The Night I Woke Up Beside You

[SEASON 1] Chapter 17.5 : The Distant Future Past

A FLASHBACK OF THE PAST FROM THE PRESENT TIMELINE WHERE REGINA CAME FROM

(Five Years before her Car Accident)

The alarming sounds of the train doors that were about to close had Charles immediately moving past the sliding doors and he reluctantly pushed Lucy away from his hold, instantly missing her warmth before almost slipping past the last chance to get into the train. It was the last ride back to the city. Charles knew that if he won't get this, he would most likely change his mind of ever leaving.

He closed his eyes. The closing doors quickly whooshed in and he heaved a deep breath as he stepped back and leaned on the wall near him.

He didn’t dare to look out of the glass frames of the train. He doesn’t have the will to do so. A second much longer and he would have gotten swayed and fail to resist kissing her right there but luckily he didn’t. It was a bad idea, anyway. And if he had done it, he might have lost the ability to really leave the place for good. And he was pretty sure that would have really turned out pretty bad.

They were too young for now. He had to work for his own future. He had to make sure he could give a good life to Regina. He wanted her to find her place and learn how to grasp the real world from where she is right now. He wanted her to stand independently just on her own. And so was he.

After Ryan's death, everything felt a little too hard and suffocating for Charles. He knew he needed this chance to getaway. He had to be stronger.

He could have chosen to stay here with Regina but he didn’t. And it was probably the best decision he had ever made. Because if he didn’t do this, he would have regretted not doing this in the future. Changes were the only thing constant in this world. And he didn’t want to change his whole life by keeping Regina by his side all the time. He wanted them both to really become reliable, matured, and changed for a reason…

He loves Regina, but he had to do this to heal himself too. Someday, they would meet again and if time would deem him capable, he would love her more again. And by that time, he might surely choose her for good. Just for now, it won’t just be the right time yet.

He felt the vibration of his phone from his front pocket. He already had a good guess who it was calling him. He took it out and choked out a short word, "Yes?"

"It's me..." a familiar voice from the other end greeted him back. Charles held his breath, shocked to even realize that he guessed it wrong. He did not have a chance to check the caller ID, but he was pretty sure now who the owner of the voice was.

He had immediately recognized it before he could even utter back her name... Softly, as if he was still unsure if he was hearing her for real.

"Eleanor..."

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(Four Years before her Car Accident)

“Did you find your happiness here in the city?”

It wasn’t a matter of how things had ended for them since the day they got separated for good. It was a question of whether he had acquired what he really wanted all this time and that he has finally understood what he really wanted. 

Since this morning, he could not really contain himself, knowing that they will see each other again. He was feeling anxious, scared, and nervous but he stood his ground as he looked at her. For the first time after a long while, he really did take his time to notice the simple changes in Regina's appearance. It had been a year, she is still beautiful and he was still captivated. He suddenly had this thought in his head that everything had been good for her. And he regarded her soft question in a purely selfless perceptive.

“Yeah, I found this place fitting for me.” He replied with a smile and a gentle voice as he met her gaze.

She looked happier now and that was what he truly wanted. And he quickly realized that their decision to part ways a year ago had really meant well for the two of them. It had been difficult not to see her at all, but he knew she did her best to keep moving forward. Just like what he did, and now it was all coming to fruition... He was finally in the right moment to tell her what he really felt and what he wanted to do in the future.

But the question now here is... if she still loves him? Does she still have the same intentions just like the last time? Does she still remember their promise? He was starting to feel a little doubtful now as he fidgeted and tried to compose himself. 

"Charles?"

Her voice jostled him out of his thoughts as he stared at her and took a deep breath.

"I have decided to stay here..." she eventually revealed. Her eyes glowing as she smiled at him. Somehow, his nerves started to calm down and his chest warmed as he realized what she just said.

“For real?” he beamed at her.

“For real... For good."

She kept smiling. Charles's doubts disappeared as he felt a little more confident to confess his thoughts to her.

”Want to hear something better though?"

"Better?" Regina chuckled as she waited and tilted her head to one side.

“I’m thinking of taking the next step towards a much happier life.”

Charles breathed out calmly as soon as he let those words out. Regina paused, looking quite a little bit off guard as her smile froze for a second.

“What do you mean?”

“I have a new dream,” Charles said softly.

“And?”

“And my dream is kind of weird, to be honest…”

Her expectant eyes grew larger the more he explained. And even though it was slowly becoming more obvious, the way he kept a straight face still made her more puzzled.

“And that is?”

“I want to be with you.”

Charles finally admitted. And just as those words registered inside her head, she immediately knew what it all really meant. He was now choosing her... And she was finally getting her happy ending.

Or at least... that was the only thing that she had in mind at that time. Before everything changed and she went back in time to re-do her decision again.