One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 7: Hesitation

~~~When you love someone, you'll do anything. You'll do all the crazy things that you can't explain. You'll shoot the moon, put out the sun. When you love someone, you'll deny the truth. Believe a lie. There'll be times that you believe that you really fly. But your lonely nights have just begun, when you love someone~~~ -Bryan Adams-

"Then fuck the possible consequences because I'll never let you ruin my relationship! I'll mary my girlfriend no matter what happens!" He stepped forward again and occupied the little space left between us. "I know what you want. You want to trap me and wrap me in your fingers, but I'm sorry, I will never let that happen. So I'm warning you, Samantha, never drag my name into your mess or else...."

A few seconds have passed and I have waited for his next words, but he has already stopped there. I just noticed his balled fist before it hit the wooden door behind me.

"Get out."

I started to panic again.

"L-Luke, please, let me explain it further," I beg, trying to reach his arm, but he just swatted my hands.

"I don't want to hear anything from you, so you'd better go now and leave before I decide to call your parents."

"No!" I exclaimed loudly. "No, please don't tell them even with Dale. I-I promise to stop chasing you, stop bothering you, but please don't tell them?"

"Get out!"

"Luke---"

"Don't you hear me?"

"B-But---"

"I said fucking get out, Samantha!"

"Y-Yeah, I'm going." I nodded, lowering my head.

Taking a deep breath, I picked up the bag I had dropped when he called me. And after composing myself, I opened the door and left that room without even trying to look behind.

I ran across the employees who are cleaning the floor while struggling to suppress the loud sobs that wanted to escape my throat. I can still hear his words and it feels like a million knives that stab my heart slowly and deeply.

I admit it was a huge mistake. I trusted my plan to a stranger and didn't realize that what I trusted was my future. Because I didn't know that when I came out of that small room, my life would begin to change and also my future.

**********

"Where have you been, Samantha?"

That's the first question my brother asked me the moment I entered the living room. I think he had just come out of his room on the second floor as I watched him taking the last steps of the stairs.

"Don't you know that I nearly lost my mind trying to call you? I haven't got asleep since last night because I'm waiting for you!"

I just took a deep breath but decided to ignore his question.

"You haven't even tried to send a message just to let us of where you are."

on the second floor as if I am expecting one of them to come out and go down

worry, I promise to tell them

and once again, chose to stay quiet as I lowered my

Stubbornness and crazy things.

hide the truth or when can I hide

think that all of us here, even the maids were worried about you? I even blamed Jack for calling me to pick you up from your friend's house and then I found out you two were just lying!" "No! Don't blame her, Dale, it was all my fault.

sure if what I heard from him was a sigh of relief, but he immediately covered it by asking another question

where were you

"Uhm..."

you go

running towards the stairs but he immediately grabbed

tell me---what the heck is going on,

my hand,

you say? You're tired? How come a spoiled brat and stubborn little girl like you feel

it's all true. And every time I imagine

night?" He asked me

if I didn't send you a message last night and for making you worry. And I'm sorry if you can't always understand me because I'm stubborn

are

a brat...always. I always make you embarrassed in front of your friends and playmates and I always make you mad. I'm sorry because it's me, a sister and not a brother that you wished from mom 17 years ago. And I'm sorry for not being a perfect sister." I tried to blink the tears that formed around my eyes, but I failed. So I had to run upstairs for

"Wait! Samantha!"

stopped. There's something I forgot to

now flowing down my face. "I wanted to tell you what happened last night, but I guess in a few hours or maybe minutes from now, there's someone who would call and would tell you everything

for his next word. I immediately run upstairs

my tired body including my exhausted mind and bleeding heart on the bed and let those tears flow freely on my face. Wetting my

Luke, they will just laugh and get mad at me? Well, can I blame them? Can

----

month later at the

"Sam."

was too busy watching the two students of my same age laughing

"Sam?"

the girl was enjoying listening to him. They were sitting across our bench, eating junk food and sipping their favorite juice drink. So common and simple, but they look so happy. Love shines through their eyes and I couldn't help

"Samantha!"

was pulled back from my thoughts when she flipped her fingers

of answering me, she just

you suddenly came out of your

two lovebirds. They seemed

at the

"Are you okay?"

couldn't help but laugh

I am. What kind of question is

question in which you just have to answer with a simple yes or no. So answer me,

Jack, and I've already