One More Chance
Chapter 41: Afraid and Confused

~~I never should have called, 'cause I know you'd leave me. I never should have said I love you, you never said it back. So why do I still care for you? Stranger, that's all I see when I look into your eyes. A soulmate who wasn't meant to be. Stranger, who knows all my secrets, can pull me apart and break my heart. A soulmate who wasn't meant to be~~~

-Jess Benko-

"So you mean he will leave everything behind just for her?"

"We don't know it yet, Elaine." She shrugged. "The only thing I pray for is that Sam would never experience being rejected again. They were just starting their relationship as a real husband and wife."

"Yeah, and of course Cali, she's the one who will be most affected if that happens."

They shared glances and both turned into silence.

Yes, they were just maids or the servants of the family, but that's not how Sam and Luke treated them, even the rest of their family never treated them as just 'simply maid' or 'just a nanny' but a family, a friend... especially Sam. For her, they were part of her family. She was sharing her problems with them and sometimes asking their opinions.

So they are sure that they will also be affected by what will happen to their relationship.

"What am I going to do Jack?" I asked my best friend as I frustratedly brushed my hair with my hand at the same time.

She was stopped from bringing the slice of her favourite strawberry cake in her mouth and then looked at me with a frown.

We were in the coffee shop near her apartment and having breakfast together. I called her this morning before leaving Cali at my parents' house. They didn't ask me anything about it because actually, it's really a great favor to them to have their only granddaughter at home.

"What do you mean by what are you going to do?"

"Jack, you're not listening! I told you---"

"And so if he came home drunk last night and got a phone call this morning?"

"What?" I frowned at her.

"Haist! Tell me, Sam, which of the three is your real problem? Letter A, is it because he didn't tell you he went to a bar in which you expected him to be in a meeting? Letter B, is it because he came home drunk and bruised last night and when you tried to talk to him he ignored you and told you to leave his room? ---take note--- he didn't sleep in your room. Or letter C, is it because he got a call this morning in which your maid noticed the sudden change of his expression and left the house without telling you? So which of them?" "Argh! Jackeline!" this time, I couldn't help brushing my face with my hand. Thank God that I'm not wearing makeup, well, I'm not really a fan of it. "You don't understand!"

"Oh, my God!" She chuckled which only added my irritation. "Seriously, Samantha? I actually recited the whole story you told me and then you're telling me that I don't understand?"

I leaned against my seat, stared at her and then sighed loudly.

"Fine! All of it! All of it is my problems right now!"

"Oh, okay." She said copying what I did. She also leaned on her seat and crossed her hands over her chest. "You're just jealous."

"What the hell--- why would I be jealous? There's nothing to be jealous of!"

"Exactly! There's nothing to be jealous of, but why are you jealous?"

"Huh?"

"Come on, Sam! You still don't know the reason why he left early this morning, maybe the one who called him was his client and they rescheduled the meeting today that they cancelled yesterday." "Meeting at that early in the morning?"

"Haist! He's a businessman, hello!"

"Why do I feel you're taking his side rather than me?"

"Oh, jeez! I'm not taking anyone's side, I'm just trying to be reasonable." She rolled her eyes. "Tss! You know what, you're overreacting!"

I just closed my eyes and chose to stay quiet.

"If your problem is about the call he received this morning, well, as I said, your husband is a businessman and all the businessman's motto is 'Time is Money'. And if it's about him being drunk last night, there are many ways to talk to him. You can visit him in his office today, you can call him on his phone or you just wait for him tonight--- if he came home not drunk." She shrugged, grinning.

"Jack!" I glared at her.

"Just kidding!" She laughed but I remained silent.

Seconds later, I heard her sigh, then she held my hand that rested on the table.

"Sam, I know what's running on your mind and I know that you're afraid."

I glanced at her with a bitter smile painted on my lips.

"You're right, Jack, I'm scared. I don't know what to do when Luke suddenly change --- I mean when he returns to his old self. I love him, I really love him and I admit, I was kinda used to the new version of him. He took care of us, he's giving me attention that I didn't know he would do and he's capable to do.

I'm used to being on his side, the last person I saw and kissed goodnight before going to sleep aside from Cali and the first person to see when I woke up. Jack, I'm used to his embrace, the warmth of his body and his kiss and I don't know what I'm going to do when everything changes and turn back to what we were before."

I covered my mouth when a sob wanted to escape from my throat. Tears clouded my vision until it began to flow.

"Shhh! Sam... that's why I told you to talk to him, to ask him."

"But I'm afraid of asking him. What if... what if he told me he found someone else---"

"Haist! It hasn't been 24 hours that passed and you've gone insane, for God's sake!" She interrupted me, placing the hot cup of coffee in my hand.

"Ouch! What the hell, Jackeline!" I flinched, throwing her a glare.

"See? That stopped you from talking nonsense! Hmmp!" She then rolled her eyes.

I bit my lip. I should be glaring at her, but I don't know why I found myself smiling.

"Where did you get this damned coffee?" I asked, playfully glaring at her while trying to control my smile.

"Of course, it's from the cute waiter over there. I asked a refill." I followed the movement of her eyes and I found the waiter she's referring to.

"Why didn't I notice you ordered again?"

"Huh! It's because you're too busy rambling nonsense, so how would you notice it?"

I hardly patted her hand.

"Ouch!"

"You know what, I am supposed to be crying right now!"

"But you're now smiling."

"I hate you!" I said, wiping the trace of tears from my cheeks.

"No, you love me!"

And I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Seriously, I really don't know what to do if you're not here, Jack, so thank you."

"Tsk.tsk. I know, I'm one of a kind!" She proudly stated which made me laugh even more. "So, can I now have a bite of my favorite cake?"

"But no one stopping you from eating your cake."

"Haha... that really came from you, huh?"

And that day ended with laughter. I always thank God for giving me Jack as my best friend. She has always been a sister to me and every time I have looked back at what Luke and I had before, I realized that I wouldn't be able to survive without my best friend. She's a big part of it.