Lost Love

Come What May

Hearing the Christmas carols, he switched off the radio in his car. They reminded him of last Christmas spent with her. They were exchanging gifts for the first time. When he saw her eyes light up when she opened to reveal a matching pair of earrings and necklace with the stars that she had always wanted, he wanted to hold her in his arms and never let go.

He went into the white building that had become his second home 3 weeks ago after parking his car.

Opening the door slowly, he saw that she was sleeping soundly. Not wanting to disturb her, he sat in the chair just looking at her. She looked so angelic in the dim light that he couldn't help but ached because he didn't want to lose her. They hadn't spent a lot of time together and he had made the time when she fell ill again. He brought her for a check-up when her fever wouldn’t subside and was devastated when she was diagnosed with dengue fever. It would be hard for her to recover and she might die from the fever or the medicine that was used to help her as it was in the last stages. She had accepted to go through the treatment while gripping his hand tightly.

She stirred slightly, opening her eyes. He smiled at her bravely, “Merry Christmas, dear.” She smiled weakly at him and closed her eyes. She opened her eyes again; his heart ached as she was struggling. “Fairy tales lie.” She whispered sadly, “There’s no such thing as living happily ever after.” He squeezed her hand tightly.

“Dear, please don’t think of it that way. I’m willing to be your guardian angel. I will always be.” Coran was desperate to keep her spirits up. Rika smiled wanly.

She was shivering again. She had been running a high fever for 5 days now. He felt terrible and helpless seeing her like that. Covering her up gently, he left and closed the door quietly.

"She's still unconscious, isn't she?" Seeing her mother outside the room, he didn't know what else to say but nod. They weren't on good terms when Rika married him. Her parents had violently objected to the marriage and her father went as far as changing the locks to prevent her from seeing him again. However, she managed to get her brother to help her out. It was the last time she saw her family.

"I'm sorry," her mother said softly. "She was never strong, always falling sick, with fever and flu." He heard her cry softly. Walking up to her, he put an arm around her. "Her father's in hospital too. He has lung cancer and the doctor said it's in the last stages," she sobbed. Shocked, he didn't know what to say. Cancer? Their marriage had only been 5 months and her father had cancer? Things were happening too fast now. With Rika in bed with fever, how was she to see her father before he breathed his last? He had to think of a way.

His stomach rumbled. "I'll get something to eat, do you want anything?" he asked. She shook her head. Walking down to the cafeteria, Coran was still trying to cope with the fact the both father and daughter were in hospital.

After paying for the noodles, he sat down staring at the chopsticks in his right hand. Rika had taught him how to use them, showing him how to hold them the right way that he was holding now.

They had started going out for about 2 weeks then and he had ordered a bowl of noodles. "Coran, you don't hold chopsticks like that," and proceeded to show him how. He struggled for a month before he could proudly show off that he was holding them the way she had taught him to. She was so happy that she kissed him on the lips, instead of his cheeks like she used to. That was their first kiss.

The second time was when they were at the bookshop. They were flipping a magazine commenting on the models and her head was so close that Coran couldn't resist kissing her. After that, there was no stopping them; they kissed whenever they felt that no one was looking or around.