what she said.

“You know what? That’s what I thought too!” Selina agreed.
“She thinks she’s perfect. We’ll ruin her into pieces.”

“But how can we do that?”
Selina was about to talk again when they heard Ella calling them.

=========================================================

Ella stopped her bike in the sidewalk and went to her cousins. The two looked really mad and were looking at Angela as if they were going to skin her alive.
“What happened here?” She knew that was a not-so-good encounter.

“That swank just made fun of us,” Selina told her angrily. “She’s lucky I just had my manicure, or else I would have torn off her face.”

Hebe just rolled her eyes as Ella smiled in amusement.

“What really happened here? Why does it look as if Sel is angrier at Angela that you do Hebe?” she asked curiously.

If there is someone in this world who should hate Angela to the core, it is not her for Chun or Selina for Danson, it should be Hebe. Angela ruined Hebe’s relationship with her boy friend in high school. Hebe caught her ex-boyfriend, Jiro Wang, and Angela making out in his condominium unit. Jiro was her first love and boyfriend and ending her relationship with him in such a way really hurt like hell.

“Come on, Ella,” Hebe said desolately. “Let’s not talk about it anymore…” She then told her exactly what happened with the encounter.

Ella looked at her cousins and sighed. “You guys, you shouldn’t have done that, Selina. You should’ve just ignored her remarks so she would look stupid talking to herself. Even though we know how much a retard she is, we should learn how to control our anger so we will not look as if we are the bad guys—I mean girls.”

“Why not? She insulted me!” Selina retorted. “Actually, US.”
“And you, Ella Chen Jia Hua, why are you acting like a righteous saint? You were the one who gave her a black eye back then.”

Ella just looked at her cousins and sighed again. They we’re all nineteen years old. Hebe was outspoken and sometimes rude. She was impulsive and hot-tempered, too. She became like that after her break up with her ex-boyfriend. She started to act ardently just after she found out Jiro cheated on her. Similarly, Selina freaked out easily. She is the most childish. While she, on the other hand, is the most patient. Even if she is angered, she still manages to think clearly. Even though they were all different, they were really close, but Selina and Hebe were closer. The two were first cousins. She was just their second cousin, and besides, Selina’s house is just a stone throw from Hebe’s. She lived in the other part of the village. The two also share the same interests—music. Well, she also liked music a lot… but she excelled better in sports, especially basketball and soccer. Actually, she made up the girl’s basketball and soccer team in their university. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Hebe muttered something.

“We have to do something. We have to avenge.”

“What did you just said?”

“Would you like to join forces with us? Do you have any wonderful suggestions that might help us bring down the Queen of Swanks?” Ella already knew who Hebe was talking about.

“You want to go and attack Angela again? Didn’t we promise our parents we wouldn’t pick a fight with her anymore?” she asked Hebe seriously.

“No. We wouldn’t hurt her physically. Just before you arrived, Selina and I had actually thought of a good way to get even,” Hebe informed her.

“You mean you’ll plot against her?”

“Exactly,” Selina said. “We’ll do something that will hurt her terribly, emotionally, just like what she did to us.”

“To YOU? Did she ever do something to you, Sel?” she asked incredulously.

“Oh, yes. She stole someone from me. Actually, she snatched all my crushes, including Danson!” Selina said with gritted teeth.

“Whoa, looks like you’re really into this!”

“That’s right! So, Ella, are you in?”

“You two are crazy. You want to be as evil as what that swank is?”

“She deserves it. And besides, we’ll do this not just for revenge. We also want to teach her a lesson to realize her mistakes. And stop taking other people for granted,” Hebe reasoned out.

She had a point. After everything that Angela did to Hebe, she can fully understand how her cousin feels. Somehow, it made her want to help too. “You guys don’t even know what to do yet,” she said crossing her arms.

The two became silent. She stretched her arms and acted to be riding her bike again. “Maybe I can contribute a little help for the sake of our ‘cousinhood’. But please make the scheme a little less evil, you know, karma?”

They stopped her hastily. “I have an idea,” Hebe finally said.

“What is it?” Selina and Ella asked curiously.

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

“Meaning?”

“I will also ruin her relationship with Danson just like what she did to mine. I will make her feel what is it like to be cheated on.” Hebe told them.

“Sounds okay to me. But exactly how will we do that?” Selina smiled gradually. She has a benefit from Hebe’s suggestion. She’ll be totally happy once Danson is single again.

Hebe remained silent. They knew she was indulging in deep thoughts. Ella thought that Hebe had finally cooled her head down and that she can finally convince her the whole plan is a terrible idea. She sighed and waited for her cousin’s answer.

Somewhere in her head, she knew the whole thing is going to be a complete disaster.

========================================================

This chapter is not so good, I guess. Hmm… but well, I won’t let you guys down. I’m cooking something really cool, but I won’t tell you yet. Just wait and see!^^

Thanks again to my first batch of supporters! Love y’all!!!

[Feelingerang Mo Mo [chunina]]

So nakakakilig! Toodles! :] but.. Where's the continuation? ;D

[avic]

Chapter 3
Hebe's Bitter Memories

“Uhhh... Hebe, Have you thought about that offer yet?” this time, it was Rainie who was convincing her on the phone.

“Yeah. I’ve thought about it the whole night, Rainie,” Hebe replied.

“So, what’s it gonna be?”

“I’d like to say no,” Hebe said finally.

“But, why? Is it because the owner of that bar, Juno Wang, is the brother of your ex-boyfriend? So what if Jiro Wang’s band happened to regularly play in that bar too? ” Rainie asked her.

“Well, if you guys wanted to play in that bar so much, you didn’t even asked my opinion first before accepting the offer, then FINE. I won’t stop you. But don’t expect me to hang out with you guys anymore,” she told her friend sternly.

“Come on, Hebe, Please understand. You know how much we really need money right now. I have a thesis, and GuiGui needs money to pay for her sister’s school fees. You don’t really have a problem because even if you aren’t rich, you don’t have to work your ass off just like us. So when the owner offered us a big talent, we didn’t hesitate and accepted it,” Rainie explained to her.

Rainie was actually right. Since her father is a construction engineer and surveyor of different major construction companies in the country, she was having a pretty nice life and it was evident. She didn’t join their band because of money, but because she loved music a lot.

“Are you trying to nail my conscience?” She snorted.

“Please, Hebe. It’s just work. Also, why are you bothered about possibly seeing Jiro again? As if you never see each other in school. Why do you have to avoid him? It’s been like two years already. Don’t tell me you’re still affected with your break up… you must still be in love with—“

“Shut up or I will leave the group.”

Rainie suddenly became silent.

Hebe exhaled loudly.

“Let’s talk again tomorrow, Rainie. I’m tired already, I need some sleep.”

When she heard her friend say yes, she hung up the phone and it fell on the ground with a loud thud. She didn’t bother picking it up, instead she walked hastily to her room and locked herself up.

“Honey, you broke the phone,” she heard her mom said as she stormed off.

“As if this is the first time she broke it,” she heard George commented.

She threw herself in bed and stared at the ceiling, then punched her pillow in anger and growled loudly. She was not in love with Jiro Wang anymore. In fact, she hated him. She threw the book sitting on her bed at the door. When she heard a knock, she stopped venting her anger.

“Honey, are you okay in there?” It was her mom.

“Yes, mom, I’m fine, I just killed a thingyroach flying around in my room,” she lied trying to calm herself before she completely make her room a mess.

“Oh, is that so? Well then, sweet dreams, honey,” her mom said before she left.

‘There’s no way in hell I’m still in love with that jerk.’ She thought to herself.
‘My band mates would never understand why I hate him so much. The hurt I suffered, they never knew. Only Ella and Selina know the whole story, so they were the only ones who completely understand me and sympathize with me.’

After all, it’s been two years. So fast. Yet it felt like everything just happened yesterday.
It’s not her pride she was thinking about. She just can’t take the fact that they’re going to meet again. They were schoolmates. That was their only proximity. But the university was huge enough to avoid him. A bar was just a room. She will feel and see his presence anywhere she goes. She could not stand being near him anymore. She did not even want to see his face or hear his voice. She did not want to remember how they met and fell in love in that place and how he broke her heart six months after.

She felt hot tears trickle down her cheek as she painfully remembered how she hopelessly lost her first love…

=======================================================

Two years ago.

Hebe was only seventeen that time, still a minor, but she loved hanging out with her cousins and barhopping. Because she dresses almost like her college cousins, she can fool people that she’s actually a college student herself.

One night, her cousins invited her to a bar called Rock Craze. They say a cool band’s was about to perform and the vocalist was strikingly gorgeous. He was a main attraction and one of the reasons why that bar is a bell-ringer. They went excitedly. The band, Rock Crazy, was performing and she saw him there. Jiro was the lead vocalist. She was instantly attracted to him as a hunky, handsome and gorgeous singer. His looks, voice and attitude on the stage were collectively attractive. That moment, Hebe was so sure she had met the guy of her dreams.

Since then, she came to that bar regularly. She had no intention to pursue or woo him. She just wanted to see him and hear him sing. She felt really happy every time he glances at her and flashes her a smile. Little did she know that she will actually get to know him personally one day…

The Rock Crazy band just finished performing their last song when Jiro suddenly stood up and asked for audience participation. He said he wanted to have a duet. To Hebe’s horror, her cousins started chanting her name loudly, pointing at her. He fetched her from her table. She had no choice but to accept. She never expected to sing a duet with her dream guy, she actually felt really nervous. They sang “Only Have Feelings for You.” It was one of her favorite songs and she did not have a hard time keeping up with the lyrics. She sang at his very cue. It was as if they rehearsed the song together. They heard the thunderous clap of the audience.

After their song number, Aldus complimented her. Then he requested a solo number from her. Once again, she had to accept. She borrowed his guitar and sang “Thank You for Your Gentleness” while strumming.

While she was singing the song, he was staring at her as if she’s the only person in the room. The audience gave a very big round of applause. He also clapped while joining her onstage. Then they met formally that and started going out.

Two months later, they were on. Since then, she had free entrance fee every time she comes at the bar. Juno Wang, the owner of the bar is actually her boyfriend’s elder brother. He was a sweet and caring boyfriend. He used to call her “babe” [AN: Sounds cheesy!^^] and she kinda liked it.

She kept the relationship a secret from her parents. She was still in high school that time, her parents never allowed her to date. Jiro was twenty and was living in his own condominium unit. He came from a wealthy family but she was not interested with his wealth but in his love. They shared six sweet months together, until a pregnant dog set them apart.

Angela Zhang. The pregnant dog. She was surprised to see her there, but then she learned that Angela was one of Juno’s friends and was invited to visit the bar. She was the one responsible for making Hebe’s first love forgettable. She can never believe that the pregnant dog succeed in ruining her relationship. Hebe thought Jiro loved her. He said he loved her so much. She was confident that nothing will tear the two of them apart, but she was wrong.

[Flashback]

“Watch out, Hebe. Look after your boyfriend, or else you’d be surprised he’s no longer by your side,” Angela warned her.

[End of Flashback]

Those were the exact words Angela told her. She never thought it would actually happen. She clearly remembered that time when she went to Jiro’s pad because he didn’t come to her house when she was about to let him meet her parents. She was so worried that she couldn’t contact him. She knocked and called his name but he never responded. She then found out the door was unlocked and entered his pad, and what she saw isn’t really unbelievable.

Hebe found Jiro making out with a woman of the couch. He was lying on the couch while the woman straddled on him hugging him tightly. He was groaning as if he was enjoying it a lot. When she studied the woman’s face she couldn’t really believe it. It was Angela. She cried and ran away. The next day she saw him waiting for her outside the school.

[Flashback]

“Hi, babe,” he greeted her smiling. There was no sign of guilt over his face. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek but she slapped him and he was surprised. “Why?”

“You still have the guts to show yourself to me now?” she told him angrily.

He was stunned. “Was it about last night? Do you really have to slap me just because of that, Heb?” He looked hurt. “I’m sorry if I wasn’t able to meet your parents. I wasn’t able to call you because my battery is low. I tried calling up your house but the line was busy, I forgot to tell you that it was my band’s anniversary yesterday. I couldn’t say no when they told me we will be cele—“

“Shut up!” she yelled, cutting him off. “You don’t have to make a story just to keep me in the dark, Jiro. I know it already, that you are cheating on me.”

She saw uncertainty in his face. “Hebe?”

“Did you enjoy it with Angela last night?” she asked him, gritting her teeth. She saw color left his face. “I guess you enjoyed it with her on the couch. Am I right, or am I not wrong?”

Jiro didn’t spoke a word.

“You and Angela deserve to be together. A player and a pregnant dog, what a nice combo,” she said sarcastically. She tried to turn around but he stopped her. “Let go of me.”

“Hebe, get in the car. We need to talk.”

She tried to break free. “I’m sorry, Jiro, but I don’t have time to listen to your lies anymore. I don’t ever want to see your face again, nor talk to you. Just leave me alone!” she shouted at his face.

Jiro didn’t let go of her. “Please get in the car, Hebe. This is not a convenient place to talk about this.”

“There is nothing to talk about. I saw it with my own eyes. Let go off me, you cheat!”

This time she sensed frustration is his eyes. “Don’t you trust me, Hebe? Don’t you want to listen to my explanation?”

She stared at him with contempt. “I don’t trust you, and I can’t continue loving someone I don’t even trust. I don’t want to love a player like you. It’s over between us, Jiro.” Upon hearing those words from her, he let her go. He looked at her sadly as he walked slowly to where he had parked his car, and then he drove off.

[End of flashback]

The next day, Jiro went to her house. She was surprised to see him waiting for her. But she like what she said yesterday, she told him she never wanted to see him again. Hebe never saw him since then, she also stopped coming to the bar.

She just saw him again in college; they were in the same university. She never wanted to enroll there in the first place, but her mother insisted. He is from a different building, so she doesn’t see him too often. Even if they meet in the hallway, they never talked to each other.

Since then, Hebe became unfriendly with guys. In fact, she became unfriendly to almost everyone. She found it hard to trust people anymore. Every time somebody makes an attempt to woo her, she keep telling herself that guys are all players. She even decided to learn taekwondo to boost her strong personality. Honestly, she never understood why she became temperamental after the break up.

So when she heard from her band mates that they accepted the offer to perform in Jiro Wang’s brother’s bar, she suddenly felt murderous.

Two years did not erase her fury against him.

[avic]

Chapter 4
The Drunken Kiss


“Hey, Ella!” she heard Calvin Chen greeted her.

She just nodded at him. Chun and his friends were drinking in his yard.

“Come on, Ella, let’s drink!” Chun invited her, offering her a bottle of beer. Looking at him, she knew he was slightly drunk already.

“You know very well, that I don’t like drinking, Chun Wu. It’s a good thing Auntie Wu allowed you to drink alcohol,” she told him sarcastically.

Calvin stood up and offered her his chair. She thanked him and watched as he went to sit on a chair opposite Chun.

“How old do you think I am? Sweet sixteen? I’m already twenty-one. It’s legal for me to get drunk. Besides, mom won’t be here tonight, she’ll be staying in my aunt’s. She won’t be coming home tonight so it’s okay for me to drink as I pleased.”

Chun and his mom were the only ones living in their house because his dad is an electrical engineer in London. Ella snorted. She knew very well that Chun’s alcohol toleration is quite low. “Really? Judging by your alcohol tolerance, just half a bottle more and you’d certainly be drunk.”

Chun’s friends laughed. “I’m not drunk yet,” he defended.

“You want some beer, Ella,” Calvin offered her.
“Thanks, Cal, but I don’t like drinking,” she declined again. She turned to face Chun. “Anyways, congratulations to you, Chun!”

She knew the reason why they were having that celebration is because Chun had won the Arkistry competition in their school. “Arkistry” is their school’s architectural technique competition.

“Well, no sweat.” Chun smirked and crossed his arms.

“Don’t be so full of yourself!” Ella said giving his face a mild slap.

He pinched her nose and smiled at her, then he cupped her face and stared at her. “Why do you seem to look gorgeous today, El?”

She gritted her teeth. “Why do you only seem to notice it just whenever you are drunk?” she told him while removing his hands off her face.

Chun’s friend laughed again. They were all laughing and talking the whole while. She knew Chun’s friends well enough to feel part of the group, but she suddenly felt silent when the guys started to talk about Angela.

“Hey Chun, when are you going to start your moves on that Angela? You’ve been fantasizing about her for almost two years now,” Show asked.

“You bet!” Chris, another friend of Chun, said laughing.

She’s used to these guys boys' talk. But when she heard them talking about Angela, she knew she won’t be in the mood to listen. She looked around and landed her eyes on Calvin who is also staring at her.

“You guys know very well that the only thing that is stopping me from getting her is that Danson,” Chun said, drinking his beer.

“If I were you, Chun, I would just snake her away from that guy,” Show told him. Ella felt the urge to smack Show’s head for saying such a stupid suggestion.

“I don’t have to do that. Angela will be mine sooner. I was just giving that Danson some time with her. You’ll see, she’ll end up being with me in the end,” Chun said smirking.

“Yeah! That’s what I’m talking about, dude!" Chris exclaimed, giving Chun a high-five.

When Ella heard that, she suddenly took a bottle of beer and quickly drank its contents. She winced a little because of the bitter taste. "This thing actually tastes good, doesn't it?" she said half-heartedly. The truth was, she hated that exceptionally bitter taste.

"Stop drinking, Ella. You're not used to it." Chun told her, taking the beer from her grasp.

She sneered and raised a brow at him. "Look who's talking!"

The group's topic changed and Ella joined in. 'Thank goodness these people stopped talking about that Angela already, or I else, I might throw up.' They were laughing their heads off when Chun suddenly said something weird.

"Hey, Calvin! Do you like Ella? I find you staring at her... a LOT," Chun questioned Calvin which obviously startled Ella.

"Chun, you're drunk." She took the beer he was holding and set it on the table.

"Dude, I'm telling you, don't even think about hurting her feelings. I swear, I'm going to kill you." Chun warned Calvin seriously. Ella glanced at Chun and saw his eyes were half-closed already.

Calvin smiled and just shook his head. "This guy says incredible things when he's drunk."

Everyone in the group is already drunk except her and Calvin. Some minutes later, she heard the phone rang and went back inside to answer it. It was Chun's mom on the phone.

"Ella, thank goodness you're over there. I was actually worried my son will do or say something stupid."

"Well, what do you know? Don't worry, Auntie Wu, things are taken cared of."

She heard Chun's mom laugh at what she said. "Well, is my son already drunk?"

"Seems like it."

"Is that so?" she heard the old woman sighed. "I'll leave him to your care, ok? I won't be able to go home tonight. You know, my sister missed me so much she wanted me to stay in their house for tonight."

"No problem, Auntie Wu."

"Thanks, Ella, honey. Good night," Auntie Wu said, hanging up.

Ella went back to Chun and the others and saw Calvin carrying the drunk Show to the guest room. She went over to Chun and helped him stand up.

"Can you carry him?" Calvin asked her.

"Yeah, I think so," she replied.

"Okay. I'll take care of the others then."

She nodded and helped Chun to his room. 'This guy is heavy!'
Chun was groaning and uttering incoherent words and noises. He does that whenever he is drunk. His arm was resting on her shoulder and they fell together on his bed. 'What the hell is wrong with his person?' She could actually smell his breath because of the distance. 'Even though your breath smells like alcohol, you still smell nice.' She meant what she said. Growing up together with him, she had already smelled his breath after eating garlic, pizza, popcorn, and many other silly stuff. She shivered as she felt his slight breathing on her neck. Then, she felt his arms surrounded her body.

She was stunned. It had been so long since they had been that close. Ever since they experienced 'changes' in their bodies, they never had a chance to be that close again. She missed his embrace. She remembered when they were still young, Chun would always hug her every time she starts crying. She missed those sweet innocent moments the two of them shared together. But those were all in the past, things are different now. She started to like him, but the person he likes is not her. She hated the thought that he needed to be drunk just to feel his embrace once again. When she heard him said something unrecognizable, her sense came back.

"Chun, let go of me!" She said, trying to break off from him, but he was just too strong for her.

She heard him groan and opened his lids a little. The next thing he did shocked her completely. Chun suddenly held the back of her head and slammed his lips on hers. Her eyes widened as his mouth claimed her lips.

'What the hell is he doing? My mouth isn't a bottle's mouth!' Ella tried to break off the kiss, but he held her hands tightly, stopping her. When she felt his tongue forced its way to open her mouth, she knew what she thought was wrong. This guy absolutely knows he is kissing someone.

'This is wrong! My first kiss! NO! Chun, stop!' she shouted in her head.

But then, she felt his lips softly massaging her lips. She felt really drawn to him and started to feel the intensity of his kiss.

'He's such a good... no, an expert kisser,' she told herself as she finally decided to return his kiss. 'So, this is what it feels like being kissed by the person you love...' she figured out. It was like a magical moment for Ella.

'If this is a dream, I would never want to be awake...'

Kissing Chun is the best thing that ever happened to her that day, probably, all her life. She never wanted to stop, but then she heard Chun muttering something. She tried to clear her mind and listened to his mumblings.

"An… Angela..."

[avic]

Chapter 5
Heartaches and Silly Friendly Advices

Ella felt her heart jump when she felt somebody rested an arm on her shoulder while she was walking on the school corridor. She guessed correctly, it was Chun. She hid her uneasiness and tried to smile.
Chun smiled back. Reaching for her hand, he slightly opened it and placed something. "What's this?" she asked taking a glance at what he had given her. A fortune cookie.

"My goodness, Ella! Can't you recognize a fortune cookie when you see one?" Chun said jokingly.

"Hahaha...Funny! Actually, I was asking you what is this fortune cookie for." She told him sarcastically, glaring at him.

"Don't get mad so easily, I was joking. Mom told me to give you. I have one too, right here." He showed her another cookie.

"Let's crack them and read what's inside. You first, Chun."

Chun quickly cracked his fortune cookie and took the small piece of paper inside. He looked at her and started reading what was written in it. "Be careful when looking in mirrors. A real diamond lies in the deepest earth, waiting to be awakened, whilst coal is scattered everywhere around it..." Chun thought about it for a moment, "Isn't it a bit complicated? I don't understand it exactly."

Ella looked at him and sighed. 'This guy is just so dumb. That means never to judge people by appearances, like how you judge that Angela. You think she's an angel, but the truth is, she's EVIL.' Her thoughts were interrupted when Chun spoke suddenly.

"Oi, Ella! It's your turn now!"

She nodded and crushed her cookie. She read what's inside loud enough for Chun to hear. "Let's see... 'To let true love remain unspoken is the quickest route to a heavy heart..."

"Whoa! Ella, that's deep! I didn't even understand a word. Maybe fortune cookie advices aren't my thing. How about reading our horoscope for today?"

'This guy is totally impossible.' Ella looked at him dumbly.

Chun finally turned serious and looked at her again. "Why do I have the feeling you were thinking about something before I approached you a while ago? WHO were you thinking of?"

'Who?' She was surprised he knew she was thinking about someone. Did he know he actually kissed her? The truth is, she was thinking about the way he kissed her. How he nibbled and expertly massaged her lips. Her first kiss. But when she heard him whispered Angela's name, she felt her heart tore into a million pieces. Chun thought she was Angela and that's the reason why he kissed her. She cried in her room the whole night. She had felt more pathetic since that night.

"I'm not thinking about someone," she lied.

He looked at her unconvinced, then looked around to see Danson just a few steps ahead of them, he sighed loudly. "Is HE the one you were thinking of?" She sensed exasperation in his voice.

"What kind of question is that?"

"Of all the guys in this university, why does it have to be HIM?"

She thought for a moment. Why is it that of all the cute and nice guys in this world, the person she learned to love is Chun? She wondered countless times too. She tilted her head to face him again. "Why not? He's handsome and popular, he's rich too. Almost perfect."

Chun removed his hand from her shoulders and looked away.

"I know you don't like him, Chun. He's the reason Angela cannot be yours. But I'm sorry, best friend. He's the guy I like," she told him a-matter-of-factly.

She heard him snorted.

"Don't you like it? If he and I will be together, Angela will be yours finally," she stated sarcastically.

"He will never fall for you, El."

Ella stopped walking. "What did you just said?"

Chun also stopped and faced her. His eyes went down her sneakers to her faded jeans and loose T-shirt, then up to her face and short hair. She felt insulted when he studied her appearance."Where's your cap?"

"It's in my bag."

He glanced at her backpack and shook his head. "I know him well enough, Ella. We've been classmates for four years now and I know what kinds of girls turn him on. Trust me, he will never take you seriously. You're not his type."

She clenched her fist and sneered at him. This guy is definitely getting on her nerves. She knew she wasn't as beautiful as Angela, not popular. But she could not believe he was looking down on her, considering he was her best friend. She was hurt. She can't believe how insensitive Chun is.

Chun threw both his hands in the air. "No, it's not what you think. That's not what I'm trying to imply here," he said apologetically.

She raised an eyebrow and walked away from him. "Ella," he called. She felt his arms rested on her shoulders again. "You're taking me wrong. I didn't mean--"

"I'm not dumb, Chun. I completely understand what you meant by that. I'm not as beautiful as Angela, so the guy I like will never like me." This time, she was not referring to Danson, but to Chun.

"Come on, Ella. That's not it. What I mean was--"

"Ella!"

Ella looked at who the voice came from. It was Hebe. She quickly walked up to her and led her away from Chun. She glanced at him for the last time, but he avoided her eyes.

'Thanks for saying those encouraging words, Chun. They totally gave me enough reason to let my true feelings for you remain unspoken...' she told herself painfully.

'How can someone like me be so pathetic?'

==========================================================================

"What was that about, Ella? You and Chun had a fight?" Hebe asked Ella tentatively.

"Not really, just a misunderstanding, I guess."

"Misunderstanding? Could have fooled me. Something is wrong, cousin, I know it, actually, I can FEEL it.

She heaved out a sigh and avoided Hebe's eyes.

"d**n it! Stop sucking up all the air and just tell me what's wrong, Ella." Hebe told her exasperately. Ella looked at her and saw concern in her eyes. She tried to change the subject. "Have you seen Selina, Heb?"

Hebe rolled her eyes. "Fine. Don't tell me! About Selina, I haven't seen her much lately. Oh, I forgot to tell you, she told me she's no longer interested in Danson. I was so shocked when I heard that. You see, last week, we were just fighting about who's going to lure Danson away from Angela. A couple of days later, she told me she's no longer interested in him."

Ella raised an eyebrow. "You guys fought over Danson?"

"Uh, cousin, correction? We didn't fight OVER Danson. We fought about who's going to LURE him AWAY from Angela." Hebe defended.

"Same difference." She laughed at the thought.

Hebe pouted childishly. "Drop it, okay? I don't think it's funny. So... tell me about your business with Chun."

'Not again...' Ella thought. She looked at her cousin and saw her with an intriguing look. She knew there's no way she can hide it from her devious cousin anymore.
"Okay, I'll tell you. But promise you won't tell anyone," she told Hebe finally.

"I promise. For the sake of our 'cousinhood'." Hebe replied smiling. That made Ella confident enough to tell her about what happened that night. She knew she can trust Hebe.

"Hebe, you wouldn't believe this, but Chun kissed me. My first kiss," she whispered to Hebe's ear.

"Really? That's great, Ella!" Hebe exclaimed, obviously thrilled.

"Shh! I'm not finished yet! We know he likes Angela. You know what? He thought I WAS Angela." She continued, emphasizing the word 'was'.

"What?" Hebe asked dumbly.

"I know. Chun doesn't remember anything, I think. The worst thing is, we had a short chat. Yes, that time before you showed up, and, uh, he told me INDIRECTLY that I am not attractive." Hebe looked furious.

"Ella, I think that guy needs some serious beating." Hebe told her clenching her fist. She stopped Hebe.

"You know what? I think he's actually right, Heb."

"HUH?"

"I'm not attractive. Not beautiful. In fact, I look like a tomboy."

"Looks like this one needs some serious beating too," Hebe muttered under her breath.

"What?" It was Ella's turn to look surprised.

Hebe heaved out a sigh and looked directly to her eyes. "You're beautiful, Ella. You just need to be true to yourself and be who you are. It doesn't matter what others tell you. The most important thing is what you think of yourself."

Ella smiled and hugged Hebe. "Awww... I'm so moved. I didn't know Miss Tough Kid knows how to be mushy too," she teased her cousin.

"Hmmm... I guess everybody has their own weak points. Mine? I hate seeing my cousin looking so down as if it's the end of the world. Especially my 'most matured' cousin, seeing you so down is definitely creepy." Hebe said winking at her.

Ella laughed energetically at Hebe's remark. Then she turned and faced her cousin, only to catch Hebe sighing noiselessly. She narrowed her eyes as she stared at her cousin, pouted her lips then raised an eyebrow. Maybe it is now her chance to listen and give encouraging words to someone who had just comforted her and cheered her up.

[avic]

Chapter 6
Meeting Jiro Again...

"Okay, Hebe. What's the meaning of that sigh just now?" Ella asked Hebe, breaking the ice.

Hebe looked puzzled with what she said. "How do you know something is bothering me too?"

"Easy. You let out noiseless sighs whenever you're worried or bothered about something. You always do that. Don't you know?" she asked Hebe smiling amusingly.

"Honestly, NO. You know what? You read me better than Selina does. Sometimes, I do wonder that if your house is nearer to mine, I bet we're closer than Selina and I do. Geez, Ella, You're so awesome." Hebe told her smiling, then her faced became serious. "I accepted the offer, Ella."

"Offer? You mean Juno Wang's offer? But why? I thought you don't ever wanna see his brother's face again? Well, there's a big possibility you'll see him again, and knowing you, a big possibility you'll beat him up." Ella told her, wincing.

Hebe looked at her dumbly. "Right, Ella. Thanks." Then she let out a sigh again. "Can you do me a favor? Will you come with us tonight at Juno's bar for our performance? Please, Ella."

She thought about it for a while. "But why didn't you refused?"

"Rainie and GuiGui needed money so much. They begged me to accept. Anyways, it's just for tonight. Even though I don't really want to, I guess I'd be doing it for the sake of my friends. You see, even though I'm hot-headed and rude, my heart isn't entirely made of stone. So, you coming, cousin?"

She smirked at her cousin and nodded. Hebe is right. She knew how much a good friend her cousin is, moreover, a good cousin too.

"Wait, Ella. Look at this." Hebe stopped walking and pointed at the bulletin board. She read the announcement loud enough for Ella to hear.
"Auditions for the roles in the upcoming School Festival play will be tomorrow. The play will be based on William Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew". Everyone interested is encouraged to join the exciting modern musical play. Be there on time and bring your shrew-like personality."

"Wow! I want to audition!" Ella and Hebe heard a freshman exclaimed.
"Don't be stupid! Did you read? It's a MUSICAL. Please, your voice is absolutely dreadful." The second girl said rolling her eyes.

They tried their best not to laugh, and continued listening to the girls chitchat.

"I've heard the theater committee talking the other day and they said Danson Tang will be playing the male lead! OMG! He's so HOT!"

"Is that true? Then I'm going to audition too!" the third girl exclaimed.

"Yup! That's why the male lead isn't in the list opened for auditions. They really reserved the role for Danson."

"You're wrong. Danson is only a second choice. I heard the committee chose someone before him, but that 'someone' refused," said the first girl.

The two looked at each other, obviously thrilled. "Did you hear that? This is our big chance to set our plan into action! You should audition, Ella!" Hebe told her excitedly.

"Me? Audition? In a MUSICAL? I don't know, Hebe. I'm not into those stuff." She told her cousin, shaking her head. "How about you or Selina? Don't you want to try? That shrew-like personality they're searching for is totally YOU."

Hebe snorted. "Ha-ha-ha. Very funny. You know I don't have time for silly things like that." Hebe said sarcastically.

"I'm serious, Hebe. You should audition. Who knows? Maybe this is your chance to be with Danson. After all, there's no Angela here to stop you."
Angela wasn't able to enter the same university because she pathetically flunk the college entrance exams. Sadly, popularity isn't everything.

"Fine. I guess I'll think about it," Hebe said half-heartedly. "But I think, I still need--" The bell rang loudly, cutting her off.

"You need what?"

"I need to get to class now! See you this evening!" Hebe said finally then ran off. She is from the Business Administration Department so her building is different from Ella's.

Ella just smiled at her retreating figure and started walking to her next class.

==========================================

That night...

Ella came with Hebe and her bandmates, Rainie and GuiGui to the Rock Craze Bar.

Even though she does not usually go to such places, that night was different. She figured maybe because she was enjoying Hebe's performance onstage so much. Hebe is such an awesome singer.

While on Hebe's side, she had to act professionally so she pretended not to mind having Jiro's presence around. She also ignored him staring at her. Fortunately, she managed to calm herself down til they played the band's last song.

=========================================

"12,000 NT$ per gig?" Rainie asked Juno incredulously. He wants them to be a regular performer of the bar. He offered that amount of money for them to play twice a week.

Ella looked at Hebe. Even though her cousin didn't show her surprise, she knew how surprised Hebe really is.
Hebe wondered why a bar as popular as Rock Craze would care to hire them as a regular band and offer them such a big fee.

"That' right. The audience feedback was remarkable so I decided to have you guys perform here regularly. We'll decide about your schedule and also about the contract so--"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Wang," Hebe said cutting him off. "But we refuse your offer kind offer." What she said stunned everyone, including Ella.

"You want to negotiate about a bigger fee?" he asked.

'No, that's not it. Even if you offer us a bigger fee, we will still refuse."

Ella watched as frustration crawled over Rainie and GuiGui's faces.

"But why?" Juno asked again.

"We have... personal reasons, sir." Hebe said finally.

Ella raised an eyebrow. 'Don't use 'we', Hebe, maybe 'I' is more appropriate,' she thought to herself. She turned to see what Juno Wang's reaction will be.

Juno jusy nodded his head as if he understood what Hebe had said. He knew about Hebe's past relationship with his younger brother. "Well, I'm not really rushing you guys. Think about it first. Feel free to come anytime if you ever change your mind. Anyway, don't leave yet. I'm inviting you guys for free drinks."

"Thanks, but no thanks, Juno. We're kind of in a hurry."

They left his private office without any word from Rainie and GuiGui. Hebe and Ella knew the two were upset.
Ella stopped Hebe from walking and whispered something to her. "Hebe, that's crazy. You should've asked about your bandmates' opinion first."

"I can't help it, El. You know why I never wanted to step in this place again," she told Ella, walking to catch up with Rainie and GuiGui.

The fours girls halted when they saw somebody blocking their way to the door. Hebe instantly felt her blood boil when she recognized that someone. It was that jerk Jiro Wang. 'Why is this retard blocking our way?' Nevertheless, Hebe did not move to avoid him.

"Hi, Heb." He greeted her, a corner of his lips twitched up in a lazy smile.

This guy still had the guts to call her "Heb" like how he used to. They never greeted nor spoke to each for two years, and now he is actually talking to her? She ignored him and tried to sidestep his presence. But he swiftly moved again and blocked her way. She sneered at him.

"Back off!"

Jiro stood unaffected. Then he smiled and greeted Ella and the others.

To Hebe's irritation, Rainie and GuiGui smiled back and greeted him too. She turned to look at Ella and saw her blank expression. Then Ella smiled and winked at her.

"I'm sorry, Jiro, but will you please get out of our way? We're in a hurry right now. We need to go," Ella said, trying to rescue Hebe.

Jiro beamed a heartstopping smile at her. That gesture of him made Ella blush and stare down. 'Wow... This guy is a charmer. No wonder Hebe got crazy about him. If I am not in love with Chun right now, I'll certainly fall for this guy.' Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a nudge. She looked up and saw Hebe eyeing her intently, raising a brow. She smiled at her cousin nervously. Hebe rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Get out of our way, Jiro Wang." Hebe commanded.

"Why did you refuse my brother's offer?" he asked her, disregarding her.

"It's none of your business!"

"That's a very good offer you just turned down, Heb. I hope you'll consider it again," he muttered casually.

"Actually, Jiro, we really liked the offer and--" Hebe glared sharply at Rainie. The poor girl quickly shut up and looked helplessly at Jiro.

"We don't like performing here. It's that simple. So get out of our way and stop wasting our time." Hebe told Jiro sternly.

"Why don't you like it here? Because of me?"

Hebe scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Are you still affected about our past?" he asked her again.

She felt her eyes narrowing. Is this guy testing her patience?
"Of course not."

Jiro nodded his head. "If that's true, then accept my brother's offer," he challenged her.

"You have no right to tell me what to do. If I say no then I mean no. Now, move it!"

Jiro smirked at her and she felt her top blowing off. "Come on, Heb. You're acting like a shrew. You used to be a lot nicer. What happened to you?"

"Jiro, please, get out of our way. I'm telling you, we people really are in a hurry, so please, step aside." It was Ella again. She knew Hebe couldn't hold it any longer. Her cousin's anger will explode any minute now.

"Not until you--" Jiro was cut off when Hebe suddenly punched him in the stomach. Lately, she had been into taekwondo to keep fit and to use against perverts and scabs. That move was one of her strongest single-handed blow.

Jiro fell down on his knees and clutched his stomach. Rainie and GuiGui were shocked, but Ella already expected something like that to happen. She stared unbelievably at her cousin. Then Hebe signalled her to follow her back to the car. They both got on and she saw Hebe smirking.

"Why did you do THAT to Jiro?"

"Why? He ASKED for it. I told him to get lost, but he didn't. So I taught him a lesson." Hebe was about to start the car when she heard Rainie and GuiGui called her.

"Hebe, why did you do that?" Rainie asked her.

"That's right, Hebe. You shouldn't have done that to him," GuiGui told her seriously.

"If he didn't block our way and pissed me off, I wouldn't have punched him." Hebe told them.

"But--"

"I don't wanna talk about him anymore."

"What about Juno's offer?"

Hebe sighed. "I'm sorry, guys. I can't accept the offer. Please understand."

"No, we don't understand at all. That money is enough for me to pay for my sister's and my tuition fee. You should have considered about us," GuiGui told her, obviously disappointed.

"You guys know why I turned it down." The truth was, she knew she was wrong for deciding about that offer alone. It's true that her part as the vocalist is the most important of the group but it's still wrong for her to decide that easily. She knew how selfish she was, rejecting the offer without asking about their opinions.

"For Pete's sake! It's been two years! I don't understand why you still hate him so much. As I see it, you haven't moved on completely. Which only means..."

She stared sharply at GuiGui. She expected her to shut up once she give her that look but she was wrong.

"...you're still in love with him..." GuiGui continued.

Her faced stiffened as she looked at GuiGui. She did not want to appear as a bully but her strong personality is very intimidating. GuiGui stepped back and fell silent.
"I don't love him anymore. I just don't know how to forgive him," she told her friend coldly.

GuiGui exhaled loudly. Rainie remained silent. Ella just stared at her as she kept on talking. "If you really want to perform here, you're free to find someone else to replace me." Hebe finished driving off.

====================================================

"I know you need space, Hebe. Don't worry, I won't say or ask anything..."

"Thanks, El. I know you would understand me. You and Sel are the only people who trully understand what I feel."

"Let's hurry home and have a good night sleep. I'm sure everything will be fine, cousin."

She sighed again for a hundredth time that day. "I hope so, Ella. I hope so..."

[avic]

Chapter 7
Plans Backfiring

Hebe beamed out a smile when she saw Danson walking in the covered corridor in the university parking area. She flipped her hair and touched her short skirt. That was the start of her plan to lure him away from Angela. She figured dressing something sophisticated and sexy will add up to the better success of her plan.
The whole night, she wasn't able to sleep at all because her mind is filled of thoughts about whether to accept Juno's offer or not. But then, her thoughts sort-of sidetracked. She was utterly surprised when she found her thoughts drifting to some incredible things like, how will she and Jiro be if Angela did not succeed in setting the two of them apart.

What would she be if they did not break up?

Would she be acting as rough and temperamental as she is now?

Would she and Jiro still be together?

She doubted the last question. If someone as low as Angela was able to set them apart, someone more sophisticated could have done it sooner or later. She is better off without that jerk, she thought. So she made a conclusion that since Selina had backed out, and Ella wasn't really interested, she'll do the snatching plan herself.

That day was the official start.

Hebe hugged her books and folders tightly. Those stuff will serve as her props for today's scheme. She was planning to deliberately bump Danson, let her things scatter so he will help her pick her things up. The move might sound old-fashioned, but she thought of it as a good start. She wasn't as scheming as Angela, neither is she as pregnant dogy and desperate. She and Danson had no other proximity other than being schoolmates.

Danson was talking to a friend while walking. He wasn't paying attention to his surroundings so Hebe's bumping on him plan was a success. As expected, he helped her pick her things up. His friend also helped in picking up some papers that were blown away by the wind since the corridor is an open space.

"Are you okay?"

Her heart celebrated in joy. She pasted a smile in her lips, before looking up, only to find Jiro's face a few centimeters from hers. She felt dismay and anger rushed over her entire body. How come she didn't notice him earlier? She quickly stood up and took her things from his grasp, then looked around to see Danson and the other guy still picking up her stuff.

"Are you hurt?" she heard Jiro asked her again.

"Don't act like you actually care," she spat at him almost inaudible.

She saw him crossed his arms and gave her a weird look. "The walking space is big enough. How come you guys bumped each other?"
Is this jerk trying to imply that she's stupid?

She tried her best to ignore him as Danson walked up to her and handed her belongings.

"Um, miss, I'm sorry about bumping on you," he apologized.

She smiled at him sweetly. "It's okay. I'm also to blame."

The other guy walked up to her and gave her the remaining papers. He looked worn out because of chasing those papers that were blown away. "Next time, try using paper clips or fasteners so if ever you trip on your feet, bump at another person or drop your things, they will not turn into a big mess," the guy lectured her.

Hebe wanted to yell at the ungentleman and beat the hell out of him but since Danson is in front of her, she was supposed to behave like a typical lady.

"I'll bear that in mind," she replied, beaming out a fake smile.

She stole a glance at Jiro and saw his forehead wrinkled. "Thanks for helping me with my stuff anyways," she told Danson again.

He smiled at her. "No problem at all."

"Come on, let's go, Danson. They're waiting for us." It was Danson's jerky friend. In a blink of an eye, they were gone already.

In other words, she failed her first stunt. She was not able to introduce herself. She gave Jiro a murderous glare and walked away from him. To her horror and surprise, the guy even rested his arm around her shoulders. She felt the urge to kill him that instant, but miraculously, she calmed herself and forcefully brushed his arm off.

"I was amazed when I saw you smile at that Danson. That was the only time I saw you smile again," he told her smiling.

'You took away my smile, you jerk. I had forgotten how to smile naturally because of you.' She thought to herself. "Leave me alone."

"Are you trying to look cute in front of Danson?"

She turned to look at him. "What did you said?"

" I was behind them. I saw you bumping on him purposely. You did that to catch his attention."

"I said, leave me alone."

"I like your skirt," he whispered in her ear.

Hebe gritted her teeth. She knew what he said isn't a compliment, but rather, an insult. She quickly turned her head and caught him smirking.

"Did you wear THAT exclusively for Danson?"

"It's none of your business. Why do you care anyways?" she muttered sternly. "You have no right to ask me about my whereabouts nor tell me off. It's not like you care if ever I want to dress like this for a guy. Now, get lost!" she yelled at him.

"You're not his type. I think it will be extremely difficult for you to draw his attention."

"Well, It's not like I CARE what you think about me. Besides, I'm not asking for any of your opinion!" She felt insulted with what he just said.

Hebe stopped walking and glared sharply at Jiro. "Will you please stop pestering me? I swear if you ever talk to me again, I'll beat the hell out of you!" she told him threateningly and went to her next class.

==========================================================

+SOCCER FIELD+

Ella and Hebe were sitting in a bench. Ella had just finished her soccer practice for that day when Hebe told her she has something important to tell.

"You wouldn't believe what happened, Ella," Hebe told her, gritting her teeth.

"What?" she asked her. Hebe looked furious. She looked at her cousin intriguingly.

"I got the lead part."

"Really? Wow, Hebe, that's great news!" Ella was surprised to know that Hebe actually auditioned for the role of "Katharina" in the school play based on William Shakespeare's "The Taming of The Shrew". Hebe isn't really the type of person who will join musicals like that. She figured out her cousin only joined the play so she can get closer to Danson. He will be playing the male lead of the play.

To her amazement, Hebe's furious expression did not fade.

"What's with the long face? Of all the girls who auditioned, you are that lucky one who got it. That means, you're destined to play the female lead," she teased. "I can't blame them, cousin, you're a natural shrew." She winked at Hebe.

Hebe violently turned her head and glared at her sharply. She threw both her hands in the air out of fear.

"I'm sorry! I was just kidding around, Hebe."

"There's nothing for me to be happy about, Ella. Danson will not be playing the lead role anymore," Hebe spat angrily at her.

"Huh? Wait. I thought the school theater committee already decided for him to play the male lead and he accepted?"

"I heard he backed out. He was replaced. Remember that 'someone' those freshmen were talking about who was supposed to play the lead? I heard he was the one who replaced Danson."

"Who the hell is that 'someone'?"

"I don't know who he is and I don't think I'll be interested to know anyway."

"What are you going to do now? Are you planning to back out too?" Ella asked Hebe tentatively.

"Of course! I will talk to the school theater committee this afternoon. But first, I have to think of a good alibi to get myself out of this mess."

There was a moment of silence between the two.

"So, what are you planning to do now?" Ella asked finally breaking the ice.

"I honestly don't know what to do now. I didn't expect such thing like this to happen. I tried that freaking school theater but it just didn't work again. Maybe, if my course is also Architecture, I would have just joined the organization Danson is in so I will get closer to him."

Ella hit her forehead, remembering something. "It's a good thing you said that. I remember I have something important to do. Today will be the start of the applicant interview for Arkistrani."

"You're joining Arkistrani?" Hebe asked her, surprised. "Arkistrani" is the name of the architectural student organization wherein Danson and Chun were members.

"Yes, why?" she questioned, amused with Hebe's reaction.

Hebe growled in anger. "Good for you!"

Ella grinned at her cousin. "Why don't you try shifting to Architecture then? It will be a lot easier for you to lure Danson away from Angela if you do that. Well, cousin, gotta go, see you," she finished smiling then walked away.

[avic]

Chapter 8
You're Not...

Ella heaved out a sigh when she saw Chun waiting for her in the front porch of her house. Although she was mad at him for saying those words to her, she can't really stand not talking to him. If there is someone in this world who understands Chun better than his parents do, it is her.
Chun stood up when he saw her, then he hesitantly smiled and waved his hand. Ella walked up to him and sat reluctantly on a swing chair next to him. He took a brown paper bag from his backpack and gave it to her. She was sure the paper bag contained her favorite, cashew nuts.

Chun always gives her cashew nuts as peace offering everytime he does something bad or something to upset her. Without saying a word, she accepted the bag and began munching some cashew nuts.

"Ella..." Chun uttered her name nervously.

"Hmmm...?"

"I'm sorry." He blurted out.

"Sorry your face," she muttered sarcastically.

"Come on, Ella." She felt him nudge her.

"Please forgive me. You know very well that I say silly useless words whenever I'm in a bad mood or pissed off. Besides, those words did not mean what you thought they meant. Maybe you just misunderstood me or maybe I didn't say it the right way. I'm sorry for my wrong choice of words. You know how insensitive and tactless I can get sometimes. But this is what I'm really trying to tell you..." he sighed before he continued.

"I know Danson very well and I know how much he likes sophisticated, fashionable and sexy girls. He likes girls who know how to flirt with guys. I know you can't pull them off, Ella. You never wear make-up. I know how much you hated wearing high heels and stilettos. You don't like wearing skirts. You're not sophisticated and you're not..."

"A girl," she added sarcastically.

"I never said something like that. But that's not what I mean. You're very far from his type, Ella. I'm not saying your a lesser person just because you are not his type. I don't have any intention to hurt your sentiments or whatsoever. I never did look down on you, Ella. You're my best girl bud. I can never do something terrible like that to make you hate me," he explained.

She looked at him but did not stop munching her cashew nuts. She understood what he was trying to tell her but she has her pride too. "Do you really think Danson will never like me?"

Chun looked at her sadly. "Of all the people, Ella, why HIM?"

"Is it because you guys are rivals?"

"Because he's not the right guy for you, Ella." He reasoned out.

"Who are you to tell me that he is not the right guy for me?"

"Ella, you're starting to misundertand me again. What I'm telling you is--"

"I do understand you, Chun. You don't like Danson because you like Angela. We're just the same. I hate Angela because..." 'I like you', Ella thought to herself.

"Because I like Danson. What if I tell you I think Angela isn't the right girl for you?" she finished her sentence and looked at him intently.

Chun shook his head. "Did you join Arkistrani because of him? To get closer to him? You're just wasting your time liking him, Ella."

'You're right. I think I am also wasting my time loving you because you will never love me in return,' she thought painfully. "Just because I'm not his type, it also means he will never like me, or even look at me. Is that it, Chun?" she asked glumly.

Chun was silent.

"Well, I'm going to prove you're wrong for thinking that way, Chun," she told him sternly.

"What do you mean, Ella?"

"I can BE his type of girl," she told him in a challenging tone.

"What?!" he asked in disbelief.

She stood up and looked at him. "Shame on you. You don't have any faith in me," she told him smirking then went back inside the house.

Chun was left alone outside, stunned. He never expected her to say something as unpredictable as that.

"Ella Chen, you don't know how much you bother me with those words you said. Sometimes, I find you, my own best friend, very difficult to read." Chun muttered to himself as he walked home.

=================================

"Why aren't you interested in him anymore?" Hebe asked Selina seriously. This 'him' she was talking about is no other than Danson Tang.

The three girls were in Ella's room. It was Thursday afternoon, the cousins decided to hang-out and talk about stuff.

"It's none of your business, cousin. Besides, I've thought about it and I realized he's not the right guy for me," Selina replied nonchalantly.

Hebe raised an eyebrow. "Really? What made you say that? Don't tell me, you've met the right guy who swept you off your dainty feet?" she asked her cousin dramatically.

Ella laughed at Hebe's remark. "Whoa, Hebe! You're starting to talk like a real stage actress now. I have to admit, you're kinda good at it. Speaking of which, were you able to get out of that mess you were into?"

Hebe sighed heavily. "Unfortunately, I was not able to. My Literature professor threatened me to lower my grades if I back out. He added that if I was not serious about joining the play, I shouldn't have auditioned in the first place," she told her cousins, rolling her eyes. "I don't wanna talk about it anymore, change topic."

"Ok then, I'm dating Calvin Chen now." It was Selina.

Ella and Hebe dropped their jaws and stared at her in disbelief.

"Seriously? Calvin Chen? As in Chun's friend?"

"Seriously. Yes, he is that Calvin Chen," Selina said smirking.

"That's great! Calvin is a very nice guy. I'm so happy for you, Selina!" Ella cheered.

"That's ridiculous! You gave up on Danson just because of THAT guy?" Hebe asked incredulously. Selina and Ella gave her a cold glare that made her chuckle nervously. "I was just fooling around, cousins. Nothing special."

Selina raised her an eyebrow. "What are you talking about, Hebe Tian Fu Zhen?"

"Are you hiding something from us?" It was Ella.

There was a long moment of silence before Hebe finally spoke up. "I need help, guys."

"What?" Selina asked Hebe, surprised.

Hebe sighed loudly and repeated her words again. "I need help."

"In that case, then, let me help you," Ella told her. Ella knew her cousin is in trouble with her snatching Danson plan. Especially now that Selina is no longer interested, she had a feeling Hebe is finally giving up.

"How, Ella? How can you help me?"

It was her turn to sigh. Then she looked around and met her cousins' eyes. "Let me do it. I'll lure Danson away from Angela."

==================================================

I just wanna say thanks to all of you for supporting me and for your concerns. I updated two chapters today because I'll be visiting my granny again in the province, I think I won't be able to update for a few days.

[avic]

Chapter 9
The Start of a War

"I'll do it, Hebe." Ella seriously told her cousin.

Hebe gawked at her. "What exactly do you mean?"

"Well, I just thought about it. Of us three, I'm the more advantageous one. Danson and I have the same course, which is architecture. Obviously, we are both studying in the same building. Another thing is, I just recently became a member of the organization wherein he's also a member." Ella reasoned out.

"So?" Selina asked her, raising an eyebrow.

She heaved out a deep sigh before standing up. Then she messed her hair a little and smiled at her cousins seductively. "I can take the part you left, Selina."

"WHAT?!"

"Are you kidding around, Ella Chen Jia Hua?!" Hebe yelled frantically at her.

"Lower your voice, Hebe. It's deafening. Answer to your question? Nope. I'm serious. Dead serious. I'll try to make Danson fall for me too," she responded, placed her hands on her hips like a fashion model and smirked. Her cousins have no possible idea that she had been practicing some "girly" pose in front of the mirror since last night.

Ella saw Hebe gave her the famous are-you-out-of-your-mind look and Selina's jaw dropped. When they studied her appearance with a hesitant look, she felt her smile disappear from her face.

That instant, she felt the urge to bang their heads together. It's funny, but even her own cousins have no faith in her.

======================================

Friday afternoon.

It was the start of the rehearsals for the school play.

Even though Hebe wanted to back out, she had no choice. Her Literature professor threatened to lower her grade if she refuse to act the lead female role.

She wasn't really scared of her professor's threat, considering that the professor had no right to lower her grades since she was actually doing more than great in that subject. But she was cornered when the WHOLE student theater committee begged her to play the role. Majority rules. In simple terms, she LOST the battle.

They reasoned out that she is the perfect girl for that role. She looked strong and formidable. She sings very well. She was learning taekwondo. Her character as "Katharina"-- or "Kate" in the modern version is a taekwondo teacher. Just like what Ella had said, she didn't have to act. She's a NATURAL shrew, suited perfectly for the role. But then, since Danson will no longer play the male lead, that rehearsal will definitely bore her to death.

The gay director, Director Tang Zhi Ping, started talking about what the play is all about. Beside him is the scriptwriter, Ms. Pegs.

The director cleared his throat. "This play is the modernized and musical rendition of William Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew." As you all know, when we say modernized, we are going to adapt the present day world and some details about the characters and settings for the play will be modernized. Thus, we will change the names of the characters as well. But they will still be based on the original names of the characters. Obviously, the dialogues would be in contemporary English as well as the majority of the songs. We will be using all the genres in music-- pop, rock, RnB, jazz, et cetera and even musical. We have dancers and back up singers. Of course, there will a musical there will also be a musical band to---"

"Am I late?" A voice cut off what the director was saying.

Hebe heard the voice but didn't care at all. Her eyes were glued on the last page of the script. Why didn't anyone tell her there will be a kissing scene in the last part of the play?

"Oh, not so late, our Petruchio! Oh well, since this is a modernized play, let' call you "Pete," Director Zhi Ping remarked happily.

'Pete'? Hebe took a glimpse at the person who will be playing the male lead and what she saw isn't really believable. 'Jiro Wang?!'

She felt her temper rising but calmed herself down. Jiro sat down on a chair next near a freshmen and smiled at the girl. The girl smiled back at him sweetly, as Hebe rolled her eyes in disgust and hatred.

[Hebe's POV]

Wait a second. Why should I be affected about him flirting with other girls? So what if I will be paired up with him in this play? Anyways, this play is about the bickerings of our characters. I am not obliged to be nice to him at all. Then, no problem.

[End of POV]

Hebe sighed in relief but then, she remembered something that made her body fluids boil. There will be a KISSING SCENE in the last part!

She stood up violently. "No! Tell me THAT guy isn't Petruchio!"

Director Zhi Ping was a little surprised but replied right away. "No, Hebe, he's not Petruchio. He's Pete!"

"NO!" she hollered in disbelief.

Suddenly, Jiro stood up from his seat. "Oh, hi, Hebe.Nice to see you here. Don't tell me, you'll be playing "Kate"? What a charming coincidence. You'll be my partner then?" He looked amused.

Hebe narrowed her eyes. "Not anymore!" she yelled at him, dropping the script on the floor. "I'm backing out." Then, she hastily stomped her way to the door and left the theater.

"Not again!" she heard Director Tang Zhi Ping exclaimed.

She was already in the corridor when she felt a pair of hands grabbed her arm to stop walking. Jiro again. Director Zhi Ping is catching up behind him.

"Let go of me!" she yelled at is face and tried to break off.

"You can't back out." Jiro told her seriously, not letting her go.

"Why not?" she spat at him. "I can't stand seeing your face, let alone work with you."

He smirked. "Do you really think I want to work with you?"

She scoffed in too much irritation. "That's the better case. We don't want to work with each other, so let me go."

"Why are you making a big deal out of this? It's just a play. So what if we'll be paired up? Unless, my presence still affects you and you still have feelings for me." He told her, still smirking.

Hebe felt an intense anger rushed through her veins. "You freaking retard! You have the nerve to tell me that? You mean absolutely NOTHING to me now."

Jiro stared at her smugly. "Is that so? Then, prove it, Hebe. Come back inside. If I REALLY meant nothing to you now then there's nothing to make a big fuss about. If you back out, it only means you still have the hots for me."

She gave him a death glare, then scoffed. "Hots for you my foot! What is that, huh, Jiro Wang? A dare?" she struggled to break off again. This time, he let her go.

"Yup. I think so," he said grinning.

They were both taken aback when they heard somebody clapped thunderously. They totally forgot the director is also with them, watching their almost never ending bickerings.

"Perfect!" Director Zhi Ping commented excitedly. "Looks like I don't have to motivate you guys for the roles. It all comes naturally."

Hebe rolled her eyes in annoyance, then glanced at Jiro, who was having this unreadable expression on his face. "Fine then, Jiro Wang. I won't back out. But this is the start of a war." She gave him another cold glare before finally walking back inside the school theater.

[avic]

Chapter 10

Life is Full of Surprises

Hebe and Selina both did an overtake when they saw Ella entered the gate to her house. It was a very unbelievable sight. Ella was wearing a white smocked thin-strapped top and a blue knee-length tiered skirt. She was wearing a pair of high heels she had never worn before.
Ella had just visited a salon. The expert beautician gave her a major overhaul makeover. She put make up on Ella's face, trimmed and gave her hair a treatment to make it softer and shinier. She also had a hand and foot spa. Her fingernails and toenails were done too. Because her finger nails are long enough, the beautician did the French tips.

After the makeover, she put on the clothes she bought from the mall earlier. She didn't know anything about fashion so she consulted some fashion magazines. Ella purposely didn't asked for her cousins' opinion because she wanted to prove them she can do it herself. Besides, she knew they wouldn't be of great help at all.

Well, she liked Hebe's normal sense of fashion, but it wouldn't be enough to make Danson fall head over heels in love with her. So was Selina's. Being an aspiring fashion designer, Ella thought her other cousin's fashion sense is way above 'standard'. Selina's colorful perspective in fashion totally drives Ella crazy.

She smiled at her shocked cousin's reaction and turned around. "What can you say?"

"Oh, my God! Is that really you, El?" Selina asked her, obviously thrilled.

"Ella... I can't... believe... you can be... that..." Hebe stuttered.

"Pretty and sexy?" she finished Hebe's sentence, smirking.

"But there's still a problem with the way you walk, cousin." Hebe muffled hesitantly.

She frowned at Hebe's remark. Then she started to walk towards them, but tripped on her feet. The two helped her stand up as they shook their heads in amusement.

"That's what I was expecting, considering your heels," Selina concluded smiling.

"I wonder who the hell invented these stuff. This is definitely one of the hundred things that make a woman's life miserable," she complained.

Selina beamed another smile. "Well, Ella. Those sorry words only came out from you, loyal sneakers and rubber shoes investor," she teased Ella.

Ella was about to retort, when Hebe wrapped her hands around her all of a sudden, "Congratulations, Ella! You're a REAL woman now!"

"But we still need to teach you how to act like a real woman and be more graceful and finesse."

"That's right!" Selina agreed, clapping her hands. "And I'll be your guide, because I have the grace and poise of a real woman."

"Is that so, Sel? Could be. I think what you really mean is "real girl". As in female kid. Spoiled, that is?" Hebe teased.

"Hey, hey, hey! Look who's--" A loud gasp interrupted what Selina was going to say.

The three girls turned their heads automatically when they heard somebody gasped loudly. It was Ella's mother, her face illuminated with joy and amazement. "Ella Chen Jia Hua! Is that really you, my daughter?"

"Yes. That's really her, Auntie Chen." Hebe chuckled.

Mrs. Chen quickly walked towards them and embraced her. Ella didn't know whether to smile or wince at her mother's reaction.

"Auntie Chen, don't get too excited! She still doesn't know how to walk like a real woman," Selina explained trying her best not to laugh.

"Right, mom. I still have a lot of things to learn. You know? Those girly stuff and all?"

Her mom let go of her and took out her cellphone from her purse. Ella raised an eyebrow in confusion and amusement. "Mom, what are you doing?"

"I'm going to call your dad in Australia." Like Chun's dad, her dad is also working abroad. He is an architect in a major firm company in Australia.

"What for?"

"I'm going to tell him how gorgeous you look now! Wait. Have you seen my digital camera? I'll send him a picture of you in that outfit. I'm sure your father will be thrilled!" her mother told her excitedly.

The three girls exchanged glances and shook their heads. Judging by the woman's reaction, Ella's transformation will create a huge fuss in the whole university. Ella felt excitement and anxiety rushed through her entire body.

==========================================

--Ella's Room—

Selina started teaching Ella her “skills”. Hebe wanted to help too, but since Selina insisted, she thought she’d just sit back and relax for a bit.

"Wow, Ella! I can't believe you're a super fast learner! Look at you! With that, you can probably be a model," Selina complimented her.

"Yeah. I can't believe the tomboy is now a complete girly. You know, Ella, I have a huge feeling your plan will be successful. There's no way that Danson wouldn't fall head over heels in love with you," Hebe said, winking at her.

She heaved out a sigh. "I'm still nervous guys. I don't know if I can pull this off."

"Come on, El. You can do it. With that great personality of yours? I doubt Danson wouldn't drool over you."

She smiled at her cousins. These two are the most honest people in the world for her. Great listeners and shoulders to lean on, well, besides Chun. 'Chun... I wonder what he's doing now...' Because of that incident a few nights ago, they haven't talked to each other lately. "By the way, Hebe, how's your first rehearsal? I was just wondering if you and your leading man had met already? Is he gorgeous?"

"Gorgeous? NO WAY IN HELL! He's a complete jerk. In fact, he's the most obnoxious person in the world!" Hebe stated angrily.

"Really? So... who is he?" It was Selina's turn to ask.

There was an uncomfortable moment of silence between the three. Selina asked Hebe again,"Who is he, Hebe?"

"Jiro Wang." Hebe pronounced the name as if it's the most dreadful and disgusting name on earth.

"Oh, it's him. So... you're backing out, Heb?" Ella asked.

"No," she responded flatly.

"Why?"

"Because I will look immature if I back out just because he's my partner. Can you believe it? That retard even told me if I back out, he'll think I'm still not over him yet."

"Which is?" Ella asked again.

"Not true." Hebe answered coldly.

With those two words said, Ella knew what the real thing is. Hebe is still struggling about her own personal feelings. Jiro, being the actor for the lead male role in the school play, is really unexpectable. While on her side, completely transforming herself just to lure a guy away from the girl she hates, is a total insanity. "Expect the unexpectable", people always say. Indeed, life is full of surprises.

[avic]

Chapter 11
A Familiar Face


--University Gate--

"Hebe, you have script rehearsals today, right?" Ella heard Selina asked Hebe.

"Unfortunately, yes. Shall we not talk about it? The sound of it ruins my day. I'm definitely not in the mood, cousin." Hebe replied sternly.

"Are you ready, Ella?" she turned her head quickly when Hebe asked her that question.

"I think so. Still a bit nervous, but I'll be okay," Ella reassured her cousins with a smile.

"Yeah. Today will be the start of our plan. Ella, good luck!" It was Selina again.

"Sure. Thanks! You too guys, have a nice day!" she winked at them before heading to class.

==================================

That day is the oath taking of the new members of the architectural organization. It was the first day Ella attempted to come to school dressed as a real woman. Every guy she passes as she head to her classroom looks at her with great admiration. The school's tomboy is now a certified head turner. As she entered her classroom, she saw that same admiration in her male classmates' faces. They were surprised when she raised her hand after the professor called her name for the attendance check. Actually, even her professor's eyes widened when he saw Ella's new look. They find it hard to believe that the tomboy with baggy shorts who does nothing but play ballgames is now a sophisticated, sexy and well-poised woman. She had to endure her classmates staring throughout the whole session, even though she did her best not to tell all of them to drop dead. You see, when she had that boyish look, those people didn't even bothered to talk to her and now, some of them even dared ask her number.

She was slightly enjoying the attention. But still, she wasn't used to being treated that way. She's not comfortable with what she's wearing. Those high heels are certainly killing her feet. In a way, she really wanted to help Hebe for pulling that stunt, but she had another two reasons. First is for the sake of her pride. She wanted to prove Chun that she is also beautiful and guys like Danson can fall for her too. The second is for finally letting go of those feelings that make her heart ache now and then.

Even though she had been telling herself that Chun will never love her the way she loves him, somehow, there's still a part of her who wishes that someday he will love her back. Not just a friend but as a woman. Ella realized that she must try to let go of her feelings for him already. She must kill that unrequited love she has for him before she totally drowns in her own tears.

If Chun really loved Angela, then as a friend, she must help him be with the girl of his dreams. She would try to make Danson fall for her so Angela would be free. She would be sacrificing her own happiness to let Chun be happy. Yes, she knew she will be hurt for sure, but she can readily give up everything for Chun's happiness. You may call her the craziest person in the world, but she did not care at all.

Besides, if she can successfully lure Danson away from Angela, she will make three people happy. The first two people are her cousins, Hebe and Selina. She knew Angela would be devastated enough for her cousins' delight, considering Danson had been her boyfriend for a year. It's not like she never felt guilty, but she thought breaking Angela's heart will bring justice to those relationships she ruined as well. The third and last person will be no other than Chun. He can finally be with Angela if she succeeds.

Ella felt her heartbeat racing when she caught a glimpse of Chun talking with Calvin. He hasn't seen her new look yet and she thought he might not recognize her, just like those classmates of hers. She heaved out a sigh and prayed that her high heels would not lat her trip as she passed them.

Calvin was the one who noticed her. He stared at her shamelessly. She smiled at him and he smiled back. She raised her eyebrow amused when Calvin nudged Chun. Chun's eyes met hers and she smiled at him, but she instantly withdrew her stare and continued walking.

"Looks like she's lost, Chun. Isn't she beautiful? What department do you think is she from?" she heard Calvin asked Chun.

"I dunno. She is beautiful, but she's somewhat a familiar face. I think I've seen her somewhere before, I can’t just seem to remember." he replied.

She was tempted to tell him who she is but she thought otherwise when she remembered her plan. She has to avoid him now. At that moment, she remembered that important talk she had with Hebe last night.

--Flashback--

"What are you going to tell me, Hebe?" she asked her cousin hesitantly.

"You know what, Ella? I've been researching about Danson's private life and guess what I learned?" Hebe told her.

"What is it, cousin?"

"Chun and Danson are no ordinary rivals. Even before Danson dated Angela, those two already hated each other. I don't know the whole story, and judging by that expression on your face, Chun obviously didn't tell you about it."

--End of Flashback--

Hebe advised her to stay away from Chun for a while if she really wanted her snatching plan to be a success. If Danson finds out that she and Chun are friends, there's a big possibility that he wouldn't date her. She sighed again as she entered the door of the organization headquarters and accidentally bumped at someone. The impact made her drop her stuff and she was about to pick them up anyways. However, she was not able to move a muscle when she realized who the person she just bumped into was.

============================================

--School Theater--

Hebe is now getting ready for their script rehearsal. The actors and actresses for the play are now sitting and forming a big circle. Director Tang Zhi Ping is in the middle. They haven't even started that rehearsal yet, and she was already bored to death. If only she can control time, she'll definitely end that miserable and boring rehearsal already.

She knew it was entirely her fault for accepting that jerk Jiro Wang's dare, but she only wanted to prove to him he meant nothing to her anymore. She glanced at where Jiro is sitting and saw him chatting happily with the girl next to him. The girl mouthed some words to him. Not an expert mouth-reader, the only word she understood is "tonight".

'Tonight?' she felt her eyebrow jerked upward. Is the girl inviting Jiro out? Hebe twitched her lips in disgust. 'sleeper!' she screamed in her mind.

Jiro pinched his shirt and pulled the front area as if trying to show something on it. His shirt says "Rock Craze". So they're going to meet at his brother's bar? Anyways, what can she expect from Jiro? Those two were obviously flirting during their rehearsal.

"Kate!" Director Zhi Ping called her, but she was so preoccupied with staring at those two. "Hebe!"

She only came back to her senses when Jiro stared at her. "Yes, Director Zhi Ping?"

"It's your monologue now, darling."

She sighed deeply and looked at her script, then recited her lines boringly.

"My gosh, Hebe! Can you recite your lines like you're awake?" the director complained.

She remained silent and exhaled sharply.

"What happened to you, Hebe? You were very good at the audition."

"I think I just don't feel well," she lied.

"You practice at home, okay? Now, it's your script with Jiro. The first repartee." Her eyes met Jiro's and she snubbed him subtly.

"Hey, gorgeous lady. Want a ride?" Jiro recited his lines. He was supposed to be riding a motorcycle.

She would just ignore him but he would follow her. Then he will flash her an enticing smile. She would ignore him again but he would not yield. Jiro will block her way with his motorcycle. "Aren't we being unfriendly?" Jiro asked.

"Aren't you being a pest?" she spat at him.

"Well, maybe. But a handsome pest for that matter." Jiro said winking at her with a smile on his lips. He used to give her that gesture then, and every time he did, she would accuse him of seducing her. Hebe felt her eyes narrowed for remembering that thought. She smirked haughtily before continuing, "Oh! What do we have here? A 'dog' who misspelled himself as a 'god'? You're a pathetic excuse for a man, you jerk. Go to hell you freaking not a very nice person. You--"

"Hey! Hey!" the director cut her off. He looked at the script he was holding and then turned to face her again. "Do we have the same script, Hebe?"

The truth was, those expletives she just recited weren't in the original script. She just felt like saying those words to Jiro. As a result for that discovery, she saw Jiro's smile faded instantly. He looked at her as if he was hurt by how she called him names.

'I told you this is a start of a war, Jiro Wang," she told him silently. But somehow, when she saw that hurt expression in his face, she felt guilty.

And she really hated herself for feeling that way.

[avic]

Chapter 12
New Ella Means New Trouble

Ella is currently in the architectural organization headquarters. She had just finished her oath taking with the other new members. She scanned the crowded room and recognized Chun, who is busy talking with Show and Calvin. She knew he already knows about her new look because when her name was called for the oath taking ceremony, she watched as amazement and confusion registered over Chun's handsome face. But then, he had this unusual and unreadable expression. Chun seemed to be mad and she wondered why.
At the other side of the room, Danson is staring at her and when she caught him, he beamed her a smile. She quickly flashed him a seductive smile in return. The series of events made it easier for her to set her plan into action. When she bumped at him not too long ago, and Danson helped pick up her things, she knew he was attracted to her. He said sorry and introduced himself shyly. 'For effects?' she thought to herself. Nevertheless, she can feel that he is treating her very well.

Maybe she should call it "luck", because after the ceremony, Danson personally marched up to her and eagerly congratulated her.

"Welcome to the Arkistrani family, Ella," he told her smiling. He gripped her hand and shook it lightly.

"Thanks, Danson," she replied nonchalantly.

'I'm looking forward to knowing you more as our new co-member."

"Really? Well, same here."

Danson only let go of her hand when the architectural organization president congratulated her. She looked around and for any sight of Chun, but she did not see him. After some chitchatting with some fellow members, she headed back to the door and was about to go home when a pair of hands grabbed her. "Chun!"

He pulled her almost harshly, and because of her high heels, she tripped on her feet. He grabbed her by the waist to save her from falling. When she opened her eyes, she realized her face only a few centimeters apart from his. She felt horror climbed her spine when she remembered how he kissed her that night when he was drunk. She quickly freed himself from his grasps and tried to look serious.

"What's wrong with you? Why do you have to pull me all of a sudden? Can't you see I'm wearing high heels?" she added a bit of anger in her voice to shake him up.

Chun looked at her and noticed her heels, then raked her body with his eyes. Ella felt as uneasy as ever. That unreadable expression awhile ago registered in his face again. "We need to talk, Ella. In private," he said and grabbed her by the wrist.

Her eyes widened as she saw Danson approaching them. She shook Chun's hand instinctively. "Thanks for congratulating me. I'm also looking forward to being a part of this organization," she told Chun and tried her best to smile. She conveyed a message to him through her eyes. Chun seemed to understand, but his face looked somewhat irritated. She thanked him silently when he let go of her hand.

Ella smiled at Chun again before turning to Danson. "Bye, guys," she said to both of them smiling and walked away.

=============================================

---Ella's Room--

"Mom, just tell Chun I'm already asleep. Is that really hard to do?" she rose to her feet and lazily grabbed the doorknob to open the door. To her surprise, the person standing in front of her was not her mom, but Chun.

"Chun?"

"At least you can still recognize me," he muttered in a mocking tone. He entered her room without another word and closed the door. Then he sat at the end of her bed and looked at her intently.

Now that Chun is already inside of her room, there's no way she can escape from him again. She knew the two of them had to talk. When she pretended not to know him in front of Danson that afternoon, she really felt guilty. She knew he was hurt with what she did.

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I never wanted to act like we don't know each other, but I had to do so because..." she didn't know what to say next. She can't tell him about the whole matter, especially since Angela is involved to her plan.

"I'm sorry too, Ella. But I have to be honest with you. I don't like what you're doing right no. This is crazy. Stop it," he told her seriously.

She faced him and saw anger in his face.

"Stop this, Ella. Return to the old you. You don't have to do this just to prove something to me."

Ella remembered that conversation they had a couple of days ago. Maybe he thought she just wanted to prove him he's wrong so she transformed herself. That was only one of the main reasons she did so, but he doesn't know it.

Didn't he like her new look? Can't he see how beautiful she really is when dressed like a real woman? That instant, she was devastated to realize that even if she changed her look, Chun will still not look at her as a woman. She was just his bestfriend. Nothing else and not that it actually mattered anyways.

"I am not doing this just to prove something to you, Chun. I never made a bet with you. I'm doing this because... because I want Danson to like me too." 'I'm such a LIAR!'

Chun's face darkened when he heard Ella said those words. "You don't have to change yourself just to make some guy like you, Ella."

"You know what? I can't understand you, Chun. You're the one who told me he will never like me because I looked boyish. And now, you're telling me that--"

"If a guy will love you, he must love you for who you really are."

"Why do you have to tell me all this crap, huh? Why can't you just tell me directly that you don't like him for me because you two hated each other, even before?"

Chun became silent.

"I'm right? You don't want me to get close to him because of that! How selfish can you get, Chun? If you and Angela will be together, even if I and my cousins hated her to the core, I will never come between the two of you because I will always support you as your friend. I can even forget about how much I hated her and forgive her if necessary. I will never be against your relationship." She heaved out a deep sigh before continuing, "So you should do the same, Chun. You must let me be. Our love life is different from our friendship."

Chun remained silent and avoided her gaze.

"I have something to ask you. Can you... can you please avoid me and not talk to me in school? If Danson discovers the truth that you and I are friends, he'll definitely avoid me."

Chun felt her heart ached as if someone stabbed it repeatedly. He tried to hide his hurt and sighed. "Do what you want." After saying those words, he quickly rose to his feet and left Ella's room.

"I'm so sorry, Chun.” Ella said softly, as hot tears trickled down her cheeks.

[avic]

Chapter 13
Calvin's Confession

"Hey, Calvin!" Chun greeted his friend that evening.
"Hey, Chun, dude. What's up?" Calvin greeted him, grinning.

"Oh, nothing much. I just had a talk with Ella, that's all," he replied casually.

"How did it go, Chun?"

"Huh?" he asked dumbly.

"Your talk? I mean, did you tell Ella what you really wanted to tell her?"

"Oh, that. Yeah, I did. But I really can't believe her, Cal. She seemed to understand what I had said, and at the same time, she seemed she didn't understand me at all. I don't understand her. Why do girls have to be so troublesome at times?" Chun complained, facing Calvin.

"You know what? That makes two of us." Calvin told him smiling.

"Right. Girls, huh?" Chun chuckled. "Speaking of which, how was your date with the new love of you life, Selina?"

"Let me see... I think I really really had a great time. She's a very interesting lady. Yes, she likes shopping a lot, but also she helped me pick a bunch of nice clothes. We watched some cool movies, went to the park and ate ice cream happily. Can you believe that? Even though she's a bit childish at times, she's never a whiner. All in all, I can say she's a great woman, and I'm happy to be with her. I think I'm already in love with her, Chun."

"Wow. I can't believe it! You're totally into her, huh?"

Calvin smiled and remained silent.

"Do you have something important to tell me, Calvin?"

Calvin exhaled sharply and cleared his throat. "Okay, Chun. I've got something, a secret I had been keeping from you. Well, since I'm already with Selina now and I'm already smitten, I don't think I need to hide it from you anymore."

Chun raised an eyebrow playfully. "A confession? Whoa! Okay then, I forgive you! Now... tell me."

Calvin looked at him seriously then blurted out, "I used to like Ella."

"WHAT? Are you serious, Cal?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes, I am. But did I say it right? I said I USED to like Ella. That means it's all in the past now, Chun. No worries."

"I know, Calvin. But... why didn't you tell her? Or me? I could have built you up for her if you want me to."

He heard Calvin laughed at his remark. "It's okay, Chun. I've already gotten over it. And besides, I wouldn't have met and fell in love with Selina. So... I should be thankful."

"You're right. But still, I don't understand why you never even told her your feelings. It's so not like you. I mean, I've always thought you're a very outspoken person. One more thing, why are YOU confessing all this stuff to me?" he asked Calvin in confusion.

Calvin sighed again, much to Chun's surprise. "I've always known she had this special attention for someone...," he continued then looked at Chun. "...but that someone never seemed to realize it."

"You mean you've always known Ella had a huge crush on Danson? And you never told me because you know we two were sworn enemies, is that it? You should have at least--" Chun was interrupted when Calvin's phone rang all of a sudden. "It's okay, answer it."

Calvin nodded and answered his phone. "Oh, hey, Sel," he greeted gleefully. "Yes, I'll be picking you up. Now?" he glanced at his wrist watch, "Uh-huh... okay then, I'll be right there. See you, honey," he said, finally hanging up. Then he turned to face Chun again. "Chun, I have to go, dude. Something important came up. Let's talk again next time, alright?"

Without a word, he left Chun, who was still confused with all those confessions he just heard. At the back of his mind, he kept on wondering who that 'someone' is. He remembered that day when he asked Ella about the person she likes. He noticed her indulging in deep thinking, but somehow, he didn't mind. He knew how much Ella liked thinking and it's not like he had never seen her too pensive. Sometimes, he even wondered how far those thoughts of her get her to. They had been friends since kindergarten and just because of that Danson everything got messed up. 'That bastard... One of these days, I'll show him what being a man really means...'

"Why did Ella had to like someone as self-centered and as egotistical as him?" he asked. After awhile with no answer, he let out a deep sigh.

But what about those words Calvin said not too long ago? Who is that 'someone' who never realized that special attention Ella had been giving him?

"I'm pretty sure it's Danson. Ella changed her look for him. There's no way, no way, she could've liked someone else," he muttered nodding, trying to convince himself.

But what will Chun do if he finds out he's wrong?

[avic]

Chapter 14
The "Wedding"...?

It was the school fair of the whole university and the theme decided for that year is "Carnival Flair". Every department has its own exhibit. The soccer field is packed with colorful and fun booths, where the whole event will take place. The committee even constructed a Ferris Wheel and some fun rides for amusement in that special annual school fair.
Eversince that oath taking ceremony, Ella and Danson barely had a good talk with each other. They exchanged simple greetings, but nothing else. 'Maybe he already found out Chun and I are friends...' she frowned instantly at that thought. All these hardwork and the whole makeover she'd undergo will be all for nothing. "There's no way Ella Chen will accept defeat!"

Well, she had to think of a good plan to get close to him. She pursed her lips as she scanned the whole soccer field for some good ideas. Her eyes landed on a beautiful and well-decorated booth that says "The Wedding Booth".

"Hmmm... why not? If Danson and I will be "married", then we will have this special connection between the two of us," she muttered to herself smiling. She quickly went to the booth and saw George, Hebe's brother, arranging the props. She remembered the high school department is also participating in that university school fair.

She beamed out a smile as she approached him and greeted, "Hey, younger cousin!"

She saw him turned his head and looked at her. "Oh. Hi, beautiful lady. Why did you call me "younger cousin"? Do I, by any lucky chance, know you?"

That reaction of him made Ella really amused. She forgot only his sister had seen her with that new look. This guy didn't know anything about her transformation. "George, it's me. Your cousin Ella Chen."

"Ella Chen? You mean Ella Jie? But... you look like a gorgeous woman!"

Ella felt the urge to smack her cousin's head, but she did otherwise. She will be needing his help and hurting him is not part of the plan. "Duh? George? Ever heard of this thing called 'makeover'? she told him sarcastically.

She watched as recognition clouded over his face."Wow! Ella Jie! It REALLY is you! I can't believe this, but I should believe this." He inhaled sharply. "What can I help you, Ella Jie?"

She let out a sigh. "George, can you do me a favor? Just this time, please, cousin," she begged.

George thought about it for a while then grinned. "Is that so? No problem! Who is HE?"

'Wow... this guy is awesome. I haven't even told him that favor yet and he already knew. Well, what can I expect from Hebe's brother? Like sister like brother...' she thought smiling. "Danson Tang. You know him, right?"

"Yuppy yup! Of course I know him! You wanna "marry" him? Okay. Sure, I'll help you. But before anything else..." George took her left hand and suddenly handcuffed it, leaving the other handcuff open.

"What's this? Where did you get this and why did you handcuffed me?" she asked, her eyes widening in confusion.

"Ella Jie, leave everything to me. I'm sure you wouldn't want to look like you're dying to be married to him or something," he explained, fiddling his eyebrows.

"Well, you have a point," she mumbled, biting her lower lip. She was supposed to look like a "victim" and know not anything about that "wedding". She followed as George went to the altar.

"Just wait for us here. I'll go find and fetch your groom first. By the way, Ella Jie, you owe me one," he told her winking and walked away from the booth.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hi!"

Ella turned her head when she heard somebody greeted her. It was the "priest". She greeted him back and smiled at him.

"Is it possible for us to be wed?" the phony priest asked her, flirting.

"Nope. I don't think so. YOU are a PRIEST. That'll be against the law of the church. Remember, celibacy?" she responded, trying to hide her discomfort. She's not really used to flirting with guys, especially a fake priest.

"Well, in that case, I'll be willing to give up my priesthood for you."

Ella feigned a laugh. What if she hits his face with the other handcuff?

"You don't need to do that, FATHER."

She automatically faced the owner of that familiar voice. She was shocked to see Chun standing beside her. He took the other open handcuff and locked his hand.

"Let's start the ceremony," he commanded the fake priest.

That made Ella jumped in surprise. "C-Chun?!" she exclaimed in disbelief.

"You should pay the wedding fee first," the bogus priest told Chun, a hint of irritation in his voice.

She watched, still stunned, as Chun took out his wallet and gave NT$50 to the fake priest. "Now, start the wedding." It was Chun again.

"Wait!" she yelled. "Chun! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"

He remained silent and turned to face the fake priest again. " I said start the wedding, FATHER."

She wasn't able to argue when a girl from the booth put a veil on her head and gave her a bouquet of flowers. Then the fake priest announced their wedding on the microphone. Soon, they already have a bunch of people as audience. So they started the ceremony.

"But wait. Before I proceed, is there anyone against this marriage? If so, please raise your hand!" the priest stated.

Ella quickly threw her free hand in the air. "ME! I don't agree with this wedding!"

"You can't say that. You're the bride," he reminded her. "Besides, you and that guy, are locked to each other. You can't escape, even if you want to. Well, unless you'll say you want to marry me instead of him..." the fake priest told her, pointing at Chun. "...then I'll be glad to stop this wedding." He winked at her again.

"FATHER, should you be FLIRTING with my bride?" Chun said, glaring sharply at the bogus priest.

"Well, I just thought the bride here does not like you," the bogus priest pouted.

Chun glared at him sharply again. The fake priest nervously cleared his throat and continued.

Ella stood there and looked dumbly at Chun. not knowing what to do. She cannot believe she was actually with him in that wedding booth. It was such an amazing moment to have happened to her and being his "bride" is a very wonderful thing. But she will just be cheating herself if she gives a heart to what was happening to them. This is just a joke. Nothing is real.

Chun actually RUINED her plan. What if George had already seen Danson? What if he sees her being "married" to his biggest rival? That will be the end of her whole plan.

Ella never knew if she mouthed "I do", but she came back into reality when she felt Chun slipped a silver-plated ring on her finger. She had no choice but to slip a ring on his finger too, without even looking at him.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." The fake priest declared.

Ella took a glance at Chun to read his reaction. She saw confusion, anger and hurt in his eyes. 'What's with that look, Chun?'

The priest let out a cough and repeated, "You may now kiss the bride."

There was an awkward silence between them.

"Hey, are you gonna kiss her or you need ME to do it for you?" the fake priest glanced at Ella and pursed his lips. That gesture of his made Ella want to puke. 'Such an annoying priest! Wait and see, once you get out of that COSTUME, I'll beat the hell out of you!'

Chun suddenly moved and lifted her veil, much to her surprise. He slowly bent down and kissed her lips. It was not a simple smack. His lips lingered on her lips-- enough to make her shiver delightfully and she curse herself for that. Once again, she can't help but remember that kiss they shared when he was drunk. As if having a mind of their own, her lids closed as she felt his lips on hers.

When she opened her eyes, she saw that unreadable expression in his face again. Then, he looked surprised. Maybe he realized what he just did.

Ella felt her cheeks burned when the audience gave them a round of applause. She was even asked to throw her bouquet to the female onlookers. A high school girl caught the bouquet and screamed in joy. She made a side-glance and saw Chun still staring at her intently.

"The wedding is over. Can you PLEASE unlock the handcuffs now?" she asked the fake priest.

"Oh. That? I'm sorry but I don't have the key. Anyways, why do you have to unlock it? You two are married now. Come to think of it, you guys look good as a pair!"

She scoffed and sneered at him, shutting him up.

"Don't be angry, miss. Find George. He has the key."

'My plan is entirely RUINED!' she shouted in her mind. So much for a dreamy wedding to make Danson fall for her.

"Come on, Ella." She heard Chun uttered. She had no choice because they are handcuffed to each other.

They started walking out of the booth.

"HAPPY HONEYMOON, NEWLY WEDS!" They heard the annoying fake priest called out to them, waving his hands in the air.

[avic]

Chapter 15

Ella the Loner


"CHUN! Why did YOU do THAT?!" Ella asked Chun after they left the Wedding Booth.

"Don't ask me "why". You must thank me, Ella."

"Why would I have to thank YOU?"

"For saving you from your craziness," he replied coldly.

"What on earth are you talking about, Chun?"

"What am I talking about?" he scoffed and stopped walking. "I heard your conversation with George. I was behind the two of you but you just did not notice. What has gotten into your mind, El? Why are you doing this? It's so unlike you to do something as stupid as this."

'So that was the REAL reason why Chun suddenly came into picture...' she told herself. She turned her head violently and faced him. "You know what, Chun? I don't think you don't know me enough, really. There's a lot of things about me you don't know yet. If you won't mind, just let me do what I want."

"But that guy has a girlfriend! You KNOW that! This is not right, Ella!"

"Why? If I can make him fall for me, Angela will be yours finally. Isn't that what you always wanted?"

Chun held both her shoulders then mildly shook her body. "You will never succeed. He will never take you seriously, Ella!"

"Is that how "small" you think of me? Too small that no one will ever love me?" she asked him, trying her best not to cry.

"d**n, Ella! You always misunderstand me! He will never take you seriously because he NEVER takes ANYBODY seriously! HE does not know how to love!"

"Look who's talking!" she mocked. "Aren't you the one with those girls you never take seriously? How long is a "relationship" for you? Two to three months? Danson and Angela are together for MORE THAN A YEAR! You're telling me he doesn't love, but you're this great Mr. Count-my-ex-girlfriends-until-you-drop? You have no right to tell me this crap, Chun!"

"Do you really think Danson is in love with her? Tell you what, he is NOT. He's just detaining her in a relationship because he knows I like Angela. That's how much he hated me."

"That's ridiculous! Why would he hate you that much? Is there a reason, or WAS there a reason for him to, Chun?"

"No, it's not ridiculous. It's the truth, Ella. That guy really hates me. I don't want you to get hurt because of him. Please believe me, Ella."

Chun sounded like he cared so much about her. Ella knew how much her friend really cared for her. 'But only as a friend. Nothing more. It's just an obligation,' she reminded herself. "You haven't answered my question yet. Does he have a reason to hate you? Why don't you tell me anything?"

Chun heaved out a deep sigh. "We can't talk about that here."

"Fine!" she yelled. "Let's go find George," she told him, pulling his handcuffed hand, but he stood firm in his place. "What now, Chun?"

"Please, Ella. Give up on him. I know how much you hate wearing those heels." He pointed at her 3-inched high heels.

"Just let me be. I'm old enough to decide for myself."

He did not respond so she continued talking.

"Oh. By the way, thanks for ruining my plan AND my day. I'll forgive you this time, but do not interfere with my plans again. I don't really understand why you had to "marry" me just to sabotage my plan. If you don't like what I'm doing, just keep out of distance."

She glanced at him and saw hurt in his eyes. Ella instantly felt guilty and want to take back those harsh words she just told him.

"Ella, you're being absurd. I don't know what's wrong with you. But I'm hoping one day, you'll get back to your senses and be back to who you really are. I also hope, I hope that you'll be back to being my best girl bud... because it looks like you have completely forgotten about our friendship just because of that Danson."

==============================================

"Hey, George!" Ella shouted her cousin's name. He quickly approached her.

"Ella Jie! Chun Ge?" He muttered Chun's name, surprised. He searched his pockets for the key and hastily unlocked the handcuffs.

"Chun, I'll see you around. We have to go," she told Chun and pulled George away.

==============================================

"Ella Jie! What happened? Why did you got married with your own bestfriend? I thought you like Danson Tang." George asked her in confusion.

Ella sighed loudly. "It's a long story, George. But did Danson see us?"

To her dismay, her cousin nodded."He did. We were about to enter the booth when we saw a big crowd gathering outside. Then, we saw you and Chun Ge came out. I had no choice but to let him and some girl get married so it wouldn't look like he was completely set up."

She felt her shoulder dropped as she bid goodbye to George. Her plan is entirely ruined. She LOST. She can no longer help Hebe teach Angela a lesson. And it was all because of Chun. Now that Danson had already knew about her friendship, now a "marriage" with Chun, he will surely start avoiding her now.

Ella was about to stop by the booth she knew Hebe is in to tell today's mishaps and her misery, when she came to the Ferris Wheel. She soon found hersef buying the ticket for a ride. As she looked around her, she realized that all the other costumers are in pairs. That made her even more frustrated. She had never felt so lonely in her life until that moment.

When she mounted, the guide didn't close the door instantly. "Are you all by yourself, miss?" he asked.

Ella nodded half-heartedly and the guide was about to close the door when a guy stopped him from doing so.

"Can I hitch a ride, Ella?" The guy told her and beamed her a heartstopping smile.

[avic]

Chapter 16
Childhood Memoirs

"Can I hitch a ride, Ella?" The guy told her and beamed her a heartstopping smile.
“D-Danson…?” Ella asked tentatively as she recognized who he was. She quickly got a hold of herself and calmly nodded in approval.

To her amazement, Danson swiftly sidled and sat down next to her.

The two of them remained silent as they rode the Ferris Wheel, but Danson suddenly spoke again, breaking the ice. “Are you enjoying the school fair, Ella?” he asked her smiling.

She crossed her arms and pretended to consider. “I think I appear so. How about you, Danson?”

“Uh, me? Well, I guess I am too. I never really had time to go to carnivals, amusement parks and such. But I think, high school students enjoy more in events like this, don’t you think?”

She beamed him a warm smile and nodded.

At that point, they were at the peak of the Ferris Wheel and Ella had the chance to view the entire school fair. She really liked that sight. Then she suddenly remembered her childhood days with Chun. When they were young, they used to enjoy going to amusement parks and eating cotton candies together. They really loved riding the Ferris Wheel most. On her first time riding the Ferris Wheel, she remembered how she kept on tugging Chun’s sleeve because she was really afraid she might fall. She smiled as she was reminded of how innocent she was back then.

“Some memories?” Danson asked abruptly, interrupting her reminiscing.

“Huh?” She mouthed dumbly, coming back to her senses. How could she possibly reminisce about her childhood memories with Chun while she is actually WITH Danson? In fact, she should be grabbing this fatal chance and setting her plans into actions already, not dawdling with her past. “How did you know, Danson?”

He smirked and looked at her carefully. “I can read minds.”

“Really?” She asked as she gave him a lopsided smile and tauntingly raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah. I can tell what people feel just by holding their hands. Do you want me to feel you, Ella?”

“Pardon?” She almost choked on the word. Those last words that escaped from his mouth seemed to convey a different “meaning.” Is this guy flirting with her already?

He laughed at her remark. “I mean, do you want me to tell you how you feel right now?”

“Oh. Okay then.” Ella pursed her lips and smiled again. She knew he was just bluffing, but she thought she will just play along with him.

“Give me your hand, Ella.”

She did what he told her and watched his next move. Danson grasped her hand a bit tightly as he stared in her eyes. She tried her best not to break away from his gaze. He continued eyeing her intently for a few seconds before he finally spoke. “I see sadness in you…”

“Huh?” She mouthed dumbly again. ‘Just what exactly is this guy up to?’

“You need someone to take away that sadness, Ella.”

She felt her eyebrow rose higher as he muttered those words. ‘Can he really read minds?’

Danson squeezed her hand softly; eyes still locked on hers and continued what he was saying. “Ella, you need… someone… like me… to take away that sadness…” he told her, a slight smile curling in his lips.

‘That was not “mind reading”… that was obviously called “flirting.’ She said to herself as she strived not to allow herself fall into his trap.

===========================================


“Chun Wu, it’s all your fault!” he blamed himself as he sat down on a bench near the Ferris Wheel. He had spent about twenty minutes walking and cursing himself for everything that had made Ella distressed that day. He sighed in frustration and closed his eyes.

[Chun’s POV]

I’m starting to hate myself for saying those words to you, Ella. It’s entirely my fault you changed your look. If I hadn’t told you that you’re not Danson’s type, you probably wouldn’t have thought about BECOMING his type! And now… I even “married” you, my own best friend, and worst of all… I… I…. I KISSED YOU ON THE LIPS!

The kiss… our kiss…

You might not forgive me if I tell you this, but I really enjoyed kissing you Ella… Our kiss, it’s different from those kisses I had before. The feeling of your lips in mine is somewhat… familiar.

But why?

[End of POV]

A sudden realization made him open his eyes and come back to his senses. “Ella is my BEST FRIEND! How can I enjoy kissing her? Chun, what are you thinking?” he cursed himself again and clenched his fist. He filled his chest with air and calmed himself down, his eyes fixed on the Ferris Wheel. He quickly remembered his childhood days. He and Ella used to enjoy riding the Ferris Wheel together.

They had shared a million memories with each other, and those moments made his childhood worth remembering.

-Flashback-

The Chens had just moved in Taipei from Pingtung. Not sooner, Ella’s father flew to Australia for work. Because they were new in the city, Ella’s mom had to drop Little Ella to a daycare center, when she needs to do house chores and buy groceries. The two of them were seatmates then.

One time, Little Ella forgot to bring her crayons. She just gaped at Little Chun’s crayons, which were messily scattered on his desk, as he stared at the wall clock, waiting for the recess time to come. Chun used to be lazy and incompetent back then, a slacker.

Feeling someone staring at him, he turned his head and caught Ella’s gaze. “What do you want?” he snarled at her. For some reason, the teacher was not around them to supervise that moment.

“Aren’t you gonna use those?” Little Ella pointed at his crayons.

“No.”

“Can I borrow them?” she asked again.

“No.”

“Why not?” It was Little Ella again.

“Because I said so!”

“If you let me use your crayons, I’ll help color your coloring book.” She offered and smiled.

“Are you deaf? I told you I don’t want to lend you my crayons!” He yelled. “But if you really want them, then here!” he tossed his crayons in the air, some landed on Ella’s head.
Ella’s smile quickly faded as she stood up and hastily picked up Chun’s crayons. She set them on Chun’s table and again and stared at him sharply.

“What? Are you going to call the teacher now? I don’t care. I’m not really scared of-“

*SLAP*

Chun was really surprised when Ella slapped him. Hands on her waist, she reprimanded him. “Chun Moo! How dare you do that! Do you have any idea how many kids in Africa would want those crayons you just threw away? Apologize now.”

“My name is Chun Wu, not Moo! I NEVER apologize. And why? Have you been to Africa to tell me all these?”

“Nope. But my mom told me. She’s a nurse and she used to work there. Apologize, NOW.”

‘Why am I fighting with this girl anyways?’ He asked himself and threw his hands in the air in surrender. “Okay! Okay! I’m sorry for yelling at you and for throwing those crayons. If you want to borrow them, then I’m allowing you to.”

“Thank you.” She smiled at him. “Oh. I don’t have any friends here yet so… Can you be my friend, Chun?”

He sighed and nodded his head. “Okay. But promise me you won’t slap me again.”

=========================================

-Recess-

Little Chun was really happy his favorite time has come. He quickly opened his bag to see what his snack was and saw… nothing. ‘Crap! I forgot to bring my mom’s packed food!’

On the other side of the room, Little Ella watched as panic rushed over Chun’s face. She tried her best not to laugh, and approached him. ‘I think he forgot his snack bag. He’s too lazy to even bring his snack bag?’ she thought to herself smiling. “What’s wrong, Chun?”

“I… I… I forgot my snack bag at home…” he told her sadly, his shoulders dropped.

Without another word, Little Ella took out her lunch box and gave Chun a pack of roasted cashews her mom packed for her earlier.

“What are these?” he asked surprised.

“They’re cashew nuts.”

“Are they yummy?”

“Yes. They’re my favorite. I don’t usually share them, but since you lend me your crayons, and we’re friends already, I’m giving them to you.” She told him smiling.

“Thank you, Ella Chen Jia Hua.”

“Hey, how did you know my full name?”

“I just do.”

“No, really. How?”

“You’ve got the same name as the little kid next door to my house. Her family just moved and I haven’t seen her yet, but my mom told me her name.” Chun responded.

“Really? Hmm… is the name of your village Yuan Wei Village, Chun?”

“Yes, why?” he asked, and then it finally hit him. “Then… you really ARE that girl! We’re neighbors! We can visit each other everyday! Well… if that’s okay to you.”

Little Ella beamed a huge smile and nodded her head.

So that was the bizarre starting point of their so-called friendship.

=======================================

They had just boarded the Ferris Wheel and it was Little Ella’s first time. As a promise for her sixth birthday, her mom and Chun’s mom allowed them to go to the amusement park. She was so scared, she kept on tugging Little Chun’s sleeves.

“Chun, I’m scared,” she whimpered.

“Shh.. it’s okay, I’m here, Ella. I will never leave you.” He patted Ella’s back and gave her a hug.

“But what if I fall?”

“Then, Super Chun will catch you!” he raised his hand like a superhero.

“How?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “You don’t have super powers. Besides, we’re riding together. You cannot catch me.”

He grinned and took her small hand. “Well, I guess I’ll just hold your hand as we fall together. Well… is Ella still scared?”

Ella smiled and cheerfully shook her head.

- End of Flashback -

Chun smiled to himself as he remembered those memories. “I wish we can ride the Ferris Wheel again, Ella… together,” He murmured as he glanced at the Ferris Wheel. He searched the crowd and recognized that familiar face he really hated. “Danson Tang.” He seemed to be in a deep conversation with the girl beside him. ‘Must be one of those victims of his again…’

But as he watched them from the distance, he began to recognize the girl’s face. That sudden realization made his heart pulsated, a piercing sensation succumb his whole body. “Ella…?”

[avic]

Chapter 17
An Elating Kiss


======================================

Ella couldn’t possibly believe everything will happen that fast. All of a sudden, Danson already know her mobile number. And in an exaggerative speaking, sends her an average of twenty messages a day. He even accompanies her to the library, and treats her during lunch time, which is exactly a way too speedy development. One time, he even watched her soccer practice, much to Ella’s astonishment. She had no choice but to act finesse and keep her poise, but the truth was she’s a very fierce soccer player. He even sent her flowers and gifts. Everything seemed like a miracle for her.

======================================

---Girl’s Locker Room---

Hebe was really psyched about the whole occurrence. She felt to her bones that her cousin’s snatching plan will be a success. No more doubts, there’s proof.

“Ella, you’re so awesome!”

“Thanks, Hebe. But I think everything is happening too fast. I need to maintain my pace, or else something unexpectable might ruin everything again.” She was pertaining to Chun’s sabotaging her Wedding Plan a couple of days ago.

“Yeah. I guess so too. I think maybe you should play a little hard-to-get make Danson curious about you more. Just like the saying, “Curiosity killed the cat.” It’ll be easier for you to know your enemy’s weak points, and what makes that Danson Tang tick.” Hebe told her smiling.

“Uh-huh. Especially now that we still don’t know if he’s really sincere or just cooking something up. I still don’t trust him enough, Hebe. In this university, only a very few people knew about him having a girlfriend. Maybe he thought I’m one of those clueless prigs he’d encountered and-- victimized. Perhaps, I’m going to prove him wrong if he ever thought of me that way.” She replied, nodding her head in agreement.

Hebe remained silent as she looked at Ella intently.

“Hey! What are you looking at?” she pouted.

“Ella, I know you feel bad about your current status with Chun. If you have any heart to tell me, I’m always here to listen, and you know that.”

Hebe was right. Chun had been keeping his distance from her. The isolation started the next day after the day they got “married”. They haven’t spoken to each other since. Without Chun by her side, she feels a part of her missing. She heaved out a deep sigh and tried to change the subject. “I envy Selina, at least she had found the man of her dreams now.”

“That’s right. And he’s keeping her busy. I don’t even had the chance to talk to her yesterday. Says she has a date to attend to. I have never seen her be that busy before and you know, as a friend and cousin, I feel both happy and sad for her. Happy that she has found the right guy, I think, and at the same time, sad because we threesome couldn’t hang out anymore.”

“Looks like you’re right. But we can still hang out, just us two, Hebe.”

“Hmmm… Right! In that case, let’s meet at Rock Craze tonight. The Celestials will be performing there starting today… about the details why I accepted Juno’s offer, I’ll tell you later. Gotta go, cousin!” Hebe informed Ella and walked away.

‘Something is odd… Why DID Hebe ACCEPTED Juno Wang’s offer?’

============================================

--Rock Craze Bar--

Hebe’s band mates couldn’t believe that Hebe accepted Juno’s brother to perform in that bar. The other they, they had formally signed a three-month contract. Rainie was overwhelming with happiness. She was the reason why Hebe had got herself to accept the offer.

Rainie’s mom was hospitalized. She was diagnosed of having diabetes and needed insulin maintenance and other special medications. Hebe knew how much her band mate needed money, and she’s not a stone-hearted freak. She even promised to give Rainie her share for the medication of the latter’s mom.

Hebe had no more reason to avoid Jiro. Now that she had to see him almost EVERYDAY during rehearsals, what’s the point?

She scanned the bar for any sight of her cousin. ‘Ella… you’re supposed to be here ages ago… where are you?’

No sight of Ella. Sigh.

She sat down and rested her back. They had just finished performing for that night. Some major band is performing in the stage now. For some reason, she felt frustrated and so annoyed. Frustrated that Ella is late and annoyed because… Jiro isn’t around either. She had a d**n clue where he might be. ‘I guess he’s enjoying himself with that freshman girl. What was her name? Oh… Ariel Lin? Yeah. Eeek. What a childish name. I wonder why parents name their kids awful names as that.”

She ordered a glass of beer and drank its contents in one gulp. After that, she ordered another one and did the same. Then, another one again. She’s not really a drunkard, but at that moment, she just felt like drinking her aggravation away.

“Hebe, that’s enough!” she heard somebody hollered and took the glass from her grasp. She looked up and recognized the owner of the voice. “Ella…?”

“Yes. It’s me.”

“You’re late. Extremely late.” Hebe mocked.

“I know, I know. So stop drinking.”

“Why? I’m just enjoying myself.” She pouted and grabbed her glass of beer back.

“Enjoying yourself? Ha-ha. That’s obviously drowning yourself with alcohol. Enjoying is DANCING. You’re so being emo, right now, Heb.”

GuiGui approached them and saw Hebe holding the glass of beer. “Hebe, stop drinking. Who’s going to drive the car if you're drunk? You know I didn’t take my car with me tonight.”

“Well… Ella is here. She can drive for us. Right?”
Ella rolled her eyes and nodded her head. “But that doesn’t mean you can drink yourself to death.”

“Any problems, Hebe? Come on, you can always tell us.”

Hebe sighed and looked at Ella. How can she explain everything to GuiGui? She herself don’t know what her real problem is.

“Nothing. I guess I was just too stressed-out. You know, I have school, play rehearsals, and the band. Luckily, I only have taekwondo lessons every Sunday, or else, I’d be dead meat by now.”

“Is Jiro another reason? Because he’s your partner in that school play?” GuiGui asked again.

“How did you know, GuiGui?” It was Ella.

“George told me.”

Hebe made a mental note to give her brother a knock on the head when she got home. ‘Imbecile! Stupid brother!’

“Why did you join that play in the first place? I think Jiro IS your problem.”

Hebe heard Ella laughed and responded to GuiGui, “I don’t think Jiro really is the problem…”Ella looked at her. “I think Hebe’s just too stressed-out just like what she had said before.”

She thanked Ella silently for rescuing her. She cannot tell GuiGui the reason why she joined the play. That matter is strictly just between her and her cousins. She was about to tell GuiGui to drop the topic already when she heard someone greeted them.

“Hi, Ella! Hi, Hebe! Fancy seeing you guys here.” It was Angela, with her two sidekicks.

‘Another person to make my day.’ Hebe thought. She drank her beer again and said nothing. Ella remained silent too.

“I see you’ve finally recovered. Had a hard time moving on about your break-up with Jiro?” Angela told her tauntingly.

Angela was obviously mocking her. Hebe thought she had to fight back, even in an indirect way. “GuiGui, if I were you, be careful with those other girls circling your boyfriend. You wouldn’t know it, but he might not be here with you because he is with one of them. What Peter had experienced can happen to clueless John too.”

Ella and looked at her cousin gave her a lopsided smile. ‘Nice one, Hebe. Now you’re trying to give her a hint about our “Snatch Danson Plan”. She stole Jiro from you and now… I am stealing Danson from her. What a clueless Angela.’

To Ella and Hebe’s dismay, GuiGui didn’t get the message right. “Oh, that’s great to hear! At least you share experiences with and learn lessons from others. How noble of you!”

Hebe gritted her teeth as she continued, “ And what John had done to Peter, Peter can also do to John. So John shouldn’t be so carefree and relaxed.

The slow minded Angela didn’t seem to get it either. “I think Peter cannot do what John had done to him. Why? Because Peter is a loser.” She laughed, her sidekicks joining too, as they walked away.

===================================

“Hebe, I told you to stop drinking!” Ella tried to grab the glass of beer but Hebe’s grasp was just too strong. Her cousin gobbled up the beer again.

“Oh, come on, Rainie, I’m not drunk yet. By the way, where’s Ella?” Hebe told her.

“Duh? I AM ELLA.” Ella grabbed the glass again, and this time, she was able to. She set the glass on the far side of the counter. “Hebe, let’s go home. You’re drunk already.”

“Where’s Rainie?”

“In the comfort room, I guess. Come on. Let’s go home now.”

“I don’t want to yet. And I’m not drunk okay, Ella?”

“With that look, I’m certain that you are. You won’t even be able to walk without stumbling because of your drunkenness.”

“What made you say that? I can still walk properly. Watch me.” Hebe stood up and started walking, or rather swaying. She almost tripped on her fourth step. If not for someone who saved her from falling, she could have hurt herself. He smelled achingly familiar. When she looked up, she recognized who he was.

“Why have you been drinking? You’re not used to it, Hebe.” Jiro was lecturing her in a gentle way.

“Jiro,” she whispered and looked at him as if enthralled. In that moment, she couldn’t find any allusion of anger for him. She just felt the strong need to feel his body close to hers. She held on him tightly.

Hebe heard gasps from the people around them, but did not care. She felt his arms surrounded her as she sighed in deep contentment. How she missed that place. “Hebe…” She heard him whispered her name.

She looked at him again and met his eyes. There was confusion in his eyes as he gazed at her. As if having a mind of its own, her body leaned over as she reached for his lips. When her lips touched his, she felt euphoric and elated.

=========================================

[avic]

Chapter 18
Sinful Women
--Bus--
“Ella, you’re in a very deep thinking again.” Ella heard Danson remarked. She looked at him and gave him a lopsided smile.

Today is the excursion of their architectural organization. They are going to visit an ongoing site of one of the major construction companies in their country. She and Danson were
seatmates. Since Chun had been keeping himself away from her for days, she felt he might not want to sit next to her in the bus so she asked Danson instead.

“Well, I guess I’m just a very pensive person.”

“I wish I could delve into your inner thoughts,” he responded with a sigh.

“Hey, aren’t you a mind reader?” she teased. The truth was, even though Danson is a playboy; Ella found him a very nice person. Yes, he’s naughty, but she really enjoyed keeping him company.

“If you let me kiss your hand, I might read what’s on your mind,” he told her smiling.

Ella playfully stuck out her tongue. “Your gimmick is dreadfully passé. You phony mind reader. I’m sorry but you can’t fool me again.”

Danson leaned on the backrest and closed his eyes. Ella thought he had stopped making fun of her, but she was wrong. She was taken aback when Danson took her hand and held it tightly. Then he acted as if he was sleeping. She tried to pull her hand back but he was too strong for her. She can’t help but shake her head in amusement, and smile at his childishness as she look at him with narrow eyes.

‘This guy is so devious.’ Ella thought to herself. She turned her head and caught Chun staring at her. His eyes were blazing with anger. Perhaps he really did not like the idea of his best friend dating his enemy. He quickly looked away and looked outside the window. She suddenly felt gloomy. ‘If you only know how much I miss you right now, Chun.’

It was hard living each day without Chun by her side.

========================================

Later that day…

After they had returned home from their trip, Ella waved goodbye to Danson and decided to pay Hebe a visit in the school theater. There are a lot of things to discuss about certain matters so they needed to talk.


--School Theater--

As Ella entered the school theater, she heard Director Tang Zhi Ping called on Hebe and Jiro. “Kate and Pete. Next scene! Come out now!”

In a few moments, the two were already on the stage. Director Zhi Ping instructed them what to do. In the scene, Kate is teaching Pete taekwondo. Even though he was already a blackbelter, he deliberately enrolled in the training center where Kate is teaching just to get closer to her. Kate was obviously not happy about it because she was annoyed by Pete’s frequent flirting. She demonstrated a roundhouse kick.

“Do it.” Hebe commanded.

Jiro grinned naughtily and followed her.

“Higher, you idiot!” she squealed impatiently.

“I’m not deaf, baby,” he responded coolly.

“Don’t “baby” me,” she hissed.

He approached her and looked in her eyes with longing. “But I want you to be my baby.”

Hebe maintained her still face. She couldn’t understand why she felt his sincerity in those dialogues. The expression his eyes arrayed seemed to be real too.

“Music!” They heard the director hollered.

Then Jiro sang the first part of their duet. She followed. The song was grunge rock. The two of them were arguing but in musical way. Before the end of the song, Director Zhi Ping told them to return in the position. Her face only a few centimeters from his, she felt perturbed by the way Jiro looked at her. The way he looked at her at that moment was familiar. He looked at her like whenever he was preparing to kiss her then. She felt her cheeks crimsoned.

Her thoughts were disrupted when she heard somebody coughed loudly.

“Are you going to stare at each other all day?” The director asked at the top of his voice.

That was the only time Hebe remembered it was her turn to say her lines now.

===========================

“How was your trip?” Hebe asked Ella after the rehearsals. “It’s a good thing you paid me a visit, by the way.”

“Geez. You sounded so bored, but I don’t think you really are, cousin,” Ella teased.

“Oh, com’on, Ella! Give me a break!”

“Okay. Okay! You were asking how was my trip, right? Well… a lot of things happened today. Most of the time, Danson is flirting and Chun is watching him with dagger eyes. I have never seen Chun looked that mad before… and it’s scary.”

“Really? W-O-W. Danson is flirting, Chun is mad. Goodness! You are such a sinful woman, Ella Chen. I can’t blame you though. Being sinful isn’t an issue, being beautiful IS.” Hebe pretended to shake her head in dismay, but burst out laughing. Ella cannot help but laugh at her cousin too.

“But there’s still something I need to tell you, Hebe.”

“What is it? Tell me, Ella!” Hebe exclaimed excitedly.

There was a moment of silence between them as tension builds up.

Ella heaved out before she continued. “Danson Tang finally asked me out on an official date.”

“REALLY? That’s great, Ella!” Hebe told her, obviously ecstatic.

“I guess so.”

“So, when will it be? When is your date?”

“Tomorrow night, 7:00 pm at I don’t know. He said it’s a “secret.”

“Awesome! I can’t wait to see Angela’s face when she learns you are currently dating his boyfriend. Sweet revenge… I love it. This is our chance to ruin that mighty Angela Zhang.” Hebe raised an eyebrow and smirked.

Ella smiled and nodded. “Oh… and speaking of chances, is there a chance for you and Jiro to reconcile and be a couple again?”

That question of Ella was like a big slap on Hebe’s face. “What are you talking about, Ella? Goodness, you’re not making any sense at all.”

“Is that so? After your shameless make out at Rock Craze last night, I think, there is a basis for my question, Hebe. Besides you’re more sinful than I am! ”

“Huh? What on earth is this crap? What are you talking about?”

Ella raised an eyebrow. “You mean, you don’t remember anything about last night. Not a single thing?”

Hebe shook her head in confusion. “Why? What happened last night?” The truth was, she couldn’t remember how she got home last night, but she didn’t bother asking because she was sure Rainie, GuiGui or Ella sent her home.

“Hebe, you hugged and kissed Jiro last night!” Ella whispered audibly.

“WHAT?!” She asked in disbelief. “Tell me you’re just kidding.”

Ella rolled her eyes and stared at her. “I wish I am, but I’m not. So that means, “NO”. I AM DEAD SERIOUS. I see you’re really drunk you couldn’t remember a thing about what you did. Mind you, there’s a LOT of witnesses.”

“Oh, great…” Hebe muttered, as she went red to the roots of her hair. So that’s why Jiro looked at her like that during their rehearsal. “Tell me what I have done.”

“You walked, or rather swayed, and you almost fell if not for him. He saved you from falling. Then, you hugged him, leaned over and kissed him on the lips! Not just a simple smack. You two were making out in front of our very eyes. After you kissed, and you’re still hugging him, you said words like, “I love you… Don’t leave me…” I was so shocked with what you had said. Then Jiro replied, “I won’t leave you.” To tell you honestly, we were like watching a romantic flick last night,” Ella detailed.

Did she really do that? Did she really say she loved him? “Not just a simple smack? B-but did Jiro… did he respond?”

“At first, he was obviously shocked with what you did. But… YES… he responded. Eagerly, I think.”


Jiro responded eagerly! She really couldn’t remember anything that happened last night. All she knew was, somewhere in her sleep, she felt so happy.

“Oh. Before anything else, he was the one who sent you home last night. Therefore, I thought you guys had reconciled.”

“He was the one who sent me home?”

“Yes, because you don’t want to break away from your hug.”

Hebe hit her forehead with her hand. “What the hell have I done?”

“Well, I think… you two need to talk.” Ella counseled her.

“Why do we need to?” Hebe almost snapped, trying to hide her embarrassment.

“Because I think, there was no proper closure. You didn’t give Jiro a chance to defend himself. What do you know, maybe he has no fault. Even if you really see it with your own eyes, you should’ve given him a chance to explain. I’m sure he was hurt badly because you didn’t trust him.”

Hebe remained silent. ‘Ella has a point. But still…’

“You guys should talk, Hebe.”

“What for? It’s been two years already. What’s done is done. Talking about it is useless.”

Ella looked at her intently and pursed her lips. “Because I think… you two still love each other.” Ella winked at her and walked away.

[avic]

Chapter 19
Slap of Reality


=============================================

7:15 pm.

Ella glanced at the wall clock in their living room and realized that she will have to wait 15 minutes more. Danson will be coming to her house to fetch her. She sighed as she remembered that phone conversation she had with him last night.

[Flashback]

“Hey, Ella.” Danson greeted her from the other line.

“Oh, hello, Danson. What made you call so late?” She asked.

“I was just wondering if I can fetch you tomorrow night for our date. Is that okay with you?”

“Well, I guess that’s completely fine with me, Danson.”

“Great! Just tell me your address and I’ll be there 7:30pm sharp.”

Ella dictated to him the address of her home. As expected, Danson seemed to be surprised that she is living in the SAME village with his CURRENT girlfriend, Angela Zhang.

“Y-You live in Yuan Wei Village?” Ella heard him asked, a hint of panic in his voice.

“Yeah. Why? Do you know somebody who lives here too?”

“Nope. The place was just sort of… familiar.”

“Oh. I wonder “why”. Okay, gotta sleep, Danson. Good night and sweet dreams!” She hang up without a reply from him.

[End of Flashback]

Ella heaved out a deep sigh again and rested her back on the couch. It’s a good thing Chun’s not home tonight… or else those two might kill each other.

==========================================

Danson fetched Ella at exactly 7:30pm. The guy is awfully smart. He knew what route to take to avoid passing by the house of Angela. Well, not that Ella found it a bummer. The original plan was to make Danson fall for her and leave Angela. There's still a lot of time for other schemes, no need to rush.

“Ella... you’re gorgeous,” he complimented her. His eyes seemed to sparkle as he stared at her.

She smiled as she raised her goblet in the air. He brought her in a classy and exclusive restaurant for that romantic dinner. No wonder, the guy is filthy rich.

“I can’t stop thinking about you, Ella…” He muttered again and looked her in the eyes.

“You’re making me blush,” she mumbled as she stared down and broke the gaze.

He took her hand and lifted her chin again. “I think I’m falling for you, Ella. Please be my girl.”

“A-Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?” She asked him, her eyes widening in amazement. ‘So this is the feeling of victory…’

“Yes.” He held onto her hand tightly.

She pulled her hand back and shook her head.

“No?”

“Danson, please give me some time to think about it.”

“Ella…”

“I don’t know you enough. I’ve heard some students from the university talking about you already having a girlfriend.”

“That’s not true.”

‘Liar!’ She shouted in her head. She was tempted to say the name of Angela but retracted from the idea. “If you really love me, you’ll give me time to think about it.”

He nodded his head as if an obedient child, but Ella knew how dismayed he was.

=========================================

After the dinner, he escorted her to her home again, without passing by Angela’s house.

“Thanks for the scrumptious dinner, Danson.”

“Thanks too… for being with me.” He reached for her hand and clasped it. “I’ll wait for your answer, Ella. I love you,” She did no further protest when he bent down and planted a kiss on her cheek.

They were surprised when the door of her house suddenly flew open.

“C-Chun...” she muttered softly.

“Chun Wu?” Danson asked, apparently surprised. “What are you doing here? Why are you in Ella’s house?”

“He’s a neighbor of mine,” she responded and looked at Chun. ‘Is he drunk?’

Chun approached them and stared at her. “How long will you deny that you don’t know me? How long are you going to act as if we’re not friends, Ella?”

Her hunch was right. Chun IS drunk. “Chun, go home already. You’re drunk.”

“You guys are friends?” Danson asked in disbelief.

“That’s right!” Chun yelled at him. “So get away from her! I will never let you hurt Ella!”

“Chun, come on. Go home and take a rest, okay?” Ella took his arm and tried to drag him, but he was too strong. Because Chun is drunk, she was scared he might do something bad on Danson.

Chun pointed his finger at Danson. “Get away from Ella! I don’t want to see you come near her again!”

“You have no right to tell me what to do, Chun Wu! You’re just someone she knows. We two are different.”

“Of course I have the right to! We’re childhood friends, so it’s my obligation to protect her from people like you!”

“Chun, stop it already!” She tried to drag him away again but did not prevail.

Danson smirked. “Look who’s talking. You talk as if a righteous person, but you knew to yourself you aren’t.”

“Danson, please, go home now.”

“Don’t ever think I’ll get away from Ella just because some impertinent like you told me so. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I’m not as stupid as you think.”

“You want to have two girls at once? You have Angela, and now you want Ella too? Don’t forget Angela is still your girlfriend and that girlfriend of yours is living in this same village!” Chun wiggled his arm, and she unclasped it. But it was a wrong move. Seconds later, he was approaching Danson and punched him on the face.

That was the start of their fist fight. Ella didn’t know what to do with the two guys. Luckily, Ella’s mom went outside and saw them. The woman quickly bolted to Chun’s house. “Mary! Mary! Your son!”

“Stop it!” Ella shouted, but they didn’t listen. She tried to stop them. Chun is drunk and he will be no match to Danson at that state. Chun was already on the floor but Danson kept on punching him. In her anger, she pulled Danson’s arm as strong as she could, and that made him stop.

Still surprised with what she did, her heart is throbbing loudly because of anger and tension. “Go home. Now!”

Chun’s mom suddenly rushed and hit Danson with a broom stick. “You! If something bad happens to my son, I’m sure you’ll be liable for it!”

Danson stopped the broom and retorted, “Your useless son started it!”

That made Ella really mad. She swiftly approached Danson and slapped his face. “Are you back into reality now? Stop venting your anger to someone else’s mother!” She sighed and looked at him. “I’ve seen enough of you tonight, Danson.”

Ella went back inside her house and didn’t turn around even when she heard him call her name.

[avic]

Chapter 20

Forgetting





============================================

Ella dropped by Chun’s house before going to school to see how her best friend is. She saw him sitting on his bed and resting his head on the headboard, his eyes shut. She couldn’t help but feel guilty with that sight of Chun. His left upper eyelid was wounded; his face and lips swelling a little. She knew that he was hurt badly because she saw how Danson beat him up with her own eyes. He was drunk and couldn’t fight with his original strength so he was no match for Danson that time.

Ella will never forgive Danson for beating Chun. Even though Chun was the one who started it, Danson shouldn’t have given a d**n on him knowing that her best friend is drunk.

Chun just wanted to protect her from Danson. Of course, it’s likely for him to think that Danson is only playing with her feelings, for the latter has a girlfriend. Moreover, it’s normal for him to think that she’s crazy for dating somebody who she knew has a girlfriend already. All he wanted to do was protect her because she was his best friend. She sat on the edge of Chun’s bed.

Chun opened his eyes when he felt somebody sat on the bed.

“Ella…” he said softly. “I’m sorry. I ruined your night…”

She shook her head no. “I’m the one who should be saying that, Chun. Look at you. You can’t go to school like that. Didn’t I tell you not to drink too much? Your alcohol tolerance is low… so you’re not born to be a drunkard.”

“You’re APOLOGIZING, but you sounded as if BLAMING me,” He shook his head and flashed her a smile.

Ella looked at him and playfully pouted her lips.

“Uhh… Ella?”

“Hmmm?”

“Do you want me to smack your head?”

“HUH?!”

“To make you come back to your senses. To get you back into reality.”

Ella heaved out a deep sigh.

“Stop it, Ella. You know what you’re doing is wrong. Give yourself some respect. Stop dating Danson.”

Ella remained silent. ‘How can I make him understand everything?’

“Please, Ella. Listen to me. I don’t want to see you get hurt just because of that Danson.”

What he said touched the depths of her heart. He looked her in the eyes as if he would die if she got hurt. He held her hand as if he did not want to let her go. She felt as if he cared for her so much because he loved her… more than just a friend.

“Now that Danson already knows you’re my friend, he might do something bad. I… I don’t want you to get involved with our problem, so please, stay away from him before its too late.”

All those anticipations she had awhile ago burst into thin air. He was just guilty, and that’s the reason why he wanted her out of Danson’s life. She’s being stupid for thinking he has “something” for her.

“You don’t have to feel guilty about getting me involved. It’s my decision. My life. You don’t have to purge me, nor worry about me.” She told him sternly as pulled her hand from his.

“Ella… You’re my best friend so--”

“I don’t think the thing between me and Danson is any of your business, Chun. Besides, I shouldn’t be the one staying away, it should be YOU. Just let us be. I don’t want to hear anymore. By the way, get well soon. ” She stood up and left his room without a word from him.

How can she be more stupid for anticipating something that will never happen? Chun will never love her more than a friend, and she should learn to accept that fact. She was just an obligation to him. She was just his friend, nothing more. Why can’t her foolish heart just forget about him already?

============================================

During the rehearsal, Hebe couldn’t concentrate on memorizing her script. Her thoughts seem to drift from faraway as she remembered what her brother had told her earlier that morning.

[Flashback]

“George! Breakfast!” Hebe hollered.

“Hey, hey, stop doing that. It’s so early in the morning. You’re bursting my eardrums, JieJie.”

Hebe rolled her eyes and sneered at him.

“It’s so early in the morning and you’re raising your voice. I’ll really pity Jiro Ge if he marries you. Maybe I should share him my experience to make him think twice.”

“What are you talking about now, moron?”

“What am I talking about? Isn’t he the one who sent you home the other night when you we’re drunk?”

Hebe almost choked on her pancake when she heard that. “What happened when he sent me here? Did mom or dad see him? Did they ask who he was? What did you tell them?”

“Chill out, Jie. Mom and Dad were still not home that time. I heard the doorbell rang so I went to see who the visitor was. To my surprise, I am SO SURPRISED to see you cuddling Jiro Ge like that. At first, I thought you guys had mended your relationship already, but then I realized you were only drunk.”

She dropped her jaw in bewilderment. “I-Is that true?”

“Yes. You don’t even want to let him go. You said some things like… ‘I’m coming with you, don’t leave me…’ George pretended to shiver. “To tell you honestly, what you did was really embarrassing.”

For the first time in her life, she agreed with her younger brother.

[End of flashback]

“Jiro! Hebe! It’s your scene now!” She heard Director Zhi Ping called out.

As they went upstage, she can’t help but feel uneasy as Jiro looked at her with that look of his again. She tried to hide her uneasiness and concentrate.

They were about to fight a taekwondo match. In the play, Pete challenged Kate for a one-on-one match-up. Her character agreed because she new the guy was a pushover. Besides, she was a blackbelter and he was only her student. Unknown to her, he only disguised himself as a student to get closer to her and likewise, he was also a blackbelter. He asked for a prize, and that is to go on a date with him if he wins. Well, she asked him to disappear from her life on her behalf.

As they exchange punches, kicks and blocked each others attacks, he grabbed her wrist as she assaulted and pulled her back. She lost her balance and her face landed on top of his chest. That was not a part of the script. Suddenly, they were too close for comfort. She could not move to pull herself back for she was too stunned. As she slow looked up, her eyes met his. Their faces were merely 5 inches apart.

“Oh, I like that!” They heard the director exclaimed. “Pegs, can we alter the phase of the scene like that?”

That was the only time they distanced each other. But still, Jiro is clasping her wrist. She knew that he can feel the quickening of her pulse. His eyes were dancing as he looked at her.

“Let go of me, Jiro,” she commanded him.

“I won’t let you go,” he said and pulled her out of the stage to her surprise. She wasn’t the only one surprised, everyone in the theater was surprised.

“Let go of me!”

“Hey, wait! That’s not in the script. We’re not finished rehearsing yet! Go back!” Director Zhi Ping called out to them just before they enter the backstage dressing room.

=========================================
--Dressing Room--

Jiro only let go of her hand when they are already inside of the dressing room. He locked the doors closed.

“What on earth is wrong with you? Why did you bring me here?”

“Let’s talk.” He told her seriously.

“We have nothing to talk about,” she responded coldly. She started walking her way to the door but he pulled her arm to stop her.

“Sure, Hebe, we have a lot of things to discuss.”

“I-I was drunk! I have no idea about what I was doing. I wouldn’t have known everything that I did if weren’t for Ella. Don’t take me too seriously. Those things I had said were just alcohol-talkings. God , I must be really wasted to say that I love…” She stopped and didn’t finish her sentence. Somehow, she found the words too unnerving to say. “Look, let’s just… just forget about everything that happened. I think it’s no big issue.”

“Really? What about those things you did with me and told me inside my car? I’m sure, Ella haven’t narrated them to you… ‘coz she wasn’t there.”

Hebe felt her cheeks burned as she widened her eyes. “W-What did I do with you… or tell you?”

He gazed at her, a faint smile in his lips. “Do you really want to know, Heb?”

She wanted to disappear; she was too embarrassed of herself. “No. I think you shouldn’t. It’s better for you not to tell me. I don’t know anything or remember anything that happened between us in your car… which means, I don’t mean them. Just forget about it, Jiro.”

He shooked his head ruthlessly. “I can’t, Hebe. I’m sorry but I can never forget those.”

That made her intrigued of what really happened that night. When she felt his thumb brushing her cheek, she was stunned, but her body let him so. Why? He was staring at her lovingly like how he used to stare at her then. The loving look in Jiro’s face made her confused of why she still feels warm when around the guy who was her first love. The guy who made her fall in love and at the same time made her regret it too.

Jiro looked deep in her eyes as he sighed. “If only I can make you drunk and make you hold on me tight again… to make you say those words I wanted to hear from those lips of yours…” He stared at her lips as he continued, “I’m sorry for acting selfishly… but I… I could not wait for you to be drunk again just to kiss you again…” His hand glided in her neck and in a swift motion, his head bent down and claimed her lips.

Hebe’s eyes widened as she felt his kips moved against hers. She knew what she had to do. She was supposed to pushed him and punch his stomach but she could not move away from his kiss. As if having a mind of their own, she felt her eyelids shut as she realized how much she missed his kiss.

She’s not drunk. Neither can she understand herself for feeling that way. She seemed to not contain herself because of the intensity of their kiss.

Jiro broke off the kiss just before she can come back to her senses. She felt her cheeks burned red, just embarrassed for letting her stupid feelings dominate over her sanity. She wanted to snap at Jiro to cover herself up from shame but the look in his eyes made her catch her tongue.

“I still love you, Hebe.” He muttered just softly, enough for her to hear and for her heart to start palpitating.

She froze as her eyes widened in shock. “W-What did you…?”

He held both her shoulders as he fixed his eyes on hers. He gave her a small peck on the lips before he continued what he was saying. “I never ceased loving you, Hebe. I’ll wait… even if it takes forever… I’ll wait until you open your heart for me… again.”

Hebe stood petrified as Jiro released her shoulders, and walked out of the dressing room. She gently touched her lips as she stared at his retreating figure. “I don’t know if I still have the heart to trust your words again… but my heart can’t seem to forget about you either.”

=====================================