Fan Fiction |
by MetalAZNWarrior
Whenever Fiona (Sherming Yiu) felt down, she would seek the comfort of a swing. Just as Ah Sing (Hawick Lau) had predicted, Fiona was indeed sitting on a swing in the park rocking back and forth. "Fiona," Ah Sing taps her shoulder. This action yields no response. Fiona gazed lifelessly and was unmoving.
"Push me," Fiona said in a monotonous voice.
Ah Sing pushes Fiona on the swing. The swing creaks with each push. "I know that when you're unhappy, you go to the swings. Don't hold it inside. Fiona, talk to me," Ah Sing urges.
When she doesn’t reply, he speaks again, "Is it about what happened the last few months?"
After moments of silence, Fiona says, "I've lost it all."
"Lost it all?"
"I don't have anything anymore. My title as 'princess' was stripped away, my riches, my palace... they were all taken away. I have nothing. I'm no one.... a deserted and unwanted good-for-nothing."
Ah Sing is stunned, "What about me? You told me back when we were stranded on the island that you only needed me. You said that you didn't need anything else. You were willing to stay on the island forever with me."
"That was when I still had hope that I could return to what I left behind. Ah Sing, you know that I've been a princess all of my life. I've lived that life for years! How can you expect me to change so quickly? The past few months have been so difficult."
"They have been, but we've made it through it all... haven't we?"
"We have... and I thank you for being by my side and enduring it all with me."
"Fiona, it doesn't matter if you're not a princess anymore. You may think they've taken everything away, but they really haven't. You're still the same Fiona that I met years ago and you're still the same person that I love."
"My old life was the only thing that validated who I was... now I'm nothing."
"I fell in love with you when you had nothing and I'll continue to love you." Ah Sing places his head on her shoulder, "I didn't love you because you were a princess and you still have me. I promised you that I would stay with you. Why didn't you keep your promise?"
Fiona blinks, "What promise?"
"When we got rescued, you worried on the boat that our fate would end up like 'Cheung Chiu San' and 'Yan Soh Soh' when we returned to society. I told you not to fret and we promised each other to always remain hopeful. What happened to the Fiona who vowed to hold on to hope? Why are you in such a state of despair now?"
"I know I've said that the life of a 'princess' and living in the palace bored me, but after it was forced away from me, I realized that it was such a big part of me. It was who I was. Since I've lost it all, I don't know who I am and how I fit into this world anymore."
"You can start over."
"How?"
"Fiona, I'm sorry. I told you that I would show you the world. Instead, you've been cooped up at home since we returned to Hong Kong. No more, though. I'll be a better husband. I'll help you get back on your feet and start your life anew... as a 'normal' girl."
"A 'normal' girl?"
"Yes, we'll forget about the past. We'll ignore the fact that you were a princess. Okay?"
Fiona smiles, "Okay."
"Let's get home, everyone's worried about you."
"Not yet. I want to swing a little more."
Ah Sing continued to push Fiona on the swing. She felt free and alive.
[Kam Family Apartment]
"Ah Sing has been gone for a long time," Nim Chi (Nancy Sit) observes, "Maybe we should go out and look for him."
"Ma Chi, we don't have to go through such troubles!" Ah Yuet (Michael Tse) holds up a phone, "Call him. Technology is so advanced nowadays. Why waste energy when we can use inventions that were made to make our lives easier?"
Nim Chi calls Ah Sing and announces the good news that he found Fiona and that the two would head home soon. Nim Chi walks over to the family's shrine and burns an incense stick for her husband. "Brother Wah, thank you for praying for Ah Sing."
"Don't you guys feel that Fiona is a bit weird?" Ah Lo (Bondy Chiu) asks.
"Second daughter-in-law, don't talk like that!" Nim Chi scolds.
"I'm serious! She's always so quiet and doesn't talk to anyone."
"Maybe she's shy," Ah Hong (Johnny Tang) replies.
"Shy? She's been here for over a month!"
"Technically, only two weeks. Don't you remember that she went to Shanghai with Ma Chi?" Ah Yat (Joyce Chen) corrects.
"It seems to me that whenever we mention about her being a 'princess' she gets really uncomfortable," Ah Hong comments.
"Why would she? We went to the Island and saw her palace. She's indeed a princess!" Ah Lo asserts.
"You guys better not mess with her anymore," Nim Chi chides.
"Mother-in-law, we've done nothing wrong!" Ah Lo protests.
"It's best that we give her some privacy and time to get used to everything."
Abruptly, the doorbell rings. "It's them!" Nim Chi declares and rushes to the door to open it. "Ah Sing, Fiona, welcome back!" she greets them with a big smile, "Come on in! Sit down and join us on the couch."
"Big big sister-in-law, where did you go?" Ah Yat asks. "We were so worried about you!"
Nim Chi clears her throat, "Fiona, I believe everyone has something to tell you." She motions with her hands behind her back for everyone to stand up and come by her side. She clears her throat again when she sees that no one is paying attention to her.
"Ma Chi, do you need a glass of water?" Ah Nin (Frankie Lam) questions.
Being observant, Rose (Kenix Kwok) whispers, "Look at her hands."
"Ma Chi, is something wrong? Why do you keep waving your hands around behind your back?" says Ah Yuet.
"Aiya!" Nim Chi exclaims, "Come over here, all of you."
"Auntie Chi, you told us to be frank. Why didn't you just open your mouth and tell us to come over if you needed us instead of using such complicated hand gestures?" Gam (Louis Yuen) shakes his head.
Fiona gives a puzzled look, "What is it that you have to tell me?"
Nim Chi chuckles, "They want to apologize to you, isn't that right?"
Everyone blinks, "Apologize? For what?"
Nim Chi nudges Gam in the stomach and winks, "You know, about that thing."
Gam winces in pain, "Auntie Chi! What was that for?"
Nim Chi sighs and beckons everyone to huddle around her, "You guys upset Fiona and that's why she ran away, so say 'sorry' and everything will be okay! God, is that so hard to understand?"
Ah Lo protests, "We didn't do anything!"
Ah Yat supports Ah Lo, "That's right! She ran off for no reason!"
Fiona taps Nim Chi on the back, "Mother-in-law, if you guys don't know what you have to say to me yet, then I'll say something first."
Nim Chi blushes, "Never mind them! I'll speak for all of them then. They're sorry to have upset you and caused you to run away. They know better now and won't mess with you anymore!"
Fiona is confused, "What?"
"You ran away because of them, didn't you?"
"No! Of course not," Fiona laughs. After pausing, she says, "I'm sorry for making everyone worry."
"Tell them the truth," Ah Sing urges in Fiona's ear.
"I ran away not because of anything that you guys did. You've all been very kind to me. To be honest, it was because I was too upset over the fact that I'm no longer a princess. I couldn't accept reality and when Ah Yat and Ah Hong showed me those things at TVB studios, they just triggered back so many memories that I couldn't take it anymore," Fiona admits.
Everyone gasps. "Does that mean we're no longer royal relatives?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Why? What happened?" Ah Yuet asks.
"It's a long story and I don't want to recall it back into my head."
Nim Chi motions for Ah Yuet to hush, "Well, it's okay if you're no longer a princess!"
Ah Lo is furious and whispers to Ah Yuet, "And after all those times we buttered up to her!"
Ah Sing continues, "Please don't mention Fiona's past to her anymore. She wants to start over and live a life like everyone else."
"Okay then," everyone says and continues watching TV and with their personal conversations as if nothing had happened.
Nim Chi hugs Fiona, "Don't mind them! You have our complete support."
"Thanks," Fiona smiles.
"Aiya, stop saying 'thanks.' We're a family, isn't that right?" Gam says.
Fiona had made up her mind. From that day on, she would move forward and live her life as a normal modern woman. She would let go of her past. However, there are some things in life that determination cannot overcome. Fate was at work back on the Island and try as Fiona might, her past would come back to haunt her.