One More Chance
Chapter 109: Lazy Caterpillar

~~~All day long I keep remembering. All the night I think of you. All my life, you'll be the song I sing. I'll get by but this I swear is true. If I should love again if I find someone new, it would be make-believe for in my heart it would be you. And though I hold him close and want

him now and then, I'll still be loving you if I should love again~~~

-Barry Manilow-Nina Girado-

"I'll just go back and buy it next time." She shrugged. "Let's go and find our favorite restaurant, I'm really starving, you know!"

We're both laughing when we exited the department store and even when we entered the restaurant.

I woke up the next morning still feeling the weight of what happened yesterday. It doesn't matter to me if Cherry decides to tell Luke about what I told her, but I couldn't take the image in my head of the man I saw walking out of the department store yesterday. I've known Carl for two years and I don't think he would have created such a lie and covered up for David, but I don't know why my instinct keeps telling me it was him.

"Argh! That's impossible! He's in New York and he's in the hospital, so Samantha, stop thinking about what happened and get up!" I told myself as I let out a long deep sigh.

I decided to get up from the bed and walked slowly towards the bathroom. I need to take a shower to ease the anxiety and negative thoughts that creeping my sanity since we walked out of the department store.

"Haist!" I couldn't help but frown at my reflection in the mirror. "Jack was right, I shouldn't have said those words! Argh! That woman! Cherry Petterson---ouch!" I screamed, wincing in pain as I tried to punch my reflection out of frustration.

After a few minutes of cursing and killing that bitch in my head, I finally immersed myself under the warm water to calm my nerves.

***

"Where are you going?" I raised an eyebrow when my brother asked me the moment he saw me enter the kitchen. I'm wearing a plain white shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers.

"Supermarket." I simply replied as I walked over to his seat and take a sip of his coffee. "Hmm..." I said after putting it down.

"Alone?" And just like me, he also asked in one word.

"Nope, I'm thinking of asking Jenny to come with me." I took one of the mini chocolate pancakes on his plate and stuffed it in my mouth.

Jenny is one of our housekeeper who is responsible for buying groceries and all the stuff in the kitchen.

And since he's not complaining, I took another piece and shoved it again. "Hmm... this is so good."

"Why don't you get your own plate?"

'Oops! He finally noticed.'-

"Melly cooked a lot of pancakes." He said as he took the cover of the delicious pancakes in front of me

"Nah! I'm fine with this." I grinned, referring to what I was doing. "Besides, I'm in a hurry, so I don't have time to wash the dishes."

"Tss! Lazy caterpillar!"

"No, Dale! Oh, my gosh!" I complained frowning as he pulled my ponytail and ruffled my hair.

He only gave me one of his boyish chuckles. "What are you planning to buy at the supermarket?"

Nice question. I stared at him for a few seconds as I found his question dumb and funny.

"What do you think are the things you can buy in the supermarket? Hmm... do you think they are now selling bombs and grenades? Ahh... maybe they are now selling time machines---ouch!" I jumped into my seat and chuckled when he slapped me on the forehead. "Time machines, huh! Yeah, they are now selling sleeping pills and drugs too!"

My laugh died in mid-air and I rolled my eyes. I know what he was referring to and I don't want to comment on it anymore.

"Hmmp!" I huffed. "Why are you still here? Aren't you going to work today?" I asked as I walked to the fridge to get a glass of fresh milk.

"Nope, I'm taking a day off today."

I was stopped from opening the fridge and glanced back at him. I was suddenly confused. Today is Tuesday and he usually takes a day off during weekends.

-'Ohh... why do I feel that my best friend has something to do with why he suddenly wanted to take a day off today?'-

"What? What's the matter?" He asked me, but I smiled at him, shaking my head.

"Ahh... you're taking a day off," I said nodding.

I took my phone out of my pocket as soon as I put the glass of fresh milk on the counter and started dialling my best friend's number.

-'Huh! Let's find out if what I have in mind is right.'- A mischievous grin curled at the corner of my lips when Jack answered the phone on the first ring.

"What's up?" The first question she asked me.

"Nah, I'm just curious if you're 'going out' with Norman this afternoon?" I emphasized the word going out and I held back my laugh when Dale looked at me like I was some kind of an insect he wanted to smack. "Going out with Norman?" I bet she's now frowning on the other line.

"Yeah, you mentioned yesterday that he's asking you to have a 'date' with him, didn't you?"

"Yes, but---" But I interrupted her.

"Come on, just go out with him and don't worry about the coffee shop. I'll be right there after going to the supermarket today."

"Oh, alright, but are you sure you're fine now?"

"Yup, I'm okay now." And when I noticed my brother getting up... "Oops! Really, he's there right now?" I pretended to be excited. "Hey, what are you talking about? He's not here."

"No, no, no, you don't have to wait

for me, you can now go with him. Okay... good luck on your date, bye..." I immediately ended the cal before Dale could reach my

direction. I'm sure that by nowet

frown on her forehead couldn't be painted. "Haist! I'm so happy for my best friend."

And as I expected, Dale glared at me. "Tss!"

"Hey, what's with the foul face, brother?"

He took a deep breath but continued to glare at me.

"I wonder where Norman will take Jack for their 'date' today, I mean, what will he do with her?" I shrugged. "He'll kiss her on the lips---"

"Shut up, will you?"

I pretended to be shocked when he suddenly yelled at me.

"Oh, my--- why are you getting mad

I

at me? I didn't do anything to you." I bit my lower lip. Tsk.Tsk.Tsk... such a drama queen. "Hmmp! I think you should really take a day off today." I said grinning. "Good luck, big bro." I teased him.

"Good luck? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Ouch... come on, your nose is flaring with jealousy." I chuckled when he narrowed his eyes at me. "Anyway, I have to go."

"Tss! You're insane!" He shouted at my back when I was heading for the door.

"Yeah, I agree, you can go crazy with too much jealousy... it can drive you insane." I couldn't help but laugh at him as I started running out of the kitchen.

I just wonder why he's still keeping his feelings for her when it's so obvious that he likes her. I don't know what's stopping him from doing so and the same as my best friend as she hasn't noticed it yet.

"Tsk.tsk.tsk... these two."

It's been almost an hour since Jenny and I and two of our bodyguards, Francis and Jonathan started wandering around the supermarket, but the things and ingredients that are on our list are not yet completed.

I'm planning on-going back to work

tomorrow, so I'm doing this thing

while I still have. I wanna try cooking and preparing Mexican dishes like chicken enchiladas and some tacos recipes which Jack most favorite.

QUMS

After checking my list, I informed Jenny that I'll just go to the powdered milk section to get Cali's milk and when she's done with the ingredients, we will meet at the wine section.

I asked Francis to tell Jonathan to stay with Jenny and Francis to come with me.

Francis and I were sharing our different thoughts in life as we made our way to the milk section. He's also cracking some corny jokes until our conversation turned to Jenny in which he suddenly went silent. "Ohh... you have feelings for her, I guess."

"Huh?"

And I chuckled when he blushed. His face turned into a thousand shades of tomato.

"So, I was right! You have feelings for her!"

He just gave me a loud sigh as he pushed the cart.

"Why? What's that sigh for?" I asked him, checking his sad expression as we continued walking.

"Hmm... yeah, I like her but she doesn't feel the same for me."

"Ohh..." My face crumpled and I patted him on the shoulder. "But I know she's still single and not dating anyone, so I guess you still have a chance."

"But how will I get a chance if she doesn't feel the same for me?"

"And how do you know if she'll give you a chance or not if you don't try to show her your feelings? Tsk. tsk. tsk... come on, Francis!"

"Haist... it's so hard, you know."

"Whoa! You are a reservist and a black belter in martial arts and yet you are afraid to face Jenny?" I bit my bottom lip, trying to hold back the mischievous grin that wanted to curl my lips.