One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 148: Semi-sweet conversation

~~~You are the one who makeshappy when everything else turns to grey. Yours is the voice that wakes me

mornings and sendsout into the day. You are the crowd that sits quietly listening toand all the mad

sense | make. You are one of the few things worth remembering. And since it's all true, how could anyone mean

more tothan you?~~~ -The Carpenters-

Hi,

| hitched my breath when Luke suddenly appeared in front of the counter. It's only 8 in the morning and we have

just opened the coffee shop so there are no customers yet. "Luke," | mentioned his nas my heart started

beating erratically inside my rib cage.

"Good morning," he smiled, and oh... my heart has already jumped out of my chest.

"Good morning, aren't you going to work?" | asked because today is Monday and he should have been in his

office at this moment.

"Actually, | just cfrom the office and we have a meeting at 8:30."

| frowned. "Then why are you here? What are you doing here?"

"| just cto see you," he smiled, and even though it surprised me, | couldn't help the smile that spread

between my lips. "Uhm... do have plans for tonight after work?" "What do you mean by plans?" | asked in

confusion.

"If you have something in mind like you want to go out after work or you want to go shopping, you know,

plans..."

| bit my bottom lip then smiled.

"No, | have no plans for tonight," | said shaking my head.

"Good!" He exclaimed.

"Good? How is it becgood then?"

"Because | want to invite you for dinner,"

| gulped... | gulped the excitement that had instantly jumped in my chest.

"Dinner..." | repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Uhuh..." He leaned forward, putting his elbow on top of the counter as he stared at me. It's as if he allowed me

to stare back at him and realize how handshe was at that moment. "At my place," | blinked at what he said.

"At your place... it's as if you're tellingthat your place isn't mine."

"Of course, it's yours too, My place--- everything that | have is yours too." He shrugged, smirking.

And my eyes went wide as | suddenly realized what | had just mentioned.

"Oh, what | mean is that we are just neighbors so, | live where you live too."

"Hmm... is that so?" He chuckled at | couldn't help hitting his arm.

"Luke Marcuz!"

"Ouch--- I'm just kidding," He continued to laugh as he took my hand. "I want to show you my cooking skills."

He then said seriously but, | don't know why I didn't take my hand out of his grip. I just let him hold it, while my

other hand was gripping the computer mouse hard due to the excitement exploding throughout my sanity. "So

you just chere to tellthese things, huh?"

"Yeah, and of course, to see you. | hadn't had the tto knock on your door earlier because | had to go out at 5

am, we had an early meeting with Caleb's team."

-'Ahh..." | mentally nodded. So that's the reason why I didn't see him this morning.

"So, will | wait for you tonight or will | pick you up? You choose,"

"Haha..." | couldn't help but chuckle at him. "I'll just knock on your door,"

"Alright, so it's the first option."

"Yeah---" but before | could respond to what he said, a customer interruptedand flashedwith a teasing

smile.

"Eherm... excuse me, do you mind if I order my food and drinks for a few minutes and then you continue your

semi-sweet conversation after that?"

"Oh, | am sorry," | immediately took my hand from Luke's grip and smiled at the woman who I think is in her

middle fifties.

"It's okay, new lovers can't really stand to be separated even for an hour from their lovers and | understand that,

so don't worry."

"Uhm..." | really wanted to say we are neither a new lover nor a lover but, her lips were as fast as a flash as she

talked. "Okay," | sighed. "May | take your order, ma'am?" | asked, secretly glaring at Luke on her left, but he just

chuckled and winked at me.

It's the second week of Dana and Caleb's honeymoon and they have gone to Puerto Prinsesa in Palawan to

celebrate their special moments of love, even though before their wedding, they're already celebrating it almost

every day.

| started being more open to Luke

and accepting what he and our destinies has to offer after that day that Dana had knocked ssense on me. |

realized that she's right and since Luke and | already had a past relationship or should | say we have already

been married, we already have something to start with. We just have to adjust to a few things for us to meet in

the middle.

We already sent Cali back to Los Angeles yesterday with Patrick. Her supposed to be one week vacation has

extended to two weeks because of her father and of course, her Aunt Dana who gives her everything she wants.

For the past two weeks, Luke had been very attentive, not only as a father but also in extending his efforts to get

my attention. And | can say he is gradually succeeding in that matter.

"I'll pick you up later after work," he said after | served the customer's order.

"You don't have to," | shook my head, smiling at him. "It will just take 10 to 15 minutes to walk from here to go

home."

"Walk? Wait--- are you just walking from hto work, | mean, all the way to the coffee shop?" He seemed

surprised. "Yes, walking is a good way of exercise---"

"Jesus Christ, Samantha!" | gasped as his voice suddenly rose to an octave higher. "Aren't you afraid that

someone might lure you and do something bad to you on the street?" "And who will do such a thing?"

"We don't know," he shrugged. "Somebody who desperately wants to get you!"

ooo

"Uhuh? Really?" | raised an eyebrow, a playful smile also curled up against my lips. | admit | liked the way he

mentioned my full name. "But there's only one person | know who wants, | mean, who desperately wants to get

me---to getback," | said staring at him and waiting for his response.

"Ohh..." he let out a throaty laugh when he realized what | was saying. "That's another thing, Sam, yes, it's true,

| am desperate to have you

back, but I won't let anyone tomet your nor the strands of your ch

hair

because | swear, I'm going to pull

their head out of their body!" He said

seriously but it brought a wider

smile to my lips.

"Whoa! Am | supposed to be scared or supposed to be thrill inside?" | asked him, smirking and | gasped when he

suddenly pulled both my hands. "You are supposed to feel the latter, sweetheart,"

"Alright, as you say so," | shrugged, chewing my lower lip to kill the excitement that was currently eatingup

inside.

"Don't do that!" He warned, staring at my lips.

"Don't do---" | was about to ask what he was referring to but realizing the meaning of his stares, | immediately let

my poor lips go.

| noticed that he took a deep breath as he lowered his gaze. It's as if he was relieved or something and | gulped

when he looked atagain.

"I'll pick you up later after work," he pinched the tip of my nose. "Expectbefore 7 tonight."

"Seven? But how will you prepare dinner if you're going to pickup at 77"

"Just leave it to me, sweetheart," he smiled and then kissed my hand. "Anyway, as long as | want to stay here

and stare at you the whole day, but I still have work to do and a meeting to attend."

"Alright, take care," were the only words that cout of my lips as | didn't want to sound disappointed...

disappointed that he now has to go. The least of all I've wanted to feel since | realized that I'm still in love with

him.