One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 138: The new neighbor

~~~How can | convince you what you see is real? Who am | to blyou for doubting what you feel? | was

always reachin' you were just a girl | knew. | took for granted the friend | had in you. | was living for a dream,

loving for a moment. Taking on the world that was just my style. Now I look into your eyes, | can see forever. The

search is over, you were withall the while~~~

-Survivor-

"Yeah, | know and that's what | want to tell you so | pulled you here, girl!" She said screaming again.

"Haist! Hailey, you don't have to scream, I'm just here right in front of you!" What is going on with people today

as they love to scream when talking to me? Earlier it was my daughter, now it's my neighbor.

"Oh, I'm sorry, | couldn't help it." She giggled and settled herself comfortably in her seat.

"So what do you want to say?" | asked with a sigh.

"Hmm... Mr. McGregor has already left the room next to you."

"Huh? Since when?" | furrowed my eyebrows.

"Well, he evacuated that room three days ago, and guess what---there's already a new tenant to occupy that

room today, Samy girl."

"Ohh... so he left three days ago that's why | haven't seen him these last few days," | said nodding, ignoring the

last line she said.

"Yup because you're only here at night but not in the morning, plus, you're always busy with your business, so

yeah, you wouldn't really see him not even when he said goodbye to all of us that day." She shrugged and

although there was a smile on her lips, her eyes couldn't hide how sad she was inside.

Well, who wouldn't be? Mr. McGregor isn't the typical ‘old man' who would scold you when you met him in the

hallway or when you didn't give him priority to use the lift. In fact, he is the most kind-hearted old man... as in

‘old man' having no wife or children | have met so far. He always spreads good vibes and smiles at everyone

every tyou meet him. He has no room for sadness even when he has already aged alone and single. Well,

that's how | got to know him in almost a year of being neighbors. "Oh, by the way, what would you like to drink,

coffee, juice, tea---"

"No, no, no, thanks, Hailey, but I'm fine. Just sit return to your seat and continue what you're saying." | smiled at

her and motioned her to sit down again.

"Okay, so here is the news... there is already a new tenant that will occupy the room next to you."

"Yes, you've already said that." | sighed.

"But that's not the exciting part here." | frowned. "Sobrang gwapo niya at ang daming abs! He's like a Greek

God, in short, macho-gwapito, Samy girl!" (He's so handsand he's got abs! He's like a Greek God!) "Wait-—-

what is macho-gwapito means?" | asked, my face was like a crumpled paper. | understand everything that she

said except the last one.

"Oops, I'm sorry, it means, he's a handshunk!"

"Ahh..." I nodded but then laughed after a few seconds when she screamed again for | don't know how many

times since she pulledinto her apartment. Jesus Christ, she's like a teenager who seemed to have received a

wink from her crush. "Wait, how do you know he's a hunk? Did he walk past you shirtless?"

"Oh, no, no, my dear Sam, he doesn't have to take off his shirt forto know that he's a well-built and sexually

attractive man because | can see it---| mean, | saw it through his fitted white shirt. He has broad shoulders, a

well-sculpted nose, a beautiful soft skin, and oh, my--- a pair of soft red lips that seemed so inviting... inviting me

to kiss him."

"Tss! I'm lost!" | hissed as she acted kissing whoever that man was. And then she looked athaving a smile of

happiness and excitement in one. "For God's sake, Hailey, | think | have to go. | remember | didn't turn off the Tv

when | got up to check the noise outside." "Huh? You're gonnaleave here, Samy girl?" she asked pretending

to be sad.

"Yup, so can freely dream of whoever that man is all day and night without interruption." And with that, | headed

towards the door and exited her room ignoring her calls.

"Woo! That girl, I mean, woman!" | exclaimed silently, letting out a loud sigh the moment | closed the door

behind me.

| couldn't help shaking my head as | made my way to my door, but then stopped when I noticed that the

shattered glass on the floor had been already cleaned.

"Hmm... he was that quick to clean up the mess?" | shrugged and was about the turn the knob when the door to

my right that now has a new tenant suddenly opened.

| didn't move in my spot nor didn't turn around to look at whoever opened that door, but when a very familiar

scent hit my nostrils, my head was as quick as a splash to turn to that door... and there he was standing, the

Greek God that Hailey was referring to and dreaming of was none other than---my ex-husband?

And my face started to wrinkle as | stared at him from head to toe. -'Am | hallucinating or he's really standing in

front of me?'- | asked in my head, but when his lips curled into a smile, | realized he was real. "Luke?"

"Hi, Sam," He said flashingwith his handssmile.

| blinked for | don't know how many times, well, I lost count as | couldn't believe he was standing right before my

eyes.

"What are you doing here?" | couldn't help but ask out of surprise and confusion.

"Actually, that was the squestion | was supposed to ask you, it's just that you beat me." He shrugged and |

chuckled.

| chuckled not at what he replied, but at the fact that it was he who was now going to live in the room next to

mine. -'What the heck?'-

"So you are the new tenant to rent that room?" | asked, trying to smile. 'Trying' is the word because honestly, |

don't feel like smiling at that moment and | don't know why.

| suddenly felt pressured by his presence and was sad at the stbecause | hadn't seen Mr. McGregor

before leaving.

"Yes, and we are now neighbors." He shrugged still having the handsyet sinful sin on his lips.

"But there are a lot of apartments here in Taguig city, why did you choose to live here? Are you following me?"

My mind asked where a silent question should have been, but | didn't know | let it out unconsciously. -'Oops!'- |

just held my breath and stared at him when he answered my question.

"Well, first of all, it's because | hate being stuck in traffic, secondly, this is the nearest apartment to my office

that I've found, and thirdly, sweetheart..."

That sweetheart endearment again, '-

"I'm not following you and | also didn't follow you, in fact, | was also surprised to see you here. | didn't know you

were the one occupying the room next to mine."

Slowly, | released the breath | was holding and studied his expression for a few seconds. Why am | not convinced

by his answer and why do | feel like he's not tellingthe truth?

But | shrugged off those thoughts and tried to laugh to hide the embarrassment | had put myself into.

"Hmm... | was just kidding," | shrugged. "Anyway, do you have any idea what happened to Mr. McGregor, the

former tenant in your room?"

"U-Uhm... " He avoided my gaze and | raised an eyebrow. "Well, as | heard, he's going to live in their province

with his siblings."

"Ohh..." | said nodding. I'm really not convinced with what he said. "How did you know that he's going to live in

their province? Where did you get that information?"

"F-From the landlord! Yeah, | got the information about him from the landlord."

"Hmm... | see," | shrugged again, nodding.

‘Stuttering, Mr. Williams?'-

"Anyway, | have to go inside but before that, | want to say welcto the neighborhood, Luke."

"Thanks, see you around, Sam."

"See you around,"

After flashing him a quick smile, | hurriedly opened the door and walked in, leaving him standing and smiling in

the hallway.

"Oh, my heart!" My hand automatically lifted over my chest as soon as | closed the door.