One More Chance
Chapter 157: Missing him

In the second month of our relationship...

One of the children's foundations our shop is helping is celebrating its anniversary and Dana and I have decided to close the coffee shop even just for a day, so we can help them prepare for their special occasion. And since it's for the children of the foundation, all of our employees have volunteered to help. Caleb and Luke have an out-of-town meeting, so they couldn't be there to help us too.

Since children are the highlights of the party, we have organized a lot of party games such as musical chairs, freeze dance, pass the balloon, pass the parcel, egg and spoon race, and other fun party games that they enjoyed the most. We also added art-making and face painting, especially for the ages ten to fifteen.

In the evening when the party was over and all the children were back in their rooms, we started cleaning up the mess and putting everything back in its original place. Everyone was already feeling exhausted, but still, have a smile on their face.

"Thank you, Dana and Sam, for helping us organize this event," Ms. Pangilinan hugged us both.

"Ohh... you are very much welcome Ms. Pangilinan," Dana said with a smile.

"Yeah, and we are always happy to help especially for the children."

We had a little chat before I gathered all our employees in the middle.

"Guys, thank you so much for your help. We wouldn't have done this without you."

"It's our pleasure to help the children, Sam, and of course, the foundation," Martha said and everyone agreed with her.

As I was cleaning the last table, a smile crept into my lips as I suddenly remember Luke. I missed him. It's been three days since he and Caleb went to Cebu City for their out-of-town meeting and had planned to stay there for a week or until their investor is satisfied with their presentation.

I took my phone out of my jeans pocket and decided to send him a message.

*Hi, how did your meeting go?*

I bit my lip after sending that short message. I also felt the pressure and excitement slowly build within my system and I don't know why. Maybe because I terribly missed him and longed even for his message.

I waited for a few minutes hoping he would reply, but he didn't much to my dismay.

"Maybe he's still busy or he's still in a meeting so he couldn't check his phone and read my message," I mumbled as I continued what I was doing.

"Hey, what's with that long face!"

I heaved a sigh when I felt Dana's hand on my elbow.

"Nah! I just missed him," I replied with a shrug but she just chuckled at me.

"I'm sure he misses you too,"

"I know,"

"Then what's with that deep scowl on your face?"

"Well, I missed him and I tried to send him a message, but he didn't reply."

"Maybe because he's busy or their new investor is kinda demanding with their presence, you know."

"Yeah, that's what I thought too," I continued wiping the table.

"Come on, you can just call him later or when we get home, but let's clean the venue for now because I really wanted to feel the soft mattress in my room, oh, God! I'm so exhausted!"

I couldn't help but smile when she stretched out her arms in front of me.

"Fine! I also wanted to go to bed now," We had a comforting laugh before we continued cleaning the whole venue.

But it had only been a few minutes since Dana had left me, it was now Martha who nudged me by the arm. "Eherm!"

I frowned as I gave her a quick glance and since I really wanted to finish what I was doing, I ignored her again.

"Oh, good heaven! The star fallen from above is so handsome!"

Even though I was focusing on my work, I still couldn't help but laugh at what she had said.

"Yeah, I promise you're going to fall down later if you don't move away right now!" I playfully glared at her, oblivious of where she was looking and what was going on around us. "But I'm not referring to my own star. This one was is yours, Sam!"

"What---" I didn't get the chance to continue what I was about to say when I turned around and saw where she was looking or should I say I realized who the star she referring to was.

Luke Marcuz Williams. The man I was just thinking about earlier. The man who captured my heart, the one I kept thinking about even when I fall asleep was now graciously walking in my direction. -'Ohh...'- I mumbled. The only sound my throat could make as my mouth dropped open in surprise.

I felt my insides melt when he flashed me his heart-melting smile. Why does he need to be so dashingly handsome?

And when I felt like we were in slow motion, I decided to start walking and meet him in the middle... and there, the world suddenly stopped moving around us when I felt his arms wrapped around me. "I missed you," were the first words I uttered when I threw myself on him.

"Ohh... I missed you too, sweetheart,"

I closed my eyes when I felt the

warmth of his arms. And since he has a towering height, my face

was my favorite spot. My nose. landed exactly on his neck which et

nibbled against his neck as I smelled the mixed scent of his cologne and his manly scent.

"So, is this why you didn't reply to my message?" I whispered asking and he chuckled at me.

"Yup, kinda," he shrugged. "You don't how much I held myself not to call you,"

I grinned widely and hugged his neck again.

I don't know how long we stood in the middle embracing each other. The only thing I had in mind was that I miss him and I just want to hug him.

"Whoa! Now I believe that you really miss me so much," he said with a chuckle as he kept kissing my hair.

I slowly unwrapped my arms from his neck and looked at him with a slight frown.

"And how can you say that?" I asked, looking him in the eye.

"Because the moment you hugged me, you never wanted to let me go,"

"Tss!" I hissed, making a sour face. "So want me to let you go?"

"Oh, no, never!" His horrified face stared back at me and I giggled. "Anyway, "I have a surprise for you,"

"What is it?" I asked, excitement suddenly filling my nerves.

"I'll show you later, sweetheart, but first, let's step aside because everyone is now staring at us like they were watching a romantic scene or a movie in front of them."

"Oh, jeez!" I exclaimed when I followed his eyes direction and noticed that everyone has a huge smile on their face as they watched us sharing sweet moments in the middle. "Yeah, I guess you're right,"

And I pulled him to the nearest table.

"Hey, by the way, I thought you said you're going to stay in Cebu for more than a week?" I asked as soon as we were seated.

"Yup, that was supposed to be the plan, but since we moved the investors with our presentation, they immediately signed up the contract." He said with a proud smile as he shrugged. He also took both my hands with his.

"Wow, congratulations," I threw him a flying kiss.

"I guess, I'll be happier when it's real," he said with a wink, referring to the flying kiss.

"Haha..." But I just giggled, ignoring what he said.

"You have no idea how much I missed you,"

I held my breath as he began to get serious.

"I don't even know how I did the presentation when all it's you I have in mind."

And since I suddenly lost my words, all I could do was smile at him.

"And when we're done, I immediately went back to Manila---"

"Where is Caleb, by the way?" I cut him off when I noticed that Dana's husband was not around and she was busy chatting with Martha as they began to pack their things.

It took me a few minutes to wander my eyes around before glancing back at the man in front of me only to see him with a serious face.

"Whoa! W - What happened to you?" I asked between my giggles.

"I'm very certain that I love you and that I will never look at anyone else, that you are the only woman I will love, well, of course, except for Mom and Cali and I hope you know all this." "W-Wait... where is this coming from?" I asked smiling as I couldn't contain the excitement and shock at the same time. I even tightened my grip on his hand.

"Because I don't know if you feel the same too,"

"But I do," I shrugged, grinning widely at him.

"Then why do you have to look for

someone else when I'm right here in front of you? You were asking for another man's name while I was here telling you how much I missed you and how you kept my mind occupied even when I was in the middle of an important meeting.

"Ohh... my God..." This time I brought my hand to my mouth to suppress my laughter. "It was Caleb I was referring to. Why are you such a jealous king?"

If the look in my eyes and the sound of my laughter could just explain to this man that I love him so much and how I appreciate his presence right at that moment, then I wouldn't have to stand, clinging my arms around his neck, and whispered...

"I'm sorry, jelly man, I missed you. I

promise not to mention any man's name in front of you ever again if that is what makes you happy." I even kissed him on the forehead, down to his nose and to his lips to

get

the ugly frown that occupied his handsome face.