One More Chance

"Okay, fine, I was just kidding, Dale doesn't know about that lingerie, so chill. And... It's not really the surprise I was talking about, I just wanted to give it to you for your honeymoon and of course to see your reaction." She smirked and I pretended to pinch her on the groin but she immediately jumped back laughing.

"But on a serious note, I want to give you something so special to me," She walked over to the bedside table and took something from it. A small red square box.

"Oops! A red box again, seriously?" I asked, I couldn't help but laugh at my own question.

"Oh, yeah, I hadn't noticed it, but anyway, as I was saying..." she then walked back in front of me. "This thing is so special to me but since you are one of the most special people to ever come into my life, I want you to have this." She handed me the red box. "Why? I mean, if it's that special to you then why are you giving this to me?"

"Because like I said, you are special to me," she shrugged. "You are my best friend and honestly, you've been more of my sister than a friend ever since we met, so I will be happy when you have it."

And again, I slowly opened the box and this time, my mouth formed a mute O as I was struck speechless in my spot.

I looked at her incredulously waiting for an explanation as to why she was giving me such a valuable thing. It's a button pearl multi-strand bracelet with a gold and diamond swirl charm clasp which I remember her wearing on her wedding day and saying it was a gift from her grandmother when she turned 18.

"Oh, my God, Jack! I know how precious this bracelet is to you, so why are you giving this to me? Or do you just want me to borrow this on my wedding as for the saying that a bride should wear something old, something new, something borrowed, something... argh--- whatever on her wedding day? Because I'll take this and then return it to you after the wedding,"

But she laughed at me first before answering my question.

"No, of course not! I mean, it's not for that something old or whatever you may call it saying because I got married without any of it! It's just that--- I just want to give it to you,"

"But why?"

"Because I told you, you are my precious gem too,"

"Ahh... Jack... but this is too much I can't accept this," I uttered, pouting and shaking my head at the same time.

"Ohh... no, Sam, it already served its purpose in my life,"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well," she sat down next to me. "My grandmother told me that when I find the person destined for me, the person who will love me and be with me forever, I should wear it on our wedding day to seal the luck. And after that, it's up to me to decide whether to keep it or give it to one of the people close to me or a person dear to me."

"Okay... then why don't you keep this again and give it to your daughter when the time comes and---"

"Oh, my Jesus, Samantha! My baby is too young for that!"

"I know, but what I'm saying is that when she grew up and already found her future husband."

"Whoa--- no! It's too early for that conversation and for this matter--- I can't even think about it!"

I just chuckled at her reaction.

"Well, then, thank you, Jack, I promise to keep it and take care of it and of course, to use this on our wedding day,"

"Hmm... you are most welcome. I know you've already been in a high and low swing in life, you've been through hell and everything and I admire your strength and braveness in facing those challenges. And now that you're about to face another roller coaster ride they called marriage, I hope you become stronger and braver because soon you will be a wife again and this time it will be for real and not just forced like the first one."

I couldn't help but smile at her last words.

"Thanks for always being there for me, Jack, and for always letting me have your shoulders to cry on,"

"Oh, yeah, I still remember those days! I hope this time your fiancé and soon-to-be husband for the second time doesn't make that same mistake again or even think about it because I swear, I'm going to kill him this time!" Damn! That was what Dale had told Luke earlier. Whew! Yeah, they are indeed a couple!

"But seriously, thank you for everything you've done for me and for this wonderful gift. Don't worry, I believe he's no longer the same man as he was and I don't think he will be again You know, at least for the second chance that I gave him and for the sake of his daughter who is turning a teenager in a few years."

"Well, that's good,"

"Besides, since you said there is luck in this bracelet, I will surely wear this on my wedding day to seal whatever that luck is and of course to seal him--- to make him mine forever! And yeah, of course, you know, for something old for a bride to wear." "Haist! Do you really believe in that old saying that has been already forgotten for a century?"

"Uhuh, kinda, after all, there's nothing to lose if you try, right?"

"Hmm... well..." she just hummed as a reply and shrugged at the same time. "Anyway, when is the day, I mean, when are you going to get married? Have you already talked about it--- your plans and the honeymoon?"

I blinked at what she had asked.novelbin

"How can we talk about that thing

when I didn't even know that he was

going to propose to me earlier? I

was very surprised to see him here because we just had dinner at a steakhouse three days ago and he told me he had to go to the Philippines due to an important meeting with his team. So expected him to be back in a week or so..." But I paused with a gasp and then slowly turned my gaze in her direction. "Wait a minute..."

"What? Why? Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked, her lips twitching as she was trying to suppress her smile from stretching out.

"You knew he was going to propose, did you?"

"Huh? What are you talking about? Where did you get that idea from?"

"Don't you dare lie to me, Jackieline, because in case you don't know--- I know you from head to toe!" I pretended to be serious.

"Whoa! I don't have an idea what you're talking about and what I have to do with him proposing to you?"

"Oh, yeah, you don't have an idea --- my foot!" I huffed, playfully glaring at her. "Was it why you asked me twice if he could come to Mom and Dad's anniversary party, huh?"

"Aw! Did I?"

"Aw, did I?" I mimicked her words including her fake shocked expression. "So how did you know he was going to propose tonight?"

"Sam, I swear, I don't know what you're talking about,"

"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk." I shook my head. "Yeah, keep on denying," I stared at her for a moment. "Come on, Jack, he had already proposed to me and I had already accepted his proposal too, so there is no reason for you to keep it anymore,"

"Hmmp! Okay, fine!" she giggled and

took a deep breath afterward as she settled comfortably into the bed. "Actually, he talked to us, he talked to me and Dale two days ago about his plan. was surprised --- we were surprised, of course, and since I saw the sincerity in his eyes as welKas in his actions, we decided to help him. He said he would ask you for your hand right after he came back from his meeting in the Philippines, but at that time, he still had no idea how to do it, how to ask you to marry him, or what kind of surprise he would do to make his plan perfect, romantic and memorable. I even remember how nervous he was while telling all his plans that day..."

I took a breath of excitement as I continued to listen to her.

"And then, suddenly your brother came up with a brilliant idea!"

"That Luke should ask me on our parents' anniversary?"

"Yup," she nodded, beaming. "So we went with him to ask your parents about his proposal and of course, to ask your Mom and Dad for your hand and guess what?"

"What?"

"They immediately agreed and they were so happy. Actually, they were even more excited than your fiancé!"

"Then how about Cali, how did she know about it?"

"Well, Luke talked to her and asked her permission to marry her mother and I guess I don't really have to say what her reaction was as you know she cooperated well during the party earlier," "Yeah, I'm surprised how she hid the excitement the whole time until tonight,"

"Well, she did a great job!"

"Indeed!"