LOVE OF MY LIFE

Chapter 11

My neighbor’s uncle said, “Rahul is in bed,” his voice heavy with sorrow. But when Ju Long brought Rahul outside in his arms, we all froze in disbelief. The child who had been battling terminal cancer only minutes ago now looked completely normal—healthy, full of color, and breathing easily like nothing had ever been wrong.

We stood there, stunned.

“Ju Long… Ra-Rahul’s health?” I stammered, my heart pounding.

“He’s completely fine now,” Ju Long said calmly.

Rahul’s father fell to his knees, hugging his son tightly. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he kept repeating, “Thank you, thank you…” Ju Long met their eyes with a quiet intensity. Then, suddenly, it was as if nothing had happened. The entire atmosphere shifted.

“They’re acting like nothing happened,” I whispered, glancing around.

The neighbors blinked at us, confused. “Why are you all standing in front of our house?” they asked as if they didn’t remember anything.

Even my father acted completely normal, his earlier concern for Rahul seemingly erased.

Once we were back home, I asked Ju Long in a small voice, "Did they all forget?"

He nodded, his voice calm. "Yes, Bharu. Once I healed Rahul, the memory of his illness faded from everyone’s mind—even his own."

I turned to him, struggling to understand. “So… you’re the one who healed him?”

“Yes, I healed him,” he said simply.

“But… how? I mean, you’re a dragon, not a god. How could you do something like this?” I asked, bewildered.

Ju Long looked at me patiently. “Bharu, have you forgotten my powers? Yes, I’m a dragon—but that doesn’t mean I can’t save others. People have worshipped me for generations. That belief, that energy, has only made my powers stronger.”

I didn’t know what to say. I just nodded, feeling overwhelmed, and walked away toward my room.

The following days passed slowly. I avoided talking to Ju Long. We crossed paths often, but I mostly ignored him. My parents didn’t notice anything unusual; they assumed everything was fine between us.

Inside, however, I felt conflicted. I knew I loved him. But there was so much I still didn’t understand about who he truly was.

Days blurred into one another. Now, only two days remained before my vacation ended. I packed my bags, each item a quiet reminder that I would soon have to leave this strange, emotional whirlwind behind.

That evening, I went out to the backyard to collect my clothes from the line. As I turned, Ju Long suddenly appeared and grabbed my hand.

“Let me go, Ju Long,” I whispered, my voice trembling as I tried to pull away, my fingers curling in resistance.

“Bharu,” he said softly, the weight of sorrow heavy in his voice. “I know you’re struggling to accept who I am. And I understand. But please… just give me a moment to speak.”

I met his eyes—those warm, soulful eyes that now brimmed with vulnerability. Slowly, I nodded, even as my throat tightened.

He took a deep breath. “It doesn’t matter if I’m a dragon or not. I love you. I want to live every moment with you—from quiet mornings to chaotic battles, from laughter to tears. I want to be by your side, always.”

His voice wavered, and I saw a tear glide down his cheek.

Then he stepped a little closer, lowered his voice, and said with raw honesty, “Bharu, there are things… many things you still don’t know. But this isn’t the right time to tell you everything. When the time comes, I promise, you’ll know one by one. And when that moment arrives… please don’t hate me for not telling you all at once. Please try to understand me.”

My breath caught in my throat. I had no idea what he was hiding, but the fear in his voice… it wasn’t the fear of being exposed—it was the fear of losing me.

I stared at him, my heart aching under the weight of it all. “I’m scared,” I whispered. “But I don’t want to lose you either.”

I reached out, placing a hand over his chest. “Then promise me something. No matter what it is… don’t lie to me. Don’t shut me out again.”

A tear slipped from my eye.

“I promise,” he whispered, gently wiping my tear away. “But if I ever do something foolish, don’t walk away. Yell at me. Hit me if you must. Just don’t give me your silence. That would destroy me.”

We hugged each other tightly, like the world around us had disappeared. He kissed me softly on my forehead, his warmth grounding me.

“Ju Long,” I said, “how are we going to deal with your stepbrother? The Blue Dragon?”

The moment I said that name, his expression darkened. His soft features shifted into something sharper, almost dangerous.

“Fight?” he repeated, half-laughing with a hint of menace. “No, Bharu. I’m going to kill him. I’m not going to leave him alive this time.”

My eyes widened. “But killing him won’t solve anything. We need to try talking to him first. Ask him what his problem is. Maybe we can find a solution. If he doesn’t cooperate, then we’ll deal with him together.”

He shook his head. “Bharu, you don’t know him like I do. He’s not the kind you can reason with. He’s dangerous. He will kill you without hesitation.”

I held up the red locket he had given me. “Just give me one chance, Ju Long. See? I’m even wearing this. He can’t harm me as long as I wear it.”

He didn’t seem convinced. His jaw tightened.

“No way, Bharu. I’ll never allow you to meet him. If you still want to, you’ll have to wait until I’m dead.”

His words pierced through me like a dagger. But something in my gut told me that meeting the Blue Dragon could lead us to the truth. I wasn’t ready to give up on that idea.

Just then, my mom called us in for dinner.

At the table, we ate quietly at first until my dad broke the silence.

“Ju Long,” he began, “I’ll be honest. At first, I didn’t like you. I was afraid you’d take my daughter away from me. But after seeing how you care for her, how you truly love her… I realized even I couldn’t find a better man for her.”

My heart fluttered at his words.

He continued, smiling gently. “Now, I’m genuinely happy for you both.”

“Dad, if you’re done with your emotional speech, can we eat now?” I teased, trying to break the tension.

My dad grinned and dug into his food. But something felt off. Throughout dinner, I noticed him exchanging quiet glances with Ju Long, as if they were sharing a secret.

After dinner, I helped my mom with the dishes.

“Mom,” I asked, “did you notice anything strange about Dad today?”

“Nope,” she replied with a shrug. “But then again, I’ve always thought your dad was a weirdo.”

“Mom!” I groaned.

“Bharathi,” she said, chuckling, “you’re old enough to get married now. Try acting like a mature girl.”

“Mom… if you only knew how much I’ve matured already,” I muttered.

As I turned around, I saw Ju Long walking past.

“Hey! Stop right there,” I called out. “Didn’t I tell you not to keep anything from me? Now tell me—what were you and my dad talking about in secret?”

“I’m going to the washroom,” he said with a sheepish grin. “Nature’s calling.”

“Liar!” I shouted. “I’m not talking about your bladder. Tell me what you two discussed!”

Before I could stop him, he leaned in, pressed a quick kiss on my lips, and dashed to the washroom.

“Ju Long! What the heck?!” I yelled, flustered.

“Sorry, Bharu! Wait for me—I’ll come out and tell you everything,” he shouted back from behind the door.

So, yes, I shamelessly waited for him outside the washroom.

He finally opened the door. “Alright, ask me what you want to know.”

“What were you and my dad talking about?” I asked firmly.

“You really want to know?” he asked with a mischievous grin.

“Yes! Tell me!”

He motioned for me to come closer. “Come here. Let me whisper it to you.”

I leaned in, and he whispered, “Your dad told me that you shouldn’t get pregnant before marriage, so he told me to use a condom.”

I choked, coughing in pure shock.

“What?! Is that really what he said?” I gasped.

He nodded seriously. “Yep. It’s men’s talk. You wouldn’t understand. He even gave me one… and told me I could sleep in your room tonight.”

I was fuming. “Liar! My dad would never say something like that. I don’t believe you!”

“Suit yourself,” he said, grinning with pride.

“I’m going to ask him myself!” I declared, stomping toward my dad’s room. But before I could knock, I heard his voice through the door.

“Bharu, I told him to sleep in your room tonight,” my dad called out calmly.

I stood there, mouth agape.

Before I could say anything, Ju Long appeared behind me, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me away.

He placed a finger on my lips. “Shhh… let’s go to your room.”

We entered, and he locked the door behind us. The moment the door clicked shut, he pulled me close and kissed me deeply.

My heart pounded. The world outside faded. In that moment, nothing else mattered but us—the dragon, the girl, and a love that was anything but ordinary.