SECOND CHANCE

CHAPTER 5

I was in the middle of explaining on how will the concept of the photoshoot will go when the door open and Pick enter the room with his casual clothes. The usual clothes that he usually wear when he was at the clinic. I heard that he did not go to work or answer any phone call for three days.

I saw him smile to Arm and did not bother to look at my way. I stop from what I was about to say and wait for him to have his seat. "You're late." Arm said. I look at Arm with a questioning look if I will continue with what I was about to discuss.

All of them agreed to have the Memories concept for the photoshoot. We propose a schedule for everything. Everyone was so engage on how the shoot will go except to that one person. I just saw him looking inattentively and just answer when Arm force him to give attention to something.

One week of photo shoot has passed. Everything goes as planned. Me and Jay really has a good working chemistry. This is how I like when I was working with him. It seems like we were connected. We both know what we want. We both know where to continue when one of us stop.

It's also been one week when I last saw Pick. I heard that he was busy on his clinic and has no time to check about the progress of this project. I was in the middle of playing with Jay about the candid photos that we took of each other while doing the photoshoot when an unexpected person enter the room. Pick on his usual clinic clothes enter the door with a girl following him.

My hands shakes when I recognize the woman he's with. It is the same woman that cause me pain four years ago. I feel a stab of pain inside me. Why are they together? A sudden question slip on my mind.

"Who?" I look at Jay. I thought I ask the question only to myself. I did not know that it was too loud that even Jay hear it.

Just like how it was last week, Pick did not bother look at my way. He go straight to where Arm was sitting. I can't hear what they were talking about. I just look at them.

"Hi." I almost drop my camera from shock when I heard a woman's voice near my ears. I look at the source of the voice and find the face of the girl that started all this drama. I want to give her a disgusting look but I can't. She was smiling at me brightly like she has no idea what I've gone through because of her. "I know you." She drew her face closer to me like I was some bacteria that needed to be examine. I was about to answer her when Pick gets her attention. I look at Pick and saw him waving at her asking her to go to where he was. I just look at their way.

I never leave my gaze over to those two person who is sitting side by side seriously talking about something. Arm was with them but I can't help to feel jealous on the sight that I am witnessing. I want to go there and sit in between them. I was about to burst from anger when I saw her gently put her hands over Pick's when I feel Jay's hand over my shoulder. I look at him and saw him shaking his head. I calm myself down and force myself to focus on what I am doing.

I heard Arm looking for us after their meeting and ask for us to go to his office. I fix my things before I follow them inside. The thing that caught my attention is that woman was still sitting beside Pick. I stop my self from looking at them for too long. I might done something that I'll regret eventually if I let my emotion takes over.

"By the way," everyone's attention was on Arm when he started talking. "First things first, I'd like to thank you," He suddenly acknowledge our presence inside the room. "Both of you. For the job well done. We were almost half way from this project and everything was going smoothly as planned and as scheduled."

Everyone on the room give us an applause. Jay and I just give them a big smile and mouthed thank you for everyone who makes our job a little easier.

"And, I want to introduce you one of the person we forcefully get into this project. This is, Denise Altamoreno. She was now the owner of the restaurant that I and Podd previously owned. And since the concept of this photoshoot and ad is Memories. I and Pick forced her to lend her restaurant for a week without any profit."

"Hey, you need to pay for what I lost in a week." Another jealousy hits me when I suddenly realize how close this girl to the people that I am closed with.

"The restaurant that we previously owned has many memories that we want to introduce to others. That's why we asked her to lend her restaurant for the fulfillment of this project."

The meeting ended while everyone was playfully having their own jokes circled around. I feel out of place.

I threw myself on my bed. I got exhausted from the emotions that I had on this day. I feel like having a drink but my energy is too drain to do so. I hear a knock on my door. I knew it's Jay. I might as well give him my spare key so I don't have to get the door for him.

I open the door for him. I saw him carrying a bottle of wine. He even drew it near me to show me well. "I know you want to drink." he said and enter the room like it was his.

I shake my head and close the door for him. "You know me too well, it's kinda scary." I follow him to a mini table infront of my TV.

"Yeah?" he just laugh at me and gives me a glass of wine that he just poured. He did not ask anything. This is what I like about Jay. He never asks. He just let me be. He always waited when I will be ready to tell him everything. We finish the two bottle of wine when suddenly my phone rings.

I look at the time and it says it was already past eleven o'clock in the evening. I saw Jay stand up and put the glass that we use in the sink. I look at my screen to check who's calling me at this time.

It was just an unknown number. I don't want to take the call however, there's something in me that want to take it. I ended up answering the phone.

"I'll sleep now." I mouthed good night to Jay before I answer the on the other line.

"Who's this?" I ask on the other line while taking my clothes off.

"It's me." I heard a very familiar voice on the other line. I almost dropped my phone when I realize that the person that was on my mind the whole day was actually calling me.

"W-why?" I stummer when I answered back. I look for something to support me. But knees suddenly feels weak.

"I know it's too late. Arm can't be around tomorrow. I don't know if I also can. You were familiar with the place, right? Can you do it without us?" this is the first time that I hear him with the professional voice over the phone. It seems like he was just talking with some stranger. Why? Just few weeks ago you just told me you still love me. I want to scream those question on him however, my pride again won't let me. "Sure."

"Didn't get enough sleep?" Jay ask me when he saw me keep yawning while I fixing my camera. We were now at the cafe that I used to work. I love how the place remains the same even it was owned by a different person already. I just nod at him and continue what I am doing.

"Beautiful, right?" I was so drown in taking photo of the surrounding when I hear a woman's voice behind me. I don't need to look at her for me to identify who she was. Her voice is familiar to me now. "This is what I like about this place that's why I do my best to retain it." I look at her when she stand by my side.

I look at her face. This woman is beautiful. With her honey-skin and her dark eyes. Every man will go after her. She form a smile while still looking at front where the forest were. She has a beautiful smile. Even me who likes guy from the time I figure out what like means can't deny that fact.

"I'm sorry." My mind drifts back to reality when I hear those words from her. "At some point, I don't want to say sorry." she softly chuckles. Even her laugh is perfect. "I always feel like I did not do anything. But still, I want to say sorry." She face me with those smiling eyes gazing on me. "I wish you and Pick happiness. He doesn't want me to go to you to explain everything. You should know by now how much I want to spill everything but he's too scary to handle." I laughed on how disgusted her face when like something pop up on her memory.

"Denise.. " we look at the person who called from behind at the same time. There, we saw Pick, with his house clothes. The same shirt that he usually wear when he's nowhere to go. It feels like he was rushed to go here. He was even on his slippers.

"Oh? I never thought that you will get here this fast." I saw her hold back her laugh. She gives me a big smile and drew her lips near my ear and whisper. "He loves you." She even wink at me before she approach Pick. I saw her pat him on his shoulder before pass by him.

Pick look at me first and follow Denise inside. I was left with a confused look. What was that about?

The day pass by without me knowing. Pick stay on site however he did not try to get involve. He was just sitting inside the cafe. Drinking his coffee. I think he's now on his sixth cup when Jay and I decided to wrap it up. I was busy staring at Pick's side profile while he was busy playing his laptop when Jay wrap his arm around my neck.

"Good job, my partner." He was smiling at me from ear to ear. I smile back at him and playfully put my hands on his face before I slap his face lightly. "I deserve a good food, yes?" His arms was still around me when he give me a nod.

"Anything you want." I slap his arm and get away from his hug. "You also did great." I lightly pat his butt. This is how we show our affection towards each other. That's why I can't blame others from suspecting us being together. We just get tired of explaining it to others and deny so we just let them think what they want to think. We came to a point where we just laugh it off.

"Are you free for a dinner?" I heard Denise call for us from the door of the cafe. "I can cook for you. I may look like I was a brat who only knows how to eat but I am actually good at it." I really like how she smiles brightly like that. It seems like everything's good in her life. And her surroundings becomes so colorful when she's around.

I look at Jay to check on him if we'll accept the invitation. He gives her a thumbs up. "Sure. Let me experience how a brat cook food for someone." Jay happily get our things inside his car before he enter the cafe. I finish packing my things first before I head toward the restaurant.

My eyes look for a familiar person when I enter the cafe. I finally saw what I was looking for. He has a gloomy face. He looks so tired. When he saw me enter the cafe, he start to pack his things. I saw him put his laptop and clean the table he occupied. I saw six cups of coffee on his table. I count it right, with that idea. I feel like I achieved something.

I am still looking at him when he stands up and was about to go. "Hey, we're having dinner." I saw Denise from the counter wearing her apron. "Where are you going?" I look back at Pick to check his expression and wait for his answer.

"Home." he answered shortly.

"Are you not going to eat with us?" I don't know where in the world I found the courage to say it out loud. But, I said it.

He gives me a confuse look. Then, in split seconds the confuse look turns into anger. He did not answer me. He make his steps towards me still looking me in the eyes. His eyes is full of resentment. I hold my breath when he stops infront of me. He did not say anything to me. He just gaze down on me. This time I saw pain in his eyes already. Then, he just passed by me without saying a word and left me confused. What's that? How come his eyes gives different emotion in just seconds apart.