One More Chance
Chapter 116: Finding out the truth

~~~Then my days begin with simple thoughts of you, hoping that tomorrow will be me and you. Sharing dreams with each other and making them come true, holding one another saying all I need is you. But will you say that you love me and show me that you care? Say when I need you, you will always be there. But if you go and leave me, this I swear is true, my love will always be with you~~~

- Martin Nievera/Regine Velasquez-Alcasid -

DALE's POV:

"What the hell, Luke!" I couldn't help but snap at him the moment we reached the hospital's parking lot.

"What do you mean, Dale? She's my wife. She's still my wife, so between me and that doctor, I have the rights---"

"Enough!" I screamed, giving him a hard stare. "I know you're still married and nobody takes that damn title and right from you, but don't you think that's enough?"

"No! I won't stop until---"

"You won't stop until we all start hating you, is that what you want?"

"Dale?" Shock instantly registered in his eyes.

I stared at him and sighed when I remember what Jack told me the last time we talked... 'Yes, you're not in a position to decide for them or to meddle in their problems because they were already grown adults, but she's not just anybody! She's your sister!'...

"Listen, dude..." I called his attention. "I've kept my mouth shut these past few years despite everything you've done to my sister. I've done nothing and stayed in my seat even though I've always seen her cry and struggle with the pain you're giving her because I believed I wasn't in a position to meddle between you two. You're no longer a kid. It was your problem, so you should be the ones talking and solving whatever your issues were, but now I realized that that damn thought was wrong! I should have talked to you, but instead of doing it, I let you hurt my sister even more to the point that she had to take all the blame and gave up her dreams!"

"Dale, I---"

"Don't you dare continue that word! Don't even tell me you're fucking sorry because that won't work on me! I gave you a chance, remember? My family gave you a chance! We believed you! We all trusted you to make things right, but what the hell?"

"But that's what I'm doing, dude, I'm trying to make up for all the mistakes I've made the past---"

"No, you're not, Luke! You're ruining it again! Instead of wooing my sister, you're forcing yourself into her!"

"Because she's my wife and you know that!"

"Tss! Don't mention that word again!" I warned him, referring to the word 'wife'. "You don't know what that word means!"

He was stunned by the sharpness of my voice. God forbid because if I wouldn't like the next word that will come out of his mouth, I'm willing to forget everything that matters between us. I'll forget that he's my best friend and make sure to take his breath away. "Dale?"

Shaking my head, I patted him on the shoulder.

"Yes, you're still married, so she's still your wife, but that doesn't mean you have the right to force yourself to her! And for the sake of our friendship, I'll give you another chance to fix this. Go ahead, ask her forgiveness. Do everything you can to get her back into your life without forcing yourself into her, but remember, she now has David and that guy gave her everything you should have given her."

I was about to turn around but then I remembered something that stunned him until I left him in the parking lot.

"By the way, before I forgot, I just also want to give you this!" And I punched him hard in his face. "I hope that punch will remind you that I can forget everything including our friendship for the sake of my sister. I know that's not enough for the pain you caused her, but I promise to give you hell when you turn back into an asshole and made her cry again. I'll make you suffer, twice of what she had experienced."

After giving him a last glance with a devilish grin, I left him and went back to the hospital. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

SAM's POV:

Looking up at the clear blue sky, I took a deep breath and faked a smile. Tears were blurring my vision again, so I had to close my eyes for a while. It's been thirty minutes since I got out of bed and settled myself on the terrace. It's also been thirty minutes since I started to calm myself and try to hold back the tears that wanted to fall down my cheeks.

What happened yesterday still dances in my head. It was again one of the most painful moments of my life... another painful moment that will soon add to the not-so-good memories I already had in my head. It was different and mind-blowing. Well, I just got dumped. I got dumped when I asked David to marry me. He refused to marry me and said he couldn't do it and when I asked him why, he only gave me a bittersweet smile and said it's not because he wasn't ready yet, but he just couldn't and he has a reason.

I felt like my world had suddenly crashed down my feet. It wasn't the first time I got dumped because I had already experienced it a few years ago. I should've gotten used to it. I must've known the feeling, but no, because like I said, what happened yesterday was so different to the point that I realized it was the most heartbreaking.

I hurt him and I know the pain I gave him was a lot more painful than what I felt when he shook his head with an uncertain smile and said 'No, I love you but I'm sorry, I couldn't marry you. It's not that I'm not ready yet, but I just couldn't.'

I took another deep breath, hesitating to open my eyes because I know that when I do, I would no longer be able to hold back the stubborn tears from flowing down my cheeks.

***

FLASHBACK...

WHEN SAM WOKE UP AFTER THE ACCIDENT...

I was shocked when Luke took my hand as he wanted to talk to me, but I was more shocked to the point that I didn't get the chance to continue е what I was going to say when I saw David standing in the doorway. uttered his name wide-eyed and immediately took my hands out of Luke's grasp.

Everyone turned to him with the same expression as mine.

"You're awake." The first set of words he uttered. His eyes filled with worry but at the same time with sadness and pain.

Luke stood up as David began to approach my direction and I didn't miss the kind of look he gave him, but David ignored him as his eyes were focused only on me.

Jack and Dale gave us some space to talk and dragged Luke out of the room with them.

"How are you feeling?" David asked me as soon as everyone left.

I gulped, not getting used to the sad expression in his eyes.

"I'm fine, just a little worried about my leg."

"Don't think about it too much. All you have to do is rest and one week after your discharge, we will hire the best therapist in town so you will recover quickly." He said taking my hand as he sat down. "Yeah, the doctor told me the same earlier." I smiled.

"Good." He nodded and gave me a smile that didn't even reach his eyes and after that, silence stretched between us.

There are a lot of questions stuck in

my head that wanted to ask him, but I really don't know where to

start. I glanced at him and found et

him staring at our entwined hands. He's in deep thought in which + knew he too has questions in his mind.

Until he looked at me after letting out a long deep sigh.

"Sam..."

"Hmm?" My eyes held a silent question of why.

"I have something to ask you."

Hearing the seriousness in his voice made me shiver deep down inside. Even though I haven't heard his question or the thing he wanted to ask me about, deep inside I already knew it, so... "Sam---"

"When did you get back to San Francisco?" I decided to open my mouth first before I could die in anticipation.

"Uhm..."

"Did you really leave and go back to

New York or have you been here all this time?" Since I was looking

straight into his eyes, I didn't misset

how he was taken aback by my question. I realized that thought when I remembered hearing his Voice before I passed out after the

accident.

My heart was pounding inside my ribcage while I was waiting for his response. Somehow deep inside I was hoping my instinct was wrong but...

"Yes." He nodded and I swallowed greedily.

"W-What do you mean yes?"

"Yes, I've been staying here all this time. I've never left San Francisco nor returned to New York."

"Huh?" I gasped. I felt like I suddenly lost all my strength. Tears started to cloud my vision as I stared at him.

I tried to hold back the tears but when I remembered the scene at the department store a few days ago, I totally lost control.