One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 110: The bartender

~~~There were nights when the wind was so cold that my body froze in bed if | just listened to it right outside

the window. There were days when the sun was so cruel that all the tears turned to dust and | just knew my eyes

were drying up forever. | finished crying in the instant that you left and | can't remember where or when or how. |

banished every memory of you and | had ever made~~~

-Celine Dion-

"Hey, I'm not afraid to face her it's just that-—-"

"It's just that you are struggling to confess your feelings." | was the one who continued what | thought he was

going to say.

"Hmmp! Yeah, kinda." He shrugged.

| didn't say anything. | just looked at him and chuckled again.

"| can't believe you."

We continued our conversation even when we reached the milk section.

But when we were about to leave, | was suddenly stopped when a man walked pastalso pushing a cart

towards the milk section.

"Sam, why did you stop?"

| heard Francis askbut | ignored him as | turned around to look at the man who seemed quite familiar to me.

"Do you know him?"

He asked again, but my attention had already been caught by the man. | watched him as he gets a box of infant

milk and put it in his cart before heading towards to | don't know where.

And since | got curious and at the stime, my instincts seem to wantto follow him, so I did.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Francis pattedon the shoulder, but | motioned him to keep quiet by placing my

index finger over my lips.

"Shhh! Just follow behind me." | said my eyes weren't leaving the man.

"Why are we following him? Do you know him?"

"Honestly, | don't know." | shook my head. "I mean, I'm not sure. It's like I've seen him before, | just don't know

when and where, but he looked really familiar."

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| noticed that Francis suddenly turned silent and when | glanced at him, | also found him looking at the man who

was just a few meters ahead of us.

As we followed behind him, | have thought of a few occasions in the past where perhaps | have seen him or met

him, but nothing comes to my mind.

"He's also heading to the liquor section," Francis said and | nodded.

But then | was stopped again the moment we reached the liquor section. | looked at the expensive brands of

wines and liquors to my left and then slowly turned to the man--- and then | finally realized. | finally recognized

him. "Francis..."

"Yes, Sam?" He turned to me, confusion written in both his eyes.

"I now recognized him!" Surprise was evident in my voice. "He just got old but I know it's him!"

"Who is he?"

"He's the bartender | dealt with a few years ago at the night bar and he was the one..." | couldn't even mention

the next words as the memories of that night rushed back into my head. | formed my fists as | closed my eyes

tightly. "Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not!" | replied, opening my eyes. "And | won't be okay until | get to talk to him and ask him about what

happened and why he did those things!" | was referring to the sleeping pill he put on my drinks and a sex-

enhancing drug he put on Luke's drinks. | was about to approach him, but Francis stoppedby grabbingby

the elbow.

"But it's been a few years, do you think he can still remember you and what had happened back then?"

"Well, I wouldn't know the answer if | didn't ask him, besides, he should be! He should remember that incident

because if not, | will make him remember every single detail of what happened that night!" "Ah---oh..." His eyes

went wide and suddenly let go of my arm when | seriously looked at him and down to his hand... afraid to catch

my wrath.

Taking a deep breath, | walked over to the man's direction before he could even exit the wine and liquors’

section.

"Hi," The first word | uttered, wearing the sweetest smile | have just practiced while approaching him.

He didn't respond even a single word, but | didn't miss the shock and instant recognition that registered in both

of his eyes. A small gasp also escaped his lips before his mouth hung in mid-air. "Do you still remember me?" |

asked him smiling.

"Uhm... I-1 don't think so." He replied shaking his head as he moved his eyes away.

"Liar," | snorted, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

"I-I'm sorry, Miss, but I-I don't really know you."

"But why do you stutter? It seems tothat you recognizedright away, it's just that you don't want to

admit it."

"No! | said | don't know who you are---huh!" He tried to avoidby thinking of turning around but ended up

bumping into Francis's hard and toned chest.

"Oops! That's a good hit!" | couldn't help but chuckle when my bodyguard shrugged his shoulders and looked

down at him.

Francis is more than 6 feet tall and

the bartender only reaches his shoulder, so he looks like a dwarf compared to him. Well, we're just the same.

Both of us looked like dwarfs compared to the giant Francis in front of us.

"Aherm! | don't think it's a good habit to turn your back while someone is still talking to you." Francis said raising

an eyebrow. "And who are you?"

"Oh, I'm nobody, but if you don't answer all her questions, this nobody in front of you can take your head off your

body."

"Tss! Are you threatening me?"

"No, of course not." Francis shook his head. "I'm not used to threatening someone. I'm a man of action and if |

say I'll break your neck in the next few seconds, I'll do it!" "Huh?" The man gasped in shock but then sighed in

frustration after a few minutes.

| arched an eyebrow when he turned around to look at me.

"Fine. | know what you want, but let's find a quiet place to talk about it."

"Hmm... alright." | shrugged. "Tsk. tsk. tsk... see? You're not a good actor. | know you recognized me."

"I've already recognized you in the

milk section earlier, but | just pretended not to know you as it's been a few years. | thought you wouldn't

recognizeanymore and that you already forgot what

happened, but | was wrong."

"Yeah, you're wrong. You're completely wrong." | said nodding. "So make sure you don't leave any details

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behind."

"Whew!" He sighed loudly. "I know a place where we can talk privately."

"Okay, lead the way." | signaled him to go and we will follow him.

"Yeah." He nodded, but then took a step closer toand whispered... "Anyway, who's that man behind me?"

| peeked over his shoulder and saw Francis grinning and so did I.

"He's my bodyguard. A black belter in martial arts and a military reservist."

"Tss! I'm not asking what he does nor his qualifications, | just asked who he is."

"I know, but | just want you to know, just in case you think about running away." | shrugged.

His mouth formed an 'O' shape but said nothing.

| immediately called Jenny as Francis watched the bartender, eyeing his every move. | told Jenny to just take a

cab hbecause | still have something important to do.

"Oh, shit!" Francis uttered in shock the moment | slammed the table.

But | didn't wait for any second as | stood up and headed for the exit of the coffee shop not bothering if | caught

the attention of scustomers, especially Gerry, the bartender whose eyes also went

wide in shock.

"Wait, Sam, where are you going?"

| heard Francis scream behind me, but | kept walking fast out and towards the street. And there | waited for the

cab that would taketo the person I really want to talk to personally at the moment. "Sam, where are you

going?" Francis askedagain as he stopped next to me. "Okay, wait forhere, I'll just get the car." And he

turned around to go to the parking lot.

But he was just walking a few steps away fromwhen | hailed the first cab and got on.

"Oh---hey! Sam! Wait for me!" Francis yelled as he tried to run after the cab but it's too late as I've already asked

the driver to go.

He has a look of frustration as he scratched the back of his neck when I looked at him through the side mirror of

the cab.

"Where to, Miss?" The driver askedand a loud sigh escaped my lips before answering him.

"WIAbuilding," I replied briefly.