SECOND CHANCE

CHAPTER 6

"He's here." Denise called me to inform me that Rome and Jay already arrived in the restaurant. "Good." I responded with no enthusiasm. When I call him last night and heard Jay on the background. I was not in the mood.

"Well, I really don't think that they are together." out of nowhere, Denise open up the thing that keeps bothering him like she can read my mind.

"Mind your own business. I'll hang up now. I want to sleep." I was about to hang up the phone when I heard Denise say something.

"How about I'll tell him that we were together? For us to know if he still care for you or not. Oh, it's a good idea, right? Alright. Go to sleep." she talk nonstop then suddenly drop the call.

My heart beat fast. This girl don't know her limitation. I run fast and look for my key. I don't even bother to change my clothes. If I could fly to go to that damn place, I would've done that. What came to her mind to think that way? I tweak my hair out of annoyance. She should be thankful, if she wasn't a girl. I don't know what I can do to her.

I don't park my car outside the Cafe. My main concern is to go to her and stop her on what she was about to do. I'll deal with the car later. I found Denise and Rome at the back. I saw her smiling widely on him. I called Denise to get her attention. The two pair of eyes look at me at the same time.

"Oh? I never thought that you will get here this fast." I saw the naughtiness on her smile when she look at me. With that, I really want to pull her hair and tangled it around her neck. She whisper something to Rome then approach me. She stops right infront of me and pat me at my shoulder with that meaningful eyes shooting towards me. My heart suddenly pound hard. I follow her inside the Cafe.

"What did you say?" I asked with gritted teeth when we were already inside the Cafe.

"Hey, why do you have to be this mad?" When I saw how hard she was holding back her laughter. My blood rush to my head. This time, I'm really mad. "Ops, relax." I almost shout at her when suddenly she put her hands up like she was surrendering. "I did not say anything. You don't have to worry."

I ball my fist to stop my anger. Thank God. I almost hit a girl. I walk to the counter and ask for a cold water. My body's still shaking due to her naughtiness. Greg give me a glass of water before he enter the kitchen.

"He seems busy." I asked Denise when I saw Greg get himself busy in the kitchen even though they are close for today.

"Let him be. He's in love with his work." I saw her disgusting face before she turn her back to me and enter the counter. "Are you going to stay? Want coffee?" she said while already started making espresso shot.

"Please." I focus my attention outside where I can see how busy Rome and Jay is. I still don't know what's between them. Arm never mentioned anything. But theor relationship is not usual. I can feel it. I can feel the jealousy growing inside me by that thought. I tweak my head and lightly bump my forehead in the table.

"If you want him, why not get him? He still loves you." I look at Denise with a strange look while she was finishing the coffee that she was making for me.

"It's not that easy." I put my head on the table.

"It is. You were just making it complicated. I can see in his eyes that he still loves you. And believe me, all you need to do is to ask for another chance." She put the coffee near me. "So what if you were not sure that if you can promise that you won't hurt him anymore. As long as you were there when you hurt him, everything will be fine."

I keep my self busy by watching series while waiting for the shoot to wrap up. For some times I sneak to watch and see how Rome was working. I just don't like the way he and Jay being so close. They seems like they were flirting in front of me, not working. A cheers got my attention. It was an indication that the shoot for today is done. I look outside and my eyes fly directly to the person it misses so much.

My heart twitch when I saw Jay wrap around his arms on Rome's neck. I ball my fist to stop the anger within me. At this point, I want to run into them give that guy punch. Something that he'll never forget and make him realize that the one that he was touching was mine.

But the next scene was the most painful of it all. I saw Rome's hand on Jay's face with that beautiful smile. The smile and gesture that I used to have every morning or every moment of the day that I was with him. I gritted my teeth out of madness. The jealousy is blurring my mind now. I want to stop them from what they were doing. Rome pat Jay's butt like he was used of doing it. If they ain't a couple. I don't know what they are anymore.

My anger still rising to my head when I heard Denise invite them to stay for dinner. When I saw Rome enter the Cafe, I started packing up my things. I can't bear to stay even for a second with this two who never hides their affection to each other even with other people around.

Rome and I don't have this kind of relationship. He always the one who approach me. I will act cold. I never let him hold me in public. I never show to everybody that I am his. That's so stupid of me.

I realized that, Rome deserve this kind of guy. A guy who will let the world know how he loves him so much. A guy who'll equally reciprocate Rome's affection. Some things I never done. This time I was mad at myself. I am so mad of myself for not being a good guy for him.

I pick my things up and head toward the door. I saw Rome standing there and looking at me. I look at him. My mind was overflowing with emotions. I am jealous. I am hating myself. I am hurting. I don't even know which is which. It's just so damn painful.

"Hey, we're having dinner." I briefly look at Denise on the counter and turn my gaze back to Rome before I answer. "Home." I was in pain that even that one world squeeze my heart tightly.

I approach him never leaving his gaze. I stop briefly infront of him and head outside without any words. On that brief seconds, I want to hug him and take him home. I don't care if he resist. I just want him home. With me. I want to make love to him to make him realize that it is me that love him so much.

I punch the steering wheel of my car while driving. I was screaming from the top of my lungs inside the car the whole time I'm driving to release the feelings that's causing me pain. I cry. I suddenly laugh at myself for crying. I think I'm going crazy.

I spend my time staying at the clinic for the past few days. As much as possible, I did not go tonthe restaurant to check the on going project. I let Arm and Podd handled it. I don't want to torture myself by watching Rome and Jay flirt to each other. I keep myself busy on animals. They're the one who will never hurt me.

It was already past one o'clock when Angela called me and ask if I won't be taking my lunch. I did not notice that it was already past one. I suddenly felt hungry. I check my phone and find something to be delivered as my lunch. Someone knocks at my door. I look up from my phone to check who open the door. I saw Angela's face. She seem she's shock. "Doc, someone is looking for you." I look at her with forhead furrowed.

"Who?" I ask placing my phone down.

"Sir Rome."

My heartbeat increases. What is he doing here? I clean the table first before I ask Angela to let him in. I calm myself down and hold my breath when he entered my office. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to rush here and interrupt your work. But this is urgent." He was already talking, he didn't even give me a chance to ask him for a sit.

"Sit down." I offer him one of the seat near my table. I feel so restless. I don't know if I'll stay standing up of will grab my chair.

"We need the approval for the trip to Batanes. Arm and Podd is not around and this need to be booked by today since the place won't be available on weekends." He was busy looking for the document that needed my approval when Tay page me.

"Hey, dude. Are you going to kill yourself by not eating? That'll takes forever, want me to give you a stab in the heart? That's much easier." I pick up the phone and look at Rome that is also looking at me.

"I'll just have to attend to something." I didn't bother to wait for his respond. I put the phone down and focus my attention to the paper that was given by Rome. I finish signing it up. I hand it to him without looking directly to him. He did not accept it right away that's why I was forced to look at him.

"Let's eat." he did not wait for me to answer. He grab my hand and drag me outside. I just let him. I was still in my coat but it's fine with me. All I'm aware of was he's holding my hand. We go across the street and entee the nearest restaurant around our clinic. It is not the same restaurant that we had our last lunch on. I am not even aware that this restaurant is existing here.

The waiter give us the menu to choose. "What do you want?" this question is automatic when I am around him while eating. Me asking what he want. Him telling me anything and suggesting what to have at the end. This is so natural. It feels like the old time.

"Anything." I saw him fix his things and put it on the chair beside him. "Their beef stew looks good." He said without looking at me. I just smile and ask for the waiter to give us what he said.

We just eat there silently and I am contented. I can't remember if the beef stew was good. What I knew was, I am so happy. This is the best lunch I had for years. There were times that I stop from eating and just stare at him stuffing his self of the food that we had. I don't want this to end. I want to stay like this, with him, forever.

"Thank you for signing this up for me." He said after finishing his food. He ask for the bill. "It's my treat." I was about to argue to split it in half when his phones ring. "Yes. We just finish our lunch. We were in the restaurant across the clinic. Sure. I'll be there." I just look at him while he was talking to someone on the other line.

"Jay's here to pick me up. Are you going back to the clinic? Want me to walk you back?" the pinch of jealousy arouses in my heart again. I get my coat right before he stands up.

"No. I can handle." I did not bother to look back on him. I didn't even bother to say thank you. I head towards the door and go back to my clinic alone."

He easily forget about me when Jay's around.