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 become erratic 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 greeted me the moment I reached their table. "Where is Dana?"

"Well, she went into the girls' room so she asked me to 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 told me how 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 took me a few seconds to contemplate whether to greet him or act as if I didn't recognize him and let him call my name first.

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."

place in your heart unexpectedly in an unexpected place and time after two years... would make your stomach churned and would

Caleb." I said taking a deep breath. God

eyes. "By the way, this is Luke Marcuz Williams, my friend and soon to be business partner." He then turned

finish his introduction as I greeted Luke and quickly changed the

"Is there anything else I can bring you?" I asked avoiding Luke's gaze

of

voice. -'What the hell is happening to me, for God

it two,

you shortly." I smiled at Caleb and did my best

the tray in my hands, but I was just taking a few steps away from their table

"Sam,"

mind whether to turn around or not, but in

longer in his seat when I turned and looked at him. And he had already

you, Sam? It's been

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

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 pull me into another world, there's one thing I have realized... I was staring at the same man I used to hate and loved at the same time before. And to my surprise, I can no longer find the guilt, anger, and hurt

myself from within didn't give me the answer. I couldn't exactly explain the new and exciting feeling that

it's been a long time." It was too late for me to realize

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

doing here?" He asked and

my smile disappeared. I mentally slapped myself for letting that stupid smile escape

other?" Asked by Caleb who I didn't notice stood up and asked us both. His eyes were shifting from me and

chose to answer with a smile, ignoring Caleb's question. And since he's good at hiding his emotions,

"You're working here?"

know it's a question as I clearly heard the question mark at the end of the

owns this shop. She and my girlfriend Dana are business partners." Caleb was the one who answered

us could answer, Dana came to our view wearing the same expression as

know him, Sam?" She turned to me, waiting for my

"Sam?"