WHAT IF???

Chapter 13: Rekindled Bonds

For the past three days, Sam hadn't reported to the office due to her fever. I hadn't talked to her during this time, giving her space to rest and recover fully. But truth be told, there was more to it than just letting her recuperate. It was because of our last conversation, the weight of our unspoken feelings hanging heavily between us.

I couldn't shake off the memory of our emotional exchange, Sam's tearful confession of love, and my own conflicted emotions. Each passing day without hearing from her only added to the turmoil brewing within me. Yet, I knew that giving her space was the best thing I could do for both of us, allowing us time to process our feelings in our own way.

Yha, my colleague, noticed my anxious demeanor as I absentmindedly rubbed my hands and furrowed my brows. The concern about Sam's current health condition weighed heavily on my mind, and it manifested in my restless actions. Yha's perceptive gaze picked up on the unspoken worry that filled my thoughts.

Yha asked me if I was okay, concern evident in her voice. I simply smiled in response, not wanting to burden her with my own struggles.

Chin interjected with a playful tone, jokingly asking, "Are you having love problems, Mon? Do we know this mysterious person you're thinking about?" Their attempt at lightening the mood brought a faint chuckle from me.

"How could you possibly know the person I'm thinking about? I haven't told anyone about my love life yet," I replied, my smile faltering slightly.

Chin responded, "We just thought that you are Sam's—" Before Chin could finish the sentence, Yha quickly covered his mouth, sensing the potential for rumors about Sam's ex to spread.

"Stop teasing, Chin. Someone might overhear and believe you," I replied firmly, my tone tinged with a hint of sadness. "And if ever it is me, I will respect Sam's current status."

As I spoke, I gazed away, whispering to myself, even though it was too painful for me, I would respect Sam's choices. The internal struggle between my own feelings and the respect I had for Sam's situation weighed heavily on my heart.

That night, while extending my time working due to Sam's absence, I heard some noise nearby. Curious, I searched for the source of the disturbance.

After a while, I spotted someone standing in the dark near Sam's office. As I approached, I realized it was Sam. "Sam?" I called out, but before I could react, she startled and began hitting me in a panicked frenzy.

As Sam continued yelling and hitting me, I managed to grab her hand firmly while saying, "Sam, stop! It's me, Mon."

As Sam looked closely, she felt a wave of relief wash over her when she recognized my face through the darkness, realizing her mistake. My other hand instinctively rubbed her head gently as she calmed down.

"Mon? What are you doing here?" Sam asked, her voice shaky with emotion.

"I was just extending my work hours, Sam," I explained gently, still rubbing her head to ease the pain from her earlier hitting. "But what about you? You're supposed to be on sick leave. Why are you here at the office?"

I kept my tone concerned, trying to understand why Sam would come to the office despite being unwell.

"I needed to grab some documents for review," Sam explained, her tone apologetic.

Seeing me still in pain due to her actions, Sam gently guided me to the pantry. She pushed me to sit down while she hurriedly grabbed a towel and some ice from the freezer.

"Here," Sam said softly, placing the towel wrapped around the ice pack on my head. "I'm sorry, Mon. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Her words were filled with remorse as she tended to my injury, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions as I looked at her, grateful for her care despite the earlier misunderstanding.

Sam replied, "You know I easily get scared in the dark, Mon. When you suddenly appeared behind me, I panicked."

Chuckling, I replied, "You're still the same, Sam. Always getting scared easily." Despite the earlier tension, we shared a light moment, easing the atmosphere between us.

Sam's face suddenly looked serious as she replied, "There are things that aren't supposed to change."

Feeling the weight of her words, I slowly lifted my head from where it rested on my hand on the table, the iced towel still on my head. Our eyes met, and in that moment, there was an unspoken understanding between us about the enduring nature of certain aspects of our relationship.

"I understand what you're trying to say, Sam," I replied softly, "but we've already talked about this."

Sam's expression remained serious as she confessed, "I'm not happy with Kirk, and I don't love him."

Her words hung heavily in the air as she continued, "Are you not happy that we're together now, Mon?"

I dropped the iced towel and sighed, feeling the weight of Sam's words. "I know you want us to be together again, Sam," I replied softly, "but I can't. I respect your marriage, and that's the right thing to do."

Sam nodded, her expression crestfallen. "Can we at least revive our friendship, then?" she suggested, a hint of longing in her voice. "We used to be best friends, Mon."

I gave a deep sigh, feeling torn between my principles and the longing in Sam's eyes.

Sam leaned forward, gently holding my hand as she pleaded, "Let's hang out again, just like the old times, Mon. Please."

Unable to resist her pleading gaze, I gave her a smirk and nodded in agreement.

Sam's serious expression quickly lightened into a bright smile as I agreed, and a sense of warmth enveloped us as we embraced the possibility of reviving our friendship.

As Sam and I embarked on a drive, the air was charged with a mix of nostalgia and anticipation. We had agreed to revive our once vibrant friendship, and the prospect filled me with a sense of both excitement and apprehension.

As we drove along the familiar streets, memories of our past adventures flooded back, weaving through the fabric of our conversation. With each shared laugh and heartfelt exchange, it felt as though time had rewound, bringing us back to the closeness we once shared.

As Sam and I stopped by our favorite restaurant for lunch, a wave of nostalgia washed over me as I laid eyes on our favorite dishes once more. My expression lit up with excitement, my heart fluttering with anticipation as memories of countless meals shared at this place flooded my mind.

"I missed this place," I exclaimed with excitement, taking in the familiar surroundings.

Sam's playful reply caught me off guard. "If you missed the place, does that mean you missed me too?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Sam's suggestion of hanging out more often made me chuckle nervously. "Hold on, you haven't explained yourself yet, and here you are trying to date me again," I joked.

Sam's expression softened as she replied, "If you're willing to listen now, I'm more than willing to explain what happened."

I paused, torn between wanting to know and not wanting to ruin the happy mood. "I don't want to ruin the mood," I finally replied. "All I want is to enjoy what we have right now."

As we continued eating, Sam's question caught me off guard. "Is there still a possibility of us being together?" she asked earnestly.

I hesitated for a moment, considering my response. "Maybe, if you weren't married," I replied honestly.

Sam's expression fell, disappointment evident on her face as the reality sank in.

Trying to lighten the mood, I joked, "You're so cute when you sulk like that. But seriously, you should stop. I might end up being the third wheel in your marriage," I chuckled, trying to ease the tension.

Sam glanced at me, still sulking, but a hint of amusement twinkled in her eyes.

We continued our meal, and Sam kept serving food on my plate, playfully teasing her while she continued to sulk. Despite the weight of our conversation, there was still a sense of camaraderie and lightness between us.