One More Chance
Chapter 132: Some things haven't changed

~~~I think I finally know you, I can see beyond your smile. I think that I can show you that what we have is still worthwhile. Don't you know that love's just like the thread that keeps unravelling, but then it ties us back together in the end? In your eyes, I can see my dream's reflections. In your eyes, found the answers to my questions. And I think I've finally learned to love you more~~~

-George Benson/Regine Velasquez-

"Ahh... very well said." She said smiling and clapping her hands at the same time.

But I just responded it with a smile.

"Now I know you've already moved on because you can now mention the past without even crying or feeling sad about what happened. And you know what, some people say you will know when you've already healed when the past doesn't affect you or make you cry anymore."

"Yeah, but that saying doesn't suit everyone."

"And why not?"

"Because I believe not everyone who has been hurt and suffered has already moved on. Others were just pretending to hide the pain they're still feeling so that no one would ask about it again, while some hadn't dared to face reality and forget what they had experienced." "Yeah, but not in your case."

"And how do you know it?"

"Because I can see the truth in your eyes. They are shining, shimmering, twinkling like those bright stars in the night sky."

And I couldn't stop the hilarious laugh that escaped my lips as she motioned her hands in the air as if they were really those twinkling stars.

"And speaking of twinkling stars, I think I have to go." She stood up and was about to leave the counter.

"Huh? And where are you going?"

"I'm going to my star because 'your star' is heading his way towards here." She said in a whisper and then winked at me.

"What?" I frowned in confusion as she already jumped out of the counter. "What the heck---" but I didn't get the chance to continue what I was saying because when I turned around, I found Luke standing on the opposite side of the counter.

"Hi,"

My breath hitched as my mouth formed an 'A' shape, not because of his greeting, but because I saw Dana over Luke's shoulder waving her hands and making a sign of two thumbs up. She even winked at me again before running to her boyfriend's table. "I-I'm sorry, are you saying something?" I turned to Luke and found him staring at me with amusement showing in his eyes.

"Your hairstyle suits you even the hair colour."

I held my breath when he smiled. -'Forgodsake! Even after what we've been through and years have passed, I don't know why I still get butterflies when he smiles'-

I was born blonde and never tried to dye my curly hair or change my hairstyle when I was still in Los Angeles, but when I met Dana and stayed in the Philippines, everything changed including my hairstyle. I decided to cut my long and curly hair into shoulder-length and changed the color into coffee blonde.

"You too, your new haircut looks good on you. You looked matured--- yet more handsome."

-'Shit!'- I cursed silently when I realized what I had just said but it's too late for me to take it back because he had already heard it and now chuckling in front of me.

So to lessen the embarrassment...

"Is there anything you want to order?" I asked, avoiding his gaze and pretending to arrange the stuff on top of the counter.

"Yeah, your time."

"Huh?" I gazed up at him.

"I mean, I want to know how have you been doing?"

But guess what? Before I could even answer his question, Dana and Caleb came to our view and both having a wide smile on their lips.

"Eherm! Ahm... it's okay with us if you two will both sit down at the table and catch up on some things, you know." Dana said with a shrug.

-'Nice try, Dana'- I raised an eyebrow and in my head, I have already slapped her on the forehead.

"Yeah, maybe you can go to the table we used earlier, Luke so you can talk about---" Caleb stopped what he was saying when I looked at him. "---so you can talk about being parents to your daughter, right babe?" He then turned to his grinning fiancée. "Yeah, that's right, babe." And the kindest friend I have had in my life... agrees.

"I think that's a good idea." Luke eyes suddenly lit up with excitement.

"Of course!" Dana and Caleb said at the same time.

"I always have a stock of good ideas in my head!" Dana added.

I just bit my lip and gave Luke an awkward smile which he had just returned with a chuckle. Actually, it wasn't really awkward when I saw Luke again after two years or when he suddenly stood on the opposite side of the counter, not even when he noticed my hairstyle. It was just started getting awkward when the two, Dana and Caleb came to our sight and 'literally' shoved us out of the counter.

But I don't know why I agreed with them too. I just found myself sitting across Luke's seat while sipping the coffee that Dana gave me right after my butt touched the chair pad.

"I thought you didn't really recognize me earlier." He said putting down the mug as he looked at me. "So I stood up and was ready to chase you when you turned around. You even called me Sir."

"Because you were a customer and that's the right way to address the customer, besides, you were still in a business meeting. I just don't want to be rude." I said smiling at him. Well, it's true. They were in a business meeting and I would have been rude if I screamed out his name earlier.

"I see," He said nodding.

I don't know but I couldn't contain the smile on my lips especially when I saw him slice his cake and took a bite. I was mesmerized by his smile a few years ago and even up until now, I was still experiencing the same feeling I had the first time he gave me that smile. "Anyway, how are you? I was really surprised to see you earlier, I mean, I didn't expect to see you here. I thought you were Paris."

But since I was busy with the thought that suddenly came to my mind, the only thing I understand with what he said was the last line. "Yeah, I stayed in Paris for a month but when I met Dana, I decided to come with her. And now I've been staying here for almost a year." But my smile widened as I remembered my thoughts about coffee and blueberry cheesecake earlier.

"So it's you!" I suddenly blurted out that made him confused.

"Huh?"

"I mean, you were the person that Dana was talking about yesterday."

His frown got deeper.

"Caleb's friend." I shrugged.

"Ohh..." He said nodding. "What did she say about me?"

"Well, nothing personal. She just told me about the business that Caleb was proposing to you..." I paused as I watched him took another bite of his blueberry cheesecake.

He then looked at me and asked why but I just shook my head.

"You know what, earlier while I was carrying your orders to your table, I wondered who the person sitting across Caleb's seat and which of you two ordered the slice of cheesecake. But I had no idea that it was you and I was surprised that it was your order." I smiled. "You haven't changed," I added but I gulped when I saw the astonishment in his eyes. "Oh, I mean, your order! You haven't changed your order! You're still ordering the same thing." I almost lost of breath.

-'Oh, God! What the hell is happening with me?'-

Amusement instantly shown in his eyes the moment I said the last line, but I don't know why I felt at ease at that moment. And even when I noticed the stares he was giving me, I still couldn't contain the smile that wanted to escape my lips. I felt like talking to him was like talking to a long lost friend. No awkwardness, only excitement.

"Yeah, I haven't changed." He paused, his gaze was focused on me and then added... "For me, only the blueberry cheesecake is the best pair for my black coffee."

"Hmm... the same with me." I nodded. I remembered it was one of the common things we have in past.