One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 30: And they meet again ~~~I'd be a fool if I couldn't see how things have changed between you and me. Maybe we try just a little too hard and we are strangers again. I still remember we used to hold. On those cold and lonely nights, we make love and we are strangers again. Oh, lady, it's hard to believe that there in your eyes, a stranger I see. And that the only song we got left to play are the memories of yesterday~~~ -Cinema- Walking towards Caleb's table with a large tray in my hands, I couldn't help but notice his friend whose back was facing me. I don't know why I suddenly felt something that I couldn't explain as I glanced at his broad shoulders.

My heartbeats have becerratic as the image of someone popped up in my head, but I immediately shrugged it off as it's so impossible to happen. Los Angeles is way too far from the Philippines, so it can't be. "Hi, Sam," I smiled at Caleb when he greetedthe moment I reached their table. "Where is Dana?" "Well, she went into the girls' room so she askedto bring your orders," I replied without bothering to look at the face of the man sitting across his seat. "Here are your orders, 1 cappuccino---" I hadn't even finished speaking when Caleb interrupted me. "Oh, that's mine even the croissant and chocolate doughnut." I couldn't help but smile as I remembered Dana toldhow Caleb loved croissants and doughnuts. "Here is your croissant and chocolate doughnut, Sir." "Thanks, Sam." I chuckled at him still oblivious of the intense stares of the man sitting across Caleb's seat.

"And here is your black coffee and a slice of blueberry cheesecake---" I was suddenly stopped in mid-air the moment I recognized who that man was. 'Luke...' I muttered under my breath. It seemed like the world stopped when our eyes met. And it tooka few seconds to contemplate whether to greet him or act as if I didn't recognize him and let him call my nfirst.

I was just pulled back from staring into his mesmerising eyes that I haven't done for so long when Caleb called my attention.

"Sam, are you okay?" "H-Huh?" I turned to him not knowing what to say.

"You looked like you have seen a ghost." Honestly, deep down inside, it's more than a ghost I've seen. Seeing your ex-husband, the man you first loved and left a special place in your heart unexpectedly in an unexpected place and tafter two years... would make your stomach churned and would leave you speechless.

"Ahm... I-I was just surprised to see how handsyour friend, Caleb." I said taking a deep breath. God knew how I managed to cup with that line.

"Whoa!" Caleb chuckled in amusement and I gulped when I turned to Luke and saw the sexpression swirl in his eyes. "By the way, this is Luke Marcuz Williams, my friend and soon to be business partner." He then turned to him and introduced me. "And this is Sam Soriano---" But I didn't let him finish his introduction as I greeted Luke and quickly changed the topic.

"Hi," I smiled at him. "Is there anything else I can bring you?" I asked avoiding Luke's gaze and turned to Caleb, but before he could open his mouth, Luke beat him.

"A bottle of still water," I took a deep breath upon hearing his voice. -'What the hell is happening to me, for God sake?'- I asked inwardly. "Make it two, please," Caleb added.

"Okay, we will bring it to you shortly." I smiled at Caleb and did my best not to look again in Luke's direction.

I turned around clutching the tray in my hands, but I was just taking a few steps away from their table when I heard my nbeing called.

"Sam," I stopped in a halt. I was debating with my own mind whether to turn around or not, but in the end, I chose to do what's right. He's our customer after all.

He's no longer in his seat when I turned and looked at him. And he had already taken a few steps nearbefore I could open my mouth. "Yes, Sir?" "How are you, Sam? It's been a long time." That question leftspeechless and madethink of an answer but nothing comes to my mind. A few seconds later, I just found myself staring at him and noticing the things that seemed to have changed in him... his hairstyle and his shoulders that seemed to have gotten wider than what he had before. Maybe he's now working out in a gym or involved in any physical activities whichever of them, I don't know.

He has becmore handsover the years and maturity suit him. He took a few more steps and stopped right in front of me. And looking closely into his mesmerizing eyes that seemed to pullinto another world, there's one thing I have realized... I was staring at the sman I used to hate and loved at the stbefore. And to my surprise, I can no longer find the guilt, anger, and hurt I used to feel while looking at him.

I don't know but even asking myself from within didn't givethe answer. I couldn't exactly explain the new and exciting feeling that crept inside me.. joy, excitement, surprise, fear? "I'm fine and yeah, it's been a long time." It was too late forto realize that I had already uttered those words and that I was now smiling at him.

But just like in a movie where the female lead suddenly interrupted by the male lead and asked her the most unexpected question she would ever be heard from him at that certain moment.

"What are you doing here?" He asked and all of a sudden his face held seriousness.

And that's when my smile disappeared. I mentally slapped myself for letting that stupid smile escape my lips. "Hey, do you know each other?" Asked by Caleb who I didn't notice stood up and asked us both. His eyes were shifting fromand Luke.

"I'm working here," I chose to answer with a smile, ignoring Caleb's question. And since he's good at hiding his emotions, well, I've also decided to mask mine professionally.

"You're working here?" I know it's a question as I clearly heard the question mark at the end of the sentence.

"Yes, she actually owns this shop. She and my girlfriend Dana are business partners." Caleb was the one who answered his 'question'. "Wait, how do you know each other?" He asked again, confusion was evident in his eyes. But before the two of us could answer, Dana cto our view wearing the sexpression as her boyfriend. "What's going on here? Do you know him, Sam?" She turned to me, waiting for my answer but my eyes were focused only on the man in front of me.

"Sam?" "Luke?"

Dana and Caleb mentioned our names at the stand as we starting to attract the attention of other customers, I took that opportunity to walk away and returned to the counter. "I think you should continue your business. We still have a lot of tto talk about this matter, right Dana?" "Huh?" Dana seemed to be shocked and wanted to protest at the stime, but she had no choice as I already tugged her arm and turned around quickly.

The moment we reached the counter, it was now her who pulledtowards our mini-office.

"What was that all about, Sam?" She asked eagerly, she hasn't even finished closing the door.

"What do you mean?" I pretended to be innocent as if I had no idea what she was talking about and sat on the couch.

She then followedand slumped herself next to me.

"Con, Sam, who is he?" "I thought Caleb had already introduced him to you?" "Yeah, he did it earlier." "So why are you still askingwho that man is---"

"I'm not exactly asking who that man is, Sam, what I mean is that how do you know each other? Is ther? Is he someone from your past? A friend or what? Because I noticed the way you looked at each other...it's different." "Huh? What do you mean it's different? How could it be different?" I asked again to avoid her question. "Oh, con, Samantha, I can't explain it because you haven't toldwho exactly he is to you! So you tell me, was he your ex-boyfriend?"

I gasped at her question. And when I glanced at her I realized that the kind of look in her eyes! seemed to tellthat she wouldn't stop until she found out the truth.