Rhythm Of My Soul-Chapter 6

After the raining episode, I ended up in bed for almost three days for having a bad fever and flu. Being sick and being all alone when you're sick is what I dreaded the most. However, this time around, it was different. David was there, looking after me and forcing me to gulp down his overburnt congee every single day. I am actually quite surprise that I did not run to the toilet after eating it.

Although it tasted horrible, I just couldn't tell him that it was that bad. I heard him meddling in the kitchen for the longest time and trying so hard not to make any sound because he was afraid that it might disturb my rest. I saw his hand with burnt marks although he kept telling me that he had hurt himself somewhere else. He must have thought I was a three year old kid or something.

Today however, I felt so much better. I looked at the clock which is nearing 1.30pm...1,2,3 ....and David is here again. He always come at the exact time, right after class. The first thing he did, as always, was to check my tempreature. When I saw a smile form on his lips, I knew that I was right. My fever is gone now.

"Your fever is all gone now!" he said happily.

"Good! Let's go out and have fun today!" I said, eagerly.

"I don't think that's a good idea. You've just gotten well, You should rest more" he said, shaking his head.

"I've been stuck on this bed for three days already! Come on! Give me a break!" I pleaded, putting on my famous puppy look which I know he could not resist.

"Fine. Just make sure you wear thicker clothes as the wind is pretty strong today" he sighed, in defeat.

"Yes, Daddy!" I teased him and quickly ran off to get ready before he changes his mind.

We went around town and it felt like heaven when I finally have food in my mouth and not having to worry about food poisoning everyday. I'm not saying that David's congee is not food, it just taste like a bowl of ashes...haha After being on bed for three entire days, today, I'm just bursting with energy.

"Let's go roller skating!" I suggested out of the blue.

"Huh? Did the fever get to your brain or something?" David asked, shocked.

"You promised that you would teach me, remember?" I retaliated.

"Yeah but I also remember vaguely that you refused because you were afraid of falling down?" he reminded me.

"Well, today is an exception!" I cried, happily.

We went to get some skates and although I insisted on paying for mine, David refused and literally forced me to accept them as gifts. I love my skates a lot and it was chosen by David. He seemed to read me well because they were white and pink....two of my favourite colours! After getting some protection gears, we headed off to the nearest skating park.

Watching him wheeze around the ring like a pro had me dumbfounded. Suddenly, I began to regret my decision. What has overcome me? What David said must be true, the fever has definately got tp my brain. I was too afraid to even stand up with the roller blades. David broke down into laughter watching me and finally decided to help me. He taught me how to skate and it seemed so easy.

Just right, left, right, left....

When I'm finally more confident or at least I thought so, he let me go. However, instead of skating, I ended up being the railings girl. Yes, I was afraid to let go of the railings as I was afraid that I might fall. I gripped onto the railings tightly as I tried to make my way around the ring.

"Come on, Chelsea! You have got to let go of the railings! Skating is really so much fun if you know how to skate" he encouraged her.

"But, what if I fall?" I asked, timidly.

"Falling is part and parcel of skating. If you don't fall, you'll never skate!" he said.

"Easy for you to say. I don't see you or anyone else in this ing, falling" I snapped back.

"We all fell when we were learning too! None of us are exactly born to know how to skate, alright?" he said, with a laugh.

"I'm still not convinced" I said, shaking my head.

"Skating is just like life. There will be times when you fall and times when you will soar above the rest. Each time you fall, you'll learn to pick yourself up and get on with life. With each failure, there will be success. With each failure, you'll be stronger. Opportunities are always waiting for you, it's just up to you to grab it. That's why you've got to let go of that railing" he advised.

"Now, I'm confused. What does that got to do with skating?" I asked.

"Well, it simply means never be afraid to fall. If you're going to grab on to that railing, you'll never be able to learn skating. Just like life, if you want to play safe, you'll miss on all the opportunities out there! Yes, it's true that you won't fall but is there any fun in it? People will be skating all around you while you'll be like an old lady, grabbing on that railing, slowly making your way through" said David, mimicking me, as he skates while holding on to the railing.

"I do not skate like that!" I protested before breaking down in laughter.

"So are you ready? I promise I won't laugh if you fall" he asssured her.

"Fine!" I cried but the moment I let go of the railings, I fell.

David laughed so hard that there were tears in his eyes. So much of his promise to not laugh at me when I fall. I stared at him angrily and he quickly stopped laughing to help me up. Just as I grabbed his hand, I purposely pulled him down with me onto the floor. Now, my turn to laugh at him.

However, I stopped laughing when he didn't get up. He was breathing quite heavily too. For the first time, I noticed how pale he looked and he had his eyes closed, as if he was in pain. He looked so tired too. I quickly checked on his tempreature and realized that he was running a fever. He has been so energetic that I didn't realize that he was sick at all. He did not even show a hint of sickness until now.

"Hey, you're burning up!" I cried, urgently.

"Don't worry about it. It comes on and off all the time" he assured me.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were sick? I'm sorry, I should have known" I cried, blaming myself.

"You wouldn't have known because I purposely do not want you to know" he said.

"We have got to get you home now, David. You should have told me" I said, struggling to pull him up.

"Just a few seconds okay" he pulled me down, my head resting on his chest.

I felt my heart thumping like mad, being so close to him. I was so close to him that I could hear a steady rhythm of his heart beat, which sounded like music to my ears. I found myself wishing that the time will stop and we can stay like that forever. I just wanted to be near him, to be in his embrace.

Gosh, what am I thinking?

"Hey, are you alright? You're looking all red again" he commented, as he sat up.

"It's umm...just the heat" I said, rather lamely again.

"Why wouldn't you admit that it's me?" he asked, as he helped me up.

"Huh?" I asked, shocked.

"You know, people as far as the moon can hear your heart beat going as fast as the bullet train" he teased, laughing.

Dang! I wish the floor would just open up and swallow me in right then and there.

"I...I was....hey, why do I need to explain it to you? Pah! Come on, let's go! We need to get you to a doctor" I cried.

I was so embarassed and trying to hide by burning face from David that I completely forgot that I was still on skates. The moment I took my first step, I fell back on the floor again with David laughing at me again. I threw up my hands in the air in frustration before joining him in laughing as well.

"Well, here's another lesson in life through skating for you. People may laugh at you when you fall but instead of being upset, use your energy to build up even more determination in you to succeed because then, it'll be your turn to laugh at them" said David, with a smile.

"Enough of your philosophies! When did you get so smart anyway?" I teased him.

"I learnt that from my Dad. He had this crazy idea of teaching me pointers of life as he taught me how to skate! But it's true isn't? There's so much to skating than just skating!" replied David with a laugh.

"Yeah, now I'm all fired up to learn skating so you won't laugh at me!" I said, with a giggle.

"One last advice. It doesn't hurt that much when you fall because you have the protection gears on, right? Just like life, always know that there'll always be someone to catch you whenever you fall" replied David, with a wink.

"Well, that person is definitely not you then! You just stood there and laugh at me whenever I fall!" I joked.

"Hey! At least I helped you up!" he protested.

"Yeah, I'm supposed to fall on my knees and than you for that?" I teased him.

"You just did that just now! Except you didn't fall on your knees. You fell flat on your bum" he said, laughing.

"David!" I cried, not knowing what else to say.

"You better make sure you know how to skate by the end of this day" he said, with a wink.

"No. We have to get you to a doctor now" I said, sternly.

"Well, I'll go if you can make it back to the benches without falling!" he said, sticking his tongue out before skating away.

I grabbed tightly onto the railings for my dear life because I knew that if I let it go, I would fall. I knew he was asking me to do the impossible because there is no way I could make my way back without falling. Just as I was about to give up, a thought suddenly crossed my mind. I quickly sat down and took off both my skates and ran back to the benches, barefooted.

"Now, let's go to the doctor" I said, smiling happily.

"You cheated! Not fair!" he cried.

"All you said was that I make my way back to the benches without falling. You didn't say that I have to skate back, right? Now, you have to keep your promise and go and see a doctor" I said.

"Fine, you win" he sighed, grumpily.

"Am I sensing that our dear little David is afraid of the doctors?" I teased him.

"Who said I'm afraid?" he defended himself.

"David, didn't you know? I remember vaguely that someone told me to let go of the railings in life. Don't be afrid to do things that you're afraid of, somewhere along those lines" I reminded him.

"Fine, I'm going. I'm letting go. Can't believe that you're using my own words against me" he said, laughing.

We went to the hospital because David was more comfortable with his own personal doctor. Despite David's protests, the doctor decided to keep him in for a day to keep him under an observation. His mother came in a few minutes later after the doctor called her, looking worried and bewildered. I haven't seen his mother before but my suspicions were confirmed when I saw a familiar face beside her. It was the person whom I was so afraid of seeing, Shawn's mom.

"Chelsea! I haven't seen you for so long! Did the two of you had a fight? Tell me if Shawn bullies you, I'll knock some sense into him" she said, holding my hands gently.

"Aunty...Shawn is..." I stammered, surprised.

"Shawn is inside. Come I'll take you in" David's mom quickly cut in.

"Thank you for being here, Chelsea. Shawn is always so sick nowadays but because of you, he's fighting really hard" Shawn's mother said, with a smile.

David's mother led her into David's room and came out a few minutes. She then talked to the doctor but I noticed her stealing glances at me. I was still standing there, rooted on the spot, not knowing what to say. Before I knew it, tears started forming in my eyes. Until today, Shawn's mother still has not accepted the demise of Shawn. I regretted not coming to see her sooner. Her pain must have been so much greater compared to mine. Shawn was her only son and he was her everything.

"Chelsea, it's nice to finally see you. I've heard David going on and on about you" she said, smiling.

"Aunty" I said, softly.

"Please, just call me Jennifer. Aunty makes me sound so old" she joked, laughing.

She reminded me so much of David. From their features and now, their personality.

"I can't believe he did not tell any of us that he was running a fever. He, of all person should know how dangerous a fever can be! I don't know how you did it but thanks for convincing him to see the doctor. Usually, I have to literally tied him up and throw him into the boot of the car" she said, laughing.

I looked at her, horrified.

"I was just joking, silly" she quickly continued as I let out a relieved smile.

"Is...Is David okay? Dr Sam wouldn't tell me anything" I asked, worriedly.

"Yes.Since young, David has not been a very strong boy. He's been in and out of hospitals most of his life. He just got better recently and the doctors are just taking a precaution now" Jennifer explained.

Now, I know why he doesn't like to see the doctors so much.

"What is he sick with?" I probed further.

"Don't worry, he's okay now. Come on, David must be anxious to see you!" she said, changing the subject altogether and pulled me into the room.

I spent the next few days taking care of David in the hospital but I realized that he, like his mother, would change the subject whenever I asked about his illness. I decided not to ask anymore knowing that it is a very sensitive issue. I could only hope and pray that he is okay. I don't think I can lose anyone who's close to me again. Probably because of that, I've become rather over protective of him.

It's also heart breaking to watch David calling his mom 'Aunty Jennifer' and his Aunty, 'mom'. They didn't know what else to do. After Shawn's death, his mother went into a state of depression and even tried killing herself. She just didn't have a purpose in living anymore. When David and his mother visited her, she immediately mistook David as Shawn. They just couldn't disappoint her again especially after seeing her so happy. Being very close to her sister, David's mother decided the best solution is to move the family here. It was a huge sacrifice but seeing her getting better each day was all worth it.

Now I know where David gets his kind heart from....his mother.