One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 128: New beginning

~~~There was a t| packed my dreams away. Livin' in a shell, hiding from myself. There was a twhen |

was so afraid. | thought I'd reached the end. Baby, that was then, | am made of more than my yesterdays. This is

my now and | am breathing in the moment. As | look around | can't believe the love | see. My fears behind me,

gone are the shadows and doubts. That was then, this is my now~~~

-Jordin Sparks-

SAM's POV:

"So, since no customers are coming yet, start tellingwhat happened." | put my chin on my elbow that was

resting on the table as | drew my face closer to the beaming Dana across my seat.

We still have tto chat as it's just fifteen minutes past eight in the morning and customers usually arrive

before nine.

"Well..." She started, her eyes were shining and she couldn't stop fidgeting in her seat. "You know that we had a

fight the other day, right?"

"Uhuh, because you were so jealous of his ex-girlfriend who kissed him on the cheek-—-"

"Oh, goodness! Let's stop talking about it!" She exclaimed, rolling her eyes and | couldn't help but laugh at her.

The boyfriend she's talking about who is now her fiancé is none other than Caleb Enriquez, the president and the

owner of one of the biggest real state companies in the Philippines. They were in a three-year relationship in

college and had already planned on getting married but after graduation, their perspectives and beliefs in life

suddenly changed. And since they could no longer get along, they just chose to set each other free.

But fate seemed to have a better plan for them as their paths crossed again after two years when they're

already both successful in life. Caleb chased her again and since her feelings towards him haven't changed, she

agreed to be his girlfriend for the second time. And that's when their journey of love began.

"Okay," | shrugged. "Continue what you were saying." | leaned against my seat and waited for her to continue

her story.

"He went to my apartment last night and explained what happened. He said he couldn't go on with his life

withoutby his side. He said he wanted to conquer the world and achieve both our dreams hand and hand."

She said, her eyes gleam with happiness. "Hmm... so how did it happen? How did he propose to you?"

"He invitedfor dinner and after that, we went to skyranch in Tagaytay city."

"And..."

"And | was surprised when | found out he paid to close the whole amusement park last night. We rode on the

Ferris wheel and when we were at the top, it was then he asked for my hands."

"Ohh..." | held her hands and congratulated her. She had shared many more exciting things and | just listened to

her.

"So when is the big day?"

"Well, we will still discuss it tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Why not now?"

"Because he will be very busy today and he needs to talk to their new supplier of construction materials for their

new project who also happens to be his friend. He said he would talk to him to give them a substantial discount,

so he also invited him to his favorite bar tonight."

"I see," | said nodding and then brought the cup of hot coffee into my mouth.

"Anyway, how about you? When are you going to search for your forever?"

| thanked God that | had already put down the hot mug before hearing her question.

I looked at her and then chuckled.

"Who said I'm looking for my ‘forever'?" | emphasized the last word. "Forever should not be sought, it will just

cspontaneously on your way in the right place and time."

"Oh, my God, you're not getting any younger, Samantha!"

"Haha... con, don't you remember what your grandfather said?"

"What is it?" She frowned.

"Well, he said kalabaw lang ang tumatanda!" | said, wiggling my eyebrow that made her laugh hilariously. It's a

funny saying in Tagalog regarding old age. 'Only the carabaos gets old' that means, aging is only in our mind or

age is just a number. "Haist! | really missed that old man." She sighed.

too." | nodded. Her grandparents have already returned to the province a few months ago.

"Hmm... what if | set you up on a blind date?" She asked with a wink when she turned back into serious. "Huh!

Don't you ever try to do that!"

"But why? It's been two years since you becsingle, so maybe it's now tfor you to settle down." "Geez!

The right man will cat the right tif he's really meant for me, Dana."

"Nope! The right man won't cif you're just going to sit here and watch every man slip away!"

I just rolled my eyes and chose to ignore her, sipping my now warm coffee.

| couldn't help but smile inwardly as | thought about what she had said. I'm not getting any younger. Yeah, that's

true. I'm now 28 years old and have been single for two years. Well, because of what | have experienced in my

marriage, | admit there's a certain fear inside me. | want my next relationship to be the last or could last for a

lifetime. So | don't rush things. | don't want to do the smistake like when | was 17 where | rushed my

feelings and everything and it only turned into an unhappy marriage.

For now, | enjoy being single. | seize every moment of it and every day, | learn new and different things.

| have met a lot of people through this journey and sof them have becmy friends. And | want to stay

like this, well, not until | meet the right person for me.

The following morning...

| was busy arranging the freshly baked cinnamon rolls in the glass rack when | heard the sound of the wind

chimes on the door, that means someone has entered the shop. | quickly stopped what | was doing to look and

assist our new customer but a light chuckle left my lips when | realized it was Caleb, Dana's fiancé.

"Hi, good morning, Sam." He greetedwith his usual cheerful smile.

"Good morning,"

"Letguess, you thought | was a new customer, didn't you?"

"Haha... "I just rolled my eyes, laughing at him because he's right. "Hmmp! My friend is in the kitchen. Just go

and talk to her. You don't need to ask permission if you can go inside because that's what you always do and I'm

used to it."

"Whoa! Actually, I'm planning to wait her here to surprise her." He said givinga hilarious laugh.

"Oh, con, Caleb Enriquez, it makes no difference whether you wait here or you go inside, it's just the same,

duh!" I scrunched my eyebrow.

"Okay, but don't blme if we accidentally break all the stuff inside." He winked and | chuckled.

"Haist! What's new about it? It's as if I'm not used to it! Just go so | could also continue what I'm doing."

And he left with his chuckles still echoing the counter. | just shook my head. They were so intimate with each

other and seemed couldn't wait for their wedding. Well, as | said, I'm used it.