You Are My Chance

Chapter One

It was a fine Wednesday afternoon at around 2:30 when Jase saw her again. She was kind of different. She had a more serious composure with less evidence of stress on her face. She wore the same smile that he has ever known ever since their first meeting in college. Seeing her enter the café was like a once in a blue moon moment.

He was always there in the café every MWF at the same time at the same spot and the same order of caffeine all the time. He has been known around the staff for 7 years now. 3 years when he still had her and the next following years when he lost her.

It seemed like a miracle has shone upon him as he saw her again. She was who he has always been waiting for and when she was there already, his mind went back to their happy and crazy moments together.

And there she was, standing at the counter together with another woman who had a case on her arm and a ton of clear books on the other. They found a spot near him and maybe she hasn't noticed him yet but as they were close to their table, she looked at him with a surprised stare saying "Oh, it's you" written on her eyes.

"KC? Is something wrong?" The lady asked her when she suddenly stopped following her to their table. She laid down her stuff on the table and looked at KC and tried to see who she's looking at.

"Mr. Gomez." She said in a firm and calm tone. "It's nice to see you... Again"

'Why did she had that long pause?' Jase asked himself. "Ms. Rodriguez, it's you." He gave her a wide excited smile that was replied with a much less smile from her.

He stood up and came to her. But when he was about to hug her, she extended her hand instead.

"Yes, it's me." She smiled like something was holding her down. They shook hands. She felt that the handshake was longer than usual handshakes so she took her hand out and looked for something to have an excuse for and she did.

She saw Mary, her wedding organizer, still looking at the two of them. "Oh my goodness, where are my manners. I'm sorry. Mr. Gomez this is Mary."

And Mary stood up as she was introduced to Jase. "Mary," KC continued, "Mr. Jase Gomez, a friend of mine in college." The two shook hands too but briefly and shorter than how they did.

"How do you do, Mr. Gomez? I'm Mary Trinidad." Mary said.

"I'm fine. Thank you. Actually I'm more than fine now that I've seen you again." His gaze went back to KC who was firm still and only smiled with what he said.

"That's funny, Mr. Gomez. You haven't change one bit. Your jokes are still a seller to me." KC tried to joke it off.

"Well we better start our meeting KC. Mr. Gomez, it's a pleasure meeting you." Mary said and went back to the table. "Excuse us Mr. Gomez." KC said and followed Mary to their table.

He said nothing after that, he just looked at her through her way to their spot. After a few minutes later, Jase saw Mary walked out the café and that KC was left on the table, talking to someone on her phone. He had no second thoughts about approaching her again and as he was in front of her, she gave him a tight smile and continued talking to her caller. He stood their for a few seconds before the call ended.

"I'm sorry, I just have a lot of appointments to attend to that phone calls are like my best friends now." KC joked. "Please have a seat, Mr. Gomez." She said politely.

"Thank you and it's fine. I just want to know how you're doing right now." He said and took a seat. 'God, you're still the same, my KC.' He thought.

"I'm doing good. Thanks for asking. Just a little busy with the meetings and all that." She said.

"What are you upto tonight?" He asked immediately.

"Excuse me?" She said.

"I mean, are you free tonight? Why don't we have dinner tonight? You know to, like, uhm... Catch up to things that I've missed about you... We've missed, I mean. We've missed about each other." He explained quickly with a nervousness on his tone of voice.

"Tonight?" She clarified. "I'm sorry, Mr. Gomez but..."

"You call me Jase." He interrupted.
"What?"

"You've always called me Jase." He answered.

"I prefer to call you with your last name now." She said seriously.

"Okay, fine." He surrendered.

"As I was saying, Mr. Gomez. I'm sorry but I can't. I'm kind of busy for the past and following days." She reasoned.

"Oh no it's fine. Can I have your number, instead? You know to ask you if when you'd be free?" He asked.

"Sure, no problem. Maybe I could find some free time soon enough." She let a little laugh and before he could grab his phone out she gave him her calling card and stood up.

"It's there on that card, Mr. Gomez. Well, it's, again, nice to meet you." She held her hand out again but now, he stood up and hugged her tight, fighting the tears from his eyes.

"It's you." He said again as he hugged her. She was caught off guard and felt her heart beating fast. She had to break free from the embrace.

"I have to go, Mr. Gomez." She took her bag from the chair and gave him a brief smile. "Good bye, sir." And went towards the café's door.

He was left standing there watching her leave the café but he felt less pain as she left now because he knew that he could see her again.

Soon enough.

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End of Chapter One