One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 161: When jealousy strikes

| couldn't help but laugh at Dana's cringe reaction.

"So you're disappointed because he didn't even want to touch you?" | asked, biting my lower lip.

"Yes, and he was so slow!"

"You're only dating for what, | mean, how long--- two weeks? And you already want to give your body and soul

and everything to him?" Dana's eyes went wide.

"Because | love him but | don't know if he really feels the sand correction, we have been dating for three

months, duh!"

"Jeez! Love cannot be measured by giving him your body or for how long you have been together!"

"Martha, you know what, to be honest, | admire him. | admire Toni for not touching you." | emphasized the word

not with a smile as | suddenly remembered Luke with Toni. "That only means he truly loves you and by not

touching you, he only shows how he cares for you. He respects you."

"That's right! And speaking of Toni, he's now walking back to our table with the widest grin in the world!"

We all stopped discussing Martha's complaint and looked at Toni who now has a plate of lemon slices in his

hands.

"Girls, look who | bumped into on my way to the counter?"

"Who---" we haven't finished asking yet when he stepped aside and there behind him was Martin, standing and

smiling. He has a bottle of beer in his hand. "Martin!" My voice ca bit louder as | gulped and kicked Dana's

feet lightly enough for her to get the message. -'Why is he here?'- | asked in my head. "Oh, hi, Martin! You're

here too!" Dana then spareda quick glance.

"Yeah, | was waiting for someone, but | saw Toni and he askedto cand say hello to you guys."

"Well, then, hello, Martin, since you said you're still waiting for whoever that someone is, why don't you join us

for a while?"

-'Jeez!"- my inner mind's reaction when Martha invited the man to join us and worse, Toni agreed and asked him

to sit down. "Of course!"

| felt Dana's elbow on my side the moment Martin was seated in front of us.

"Whoa! Martin! The guy who your boyfriend is jealous of!" Dana whispered in my ear which madeclose my

eyes and sigh at the stime.

She's right. I'm glad | don't have to explain to her as she got the message on her own.

"Well, it's alright, he is still in Davao, so he won't know that Martin is here too." She continued to whisper which

actually it can't be called a whisper because she was almost screaming near my ear due to the loud music. "But

you know we've already talked about it!"

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"Yes, but having Martin in our group doesn't mean you're already doing something awful behind him. You are

friends and you are just friends and it's not like you're cheating on him just because you're friends with Martin,

duh!"

But then | chuckled when she rolled her eyes.

-'Well, she's right,'- | let out a sigh of relief.

| was about to say something but Martha stood up and suddenly took both Dana's hands and mine and dragged

us onto the dance floor.

"Martha, you are already drunk, why don't you just stay in your seat?" Dana asked her worriedly, but the woman

didn't listen to her.

"Con, this is my party! A continuation of my birthday celebration yesterday, so let's dance to the wonderful

music and drink after this!"

Since | haven't had alcohol for quite a while, | can now feel the slight numbness on my face and hands even

though | only have four shots. But hey... I'm not drunk. I'm not yet drunk.

And yeah, since our minds and bodies had already been influenced by the fucking tequila, we slayed and rocked

on the dance floor like there was no tomorrow and like it was the last. We could have actually turned the club

upside down if it wasn't for Toni who cto get his girlfriend who was obviously drunk and swaying like a

madman in the middle.

"Haist! You're such a killer mode, babe!"

We were all laughing as we followed the two back to our table. Martha kept complaining but Toni didn't let her

back on the dance floor again.

"So, how are you and your boyfriend, Sam?"

Although | was a little surprised by the question, | turned to Martin with a smile and answered...

"We are fine," and | shrugged. "We are slowly filling the lost years with new memories."

We were left alone at the table as Dana and the others went to the restroom.

"Hmm... that's great to hear. I'm happy for you, Sam."

| felt the sincerity in his voice, so | returned it with a sincere smile.

"Thanks, Martin, how about you? | mean, how are you? The last twe met was at Dana and Caleb's wedding."

"Yeah, that was the last twe met and there were a lot of things that happened toand in my life after

that."

"What do you mean?" | asked, suddenly becoming confused.

"You see--- I'm getting married."

"Huh!" My mouth dropped open and my eyes widened in shock when he showedhis hand with an

engagement ring on his ring finger. "Seriously?" "Yup!"

"Oh, my God, that was fast!"

"Yeah, that's what | thought too," he shrugged. "Everything is so overwhelming."

"Care to share sdetails?"

And there, he started tellingwhat happened to him these past few months. He fucked up one night... just

one night and he instantly impregnated a woman whom he didn't know even the first name. It just happened

that the girl was only eighteen years old and the daughter of the highest-ranking military officer in the

Philippines, so he had no choice but to do the right thing.

"Oww... but then, congratulations, Martin, I'm happy for you," | gave a cheerful smile after hearing his story.

But he just pouted like a child in front ofbefore drinking his beer.

"Hey, I'm serious, Martin! Because even your love life or your love story turned out to be like that, well, at least

there is an angel that was formed despite everything and that's a great blessing!"

He didn't say anything, he just gavea half-hearted smile.

"Thanks, Sam, for listening and for not judging me."

"Ahh... no worries and mind you, I'm not a judgemental type," were the only words | said as | nodded and was

about to take my next shot when someone snatched it from me. "What the heck---"

But then | was stopped and my mouth hung in mid-air when | saw the man who did it. It's Luke. He drank it in

one gulp without even touching the salt and then the lemon.

"L-Luke!" I blinked repeatedly as | stared at him in surprise. | then brought my hand to my throat as | imagined

how bitter that tequila tasted and he seemed not even bothered. But what surprisedthe most was his

presence. What is he doing here when | asked him this afternoon if he could cto Martha's party and he said

the meeting wasn't over yet and they still had to stay there until tomorrow.

"Mr. Williams," Martin uttered in shock too.

"Tss! You seemed surprised to see me." Luke uttered with a smirk, looking at the now-turned confused Martin.

"Can | join your lovely conversation?"

My face wrinkled when he emphasized the word lovely. It wasn't the tone to use when you're mentioning that

word. He's mad and even though | can't clearly see his face due to the dim ambiance in the club, | heard a hint

of anger and jealousy in his voice. "Actually, | was waiting for someone and Toni invitedto join their group so-

"I didn't ask for your explanation, did I? So why bother saying those things when no one is asking."

"Well, | thought you might have wanted to know since you saw us talking. You sawtalking to your girlfriend

and I'm hinting just now that you don't like it." Martin shrugged, bringing the bottle of beer to his mouth.

"Yes, | don't like it! | don't like you hanging out with my girlfriend! And honestly, | don't even like you from the

very start ---"

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"Luke!" I decided to interrupt him as the conversation was now getting tense.

He turned toand now I think | don't no longer have to ask myself if he was mad or not because seeing the

way he looked was more than enough.

"Sam, | guess | have to go. | just got a text message from Gary and he said he's now in the parking lot."

"Oh, okay, sure," | nodded, smiling at him and grabbing Luke's hand at the stime.

"Thanks for the time, Sam,"

"Hmhm," | just hummed as a response and didn't wait for him to be out of my sight and immediately got Luke's

attention. "What was that all about?" | asked him, but he ignoredand took the glass of alcohol from the table

and gulped it without even looking at me. "Nah, | was just being friendly to your friend," he again emphasized

the last word.

"Luke---"

"Mr. Williams!"

| was cut off by Dana's voice as they all now back from the restroom.

"Oops! Look, babe, Sam's boyfriend is here!" | bit my lip when Martha tugged her boyfriend's shirt as she pointed

at Luke next to my seat. "Woh, hello to you Mr. Williams!" And she laughed afterward.

Toni and Dana simultaneously asked her to stop and when she did, she sat on the vacant seat next to Luke and

without hesitation grabbed him by the arm.

"Look at me, Mr. handsWilliams!"

"Babe, what are you doing?" Toni tried to stop him but it was no use.

"Just wait for a second, babe, | just want to talk to him, okay?" She even raised her palm to shut Toni from talking

and then turned to Luke again. "I just want to ask you a very simple question, Luke... oh, is it okay forto call

you Luke?" "Yeah, it's fine," Luke replied with an emotionless expression.

"Do you really love our Samantha?"

We were all surprised by her question, but | was more thrilled with what Luke answered.

"Yes, | love her. | love her so much that | had to keep my excitement when she askedif | could cto your

birthday celebration and I said no, | couldn't cbecause we still have a meeting but the truth is that | really

wanted to surprise her tonight. And yes, | love her more than she ever knew that | had no idea it waswho

would be surprised to see her talking to the man she knew I'm jealous of."

"Whoa!"

"Ohh..."

"Oh, my gosh, Sam, you really have long hair that I'm actually stepping on right now!" They all gasped in unison

but Dana's comment made everyone agree but made Luke get up and leave. "Luke!" | called him but he

completely ignore me.