Rhythm Of My Soul - Chapter 10

I kept on running and without realizing, I've reached our favourite hide out. The place brought back even more painful memories. This was where we first meet and this was where we spend most of our time together. I heard footsteps coming my way and I quickly wiped away my tears, not wanting him to see the pain that I was going through. I turned back, expecting it to be David but instead I come face to face with Charlene.

"Wow! You sure run very fast! I nearly lost you there" she said, half gasping for air.

"Why did you come after me?" I asked, confused.

"Because I knew that you were crying. You love David, don't you?" she asked.

I was speechless. I mean, how do you tell the girlfriend that you're in love with her boyfriend? Looking at Charlene now, I realized that I may not even have the right to love David in the first place. She is everything that I'm not and she is the one that deserves to be with David. He is, after all, way out of my league. I used to worry that I was only feeling the way I did for David because I see him as a replacement for Shawn. The truth was, it was the other way around. I was Charlene's replacement.

"It's okay, you can tell me the truth. I promise I won't kill you" she said, with a giggle.

"Yes" I finally admitted.

"Good, because he feels the same way for you too" she replied, with a smile.

"Huh?" I asked, thinking that Charlene was joking.

"I believe I haven't formally introduced myself yet. My name is Char..." she started to say.

"I know that David is your boyfriend. I'm sorry, Charlene. I won't come in between you two, I promise. I will forget him" I quickly say.

"I'm Charlene Chen. And if you dare to forget my brother, I'll be dead. He'll kill me for sure" she said, laughing.

"You're...you're..." I couldn't even finish my sentence.

"Yes, I'm her sister. The one he left behind in Canada? I hope he has told you about me before? If not, he'll be dead" she replied, with a wink.

His sister. Yes, now everything has come back to place. David has once told me about having a younger sister. She had to stay back in Canada to finish her last school year before she could come over to join the rest of the family. He has always wanted me to meet her and now I know why he doted on his sister. She was just as playful and cheeky as him. Her name was....yes, it was Charlene! I can't believe that I have totally forgot about his sister until now.

"I'm really sorry for pulling this prank on you. You don't know how much my ears hurt, listening to David. He just goes on and on about you. I've never seen him so obsessed over a girl before! I just needed to make sure whether you were feeling the same way too and whether it was all worth it. I don't want my brother to get hurt" she explained.

"Thanks, Charlene. For reminding me how lucky I am to have him" I said, smiling.

"Just make sure that you're serious with this relationship and don't end up hurting him. I will come after you" Charlene warned, protectively.

If I hadn't known, I would have thought that Charlene is David's older sister instead of his younger sister.

"I will do everything I can to keep him happy" I promised, smiling at Charlene's over protectiveness over her brother.

"Yayy! Now I have an extra person to bully David!" she cheered, happily.

"Yes. I'm glad that I have you on my side as well" I replied, laughing.

"But I really have to thank you. If it weren't for you, we would have lost him for good" she said, suddenly serious.

"What do you mean?" I asked, curiously.

"What? He didn't tell you? David is...." Charlene was cut off before she could finish her sentence.

"Charlene, that's enough!" David said, coming out from behind the tree.

I blushed crimson red when I see the sight of him. He must have heard our conversation and know of my true feelings for him. After much persuasion by David, Charlene finally left the two of them alone. It was really funny watching the two siblings fight. It was just a few seconds ago that Charlene was being so over protective of David. Before Charlene left, she adviced David to tell me whatever that he was hiding from me. However, silence engulfed us right after Charlene left.

"David, I...."

"Chelsea, I..."

We both started to speak at the exact same time.

"Ladies first" he said, smiling.

"I love you" was all I could say.

"I love you too" he replied.

I have planned over and over again of the things I would say to him when I finally see him.

I wanted to tell him how much I love him.

I wanted to tell him how much he means to me.

I wanted to tell him how happy he makes me.

I wanted to tell him how sorry I was for pushing him away.

I wanted to tell him how much I needed him to be with me.

But I couldn't find the words to tell him. All I know is that I'm deeply and madly in love with the man that is sitting in front of me now. I suddenly realize that there was no need for us to exchange too many words. David already know what I had wanted to say. I don't know how but I just know he knows because I already knew what he had wanted to say.

He leaned closer to me and for the first time, our lips touched. The kiss was so sweet and magical, I've lost count of how many somersaults my heart did. We hugged each other tight, as if we were afraid to let go of each other. Without realizing it, there were tears streaming down my cheeks. They were happy tears. David leaned closer and gently kissed my tears away. I am, no doubt, the luckiest girl on earth.

"What was Charlene trying to tell me just now?" I asked, suddenly remembering.

"When I told you that I might not be coming back for good, that was true. I was sick, Chelsea. I was very sick" he explained softly.

"Sick? How are you now? What is wrong with you?" I asked, nearly going hysterical worrying about him.

"The reason I went back to Canada was to get a heart transplant. The doctor only gave me 50-50 chance of survival. You didn't hear from me for months not because I've forgotten about you but it was because I was too sick to even pick up the phone" he went on.

"What? Heart transplant? How could that be possible? None of these are making sense! You never looked sick!" I cried, angry at myself for not noticing it.

"That's because I've gotten so good from hiding the pain from everyone else. It isn't that bad, really. Just as long as I have pills with me, I will be okay. I didn't want people to treat me as a sick person. I just want to fit in. I'm sorry for lying to you, Chelsea" he apologized.

"So those pills weren't your vitamin pills?" I asked, referring to the pills that he always had to take when we're out.


He nodded.

"And when you were gasping for breath, you weren't being dramatic?" I asked, remembering the times I would tease him because he always get tired so easily.

He nodded again.

I suddenly have flashbacks of the time we spent together and realized that there were hints that he was sick. I was just too ignorant to notice it. He was always so tired and would be gasping for breath after doing simple things such as climbing a flight of stairs. Of course, he always tried to cover it by turning it into a joke. He must have been in so much pain and yet he acted as if nothing was wrong just so that he wouldn't worry me. It must have been so hard on him then.

"Chelsea, please don't cry. I'm so sorry for lying to you" he said, worriedly.

Wait, I was crying? I touched my face and realized that my cheeks were stained with tears. I didn't even realize that I was crying. I quickly wiped my tears away and took his hand into mine. I suddenly realize how lucky I am to still have him by my side. I was this close to losing him, for good.

"It's not your fault, David. I'm sorry for being so ignorant. I'm sorry for not knowing that you were sick. Now that I think back, there were so many signs and yet, I chose to ignore them" I sobbed, guiltily.

"Chelsea, you could not have known because I was the one who didn't want you to know. I didn't want you to worry and most of all, I didn't want you to treat me differently" David explained.

"How are you now? How did the operation go? Are you sure you're okay to be out and about? Shouldn't you be in bed, resting?" I asked, worriedly.

"See? That's why I didn't want to tell you" he replied, laughing.

"I just don't want to lose you, David. I don't think I can go through the pain of losing someone I love....again" I whispered softly.

"I'm sorry for putting you through this. I know I was selfish. To know that I was sick and yet I still continue loving you. But now, I won't go anywhere. The operation was successful, Chelsea. What Charlene said was the truth. I fought hard to come back to you. I'm going to be okay now" he promised me.

"I'm glad that you were selfish enough to love me. I love you, David. I love you so much. Don't ever leave me" I said, hugging him tightly.

"Can you guys even breathe?" a voice asked from behind.

"Charlene! What are you still doing here?" cried David, breaking away from our embrace.

"Well, I just thought I would stay for the ending. After all, I started it" said Charlene, sticking out her tongue playfully.

"Why you...." started David but was cut off.

"You know what song is perfect for this moment?" Charlene asked.

"What?" both David and I ask at the same time.

"Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat!" she screamed happily, which is also coincidently our favourite song.

"Do you hear me,
Talking to you
Across the water across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm trying"

David started singing as Charlene and I collapsed in fits of laughter. Then he started nudging me to continue but I refused. This was so embarassing especially when I know I can't even sing a tune in place.

"Boy I hear you in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea"

Charlene started to sing and begged me to continue. I'm guessing the two of them must have watched too much Mamma Mia movies. Don't get me wrong, I love the movie, Mamma Mia. In fact, to me, it is the best movie of 2008. I finally gave in when I saw those two faces. Both David and Charlene were looking at me with those big helpless puppy eyes. I know I couldn't refuse them any longer.

"Boy I hear you in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard"

I started singing, or rather croaking but David and Charlene didn't seem to mind. We then launch into the chorus part together. I felt as if we were in one of the scenes from Mamma Mia. We were literally singing with our hearts, pouring our love out for each other through a song. I always loved watching musicals but I never once thought that I will be in one as well!

"Lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Ooohh ooooh oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh ooh"

I've forgot the last time where I have had so much fun and laughter in my life. We continued singing the song on top of our voices, without a care in the world. I snuggled closer to David as he wrapped his arms around me. I am certainly blessed to have David by my side and for some reason, I knew that Shawn was smiling down on us.

Yes, I am that lucky and no longer cursed.

"They don't know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbyeI wish we had one more
I'll wait for you I promise you, I will

Lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we're in love in every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

And so I'm sailing through the sea
To an island where we'll meet
You'll hear the music fill the air
I'll put a flower in your hair
Though the breezes through trees
Move so pretty you're all I see
As the world keeps spinning round
You hold me right here right now

Lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we're in love in every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

Ooohh ooooh oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooooh ooooh oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh ooh"