One More Chance

"Oh... my... God! Sam, what is the meaning of this?"

-'Jeez!'- I bit my lip when Hailey saw us walking hand in hand in the supermarket. I remember I haven't told her about Luke yet.

I was about to let go of Luke's hand but he tightened his grip and pulled me to him. He then looked at me puzzled but I hadn't had the time to speak as Hailey asked me again. "Isn't he Luke, our neighbor"

Her eyes were filled with shock and confusion as they moved from me and then to Luke.

"The one I was referring to the last time..."novelbin

I was about to speak but she interrupted me.

"Hailey ---"

"Why are you holding each other's hand? Don't tell me...?"

"Uhm... Hailey---" but this time, it was Luke who interrupted me.

"Why? She's my girlfriend, so I can't see anything wrong with it." He said which made Hailey's eyes widen like saucers. "Can't I hold my girlfriend's hand, Miss?"

"Oh, my... sweet Jesus Christ! Samantha, care to share with me what happened because the last time I check, I was confessing something to you, right?" She looked at me with her rounded eyes.

"Yeah, but let me explain, and let me introduce you to each other. Luke, this is Hailey, our neighbor. She's occupying the door to my left and if you remember it was her who entered my apartment when the large vase in the living room broke---" but I hadn't finished speaking when Hailey interrupted me again, her surprised reaction were now doubled.

"Oh, jeez! So he was the one hiding in your closet!" It wasn't a question.

"H - How did you know he was hiding in my closet that time?" I asked, confused.

"Come on, Samantha, what are you--- five? That idea is very popular in movies, series, and even in real life, duh! And mind you, I did that too when I was in college!"

"Ohh..." the reaction I made and continued with the introduction. "Hailey, I know you have already met him, but I just want to formally introduce him to you. This is Luke, our neighbor, and... uhm... my boyfriend."

I bit my lower lip when she remained silent for a few seconds, staring at me.

"How long have you been dating and why, oh, why didn't you tell me?" She then made a sad face emoji.

"I'm sorry, Hailey, I didn't mean to keep it a secret from you, it's just that, I couldn't find the right timing to tell you, besides, I don't see you often in your apartment."

"Hmmp! You have my number, you know! You could have called me if you really wanted me to know about your relationship with him." She rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, I know, it's my fault, I'm sorry. But anyway, I have something to tell you," I said seriously and then held her hands.

"Wait--- Whoa! Don't tell me you're now pregnant?" Her eyes widened again.

"What? No!" I exclaimed loudly, shaking my head. I heard Luke chuckling behind me, but I just ignored him.

"Can we talk about this over dinner or coffee?"

She thought about it for a few seconds and...

"Hmmp! Fine, but you have to treat me to the most delicious coffee and cheesecake in town!" She huffed, folding her arms across her chest.

"Sure! I will treat you to the best of the best coffee and cheesecake not just in town but in the Philippines!"

"Oh, yeah, of course, because you own a café!" She playfully narrowed her eyes at me as she nudged my side which I just returned with chuckles.

Relief suddenly washed over me when I saw her giggle too. I know that in fact, I shouldn't really have to tell her about our relationship, but since I consider her a friend and a sister at the same time, maybe it's fine that she demands to know the truth.

"Gosh! Why didn't you tell me he's your ex-husband the time I walked into your room? I can't believe it!" Hailey's reaction when I told her everything.

Luke was still at the counter, ordering our drinks.

"I was planning to tell you this, actually, but I don't know who has been busier between us because we haven't seen each other for what--- two weeks? Three weeks?"

"Fine, it was me, I have been busy lately, but you should have knocked on my door or you should have called me, you know if you really wanted to talk to me!"

"Yeah and that's my fault, I'm sorry," I said giving her the cutest smile I could make.

"Hmmp!" She patted my hand on the table. "Anyway, even though it really surprised me, I'm happy for you and even if you forgot me in those times you were under his sweaty naked body and both panting on top of his king-sized bed--- I'm still happy for you!" "Jesus Christ, Hailey! Keep your voice down!" I whispered-yelled as I turned side to side to check who had heard what she said.

"What? I just said I'm happy for you!" She said with a shrug and chuckle at the same time.

"You're such a bitch!" I whispered-yelled again that making her laugh her lungs out.

"Haist, for God's sake, Sam! What are you a virgin?"

"Gosh! This is why I hate talking to you about this kind of topic," I complained, my face scrunched as I looked at her.

She then continued to laugh at me.

"Okay, fine! But to be honest, even though I felt a slight--- just a slight disappointment because I found out that he's already taken, well, I'm still happy because it's you, I mean, I just realized he really is for you and that you're meant for each other." "Aww..." I uttered, making an appreciative emoji. "Thank you," I was moved by her speech.

"I'm serious, Sam, but I was kinda surprised not just because he is now your boyfriend but to know that he's your ex-husband too! Argh! I remember the time when you told me about your ex-husband and what you went through in your marriage, I somehow felt your emotions back then. The anger... disappointment... pain... because I believe that no woman or anyone should experience or be treated the way he treated you before. So yeah, I'm still in a state of shock now and my mind is still processing what you told me." "Hailey..." Now, it was I who held her hand on the table.

"But while you were telling me how you find forgiveness and love towards him again, I admit I don't want to believe he is that man a few years ago! I guess he's now totally smitten with you, girl!" She giggled.

I bit my lip due to excitement.

"I just hope this time, he'd be a man, a husband rather who will take care of you until you both grow old."

I was about to open my mouth but...

"He's here,"

She said, referring to Luke who was now already approaching our table with a tray of drinks in his hands. We were both suddenly silent for a moment.

Hailey's eyes were seriously moving from me and then to Luke when the latter placed the coffee and cheesecake in front of her. But then her gaze stayed on him when he was done giving us our drinks." "Luke Marcuz Williams," she uttered, her voice and expression were serious.

"Y-Yes?"

I bit my lip when Luke turned to her in confusion.

"Haist!" She sighed but then continued. "I can't believe I'm looking at you right now, Mr. Williams."

Luke turned to me with a frown, maybe because he really got confused by what Hailey was saying.

"A few months ago, when you occupied the old man's apartment, I admit, I had a crush on you and I told Sam about it not knowing you were her ex-husband. So now that I found out the truth--- gosh! I can't believe I have already lost you, you haven't even become mine!" A light chuckle escaped Luke's lips as he looked at me before turning to her.

"But on a serious matter, Sam has been telling me about you, your relationship, and everything that happened from way back before. And I can say that as a woman for me, what Sam went through during your marriage was kinda traumatic, but yeah, I know I'm not in a position to judge you nor to ask what happened to both of you and why you ended up in this situation right now. But since I considered Sam as my sister, well, I just have a few--- just a few favors to ask, Mr. Williams, if that's alright with you."

"Uhm... sure, I'm willing to listen," Luke nodded.

"Now that you have reconciled your relationship and realized you are still in love with each other, would it be okay to ask you to please don't hurt my friend anymore? She hadn't just been a friend to me but a family, so all I ask of you are these two simple things. First, don't let her go again, and last but not least, please love her as a woman should be loved by her man. I hope you can promise me that, Mr. Williams,"

It took him a few seconds before flashing her a smile.

"I will," he then replied, his voice full of determination. "And I won't do the same mistake again. I won't hurt her and I promise to be the man she deserves and I will love her until my last breath."

I held my breath as I felt him grip my hand under the table.

"That's it! That's all I want to hear,"

Hailey grinned and started sipping the hot coffee in front of her.

"Ouch! It was kinda hurt, huh!"

We both just laughed at her as her lips burned from the coffee.

"Why didn't you tell me this coffee is still hot?"

"Why didn't you notice it was still hot?" I asked back as I continued to laugh at her. "So do you still have questions in mind?"

"Nah! That's all I wish, for you to be happy, well, it's just a bonus that you got a handsome and freaking hot-of-a-boyfriend, hmmp!"