One More Chance

"Hey, isn't your boyfriend attending our in-laws' wedding anniversary?"

I felt a light tap on my shoulder and I made a face as I turned to Jack but my expression suddenly changed when I saw her wearing a beautiful bodycon spaghetti-strap white dress --- which really surprised me as my brother allowed her to wear such a dress... you know, knowing Dale, over possessive. But then...

"No," I replied shortly with a deep sigh, but when I saw her smile out of the corner of my eye, I couldn't help but frown. "Why? Why are you smiling?" I asked, facing her completely.

"Nah," she shrugged. "I just find it funny... you know, the turn of events in your life and love life lately. I mean, when you come to think of it, it's so funny yet so amazing!"

A smile formed on my lips as I got what she was saying.

"Isn't it, right?" she turned to me.

"And how is it become funny yet amazing, huh?"

"Well, I am your best friend and I've been with you since the beginning. You were only sixteen when you started having feelings for him and that was when it all started. You chased him to death even though he was so aloof back then. You ended up being married which --- take note--- he still agreed to marry you even though he hated you and despised the idea!"

"Oops! Haha... he didn't hate me!" I interjected with a mischievous smile.

"Oh, God! How did you know he didn't hate you when he almost killed you every night for bringing different girls into your own house and bedroom, duh?"

My face crumpled at her question and I playfully glared at her.

"Owwss, see? Haha... you didn't expect to hear that again, didn't you?" and she ended with a hilarious laugh.

"He told me the truth and what he felt back then when we were in the Philippines," I said moving my eyes away and following the guests as they entered the mansion for the party in a few minutes.

"And what did he tell you?" she curiously asked.

"That he was mad--- furious at what I did and that I left him no choice because we ended up being married. That I didn't wait for him to make the first move and---"

"Hey--- wait! What do you mean you didn't wait for him to make the first move? What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, he said he was the first to like me even before when I was younger but he did nothing to get me to notice him because I was too young back then. He said he was just waiting for the right time and when I'm the right age, he would talk to Dale and tell my brother that he likes me. But the problem was that---"

"But the problem was that you were so stubborn as hell back then that you insisted on what you wanted to the point of paying a bartender just to put a sleeping pill in his drink. And because of your boneheadedness, you didn't think that the asshole of a bartender put a sex-enhancing drug instead of a sleeping pill, so yeah--- you ended up being pregnant and caught up with your own stupidness!"

"Ouch!" The only word that formed in my head and came out of my mouth after her speech.

"Why? Does it hurt? Are you hurt?" she pretended to check if I really got a wound.

"Ouch, Jack, ouch!" I repeated, pretending to be hurt by her words.

"Oh, well, the truth hurts, doesn't it?" she smirked and my lips twitched.

"Hmmp!"

"So, was I right?" she asked again and I rolled my eyes.

"Hmhm," I just hummed with a long sigh.

"But what about his actions back then? How did he explain to you his habit of bringing different women into your house and f**king them in his bedroom?"

I took a long, deep breath upon hearing her question. Honestly, I never wanted to talk about it again as it still brings a different--- unexplained feeling in me but I guess, I really have to open it again, and after that never open it again, close it forever and as much as possible bury it in the deepest hole of the past so that no one remembers and so that everyone can already move on.

I quickly shared with her what we talked about regarding that matter and in the end, the only reaction I got from her was...

"Ohh... okay," and then she shrugged. "Well, then, I still want to congratulate you, my favorite best friend in the world," she patted me on the shoulder with the widest smile she could ever give me that night.

"Hey, excuse me, I'm your only best friend, duh!"

"Oops! Yeah, I'm sorry, I forgot," she chuckled.

"And wait, why are you congratulating me by the way, I mean, what for?" I asked her confused.

"Well, congratulations on everything! I mean, for overcoming those trials in your life and everything you've been through in your love life and your career as a mother and great entrepreneur. Also for the things you learned, the lessons you got from what happened, and of course because you got to know yourself better. You have forgiven everyone--- everything. You have forgiven him and yourself. And now that you meet again, at least, you are now both ready. You are now both free... free from the pain of the past and the bitterness of what happened."novelbin

"Aww... thank you, though I didn't expect to hear that from you," I chuckled but my arms immediately wrapped around her shoulders.

"And why?"

"Hmm... because you are his number one anti-fan." and I giggled.

"Shhh!" She narrowed her eyes at me. "Hey, it's because I'm your best friend and I love you and because I love you I supported what you wanted and who you wanted to be with because that's where you're happy and that's my role."

"Yeah, I know, and thank you for that," I hugged her from behind. "I always thank God for having you as my best friend and sister since we were young. Thank you for always being there for me no matter what,"

"But of course, I always have your back!" she said proudly as she rolled her eyes and we ended up sharing a hilarious laughter. "But seriously, Sam, I'm happy for you. Although you are one of the dumbest and most stubborn person I have ever met, I can't change the fact that you are also one of the strongest."

"Jeez! Is that a compliment or what?"

"Hmm... just think whatever you want to think," she gave me a shrug as we both laughed again.

We were in that moment when my brother came out of nowhere with their daughter in his hands.

"There you are," he greeted his wife with an all-out smile and I cringed when they started exchanging glances as if they were already undressing each other. "You look so lovely tonight, my dear wife,"

"Oh, thank you, and so are you, my dearest husband,"

"Tss!" I huffed and couldn't help but make my lips twitch upon seeing their PDAs in front of me.

It's funny that fate has its way of bringing two people close to each other... how these two people who hate each other and nearly killed one another in front of me a few years ago ended up getting married and now doing the things they couldn't imagine doing--- well, even I couldn't imagine they would do before... the PDAs and everything.

And since they were now busy talking about some things that only a couple should hear, I decided to leave them and not disturb their moment together even though I know they see each other every day and already say those words every f**king day.

"Where are you going?" But I stopped taking my fifth step when I heard my brother ask, so I turned to him with a stretched smile.

"I'm going to check my daughter and

leave you two as well because it

creeps me out every time I see you kissing my best friend who I remembered you told me a few years ago was the last woman you will ever fall in love with but look at where your words take you now, my dear brother!" I smirked. "You're holding her hands, kissing her, and loving every inch of her every night --- oops!" I pretended to be surprised.

"Whoa!" his eyes widened not in surprise but in fear of his wife who is now giving him a deadly glare.

"Dale Sebastian Soriano!"

I couldn't help laughing as Jack started to call him by his full name. She didn't have to shout... she just have to call him by his full name and ta-da...

"Huh? Wait--- Sam, are you sure I said those words?" my brother gave me a silent gesture to just nod and agree with him...

But it's time to pay back guys...

"Yep!" I popped the p sound as I

nodded. "I still remember you telling me that you will never fall in love with her because you said she's the type of girl who never gives up an argument, always has an opinion on everything, likes to argue and you even said that you two can't get along with each other so it's a big no for her, but then look at you now!"

"Jesus Christ, Samantha!" He playfully glared at me but I just laughed at him because at that moment he was like a kid who was secretly motioning for me to stop talking.

"What? I'm just telling the truth," I just gave him a shrug, trying hard to suppress my laughter but it was so hard, especially when I saw Jack winking at me.

"Huh!" she scoffed and I bit my lip as I watched my brother's tail curl behind him just by looking at his wife. "So you will never fall in love with me, huh?" Jack raised an eyebrow. Her hands were now on both her hips. "Ohh... babe, I wasn't in the right mind at that time--- I mean, I was, but I just said those words to keep Sam from asking about my real feelings for you. I already told you this, didn't I?" and he tried to explain. "Hey, haha... excuse me, dear brother, but what do I have to do with your feelings for my best friend?"

"Sam---" he was about to say something but Jack interrupted him.

"Exactly!"

"Babe..."

And the conversation begins... I mean the battle begins...

And since I knew I no longer needed there or should I say, they no longer needed me, I slowly walked away with a triumphant smile on my lips and left the two who were now discussing their love-hate relationship.