Chapter 13
1448 Words
"I won’t forget you, I promise. And I’ll wait for you, even forever if I have to."
***
SAMANTHA
I decided to eat again, and when I finished my food, I glanced at Chester and Diane. But I regretted looking at them.
Because I saw them... kissing.
Why is this happening? It's like I just want to slap someone!
I took a deep breath to prevent myself from doing anything I would regret later. Calm down, Samantha. Calm down.
"You can't love him, Colline. It'll just hurt you."
My brother's words flashed back in my mind. What did Chester do to me before that made my brother hate him so much?
Did Chester hurt me?
I carried those thoughts with me all the way to our shoot. Even Mich started getting angry at me because I was acting distracted.
"Samantha, focus! We need to finish this project as soon as possible!" Mich shouted at me, holding the camera. She rarely yelled at me, but it seemed like she was losing her patience with me today.
"S-Sorry," I said, looking down.
We were shooting a scene for our play. It's a sweet scene between Spring and Troy.
Which, by the way, is me and Slade. That's why I couldn't focus properly.
Why did Slade have to be my leading man? It's so frustrating! I couldn't concentrate, and I felt so awkward!
Well, I'm not even sure if Slade is really my leading man, but I think he is. Because why else would he always be with me on set if he wasn't? It doesn't make sense otherwise, right?
"Samantha, you're zoning out again," Slade whispered to me, bringing me back to reality.
I immediately bowed to Mich, Diane, and Chester, who was now giving me a poker face. Ugh, Samantha! Focus! Don't bring your flirtation to the set!
"Sorry, it won't happen again," I said softly, turning to face Slade.
He was staring at me so intensely that I had to look away. I couldn’t help but feel nervous. Why? Because I know he loves me.
He's always there for me. Just yesterday, he came to our house even though I told him I didn’t want to see him. I pushed him away last night. But my heart broke when he told me this:
"Go ahead and push me away if you want, but I'm not leaving. I love you, Samantha. I’ll do anything, even if it hurts, as long as you’re happy."
I immediately smacked my head for thinking about that.
Focus, Samantha! Focus!
We resumed the shoot, and Mich yelled at me again because I kept forgetting my lines. When I couldn't handle the pressure anymore, I asked for a quick break.
"Can I have a 20-minute break? I'm tired," I casually said.
Mich nodded, so I quickly ran off with my bag.
I walked faster, knowing someone would follow me. And I was right—there he was, right beside me.
"Where are you going, Samantha? I'm coming with you. I just want to make sure you're safe," he said, but I shook my head.
"Please, Slade. I need to be alone right now," I pleaded, and I ran off. I was glad he didn’t chase me.
"Fresh air. Hoo. I need this," I happily said, breathing in the breeze.
I looked at the kids playing and smiled. They had it good—no problems, no worries. I adjusted my sitting position and was surprised when I felt something round in my pocket.
"Wait, what's this?"
I pulled out a ring. It was silver, and it had "Samsam" engraved on the front.
And like a wave of water, I remembered everything. All of it. It came rushing back.
***
"Kristoff, please. Let me go to the park today," I begged my brother, who was playing on his PSP.
"No, Samantha. No," he answered firmly.
"But it's my birthday. Aren't you going to give me this one?" I pouted.
"Yeah, today is your birthday, but I just don't want you to get hurt. Remember what happened last time when someone picked a fight with you at the park? I don't want that to happen again, princess."
I pouted. "It won’t happen again."
He sighed. Maybe he was tired of my persistence. "Fine. But take Yaya Nelly with you."
"Really?! Yay! Thanks! You're the best!" I said, kissing his cheek before I left the house with Yaya Nelly.
And I didn’t regret going to that place because that was where I met the guy who pushed my swing that day.
Weeks later, I never saw that guy again. I never went out after that. Not until today, because I managed to escape from my brother.
"One chocolate ice cream, please!" I happily shouted.
"Tss. Can't you lower your voice? It's hurting my ears," the guy beside me complained, so I looked at him.
"Wait, you're the guy from the playground!" I said with a smile.
"Oh, you're the talkative girl," he replied with a poker face.
"Meanie," I pouted.
He handed me the ice cream I ordered, and so did I for him.
"Ube? Eww," I reacted when I saw that he ordered ube flavor.
I just really didn’t like ube, unlike him. He didn’t like chocolate. How did I know? Because his face was full of disgust as he looked at my ice cream.
"Anyway, what's your name?" I started the conversation.
"Chester Natividad."
"Chester? Your name is so cute. It sounds like a fictional character."
"Shut up, Samsam. You're so talkative."
I looked at him when he mentioned a different name. "Samsam? Wait, don't tell me that's me?"
"Yeah, it's you. In case you didn't know," he said sarcastically.
Geez, Samsam. What a lame nickname. But wait...
"You have a nickname for me, so I should have one for you!"
I thought about what nickname to give him. ChesChes? That's ugly! Wait, Ches?
"Aha!" I shouted.
"What?" he asked irritably.
"I'll call you King!"
"Wait, why King?" he asked, confused.
"Because your name is Ches, like chess. And since the king is the highest piece in chess, I'll call you King. Not to mention, you're so bossy," I exclaimed.
"Yeah. Whatever," he replied.
Always grumpy. Tss.
Years later, King and I became friends.
It’s Sunday today, so I decided to visit King at his house. I was going to surprise him, but I was the one who got surprised when I saw him packing his things.
"What does this mean?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"Samsam..."
"You're leaving?" This time, the tears started flowing.
He just nodded in answer to my question. "SamSam, I’ll come back for you. Remember that. Never forget me."
"I won’t forget you, I promise. And I’ll wait for you, even forever if I have to."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
I’ll wait for you, King.
I waited for him, but when he came back, we ended up in the hospital. He got shot because of me. If he hadn’t shielded me at that moment, he wouldn’t have been harmed.
"This is for the payment."
"Okay, thanks."
He handed me a plastic bag with fruit, and I was about to cross the street when I didn’t expect a car to hit me.
***
“Samantha, are you trying to kill yourself?!” Slade shouted at me.
Luckily, he pulled me out of the way, or I would probably be dead right now.
"Slade, I can’t take it anymore. I think I’m losing my mind," I said, crying.
And then, I cried in Slade's arms.
King has been in the hospital for three months now. I’ve been visiting him every day, taking care of him. But he still hasn’t woken up.
"King, aren’t you tired of sleeping? Please wake up. You look so ugly when you sleep."
I took his hand and squeezed it.
"I love you, King. Please, wake up," I cried.
Yes, I really love him. It’s obvious, right?
"I’ll only wake up if you agree to be my girlfriend."
My eyes widened when I heard his voice! He's awake! King is awake!
But, what did he say?
"Silence means yes, Samsam. It means you’re my girlfriend now."
That’s when it all started. King and I have been together for two years now, and we’re happy. Kristoff and Slade know about us, and they’re happy with how our relationship is going.
"Hey, I’m stepping out for a bit," I told my brother.
"Okay. Be careful, princess. And happy anniversary to you and Chester."
"Thanks," I said with a smile, got into my car, and drove off.
I bought ube and chocolate cake before heading to King’s house. I really want to surprise him today!
- Writer
