One More Chance (COMPLETED)

Part 5

Nadine leaned her body against the chair after she failed to focus in doing her work. Since last night, she had been waiting for James's return, but he didn't show up until she left for work this morning. Wanting to call him to ask for his location and condition, Nadine restrained herself as she felt that she hadn't the right to do so. A heavy sigh escaped from throat before her eyes dropped on the wound area on left calf that had been hiding well under long black skirt. The time almost reached 12 in noon, and Nadine took out her mobile phone from bag to call for someone.

"Hello," few seconds later, the call was answered by a woman, which made Nadine's lips involuntarily cracked a smile after listened to that voice.

"Hello, Mom. How are you today?" she made the call to her mother, Tita My whom had been living in Cebu alone since she followed Bret to Manila two months ago. No matter how hard she tried to persuade Tita My to come along to Manila, Nadine gave up at last when she still insisted to stay there.

"Mom, are you okay stay there alone without me? I still can't stop myself from worrying about you?" she then started again as she couldn't help herself from not worrying about Tita My.

"Nadine, I'm not a kid anymore. You are the one should take care of yourself very well," her mother replied with chuckle before emphasized that she would be alright stayed alone in Cebu. Listening to her mother voice, Nadine was burdened with guilty when she didn't inform Tita My nor discussed with her about her decision to marry James. Although she hid this matter from her right now, but sooner or later, she had to tell Tita My about this.

"Mom, I have something important to tell you," Nadine said hesitantly as she was in dilemma, but then she decided to hold it first.

"Erm, nothing. I'll tell you when I visit you later. Take care," a heavy sigh escaped from throat after she ended the phone conversation. Now she got another problem to be solved; informing Tita My about her marriage with James. While she was into her own world, Bret walked out from his office and startled her when he suddenly placed something on her table.

"Bret, you are surprising me!" her body automatically straightened up in response, which her action amused him a lot, but he restrained himself from laughing.

"Nadine, I'm not paying you to have a day dream, okay," he teased her playfully. Nadine ashamed with herself after he caught her just now, but then that feeling instantly disappeared after she saw the thing inside his grip.

"What is that?" her eyes narrowed to see it clearly before he placed it exactly in front her. Nadine gasped in awe after saw a beautiful music box that was certainly caught her attention, and her eyes blinked in surprise as she looked at Bret who was smiling broadly at that moment.

"Oh, the souvenir from Japan. I forget to pass it to you," he whom just return from business trip in Japan yesterday, had bought her a souvenir, and this wasn't the first time he gave her something from his trip.

"Wah, thanks a lot, Bret. It is really beautiful," while she examined her gift with big smile, Bret accidentally saw the ring on her left finger and startling Nadine when he grabbed it to take a look.

"Oh, Nadine! Since when the ring have been here?" he asked in playful tone and realized her that she had forgotten to remove it before left the house. She couldn't simply told him that she had been married to James when she certainly knew that Bret wasn't going to accept it easily. He would insist her to tell the truth, especially about her painful past with her husband.

"Oh, this ring meant nothing. I only wear it for fun," pulling away her hand inside his grip, Nadine quickly removed out the ring and kept it safe inside the drawer. Bret stared at her suspiciously, especially when she suddenly flustered after he noticed its present along her slender finger. Trying to stay calm, she distracted his attention by praising the beauty of his souvenir until he got into their previous conversations again.