Fan Fiction |
by MetalAZNWarrior
Fiona (Sherming Yiu) is surprised to see Ng Sau (Albert Lo) still at home. He was watching the news on the couch.
"Uncle Sau, how come you're not at work?"
"Today is Ah Lam's birthday. I took off especially for it," he smiles.
"Oh! That's right. We were invited to attend her surprise party tonight."
Sau nods his head, "Yeah. Ah Lam is turning thirty. You're not heading to work yet?"
Fiona answers, "Classes start a little later today, so I can get to work a bit later than usual." Fiona had begun working as a swimming teacher a few weeks ago. Ah Sing (Hawick Lau) had introduced the idea to her. It was something she could do and make money with as well. Having lived on an island for a large part of her life, Fiona was an expert at swimming.
"Do you like your job?"
"It's fine. The kids are so cute. I'm glad I'm teaching a children's swimming class and not an adult one."
"That's good."
There's a knock on the door. "I'll get it," Fiona says.
Ah San (Steven Ma) was standing on the other side of the door. It was evident that he had been running because he was panting.
"Is Michelle here?"
Sau leers at the door, "Ah San?"
"Uncle Sau, did Michelle come here?"
"No, she didn't. Why? What's up?"
"It's nothing. I'll see you later!" Ah San waves and runs towards the elevator.
Fiona closes the door and is confused, "Uncle Sau, wasn't that Michelle's husband?"
"Yeah. Strange. Why is he looking for her?"
Fiona looks at her watch and realizes that she had to head out. "See you tonight," she says as she leaves.
["Ka Yan" Company]
"Ka Yan" company had been in a bustle of gossip and chatter since Ah Lam's (Linda Chung) irate departure. The phone rings. Ying Gei (Yvonne Lam) runs over to answer it. "Hello, 'Ka Yan' company, how may I help you?"
Ah Lam was on the other end. "Kitty, I wanted to report that I'm taking the rest of the day off. Tell Mr. Wong that I won't take a salary for today and that I apologize. I'll be back to work tomorrow. Don't worry about me."
"Where are you at?" It was too late though because Ah Lam had already hung up.
"Sister OK, was that Michelle?" Ah Lo (Bondy Chiu) questions.
Ying Gei nods, "Yes. She said she's taking the rest of the day off and won't be taking a salary for today."
"This isn't like Michelle," Ah Yuet comments, "She's very serious about work!"
Gwai Fei (Stephanie Che) walks out of her office and snickers, "Who does she think she is? The boss? Leaving the company without a word and ruining a contract! Her head is getting too big for her hat. I'll have to let Mr. Wong know."
Gwai Yan (Celine Ma) chirps in, "That's right! Michelle needs to be fired!"
"Naturally," Gwai Fei smiles.
"Miss Man, but her contribution to the company has been greater than yours!" Ah Sing defends Ah Lam.
"So? Her offense has been much greater! Just a while ago she failed to comply with Mr. Wong's orders and now she just left the company and ruined a contract as if she doesn't care about the business. How can 'Ka Yan' hire such a Merchandising Manger? She's not like me! I have heart!"
"It's because of what Ah Lam did that 'Ka Yan' got the contract. If she followed the orders, like you, the company wouldn't have gotten the contract! As a person, you can't be such a follower. Miss Man, how can you be a supervisor when you follow the crowd all the time?"
Gwai Fei's face turns an angry crimson, "Lau Ka Sing! If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be sitting in 'Ka Yan.'"
"Really? You hired me because you mistaken me for 'Xing Sir' and you wanted to get rid of me when you found out that I was a 'nobody.' Are you so grateful for my existence in the company now?"
"Kitty! Write me a warning letter for this foul-mouthed employee! The number one rule in this company is respect! How dare you speak to a supervisor like that? Kitty! Hurry up and write it so I can hand it to him."
"Respect?" Ah Sing smirks, "If there's anyone who needs to learn respect, that's you."
Before Gwai Fei could say another word, Ah Sing had walked off to head towards the bathroom.
"Lily!" Gwai Fei screams.
"Yes, Miss Man?" Lily (Rain Lau) runs over to Gwai Fei's side.
"Give me your arm."
"Okay?" Lily extends her arm.
Gwai Fei starts pinching it. Lily screams in pain. No one in "Ka Yan" dared to resist Gwai Fei's wishes because they feared her power. No matter how much they hated her, it was an unwritten rule for the "Ka Yan" employees to keep this hate inside.
After awhile, Gwai Fei stops and says, "All right. Everyone, back to your work! I'm off to see a client."
Gwai Yan follows Gwai Fei out of the company.
"Yan Yan, where do you think you're going?"
"Fei Fei," Gwai Yan whispers, "Don't lie to me. I know you're off to lunch. Why eat alone? I'll join you!"
"All right then." In her mind she thinks, "As if I need your company" and rolls her eyes.
"Lily, are you okay?" Sugar (Yau Ching) and GiGi (Josephine Shum) are concerned.
Lily was clearly pissed, but she tried to be strong, "I have to think of my daughters. I need this job." She inhales and exhales loudly.
"Miss Man was really too much this time!" Ying Gei says.
"She's getting old. Old hags who don't get 'some' are often hot-headed!" Gam (Louis Yuen) explains.
Everyone in "Ka Yan" company laughs, "That's true!" At this moment, Ah San appears in "Ka Yan."
"Ivan! What are you doing back here?" Everyone in "Ka Yan" was wondering why he had showed up in the company.
"Did Michelle come here?"
"No, she didn't."
"She called awhile ago to say that she took the day off and that we shouldn't worry about her," Ying Gei reports.
"Hill siu, what's wrong?" Ah Yuet asks.
"Michelle disappeared. I don't know where she went."
"Again?"
Ah San asks, "What do you mean again?"
"Michelle had an appointment with Mr. Kwok. Their deal was almost through when she told him to leave and ran out of 'Ka Yan' without a word."
"She went into my company and then ran off as well," Ah San confesses.
"I get it!" Gam exclaims.
"What?"
"Michelle must be heading towards the airport to sign a contract again like on her wedding day!"
"If you guys see Michelle, call me, okay?" Ah San leaves with this final note.
Ah Sing emerges back into the "Ka Yan" interior. Some strands of his hair were wet, indicating that he had drenched his face in water at the bathroom.
"Big big brother, you have some nerve!" Ah Yuet compliments.
"You're more manly than me... and that's saying a lot!" Gam praises.
"To speak that way to Miss Man," Ah Lo claps her hands.
"She was in the wrong! I was just following logic," Ah Sing explains.
[Swimming Centre]
Fiona changed into her bathing suit and was heading towards her swimming class when she notices someone swimming in the pool next to her class alone. That someone was swimming back and forth in multiple laps. She walks into her swimming class to greet her students with a smile.
After the swimming lesson was over, Fiona waved farewell to her students, "See you guys at the next lesson! Great job today."
Fiona glanced back to make sure that everyone had left. She notices that the pool next door was still occupied by the same person from before. This time, however, the person floated motionlessly on the water's surface. Fiona was worried that something might have happened, so she runs into the room and asks, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," the person in the water answers.
"You look familiar," Fiona tries to observe the person's face.
The person submerges and swims towards Fiona. When she emerges, Fiona realizes it was Ah Lam.
"Michelle!" she exclaims.
"Do I know you?" Ah Lam asks.
"Do you remember? We met a while ago. I'm Ah Sing's wife."
"Oh! Fiona, right?"
"Yes."
"What are you doing here?" Ah Lam asks.
"I'm a swimming teacher here for children's classes. And yourself?"
"I just came for a swim."
"Don't you have work today?"
Ah Lam nods her head, "I do."
"So why aren't you at your job? Ah Sing told me that you were very serious when it came to business."
Ah Lam pauses, "I took the day off."
Fiona remembers it was Ah Lam's birthday and says, "I get it now. It's your birthday, so you wanted to relax."
It was at this second that Ah Lam became aware that she had forgotten her own birthday.
"Is that right?" Fiona asks again.
Ah Lam figured it was a good excuse so she says, "Yes, that's it."
Fiona smiles, "You will be so happy tonight."
"Why?"
"Your husband is planning a..." Fiona bites her tongue. She had said too much of the wrong thing.
"Ivan? What is he doing?"
"Sorry. Forget I ever said anything."
"Come on now! Don't be like that. Just tell me."
"It ruins the surprise."
"Surprise?" Ah Lam scoffs, "As if I haven't been surprised enough today."
Fiona shrugs, "If you insist... your husband is holding a birthday party for you tonight."
Ah Lam gasps, "A birthday party?"
"Yes. He invited us last week, actually. It seems he's been planning the whole thing for a week now."
Ah Lam couldn't believe it. She had thought that his time was always occupied with work.
Fiona grows uneasy with how silent Ah Lam was, "I'm sorry. I ruined the surprise."
"It's okay." Ah Lam tries to be cheery, "Do you want to come in to swim with me?"
Fiona checks the clock on the wall, "My next class isn't for awhile, so okay."
Ah Lam and Fiona swam back and forth in the warm water of the pool. Fiona had to leave for her next class, but she promised Ah Lam that she would be back to join her if Ah Lam was still in the pool. After Fiona was gone, Ah Lam was alone in the pool again. Her problems came back into her head. To wash them away, she continued to swim with all of her might.