Monday, August 3, 2009

Always and Forever - Chapter 10

Chapter Ten: Just Want To Love You




“Ella...” he said. “Will... will you give me a chance to love you?”

Ella looked away from him, and stared outside the window. She was to shocked by his question to even answer him. She love Calvin, yes, but she was scared to love him and give him her whole heart. After all the things that happened to her in the past, she doesn't know if she's capable of loving again. She forgot what it's like, what it feels. Basing from his story, she could feel that Calvin have not totally moved on. She could feel that he still loves Selina, and that their marriage is just a security blanket for him, an assurance that he won't be alone for the rest of his life. She was scared that in the end, Calvin will hurt him when she fall in love with him deeply. Everything was too sudden for her.

“Ella... did... did I scare you?” he asked. Ella remained unmoved. He heard her sigh, but she didn't face him. Maybe what he said was too much. He knew how she have been through, and it was wrong for him to ask her to give him a chance. “You... you don't have to give me your answer... because even if you say no, I will still be here for you. I will be your friend. I will be someone whom you can rely on. I promise you that from now on, you won't be alone anymore. I won't abandon you like your father did...” he said. Ella turned to him, and he could see the sadness in her eyes. “Don't promise me something... you might just hurt me in the end...” she said. Calvin could only look at her face closely. “You... you love Selina. I know you still do. I can feel your pain... and you have to understand that it's... it's not easy for me to accept you...” Her words faltered as she looked away from him. She couldn't bear to look into his eyes. She was scared to see the thing that she wanted to see the most – his love for her. “I'm scared to love you... it's the truth. Because I know that when I do, it will break my heart...” she said silently to herself.

Calvin sighed, and turned away from him. He wanted her to understand how he truly feels. He wanted her to understand that he love her, and that she have slowly taken over Selina's place in his heart. Each day he spends with her and each day that he gets to know her, he can't help but fall in love with her even more. But for the nth time, she's rejecting him. “I won't give up on you...” he said to her. Ella looked up at him, and saw him smiling at him. “I know the pain of your past makes you unable to love. But I won't give up. If you can't love me, then let me love you. Let me fill up that whole in your heart. I want to be that person who can take care of you, and give you the love you needed.” he said. Ella shook her head as he speaks. “I will only hurt you...” she said. He took her hand, and held it. Ella looked up at him, and stared into his eyes. “I know that you will never hurt me.” he said. “Maybe I can't love you in the same way a husband love his wife, but let me love you in a way a friend could love his friend. Can you allow me to love you, as a friend?” he asked again. Ella took a deep breath, and then she nodded her head. At seeing her answer, Calvin turn into a smile. “Thank you, Ella...” he said. “You don't know how this means to me...”

--

Mike entered Chun's shop, and he saw Chun and Charlene, who were busy designing a cloth. “Oh, the cute guy's here!” Chun said. Charlene looked up at him, and rolled her eyes at him. “What are you doing here? I don't think we're supposed to meet regarding preparations... or is it because you wanted to have a glimpse of my pretty face?” she asked. Mike let out a smirk at her. “Please. I'm not here to see your stupid face!” he said. “I think he's here to see my pretty face.” Chun said. The two could only glare at him. “Fine... I'll go get something inside. Call me when you want to kill each other.” he said before leaving the two alone.

“So, arrogant guy, what do you want?” Charlene asked. “I was wondering if you know where Calvin and Ella are...” Mike asked. Charlene gave him a confused look. “Why are you asking me. Aren't you supposed to be with them?” she said. “Seems to me that after we went to see the venue for the wedding, the two have gone somewhere. Aunt Celestine is getting worried about Calvin since he haven't gone home since last night.” Mike explained. Charlene could only shrug her shoulder. “If Ella's the one missing, I know where she is. But if it's Calvin, I'm sorry but I have no idea where they have gone through.” she said. She turned away from him, and continued the pin the cloth on the mannequin. “Exactly! I know that you know where Ella is. Calvin is with Ella, so I know that you know where the two are.” Mike said. Charlene looked at Mike, and smirked at him. “What kind of a logic is that? And besides, even if I know where Ella is, I won't tell you. And if she is with Calvin, it's not that she kidnapped your friend!” she told him. Mike folded his arms, and then rolled his eyes at her. “Fine. I'll try to find them by myself. You're no use anyway, stupid girl!” he snapped at her.

Charlene just ignored him. As he looked over the table, he noticed a small envelope on the table. “Hey, is this the invitation for their wedding?” he asked. “What else do you think is that, electricity bill?” she asked. Mike just ignored his remark and took a look at it. He read a name under the maid-if-honor part. “Charlene Choi?” he thought. He knew he have heard of that name before, but he couldn't remember. He looked at Charlene, and stared at her for a long time. “Her full name is Charlene Choi... I heard that name somewhere, but I don't know where...” he thought. Charlene looked back at him, and found him staring at her. “What else do you want, pervert?” she asked. Mike smirked at her. “Nothing, stupid girl! I'm going.” he said.

--

Calvin and Ella walked back to the house after taking a stroll around the garden. “Thanks for showing me around, Ella.” he said. He sat on the porch's stair and Ella sat beside him. “I'm glad you enjoyed your stay here at the summer house.” she said. Calvin smiled at her, and then stared at the flowers before him. “i wish I could stay here longer. This place is really nice and quiet... it's so peaceful... it's like when you're here, you can forget all your worries.” he said. Ella looked up at him, and nodded her head. “That's why I'm always here, especially when I wanted to think...” she said. Ella looked away from him, and then hugged her knees. “Aside from Charlene, you are the second person who came to this place. Come to think of you're the first guy I ever brought here.” she said. Calvin felt his cheeks turn red at what she said. He was honored to be the first man who came to this summer house. “So, you mean Chun haven't come here before?” he asked. Ella nodded her head. “I told myself that I will only bring the man I lo-” Ella paused. She almost got that word slip out of her mouth. Calvin could only give him a confused look as she paused. Then, she smiled at him. “I promised myself I will only bring a very special man to this house.” she said. Calvin smiled at her. “So, it means that I'm really special?” he asked. Ella nodded her head. “Of course, you're going to be my husband, right?” she said.

Calvin felt something missing in him. He looked at his wrist, and found his bracelet missing. Ella looked at him, and saw the worried expression on his face. “Anything wrong?” she asked. Calvin nodded his head. “I think I lost my bracelet.”
“What bracelet?”
“It's the silver bracelet that Selina gave me on our first anniversary together...”
Ella observed Calvin and saw the sadness in his eyes. She could understand how important it is for him, because it's one of the remaining memories he have of Selina. “Do you remember where you lost it?” she asked. Calvin shrugged his shoulder. “I'm not sure if it's in the garden or inside the house.” he said. Ella stood up, and then took Calvin to pull him up. “Don't worry, we can still find it.” she said. Calvin stood up, and shrugged his shoulder. “I don't think we can still find it, Ella...” he said sadly. Ella shook her head, and then smiled at him. “We can still find it, Calvin. It's important to you... it's what Selina left behind for you. I know she will help us find it...” she said.

Just by seeing her smile, Calvin felt at ease. He was filled with hope that he could find what he was looking for. He let Ella pull him inside the house. 'You search there.” she said as she pointed at the den. “I'll try the kitchen and the bed room.” she continue. “Kitchen?” he asked in a confused look. Ella looked at him, and smirked. “Wei, maybe that bracelet fell on the omelet you cooked that's why it tastes awful.” she said. She laughed at him, and stuck out her tongue before heading inside the kitchen to find his bracelet. Calvin turned the living room upside down, literally, in search for his bracelet. But, he wasn't too successful. As he pulled one of the drawers, he saw an old picture. It was of little Ella being carried by her father, and a woman beside her father. They were all happy in that picture. With the way the woman held onto her father, he could guess that it was her mother. “She's so cute...” he found himself say as he looked at Ella's cute smiling face. She got her father's eyes, and her mother's smile. “I wonder how our daughter would look like... I wish she would have your eyes as well...” he said to himself.

He heard Ella's footsteps, he immediately closed the drawer, and put the picture in his back pocket. “Have you found it?” she asked him. Calvin look at her, and shook his head. “It's not here...” he said. “It's not in the kitchen either. I checked on the room, it's not here as well.” she said. She walked towards the window, and looked outside the garden. “It's possible that you lost it at the garden...” she said. Then, she looked up at him. “Hey, try looking at the bedroom again. I'll look for it at the garden.” she said. Calvin looked outside the window, and saw that it was already dark. The rain could fall anytime soon. He looked back at Ella, and saw him heading towards the door. “Ella!” he called. Ella paused, and looked back at him. “It's going to rain. It's better if you stay here. Besides, we have to go home already...” he said. Ella shook his head. “I will find it for you. Don't worry, OK? I'll be back before the rain falls.” she said. Before she knew it, Ella have gone outside.

Calvin continued for his search inside the house. He went to the bedroom, and tried to look under the bed. Then, he heard a loud crashing sound. He stood up up, and looked outside to find that it was raining hard. “Ella...” he thought worriedly. Meanwhile, it was already starting to rain, but Ella didn't give up in finding Calvin's silver bracelet. She looked under the bushes, but she couldn't find it. The rain began to fall harder, and before she knew it, she was drenched in the rain. She looked up, and sighed. “God, help me find it... I know it's very important for Calvin...” she said silently. She knelt down, and began to search for it again. As she looked to her side, she saw something shimmering on the ground. She took it, and smile to herself. It was the bracelet Calvin was looking for.

Calvin went outside the house with an umbrella in his hand. He was hoping to find Ella before the weather could get any more worse. “Ella!” he shouted. There was no reply from her. He was starting to get worried and scared for her. “Ella!” he shouted again. He looked around for her, but there was no sigh of her. “Ella! Where are you?!” he shouted again. “Calvin!” He looked back, and saw Ella running up to her. His face turned into a smile upon seeing her. Suddenly, at her sight, all of his worries about her have disappeared. “I found it!” Ella said the moment she stood in front of him. She dangled bracelet in front of him, and smiled at her. Calvin stared at the bracelet, and then gazed at Ella. Ella looked into his eyes, and he saw the fear, the worry in him. With all his might, he pulled Ella close to her, and hugged her tight. “You scared me...” he whispered to her. “I thought something happened to you... I thought you left me... I thought I'm going to lose you again...” he said. Ella lifted up her hands, and wrapped it around him. “I... I will never leave you, Calvin...” she said softly. Calvin looked at her, and cupped her cheeks. “Ella... you are more important to me than this bracelet. If something happened to you, I could never forgive myself...” he said. Ella smiled at him and shook her head. “Nothing can happen to me. Trust me, Calvin. Trust me. I won't do anything to worry you ever again.” she said. Calvin smiled at her with relief. He cupped her cheeks, and kissed her on the lips. Then, he embraced her, not wanting to let her go.

--

It was already evening when they arrived at the mansion. As the maids opened the door, the first person they saw was Ella's father, who was furious at them. “Where have you been?” Robin shouted to Calvin and Ella. Ella turned away from him, while Calvin held her tight. “You've been gone for a day, and you had us all worried. Now tell me, where have you been?” he asked again. Ella glared at her father. “It's none of your business...” she said weekly. Melinda quickly came to Robin's side. “Robin, I think it would be better if you let Calvin and Ella rest first. Can you question them later?” she said calmly. Robin put his hand on his waist, and shook his head. “I can't let this pass. Your wedding is in a few weeks' time, and you two are slacking off!” he shouted angrily at the two. Calvin remained unmoved by his anger. He looked into his eyes, and began to speak. “I'm sorry, Uncle Robin. I asked Ella to show me her summer house yesterday. Then, there was a strong rain last night that's why we weren't able to come back soon. Today, I asked Ella to show me around the house. We lingered around there, that we didn't notice the time.” he explained. “But still. You know how important your wedding is. With a short time left, you should not waste any more time. Do you understand?” Robin said. Calvin slowly nodded his head. “I understand, Uncle Robin...” he said softly.

Calvin and Ella watched as Robin retreat to him room. “Aiyo... don't mind Ella's dad. He's a little stressed out right now.” Melinda said to them. Calvin smiled at her and nodded his head. “I understand, Auntie Melinda. It's our fault anyway.” he said. He looked at Ella, and saw her leaning close to her. Her eyes were closed, he thought that she got tired because of their travel. “Ella...” he called her. He touched her, and found that she was hot. He looked at her closely, and saw her shivering. “Ella... are you OK?” he asked. But there was no response for her. Then, she collapsed. Good thing Calvin was quick, and was able to catch her. “Ella!” Melinda shouted. She touched her, and then she looked up at Calvin. “She have a fever... can you help me up to her room?” she asked. Calvin nodded his head. He stood up, carrying Ella up to her room.

--

Ella slowly opened her eyes, and found herself inside her room. “What happened?” she thought. She could not remember how she got inside her room. The last thing she remembered before she blacked out was her dad's nagging, and Calvin explaining everything to him. She smiled to himself as he remembered how Calvin stood up for her. She turned to her side, and saw Calvin sitting in her chair, watching her. He smiled at her the moment she awoke. “Hey...” she said in a weak voice. “Hey...” he said. “You blacked out on me. Why didn't you tell me that you aren't feeling well? You got me worried...” he said. Ella let out a faint smile at him. “Sorry...” she said. “May I remind you, Mrs. Calvin Chen, that you promised me a while ago that you won't do anything to worry me...” he said softly to her. He reached for her, and brushed the hair on her forehead. “I just waited for you to wake up. I want to be the first person you'll see when you wake up.” he said. Ella let our a faint smile. “Don't be to sweet. I might fall in love with you...” she joked. Calvin just let out a faint smile at her.

“I think you should go home already. Your parents must be worried about you...” she told him. “I will. After I'm assured that you're OK.” he said. “I'm OK now. I just need to rest the whole day tomorrow...” she said. Calvin smiled and nodded his head. “I'll go back here tomorrow to check on you, OK?” he said. Ella smiled at him, and nodded his head. Calvin stood up from his seat, and walked up to her bed. He fixed her blanket, and then planted a kiss on her forehead. “Sleep tight, princess...” he whispered to her. “Take care...” she said. Calvin nodded his head. Before he got out of her room, he turned the lights off of her room.

--

Calvin got out of the shower, and then sat on his bed. On his side table, he saw Ella's old picture. He took it, and stared at her cute face for a long time. She looked happy in that picture, and so does her parents. He was guessing that it was taken before her dad ruined their family. “I wish I could give you back this smile that you have in this picture...” he thought. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. He looked up, and saw Andy entering his room. “Ge, can I talk to you?” he asked. Calvin nodded his head. Andy sat beside him, and he noticed the sad expression in his face. “What happened? Did Wen Xuan turned you down?” he asked. Andy just shook his head. “Worst. She transferred schools...” he said. Calvin smiled at him, and the put his arm around his brother. “Hey, it's not that bad. She didn't migrate to another country, didn't she?” he asked. Andy shook his head. “See? At least you will get to see her.” he said. “But ge, I feel guilty. I think I'm the reason why she transferred schools. I think she hates me...” Andy said sadly. Calvin got confused with what he said. “Why? What did you do? Did you hurt her?” he asked. Andy nodded his head. “Ge, the girl's a nerd. I'm a popular kid in school. I can't let everyone know that I have a crush on her. Then one day, she bumped into me and my friends. All of her books fell on the floor, and I saw her love letter for me. I took it by force, and read it. Then, Julian and Ah Ben began teasing her, and told her that she have no chance with me. And then, ge, I teased her too and called her names. She was crying that time... I wanted to say sorry and to comfort her, but before I could, she ran away from me. That's why I wrote her a letter, but before I gave it too her, she's already gone...” he said sadly.

Calvin looked at his brother with disbelief, and then shook his head. “Andy, mom and dad didn't raise us to look down at people. Honestly, I'm quite disappointed in you. You're not that type of guy as far as I'm concerned. If I'm Wen Xuan, I'll be mad at you for a long time...” he said. Andy took his pillow and leaned on it. And then, he sighed. “I know what I did is wrong. I only want to apologize to her, but she didn't give me that chance...” he said in a low voice. “If you're really sorry, and if you really want to apologize to her, then why don't you visit her at her new school? You can talk to her.” he suggested. Andy looked up at his brother, and smiled. “Do you think that would work?” he asked. Calvin smiled and nodded his head. “It works every time.” he assured him. Andy smiled to himself. His brother is right, and he have decided to go to Genie's school tomorrow. “I think I'll follow your advise, ge. Thanks for the suggestion.” he said.

--

It's been a week and Genie have settled in her new school. She made new friends, and even became best of friends with the two most popular girls in school – Anna and Corina. It was one of those afternoons when she was hanging out with her friends at the school's waiting area, while they were waiting to be picked up by their parents or their nannies. “Hey, Genie, do you want to go to the cafe? I'm already hungry...” Corina said. Anna laughed at her friend. “Wei, Corina... you're always hungry. That's why you're getting fatter!” she said. “No, I'm not!” Corina said defensively. Genie laughed at the two. She was happy to be friends with them. She was able to adjust in her new school because of these girls.

As her friends were bickering, she looked outside, and saw a familiar face within the crowd. Her face became pale upon seeing that person. It was the very same person that caused her to transfer to another school – Andy Chen. “What is he doing here?” she thought. She immediately stood up from her seat, and got her bag. “Girls, I have to go...” she said. Anna and Corina exchanged looks. “What's wrong?” Anna asked. Genie didn't answer them. The two girls looked at the direction she was looking at, and saw a guy standing by the gate. “Who is he, your boyfriend?” Corina asked. Genie shook her head. Her friends could see the fear in her eyes. “Is he the jerk you were talking about? The one who bullied you in your old school?” Anna asked. This time, Genie nodded her head. Anna and Corina looked at each other, and then they turned to her and smiled. “Look, he can't bully you anymore. And besides, this is your territory. Why are you scared of him?” Corina asked. Anna nodded in agreement to her friend. “Instead of running away from him, face him and tell him off. That will teach him a lesson not to bully you or anyone anymore!” Anna added. “D-do you think I can tell him off?” she asked. The two girls nodded their heads. “Of course. We're your friends, remember?” Anna said. Genie took a deep breath, and smiled at them. “Then let me try and be mean at him for once.” she said. She pulled her sleeves up, and went to face Andy.

The moment he saw Genie got out of the gate, Andy immediately stood up. “Genie!” he said happily. He was smiling at her, too happy to see her again. But with the way she looked at him, it seems that she's not quite happy to see him again. “Hi, Genie...” he said to her. Genie looked at him, and then rolled her eyes at him. “What are you doing here? Did you ran out of girls to date at your school that's why you're here to girl hunt? And where are your perverted friends?” she asked. The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. “Actually, I'm here to see you...” he said in a low voice. “Why? To bully me again? I won't let you bully me again, Andy Chen! I've had enough of you. I transferred here because I don't want to see your ugly face, and you come here looking for me... for what?” she snapped at him.

Andy looked sadly at her. He could not believe that in a short span of time, the once sweet and shy girl like Genie would turn out to be a mean girl. “You really don't want to see me again?” he asked. “After all the things you've done to me, I don't think I would want to see your ugly face. Do you think you're cute and handsome, then let me tell you... you're not! I don't know why I even had a crush on you at the first place.” she said. Andy lowered his head as she speaks. It was breaking his heart to know that the girl he loves hates him now, and it was all his fault. Then, he looked up at her, and smiled sadly. “I... I understand. Don't worry, this will be the last time you'll see me again. I won't bother you anymore. I was hoping I could check on you, and catch up on you... and apologize for all the things I've don to you in the past. But now, I know you hate me too much that you can't forgive me. I've sorry for bothering you, Genie...” he said sadly. Then, he turned away from her, and began to walk away. As she watched Andy leaves, Genie suddenly felt guilty. What she have said to him was mean, and it was unlikely of her to be mean. Somehow, she regret all the things she said to the guy she liked ever since.

Labels: Always and Forever, fan fic