Chereads / My Heart Beats For You, dear / Chapter 12 - Is It Fun To Jump To A Conclusion?

Chapter 12 - Is It Fun To Jump To A Conclusion?

Dean stood in front of the hospital. He held determination in his eyes. Today he'll surely get information about his donor. He will surely make the doctor spill the beans by hook or by overacting, as taught by his dear brother.He remembers the advice from his brother: "Make sure to fill your eyes with tears. Make sure to look pitiful. I'm sure the doctor will say whatever he wants."Dean inhales and steps inside the hospital, paying a fee for the appointment with Doctor Jenifer. Dean patiently waits for his turn. He looked at his watch, which read 17:47. Dr Jenifer stays till eight in the evening."Token number 24." A voice alarmed Dean as he swiftly walked to the cabin."Hello, doctor." Dean greets her while closing the door behind him.The doctor smiled and gestured for him to sit while she fixed her gloves, straightening her posture."How may I help you?" the doctor asked as the seat sat in front of her. Dean inhales deeply and looks at the doctor."Doc, I want to know about my donor.""Pardon?""Ma'am, four years ago, you helped with a heart transplant. In case you don't remember, I'm the patient. I'm Dean Rayden. I want to know about my donor. What happened to them, and why did they think to help me?""I don't remember yesterday's meal, let alone remembering about an incident four years ago. During those years, I have done many surgeries. How would I remember who you are talking about? I don't even remember whether you were my patient or not."Dean looks down. Whatever she is saying is true. How would she remember one patient among many? It's like picking a grain of sand from the beach."Doc, try to remember--""Where were you all these years? You said I had done the surgery four years ago."Dean keeps the file on the table, having an inner conflict. Dean looks at Jennifer and whispers. "I didn't know how to face this. I was trying to sort out my messed up life. I owe this person my life. All thanks to them, I'm still breathing and living with my loved ones. I could feel the warmth of the family. Overall, a family is away from my donor."It's not easy to face the one you regret now—a face you're not proud of; I wanted to strengthen my esteem," Dean added, sighing. The doctor looks at him and takes a note. She scribbles something on the paper."I can't give you her—your donor was a lady. I can't give you her resident address. Long story short, her husband would not appreciate your visit." The doctor informs Dean, giving the paper to a confused Dean.Dean pressed his lips to a thin line. "I understand. He must hate—""No, he is a good man. He would not hate, just that you now own his wife's heart." She tries to frame her words, aware that Dean will react negatively. "It's complicated. He loves his wife very much."The doctor points at the paper and says, "This is the address of her current residence, where she is sleeping peacefully, leaving everyone behind." The doctor holds a tight smile."Oh, ok." Dean looks at the address, trying to recognise the street name. Dean furrowed his eyebrows and looked at the doctor."How do you know so much about her, doctor? I mean, such detailed information.""She was my friend.""Then just now, you acted as though you didn't remember.""Actually, how could I forget my friend's transplant recipient? I can't trust you and give you information so easily. The fact that you somehow managed to find me and requested to know about her, I thought to just let you know.""Doc." Dean looks at the doctor."What was her name?""Oh, right, I forgot." Jennifer smiled. "Her name is Amelia Carter.""Carter?"The doctor looks at Dean. "Yes, is something wrong?""No, even one of my students has the same last name," Dean says, and the doctor nods in agreement."There are many people with the same name in the world."⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ "One last bite." A spoon filled with cereal is pushed towards Ayan's mouth."No," the boy whines, hugging a plushie while sitting on the kitchen counter."Ok, this is seriously the last one." Roman tries to bargain with his son."You are saying this so many times." Ayan knows his father's tricks now.Roman gave it one last try. "This time is the last one."Ayan looks at his dad and blinks innocently. "Ok, last?"Roman nods and feeds his son. Ayan gulped the content and chewed with pouty lips. "Good boy," Roman said as he rinsed Ayan's mouth and handed him a glass of water."Papa, did Maa call?" Roman pauses in his washing motion. He quickly blinks and looks at his son with a bright smile."Of course, she asked whether Ayan is being a good boy. Is Ayan eating cereal without complaint?" Ayan gasped while looking at his dad with wide eyes."You didn't tell me, papa. When did Maa call?""How could I? Ayan was sleeping all morning by saying, today is Sunday, which means a lazy day.""Uncle Cal taught me that."Roman groans, "What else is the guy teaching my son? You shouldn't sleep till eleven, baby. It's not good."They heard a doorbell ringing. "Speak of the devil," Roman mumbles. "It must be your uncle Cal." Ayan giggled and stretched his arms for Roman to put him down from the counter.Roman prepared himself to give an earful to his friend. Ayan was following his dad with a big smile. Uncle Cal is his favourite.Roman opens the door and parts his lips to speak, but he pauses to look at a lady in front of him."Granny," Ayan shrieks with happiness, and the lady quickly picks the boy up in her arms."How is my Ayan doing?""I'm doing well, thank you.""Oh, you've got manners, gentleman." She pinched Ayan's cheek."No, pinching. It hurts." She laughs and looks back at her son, who is staring back with a blank face."You won't welcome your mom?" Mrs Carter asked with a sad smile. Roman opens the door wide and steps aside without saying anything. She pressed her lips into a thin line."Where is dad?" Roman asked, glancing at the open road."He..." She was hesitating to say. "He's busy," she couldn't say his father didn't acknowledge her concern. She wants her son to be happy again. She doesn't remember the last time, and Roman laughed loudly without caring. Probably she does, it was during the time Amelia was alive and the reason for her son's joy."He is a retired man and busy?" Roman asked, which clearly showed that he didn't buy the lie. He is not a four-year-old who believes any lie, as his son is.Before she could drag another bead through a string, her grandson inquired, "Granny, does Maa call you too?" She raised her brows at this new type of question."What--""Shh...Maa only contacts us. She is on a secret mission." Roman whispered to Ayan, who nodded. Roma clearly heard the whisper. She looks at Roman with an expectation of an explanation."He understands that his mother is in a star on a secret mission.""Yes, don't tell anyone, granny," Ayan whispered, looking around sceptically as though someone could hear him. Mrs Cater played along with a nod and whispered a yes."Can you get a glass of water for granny?" Roman asked his son, who nodded his head and wriggled out of her hold and ran towards the kitchen, hugging his little whale."What brought you here?" Roman asked, gesturing for her to take a seat."You know the reason very well.""You know my answer very well.""Why don't you understand? Ayan needs a mother figure in his life. He needs the care of a mother, which you can't give.""I know my son and his likes and dislikes; do you know my dislikes?""Of course, you don't like walnuts, sea fish,...""Probably you don't know that I hate being forced. If you did, you wouldn't be sitting here and saying the same thing again and again.""Why don't you look through Ayan's perspective? He is waiting for his mom. You could just weave a lie now and make him wear it as his protection, but at some point, that lie will become too short for him, and eventually, he will stop wearing it. The lies will lose their power and wear out. What would happen then? Will you make him wear a new one?""If the lies have worn out, that means he would be mature enough to respect my choice.""Unbelievable. I don't understand when did you become like this? When did you become so heartless? Don't you feel anything seeing the angel's tears? If you weaved this new lie, it means he knows about his mother's absence, right? Didn't he cry wishing to see his mom?""He knows his mother's face.""So? Just like the current one, you can say, his mom changed her face to stay with him.""Mom, please..." Roman stood up. "People are living with their children in peace. Not everyone wishes to forget..." Roman pauses, remembering the bright smile of his wife. "It's not easy for us."Mrs Carter stood up too. "You are living in the past, Roman. You don't see the present and future. You are not understanding me. But, in the future, you will know and ask for the marriage proposal yourself." She walked towards the door and glanced back once."You will regret not listening to your mom."⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ Two pieces of white lilies are placed in front of a tombstone. The slate has the name of the soul resting there. Dean saw the picture of the lady with a soft smile. From her face, anyone could tell that she must be a soft-spoken, very careful person who probably likes aesthetic things."Hello, you might not know me," Dean whispered, looking at the image. "I'm the recipient of your heart. You gave me a second life. Each heartbeat is making me realise many things—the emotions I was blinded by. Your heart gave a new meaning to my life." Dean placed his palm over his clothed chest."I can feel emotions now." He felt his throat tightening. "I'm—" He felt at a loss for words. He couldn't understand how to express his gratitude. He has many things to say, although he is unable to whisper them out."Thank you," he whispered, showing his gratitude with a smile while tears brimmed his eyes. "Thank you very much." He gulps and inhales sharply. "I will be a good human; I won't do anything bad and make you regret or be disappointed in me." He sat next to the stone and looked at the orange sky."You know," He says, curling his arms around his knees. "Mom always says that good people die earlier than the rest." He glanced at the tomb. "You must be a good soul." He smiled, turning around and looking at another tome in the grave. There are a lot of graves, and the number of visitors is almost non-existent."I will search for your family. I want to know more about you. Oh, I remember that doctor Jenifer said she's your close friend. She also said that your husband would dislike me. She didn't tell me straight-forwardly, but I understood her point." He smiled, cradling himself and rubbing his arms."Also, I forgot to ask her about your favourite flower." He whispered, glancing at the flowers, fluttering with the wind. "I gotta go now. It's getting late and mom will be worried about me, she might--" He heard his phone ringing."See, mom called now." He fished his phone from his right pocket and stood up. "I'll visit you soon." He smiled and picks his call."Yes, mom I'll be there in 10 minutes." He spoke while walking away from the tombstone.Just after a minute of Dean walking away. A lady sits in front of Amelia's tomb. She smirks looking at the white lilies. "Oh, your favourite flowers?" She picks them up and looks at the picture. "Must be Roman, right?" She fists the flowers, crushing the stem, digging her red-painted nails into the softness of the petals."Even after you died. You didn't leave completely." She grits her teeth, getting an urge to punch the stone. But, she knows that it would hurt her instead."Maybe the saying is true. You can disappear physically but not remove the existence of the memories." She threw those flowers away."He is still waiting for you. He still wants only you. He is not ready to give a chance to anyone."