Each Other

CHAPTER SEVEN

After many nights with each other and many dates, Matthew was curious about their status. It's not that that was all he cared about but it was the fact that Matthew wanted to know that, though slow, it was going somewhere.

One night, he decided to ask her.

He had told Samantha that he'll be waiting for her at her place after her night shift is over.

Samantha just got off work and she just wanted to lay off some stress before sleeping.

She knocks on the door. "Matt?"

Lights were off and she doesn't see any sign of him inside.

Sam starts to wonder and brings out her set of keys to open the door.

The door swings open and she sees candles lit and petals on the floor.

She smiles and puts a hand on her chest, feeling the moment. She sighs in awe and goes with the flow.

Sam takes her shoes off and follows the path of petals until it leads her to the veranda. Subtle music was playing and she saw him sitting by a table.

"Hey..."

Matthew turns around and sees the love of his life. He goes to her and hands her a bouquet of tulips.

"What's this for, hmm?" She touches his cheek.

"Figured I can give you another reason to smile this week?" Matthew says.

"'Kaw talaga..." She tucks in some hair behind her ear and looks over his shoulder. "There's food?"

He leads her to the table by the hand and she sees the dinner set up.

Sam turns to him and embraces him.

Matthew smiles and hugs back.

"I appreciate this, Matt. Thank you." She tells him.

He just hugs her tighter in return.

———

They enjoy dinner and now, they're in the living room just spending the night with each other; wine glasses in hand, of course.

"Uhm, Sam... I've been wanting to tell you something kasi." Matt said.

"Mm! Actually, ako din! I have some neeews!" The way Sam said this with glee made Matthew want to hear it first. That was the original Matthew-Samantha thing. They both loved hearing each other's stories ever since before; may it be laughing at an embarrassing one or talking about problems.

So he gave in. "Talaga? Sige, ikaw muna. I'll let you go first."

"Sure ka ha?" He nods. She fixes the way she's sitting, like she was getting ready to spill something. "Okay, so I got an email yesterday from Massachusetts General Hospital! Remember I was applying for the program there? Have I told you?"

As excited as she seemed, this was all brand new to Matthew. "A-ah, no. You haven't mentioned it to me." He says uneasily.

He starts to worry. Matthew knows where Mass. Gen. is and... he knows this means she might be leaving. Yet again.

"Oh, really? Well, it's a research grant for god knows how much tsaka who ever is chosen for the grant will be given a research lab na fully staffed na. So, I applied to do further research du'n sa project na I've been wanting to start and... I got in!!!! I got in, Matt!!! My award's ceremony is in two days!!!"

She said this with so much excitement that she even hugged Matthew.

Pure joy.

However, she noticed that Matthew looked the opposite. He wore a frown on his face and looked like he wanted to question her.

"M-Matthew, why? May problema ba?"

"Ah, w-wala. Wala." He clears his throat, "So, aalis ka?"

Now she sees it. That's the reason behind the face.

She was too hung up on the fact that she got the grant out of a million chances and, with all honesty, she forgot about Matthew. She forgot that he was back and though their status is unclear, he was someone that she will be leaving behind when she goes to Massachusetts.

Samantha fixes how she's sitting, "Mm-yeah."

Matthew breathes deeply.

She tries to pry his arm, "Matt, sorry 'di ko pala nabanggit sayo. Sor--" But he pulls away.

"Sanay na 'ko."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Sam, don't get me wrong. I love having you with me, that's no question, pero sana you'd tell me things like this."

"Bakit, boyfriend ba kita?" It comes out of her mouth. This shocks her, too. "Matt, I didn't---"

He scoffs, rather shocked.

"Matt, it's not like that. I just, I don't think I'm ready and---"

"Hindi ka pa ready? Dapat sinabi mo saakin nung una pa lang---"

"I told you that I trusted you, Matthew. That's all."

"Sam, umaasa 'ko that this was gonna go somewhere, pero wala pala. Is that what you're saying? Ang hirap sayo, there is literally nothing that can go in-between you and your career."

"I value my career. That is all I have, kung alam mo lang!" She is starting to have tears in her eyes but she wipes it quick.

No one is letting their ego down anytime soon.

"But that's not all that you could have, Sam. I was ready to be there by your side." Matthew stands up and looks at her, "The set-up, everything. 'Di ka ba nagtataka?"

She thinks about it and nothing comes to mind. All she can think about was her, leaving for Massachusetts, finding herself lost and confused about her own feeelings.

Matthew sees Samantha's cluelessness.

"I was gonna ask you to be my girlfriend tonight." He runs his palm across his face, "I wanted to give you the assurance that I never got the chance to give you before. Kasi nasa school pa tayong dalawa and I didn't know how to do it. Pero I am ready now."

Samantha's tears fall. "Matthew, I'm sorry. I--"

"It's fine. I just... " Samantha's surprised when she hears hims sniff and wipe his eyes on the side. "I'm sorry but I should go."

Samantha stands up but her feet was planted to where she was standing, watching him get his stuff and head for the door.

He clears his throat, his voice rather raspy. "Lock this door and ako na sa gate. Baka makalimutan mo, may mangyari pa sayo." Then he leaves.

She does as he says and heads to her room.

She didn't know how to feel.

Samantha buried her face in her hands and bursts into tears. She slowly crawls into bed and falls asleep with tears down her cheeks.

----------

Sinipag magsulat hehe I hope you all are liking this story so far! I'm gonna start posting updates that are this length (about 1000-2500 words) in average para it's not too long, not too short. Thanks for reading!

Vote & comment!

- E