Fan Fiction |
by Sensitivegal
Chapter Thirty-Six ‘Awoken’
‘You big doofus!’ a small cry that came barely as a whisper was heard. And it came from behind him.
Edison stilled. Could this be true? Could the voice be real? Or is his mind playing a cruel trick on him?
He slowly turned and looked upon Charlene. Her eyes were still closed. He cursed under his breath. Of course it wasn’t her. Just when he gave up his hope he heard her voice.
‘You really are a big doofus!’ her lips moved he saw. So she was talking! He wanted to shout out with joy but remained silent. Her eyes fluttered. It then snapped wide open.
Edison gasped. ‘Charlene?’ he whispered. It came out like a squeak. He cleared his throat. ‘Charlene,’ he repeated. He gave a short laugh. ‘Omg, you’re awake!’
‘I was a wake for the past few minutes, doofus,’ she informed him. She was over the moon hearing everything Edison said. He loved her. She had tried to give him sign that she’s awake but the big doofus couldn’t tell. At one point she wanted to smack him but she was still weak that she couldn’t even lift her hand up.
He thought he’d mind was playing jokes with him. But he comprehended that he had been in denial until now. He scratched his head. He walked towards her. ‘I really must be a doofus then since you did mention it like three times,’ he admitted.
Charlene gave him a nod. ‘My big doofus,’ she added. Edison’s eyebrows lifted in question. ‘Yes, I love you too.’
That made Edison the happiest man alive. This time he felt like screaming with joy. ‘Whooohoooooo,’ he screamed.
Charlene laughed and shook her head at his childish behaviour.
Edison jumped on the empty bed and jumped on it. He punched the air. ‘I’m the luckiest man alive!’ he yelled.
The door opened to the room and in rushed Gillian, Nicholas, Vicky, Daphne, Patrick, Alec and two nurses in panic. Edison did not expect this. He tripped over his foot and fell off the bed flat on his face.
‘Ouch!’ Nicholas said for Edison and the rest. He suppressed the laughter that was bursting to come out.
Nicholas looked at the others. He noticed they too were holding back their laughter. They were not aware of Charlene who was awake until she roared with laughter. All heads turned to her in amazement.
‘Omg!’ they all shrieked.
‘Charlene!’ Vicky screeched. She ran over to her and hugged her as if she was holding for her dear life.
The rest followed.
‘Honey,’ Patrick called out. ‘I’m so happy you finally woke up.’
Edison who had been still flat on the floor lifted his head. No one had come to see if he was okay. ‘Don’t worry about me,’ he said sarcastically. ‘I’m fine.’
‘Edison,’ Daphne said. She was few feet away from him. He saw her shaking her head. She put both her hands on her hips and frowned down on him. ‘What are you doing lying on the floor?’ she asked.
‘I thought I’d have a quick nap,’ he replied. He shot up to his feet. ‘But since you’re all here I’ll wait ‘til I get home.’ He brushed his clothes wiping the dust away.
‘No time for napping,’ Nicholas came and wrapped an arm around Edison. ‘Charlene’s awake!’
‘You think?’ Edison remarked. He smiled at Charlene who was in stitches now with his sarcasm. Since no knew why Edison had actually fell they didn’t get why Charlene was laughing so hard. Edison winked at her. It was their very own private joke.
‘I think we should run some check on Charlene before you all get acquainted with her again,’ Alec suggested. He nodded at the nurses. One nurse shooed everyone out the room including the reluctant Edison. The other helped Alec.
Out the private room Patrick, surprising everyone, hugged Edison tightly. ‘Thank you so much,’ he said in a low voice.
‘I did this solemnly for Charlene,’ Edison spoke truthfully. He had no idea how to be friendliness with Patrick since most the time before he used to speak rudely towards him. Patrick pulled back. They stood there in awkward.
‘I don’t think we actually got to talk, cousin,’ Vicky broke the silence. She too hugged Edison tightly. ‘When Charlene came back from America I started regretting asking you to take her there. You should have seen her. It was like she was a zombie.’
‘I knew it!’ Patrick shouted. He then lowered his voice. ‘I knew you were good for nothing!’ Patrick wasn’t angry when he said that to Vicky.
Vicky laughed. ‘Oops, shouldn’t have said that in front of you.’
Edison grinned. ‘But I’m glad you did beg me to take her.’
‘You would, wouldn’t you,’ Nicholas chipped in.
‘You are?’ Vicky asked.
‘Nicholas Tse,’ he held out his hand. Vicky shook it firmly. ‘Edison’s best friend and P.A.’
Vicky turned to the jealous Gillian. ‘I’m Gillian Chung, his,’ she pointed at Nicholas when she said ‘his’, ‘girlfriend in process,’ Gillian retorted. She didn’t bother shaking hands. ‘And you are?’
Vicky bit her lip stopping a smile from forming. ‘I’m…’ she was cut off by Alec who walked out of the room with a smile spread on his face. The two nurses also walked out. They went off the opposite direction. Alec came and stood next to Vicky.
‘She’s Vicky Zhou,’ he answered for her. ‘My soon-to-be girlfriend.’
Vicky blushed. She elbowed him.
‘Ouch!’ Alec pretended to be hurt. ‘Oh, she’s Edison’s second cousin and Charlene’s best friend.’
Vicky rolled her eyes. He took her elbowing the wrong way. She noticed Gillian flinch at the mention of best friend but thought against asking her why.
‘How’s her condition, Doc?’ Edison asked ignoring the rest.
‘She’s still weak but having some food will cure that,’ Alec happily replied.
‘I’ll go see her first then,’ Patrick said. He walked inside without waiting for any replies. He closed the door behind him and strode to Charlene’s side. He saw Charlene sat up, leaning on couple of cushions behind her. ‘How’s my favourite girl?’
Charlene was closed to tears. This was what they used to joke about when she was a child. But as she grew older the bond with her father broke. She rolled her eyes. ‘I’m your only girl!’ she pointed out.
‘True. You’re my favourite person in the whole wide world,’ he smiled.
Charlene stuck out her tongue. ‘The world is too big for you. And I know what you’re trying to do,’ she said in a sing-song voice.
‘What am I possibly trying to do?’ Patrick asked in mock confusion.
‘You just want me to love you,’ she shook her finger at him.
‘Is it working?’ Charlene sealed her lips tightly together and shook her head. ‘Really?’ Patrick raised an eyebrow as he stepped closer. Charlene violently nodded her head. ‘So you’re saying that you don’t love your old man?’ he stepped closer. Charlene nodded. A smile was plastered on her face. ‘Okay,’ he said causally.
Charlene waited. Then as she predicted her father began tickling her. Charlene screamed and giggled. It went on for few minutes.
Patrick stopped. He looked at Charlene. ‘Do you want to reconsider?’ he asked her.
Charlene nodded. ‘I love my old man very much,’ she quoted.
Patrick grinned. ‘That’s more like it,’ he said as he sat himself on the bed beside her. He sighed. ‘So many things happened,’ he began. ‘I’m sorry I’ve been a bad father.’
Charlene leaned forward and hugged him. ‘Don’t be sorry, I understand,’ she said.
Patrick smiled. ‘You are just like your mother,’ he said proudly. ‘You forgive your love ones easily.’
Charlene was touched by his words. That was the first time he actually mentioned about his mother. He tends not to talk about her. ‘Did you love her?’ Charlene asked.
‘More than life itself!’ he answered without hesitation.
‘Look you made me cry again,’ Charlene wiped her tears.
‘Sorry,’ he quickly apologized.
‘No, I want to talk about mother more,’ she said.
Patrick nodded. ‘We will when you get home,’ he promised.
Charlene pulled a face. ‘That’s like going to be tomorrow!’ she complained.
‘Well just get better for me,’ he requested.
A knock came upon the room interrupting Charlene who was going to complain more. Vicky stuck her head around. ‘Mind if I come in, uncle?’ Vicky sweetly asked.
Patrick chuckled. ‘Not at all.’ Charlene was surprised that her father was getting on with her best friend for the first time. ‘Close your mouth, Charlene,’ Patrick told her.
Charlene did as she was asked not realising herself that her mouth had hung open in shock. ‘You,’ she pointed at Patrick, ‘and her,’ she now pointed at Vicky, ‘guys are actually talking nicely?’
‘Of course,’ Vicky said. ‘Weren’t we always?’
‘She must have hurt her head when she fell,’ Patrick said to Vicky.
‘I don’t think so. I’m perfectly fine!’
‘Maybe you’re right,’ Vicky agreed with Patrick, ignoring Charlene.
‘Hey!’ Charlene pouted.
Vicky burst out laughing with Patrick joining in straight after. ‘Aww, Char, you look so cute when you pout like that,’ Vicky said.
‘Humph!’ Charlene crossed her arm and looked away pretending to be angry.
‘Come on, we were just kidding!’ Patrick tried to be serious but Charlene’s pouting made it very difficult. Just then his stomach rumbled.
Charlene looked at her father. ‘Haven’t you eaten yet?’ she asked in worry.
‘Well, I didn’t have the time,’ he admitted, remembering back to how busy he had worked all those weeks.
‘You do know,’ Charlene stated. She turned to Vicky. ‘Can you make sure he eats?’
Vicky smiled. ‘Anything for you,’ she replied genuinely.
‘Thanks.’
Patrick was dragged out reluctantly by Vicky protesting all the way. They stopped outside in front of the rest. ‘We’re going to eat. Anyone wants to join us?’ Vicky informed them.
‘I will,’ Daphne answered. She followed the two down to the restaurant.
Nicholas and Gillian had declined. They wanted to have a chance and meet Charlene. Gillian specially wanted to see Charlene. She wanted to say so much to her. She wanted to apologize. She wanted their friendship to go back to the way it had been before she had ruined it for them.
‘Hey, the doc isn’t looking lets all go in,’ Edison suggested, his eyes were dancing with excitement.
Nicholas chucked. ‘Look who is being wild now!’ he commented.
Gillian didn’t say much. She was lost in her thought.
‘Hey, Gill,’ Nicholas called her. She looked at him. ‘Are you coming?’
She shook her head. ‘You guys go in. I’ll follow in a bit.’
They found her staring out the window in her own world. Edison looked at Nicholas with a sly grin. Nicholas shook his head. Edison glared at him. Nicholas mouthed ‘fine, but it’s all your doing’. He knew he was going to regret it.
Edison sneaked to Charlene’s side. Nicholas sighed. Edison held his hand up. He counted down with his fingers. Five, four, three, two, one both Nicholas and Edison yelled out loud.
Unfortunately they did not expect Charlene to start heaving violently. She had gone from shock to painfully trying to gasp for air. Edison and Nicholas looked horrified. Blood ran down their face making them pale.
‘Oh Shit,’ was all they could say in unison.