This is the next installment of SIMPLY WORDS, my fantasy with boy band BOYZONE member, STEPHEN GATELY. Again I would like to remind you that this is just a fantasy and none of these events ever happen. Although the first part of the composition stated that it was written before STEPHEN GATELY had came out last June of 1999, this part was written after he came out.
If you are a minor, you know the rule. Please don't read this and find something more suitable for you age. If you're a bigot who just wandered here by mistake, you are allowed to stay. I would like to request you, however, to please keep an open mind
I always hope that this fantasy of mine would become a reality but until then... well. This is the first explicit story I've ever written. I would gladly receive any constructive criticism about this composition. My e-mail is j_andrew_andy@yahoo.com and if another fan of Boyzone is reading this short story, could you provide me with MR. STEPHEN GATELY'S e-mail address? Thanks, I would greatly appreciate it!
SIMPLY WORDS
------------------ C h a p t e r 9 ------------------
"Mike, I really need your help!" I called him over the phone, in hysterics.
"Hey, Andy, calm yourself." He told me, speaking in a very smooth and soothing voice in order to calm me down. "Tell me what happened. Why the hell are you so tensed up?"
I replied, still in hysterics. "Stephen loves me..."
"That's great!" He interrupted, laughing. "Now, what's the problem?"
I told him in an uncertain way. "...but I told him to get lost?..."
"YOU IDIOT!!! YOU FUCKING MORON!!! WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT. WHY DID YOU DO EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE THING THAT I'VE TOLD YOU" He shouted, angrily. "ANDY, WERENT YOU LISTENING TO ME. DIDN'T YOU LISTEN TO ANY FUCKING THING I'VE TOLD YOU?"
"Please don't shout at me... I was still vulnerable and uncertain that time." I started crying over the phone. "But now, I don't want to lose him, please help me."
"MY GOD, ANDY! WHY DIDN'T YOU LISTEN TO ME." He continued giving me the third degree. "THINK OF ALL THE PROBLEMS YOU COULD HAVE AVOIDED IF YOU WEREN'T SUCH A BIG ASSHOLE!!!"
"ARE YOU GOING TO HELP ME OR NOT!!!" I finally shouted angrily.
"OKAY!!!" Mike replied, grudgingly, then mumbled. "But only when I finish bitching!!!"
"Mike, please." I whined. "Please, I'm begging you."
"Okay, okay, OKAY. Now stop crying! You're such a monstrous crybaby." Still grudgingly, he spoke. He, then took a deep breath and asked me a straight question. "What do you want me to do, Andy?"
"Could you drive me to the Airport?" I asked him. "I have to go to Hong Kong."
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!!" He told me. "You must be kidding, right? Do you how much it will cost you to go to Hong Kong these days? And, besides, do you know where they will be staying?"
"Right now, I don't know. And I don't especially care. If I need to go to the moon just to reach Stephen, I'll go." I answered him with fierce and severe determination. "I lost him once and I don't want to lose him again."
"Are you sure about this?" He asked me, challenging me. "I mean, what if he doesn't want you anymore."
"And I guess that's the risk I have to take." I replied solemnly. "I love Stephen and I have to find him, no matter what."
"That's my boy. I guess you did learn something from me after all." He told me proudly. "I'll pick you up in about 15 minutes."
"Please hurry." I begged. "The plane leaves in 12:30 P.M."
"HOLY SHIT, Andy!!!" Mike cried out. "Don't you know that it's almost noon. The traffic to the airport is hell around this time of the day. Why did you call me earlier."
"Please, don't make me more nervous than I am now." I pleaded.
"Okay!" He retorted with mixed resentment and amusement in his voice. 'I'll be there in fifteen minutes, so get your things ready."
In about ten minutes or so, Mike arrived and we took off for the airport. As we driving, he asked me what events took place this morning. "So what happened after I left?"
"Well, Stephen came in to my room after you had gone home." I told him. "He said that he didn't want to leave the Philippines unless he really knows whether I still love him or not."
"Let me guess, you told him to go to hell?" He said to me as he rolled his eyes. "Damn it, Andy. Why? Why the hell, did you do that? Why on earth are you such a major asshole!"
"Mike, please." I begged him. "Don't ask me anymore about..."
"No, I want to know!" he insisted. "Why in fuck's name are you such a dickhead? You love this guy! So why the fuck did you have to let him go."
"I got hurt, okay! He hurt me,... he broke my heart"
I replied hastily. My eyes began to swell with tears. "The pain was still so fresh, it was still so intensely painful, and so I didn't want to trust him just yet."
"And?..." Mike looked at me, waiting me to answer.
I looked him quizzically, with a twinge of anger in my heart. "And,... what?"
"And your...?" He was still staring at me.
"Okay, okay, OKAY..." I answered grudgingly. "My PRIDE got in the way. HAPPY?"
"Very happy!" He replied victoriously.
I, then, broke in tears.
"Hey, hey, now. Don't cry, Andy..." Mike told me, trying to comfort me. "You know you can still reach him. I'm sure of that!"
"I don't know if he still loves me." I chewed my lips.
We reached a red light and the car stopped. "Andy, what did his letter say?" He asked. "May I read the letter?"
I gave him the letter and he read and scanned it as quickly as he could. After he was done looking through the note, he told me. "Yup, he still loves you." He concluded. "Stephen couldn't live without you, you're his oxygen!"
"You,... you think so?" I felt a glimmer of hope shine within me.
Mike was unable to notice the red light turning green. Impatiently, the driver of the car behind us blew his horn loudly and he shouted, in irritation. "HEY, BUSTER, CAN'T YOU SEE THE LIGHT? ARE YOU BLIND?
I HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE, YOU KNOW!"
"THEN FLY, YOU SON OF A BITCH!!! SPROUT WINGS LIKE A BAT, OKAY!" Mike shouted back. Mike, then muttered under his breath. "Prick!..."
"We'd better get you to the airport before you miss your plane." He said to me as drove off, leaving the impatient driver behind us "Don't worry Andy you will get him and both of you will be happy... that I am sure."
We reached the airport at 12:35 PM. Hurriedly, I ran to the check-in counter, Mike still had to park the car. I showed the woman behind the counter my plane ticket. "I'm sorry, sir." She told me. "But your flight just took off about five minutes ago.
"When's the next flight?" I asked hastily. "I wonder if I could change my ticket to that flight?"
"That will be around one o'clock." The woman said after she scanned her computer. Then her eyebrows knitted together. She told me. "You could change your ticket to that flight but all the empty seats are already taken by chance passengers."
"And when is the flight after that." I bit my lip in fear.
"That will be around six o'clock."
"Oh, no!" I groaned. I walked away dazed and angry.
I walked to the nearest row of chairs. I sat down and it dawned to me. "Maybe, Stephen, we were never meant to be." I thought. "Maybe there's never going to be a time for us."
I bowed my head and cried.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Mike asked in sincere concern as he saw me in tears. He put his hand on my shoulder. "Is there any problem?"
"I missed the plane." I whispered quietly. I sniffed. "I missed my flight and the other flights are also booked. I'll never see him again."
"Wait a minute, just stay there. I have an idea and let me see what I can do with it..." I ordered me, as his face brightened up. He started to run towards the check-in counter. Mike began talking with the woman behind the booth. I could see him explaining something. It must have been something big since Mike as making very large and dramatic movements with both of his arms. Boy, with his display of facial expressions, he could have won an Oscar hands down. After several minutes of convincing acting and persuasion, Mike finally returned to me, giving me a "two-thumbs-up" signal.
I approached him and asked "So?"
"Well, how should I put it. Suddenly and out of the blue, our lady friend of there found out there is one vacant seat in the next flight." He told me smiling. "So buddy, you're going to Hong Kong. Yup, you will have Stephen back in your arms by the end of the day"
"Great!" I could have jumped for joy. Then, I stood still and realized something. In MY anxiety, I tugged Mike's T-shirt and whispered. "Oh, no! Mike, we didn't do anything illegal, did we? MIKE! DID WE!"
"No, of course not." He laughed out loud.
"Then, what the hell did you just do? What did you say to her?" I asked with mixed curiosity and indignation. Then, again, I realized something. I grabbed his face. "Oh, no! Oh, no, you didn't tell her anything about my meeting with Stephen in Hong Kong, did you? DID YOU!"
"Well,..." He smiled sheepishly. "Yes?"
"WHAT!!!" I shouted. I didn't care about the rest of humanity standing around and, now, staring at me with shock and curiosity. "YOU TOLD HER THAT?"
"Of course not!" He laughed. "What do you think of me? A Benedict Arnold? I wouldn't do that to you even if you were my worst enemy,...." He paused then thought deeply.
He sported a goofy looking grin and said. "Oh wait!... Yes, I would." Then, his face returned to a more serious expression as he told me. "But that's beside the point."
"So what the hell did you say to her!" I said, burning with curiosity. I then grabbed his collar and pulled him close to my face as I hissed. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU TELL HER?!!!"
"I told her that you're father is dying in China and you need to go there before he expires." He told me.
"Is that all?" I asked, still half believing him
"Yeah, and, oh Andy,--" He said. Then, he carefully and quickly glanced from side to side. "You owe that very nice lady behind the counter over there $200.00."
"WHAT!!!" My eyes grew in anger. "YOU HAD BR--"
"Shh, shhh!... Could you lower your voice a little?" He admonished me then he whispered, then glancing around cautiously. "People are listening."
"You mean you bribed her to get me a ride." I whispered, my eyebrows knitting together. "WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT! THAT'S ILLEGAL AND IMMORAL!"
"Not exactly, she tells me that there is this one traveler in the passenger list who perennially asks for a chance passenger's seat to a flight to Hong Kong, and 90% of the time fails to show up or cancels at the last minute. So she's getting even." He smiled then added. "Call it poetic justice."
"But this isn't very nice." I worriedly told him.
"HELLO? I would really appreciate some gratitude here from you." Mike frowned, shaking his head from side to side. Then he confronted me, staring into my eyes "Tell, me again Andy... Would you like to go to Hong Kong or not?"
I, then, thought. "Hey, this isn't the time get any conscience. This is my love I'm talking here." I looked at Mike and told him, quite loudly I might add.
"I will not compromised my love for Stephen!"
"That's very good. You made the right decision" He told me then added in sarcasm. "But you might say it a little bit louder next time around because I think somebody in GREENLAND did hear you quite well."
@;-,-'--- @;-,-'--- @;-,-'---
After a three-hour flight, our plane finally touched down in Hong Kong. With just a knapsack, I hurriedly went over to customs and had my passport stamped. I had to work and act fast. The concert was to start at 6:00 PM and it was already 4:30 PM. I barely had an hour and 30 minutes to find the boys and I don't have a clue where to start."
"Oh, my god!" I thought to myself. "How will I ever find them. It will be like looking for a needle in a haystack... or, to be exact, a cornfield."
I went over to a tourist booth to get myself a map of Hong Kong and ask for some information on where to find the boys. I, then, asked the Chinese lady behind the booth. "Excuse, miss, but do you have any idea which hotel Boyzone is staying?"
She replied something in Cantonese, to which I had a hard time understanding what she was saying. Sensing that I could no help from her, I quickly thanked in Mandarin. "Xhe-xhe, ni."
I hastily sat on a bench and started to the study of locations and landmarks. Just as I thought that I might as well give up and return back to the Philippines and forget Stephen forever, the television was featuring a segment of Boyzone. I quickly learned from Channel V that the boys were staying at the Omni Prince Hotel. I dashed out of the airport and hailed a taxi. I quickly got in and told the driver. "To the Omni Prince, please."
I arrived at the Hotel at around 5:15 PM and immediately went over to the information counter. The young receptionist, then, turned to me, smiled and asked. "Good afternoon, sir. Welcome to Omni Prince, how may I be of service?"
"Yes, good afternoon. I would like to speak with one of your guest." I smiled back. "I'm not sure what his room number is, but I'm sure he's staying in this hotel. His name Jerry O'Brien, he's traveling with Boyzone."
She stared at me and, hesitantly, she replied "Sir, we... we don't any guest with that name. Nor is Boyzone staying in this hotel."
"I know he's staying here. And I know for a fact that Boyzone is staying here, too." I told her. "Please inform him that Andy Tan is here to see him."
"But sir, we do not have any guest with that name." She insisted uneasily and then suggested. "Maybe you have the wrong hotel."
"Look, here." I looked at her straight in the eyes seriously. "I know that Jerry O'Brien is here. And I know that Boyzone is also staying here. So please, help me on this. I really need to see Mr. O'Brien. It is very important that I see him.
She avoided my gaze. She really looked uncomfortable. She, then, looked at me and said. "This could cost me my job." I could see fear in her eyes.
"I promise you, you will not lose your job." I assured her.
Slowly and still unsure, she picked up the phone and dialed some numbers. "Good afternoon, may I speak with Mr. O'Brien, please,... Good afternoon, Mr. O'Brien, I'm sorry to disturb you but there is a certain Andy Tan here to see you,... You will be right down,... Yes, sir, I'll tell him that." She placed the phone back to its receiver and told me. "He said they will be right down to see you."
"Thank, very much" I sincerely told her. "You don't know how much help you've given me."
I sat by the lobby and anxiously waited for Jerry to come down. When the elevator doors opened, I saw them come out, Jerry, Mikey, Shane, Ronan and Keith. "Where's Stephen?" I thought. I hastily but calmly walked towards them.
Mikey opened his arms and hugged me. He said. "I thought that we may never see you again."
"I told you there was a time for everything." I smiled almost in tears. "Where's Stephen. I would like to see him!"
Ronan sighed, shaking his head. 'He locked himself in the bathroom and he wouldn't come out."
"What happened in Cebu, Andy?" Shane asked me curiously. "He didn't tell us anything."
"When he arrived from Cebu, he just locked himself in the bathroom." Jerry told me. "He refused to talk with anyone."
"Please talk to him." Mikey begged me. "He wouldn't listen to us."
"He'll probably listen to you" Keith added.
As fast as I can, I ran to the elevator and pushed the open button. When the doors finally opened we all hurriedly went in. Mikey immediately pushed button for the penthouse. I could feel the tension of the boys. It was almost 6 o'clock in the evening and they still have to prepare for their concert.
At last, we've reached the penhouse and the door finally opened. Leading the way, Mikey ran ahead of us. The rest of us quickly followed. When we reached Stephen's chambers, Mikey shouted. "Stephen there's someone here to talk to you."
"Stephen,..." I started to tell him, leaning on the bathroom door. "I love you. Please, take me back , Stephen."
There was no response from bathroom. I knocked on the door softly and said. "Stephen, please open the door. Everything will be okay now, love. I am here for you."
Still there was no response. I knocked harder. I was already beginning to get afraid, fear began knotting around my stomach. "Stephen!" I shouted, already feeling afraid that something had gone wrong inside the bathroom. I began to cry as I banged my fist on the door. "Stephen, please open the door. Please, open the door, love. I'm sorry for everything, just open the door, please."
"Get out of the way!" Shane shouted. "I'm going to break it down."
"No, wait!" Mikey pointed out. "Check whether if the door is lock or not."
Ronan slowly twisted the doorknob. "It's not lock."
He opened the door and pushed it all the way. "I don't want to look." I looked away as I cried. "I don't want to know if anything is wrong." In my mind, hideous images were dashing in and out my thoughts. I really shook me up.
Mikey hugged me and squeezed me tight, running his hand on my head to calm me down. "Don't worry everything will be alright."
Ronan went in the bathroom and shouted. "HE'S NOT HERE! STEPHEN IS GONE!"
-----to be continued-----