CLICK HERE FOR CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
> More A Heart for Two

Chapter 18

Mr. Villanueva? Sam was shocked to hear those words. Franz can’t possibly be Mr. Villanueva because his surname is Yu. But I can’t see Will around. Sam wanted to convince herself that she had heard it wrong. Although the thought keeps on bothering her, she decided to ignore it.

“I’d like you to meet my family. Just be yourself okay?” Franz held Sam’s hands tighter.

Franz escorted Sam into the function hall. They walked on the red carpet and as they pass by, several heads turned.

“What a perfect couple!”

“I soooo love her dress!”

Several guests were making positive comments that flattered Sam. Franz directed her into the table that Sam believed to be the Franz’ family.

“Mommy-La! I want you to meet my friend, Samantha.” Franz introduced Sam to his grandmother.

“Good evening po.” Sam smiled at her.

“You got a pretty dress, ija.” Mommy-La seemed to like Samantha.

“And this is my Mommy Carla,” Franz explained that Mommy Carla is his step-mom.

Franz’s mother died when he was 12 years old and two years later, his dad re-married his first wife whom he had a divorce with. Mommy Carla treats Franz as her own son although it was just this year that Franz moved into his dad’s house. When they came back to the Philippines, he stayed at his grandmother’s house even after his dad and his step-mom’s wedding.

Sam was introduced to several relatives and they were all pleased to see her. They like her very much. Franz led Sam into their designated table. She was with Franz’s family friends and cousins. Sam excused herself and went to the comfort room. She can’t believe that she was actually introduced to almost all of Franz’s relatives, - but Franz told her that it’s just half of the family.

The emcee announced that the debutante is about to make her elegant entrance so everyone was requested to go to their places immediately and welcome the princess of the night. Sam hurriedly went back to their table —

“Oh, sorry…I was in a hurry and I wasn’t looking at the path — Will?” Sam was shocked to see Will at the party.

“Hi Sam. See yah around.” Will forced a smile and left.

“Will…how come…” Sam asked herself.

Sam wanted to believe she was dreaming. She wanted to think that what had happened was just a hallucination. She went back to their table. She was still preoccupied with the thought of Will.

“Franz…do you know —“ Franz hadn’t noticed that Sam was asking him something due to the emcee’s sudden announcement.

“And now, let’s welcome our lovely princess for the night, Margarette Sophia Villanueva Tan!”

The program went on with the AV presentation and welcoming of guests.

“I’ll be right back Sam. I need to make some adjustments with the program, Phia’s bestfriend isn’t still here.” Franz told Sam.

Sam went into the garden outside of the function hall. She still can’t believe that Will is in the same place as she is right now. Then she saw him. He was there, sitting on a bench talking to someone, talking to girl. The girl seemed to be crying; yet Will is hugging her. Something stroke Samantha’s heart. She felt something that she shouldn’t have felt. Jealousy. She wanted to be that girl he is hugging, and the memory in the Chem Lab flew back. His arms, the warm embrace…how she wanted to experience it again. Then the girl stood up. Will was about to follow her but the girl’s gesture indicates that he doesn’t have to.

Will was sitting alone there. His head buried in his hands. Sam mustered her courage and approached Will.

“Hey.” Sam sat beside him.

“Hi.” Will moved a few inches away.

~Awkward. Silence.

“Uhm…I was invited by —“

“Yeah. I know. Are you having a great time?” Will wasn’t looking at Sam’s eyes. He gazed up the starry sky.

“I…I just wanted to know…how are you, and Franz related?”

“I need to go back in…” Will stood up.

“No.” Sam caught Will’s wrist. “I need to know something.”

“Sam, your date’s probably looking for you…” Will held Sam’s hand and removed it from his wrist.

“Please…” Sam was quick enough to hug him. She hugged him tight and inclined her head onto his back. “Why…why do you treat me like this?”

“Sam, please. Let go of me.” Will doesn’t seem to be struggling. He wanted Sam to let go of him, yet he didn’t attempted remove her grip from his body.

“Why do you keep on pushing me away?” Tears started to ran down. Sam isn’t still letting go. “Can’t you see that I’m hurting?”

“Sam please forget about me. You don’t deserve someone like me.” Will took a deep breath.

“You just have to tell me you love me.” Sam was crying.

“You can’t force someone to love you.”

“Then tell me what’s with you and Franz!”

— “Participants of the 18 roses, be ready. Kindly proceed here near the stage.”

“I guess it’s my call. Sorry Sam.” A minute passed then Sam let go. Will went to the hall. Sam was left there. She wanted to go home. She just needs to tell Franz that she’ll go home alone.

Franz went back to their table a few minutes after he left Sam. Sam wasn’t there. He looked for her and saw her in the garden. He saw her back. It seemed that she’s hugging someone from behind. He wanted to come closer. He wanted to see whom she was hugging. He wanted to make sure that Sam isn’t crying. Yet…

— “Participants of the 18 roses, be ready. Kindly proceed here near the stage.”

Franz immediately went near the stage. He decided to ask Sam right after his turn.

Sam went back to the hall after Will had left her. She needs to find Franz. But it seems that she has to wait for the 18 roses to finish since Franz is a participant.

“Next is Mr. Wilbert Emmanuel Ramos Villanueva.” Will went on stage to have a dance with the debutante. “Will describes Phia as a one of a kind girl, a very loving yet a scary one.”

Will looked stunning while doing the waltz with Phia. How Sam dreamt to be the girl he’s dancing with. If she can only take it to stay longer, she probably can have the chance to dance with him.

“Another cousin of our dear debutante is Mr. Franz Kristoff Yu Villanueva. —“

Franz Kristoff Yu Villanueva???

Sam was so shocked. She left the hall…she left and went out to go home.

CLICK HERE FOR CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
> More A Heart for Two

Chapter 17

“Sam!” Lou hugged Sam. “Promise me you’ll never forget about me.”

“Huh? What are you talking about Lou?”

“I’ll be leaving tomorrow. My dad wanted me to stay with him in San Francisco. He can’t come home because of work, so he asked our family to migrate there so he can also focus on my health.”

“But…but I thought there’s no harm? That you just need to regularly take medications?”

“I don’t want to fool myself Sam, I don’t want to fool everyone. We all know it’s fatal. No one knows when will it happen. While I am still strong enough to go there, I’ll take the chance. Who knows? I’ll be back here in good condition?”

“But I will surely miss you Lou…”

“It’ll be for my health Sam. I will miss you too and Will, and Captain Drei, and my friends…”

“Always take care there, and never forget me. You should be healthy!”

“Don’t worry Sam! My dad is the best heart specialist I know. I know he’ll try everything!” Sam smiled at him.

“That’s the spirit Lou! Don’t forget to email me okay?”

“Sure Sam! But I just want to tell you this. Do as your heart say.”

“What does that supposed to mean?”

“You know, our hearts are not always functioning well…just like mine! You may feel like this today, the next day it’ll be different…but be sure to know what you really love.”

“Haha…you’re making me laugh Lou…are you trying to be a poet?”

“Nah…forget it.”

* * *

Since Lou left for San Francisco, Sam always hangs out with Franz. Although there’s no ‘love-affair-thingy’ between them, Franz was glad to have Sam all the time. Sam was gradually forgetting Will and what happened between them, how he hurt her.

“Sammie…can you come and be my date on my cousin’s debut?”

“Debut? You mean those 18 roses, 18 candles, cotillion, and those princess-like stuffs?”

“Yep. Well…I’m not forcing you if you don’t like. But,—”

“Are you insane? I really do love to! It’s every girl’s dream to be a part of those extravagant parties.” Sam was in dreamland. Murmuring to herself, saying things about castle, princess, royalty…etc.

“Okay, okay…” Franz is about to laugh. “You really do love them! So…I’ll pick you up on Saturday night. Or if you want me to accompany you to the salon, I can come in the afternoon.”

“Weee…sure, sure! I love those magnificent parties…”

“I get it Sam. Haha…get out of dreamland okay?”

“Hmm…so I need to buy my outfit! Can you accompany me to buy — wait. Shocks!”

“Why?”

“Gadd. I’m getting so excited about it but I haven’t even asked my brother!”

“Don’t worry Sam. I’ll take care of it. I’ll ask him myself. Just prepare your gown, and I know you’ll be the most beautiful lady in that evening.”

Sam was very excited in the idea of attending a debut. She had attended a debut once, the debut of the daughter of her dad’s business partner but she never enjoyed it. She didn’t know anyone from there and she wasn’t feeling well that night. This time, with Franz, she is expecting to have a very memorable night. Although she didn’t know who Franz’ cousin is. In fact, Franz had never introduced Sam to his family. Maybe, just maybe, this night she will be introduced to them.

“Sammie! Your date’s here.” Drei called Samantha upon seeing Franz emerge from a luxurious car.

“Just a sec kuya!”

Drei led Franz into the living room. They were chatting while waiting for Sam to come down. She really is taking time. Minutes later, the scene transformed into a fairytale-like scenario. The princess in her beautiful dress, the prince being bedazzled by her beauty, – a very typical scene.

Sam wore an evening dress of yellow chiffon that fades into a gorgeous shade of turquoise. The floor length spaghetti strapped dress has its bodice gathered on the left side that emphasizes her elegant curves. Franz can’t take his eyes off Samantha that instant moment. Her eyes glistened like her dress full of sparkling embellishments. What Franz had said was entirely true. She will really be the most beautiful lady of the night.

“Excuse me miss, where is my sister?” Drei seriously asked Samantha.

“Is your sister more beautiful than me?”

“Nah.” Drei joked Sam

“Kuya!”

“Haha…Sam…you’re really beautiful tonight.” Sam smiled. “And, take care of my gorgeous sister!” Drei told Franz.

“Of course! I’ll always be at her side no matter what. She’s the brightest star this evening.” Franz held Sam’s hand and accompanied her towards the car.

“Take good care okay? Be back early.”

In the entire ride, Franz kept on looking at Sam. She is indeed very stunning. He gave her a silver necklace the moment they rode the car.

“As long as you wear this necklace, I’ll always be around. If you don’t want me anymore, you can always remove it.”

The ride to the hotel didn’t take long. They were welcomed the moment they got off the car.

”Good Evening Mr. Villanueva.” The receptionist greeted.

CLICK HERE FOR CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
> More A Heart for Two

Chapter 16

“So that was the reason why I kept on having bits and pieces of those scenes in my dreams?” Sam seemed amazed after hearing Franz’ story.

“You really hadn’t remembered anything huh…well at least I thank God for meeting you again. It really is a small world.”

“It’s real. It’s not just a dream! Thank you Franz!” Sam hugged him. “I felt as if a missing page in my life had been put back! Thank you…thank you so much Franz!”

-

Sam told everything to her kuya. Drei was intently listening and was nodding from time to time. It made Sam assured that what Franz told her is really true.

“So he was that guy…I want to meet him.”

“It really did happen kuya? How come none of you mentioned about it? I’d never known that accident and it’s been a year?”

“Wel…” Drei was scratching his head “It might have slipped our minds…”

“Kuya!”

“Hehe…hmmm…Sam, why not bring him tomorrow to the gym so I can meet him?”

* * *

Sam was holding Franz’ hand and was dragging him to the gym. He was hesitant to meet the brother of Sam, especially if he had feeling for her. Well, who wouldn’t be?

Drei was talking to Will about the upcoming match. He saw his sister and the guy whose back can only be seen, and seems as if liked to go out of the gym.

“Oh, my sister and her boyfriend is here.” Drei emphasized on the word boyfriend although he didn’t know what was the relation between them. “I’ll talk to you later.”

Will knows Drei doesn’t want him for Sam. Upon seeing her and the guy, and being dismissed by Drei, he headed back to the locker room to change.

Sam didn’t notice that Drei was talking to Will when they arrived. As a matter of fact, she had only noticed him when he went to open the door of the locker room. She introduced Franz to Drei and both guys get along fine. Drei was curious about the relationship between them.

“Sam…tell me, are you…–“

“Kuya, I told you I’m not yet having a relationship with anyone.”

“I like her.” Franz said. “But now, I am happy just being a friend. I’m not rushing things nor expecting anything as of this moment. It’s her decision and whatever it will be, I am ready to accept it. I’m just so happy being with her, and the fact that I had fulfilled the promise to myself of finding her.”

Drei was impressed the way Franz talked about Sam. He was so sure that Franz has good intentions. Unlike others who would just use her for their own interest.

Meanwhile, Will was still in the locker room. My sister and her boyfriend, Drei’s words seemed as if the only thing left in his mind. He’s so pissed, and was constantly punching the wall. He was about to raise his fist again when someone held it, to stop him.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” It was David, his cousin’s boyfriend.

“It’s not your business to meddle with my life.”

“Phia might get mad at me if she knew what’s happening to you.”

“Don’t tell anything to Phia.” Will warningly said to David.

“I won’t. Your cousin’s gonna find about it anyway.”

“I’m warning you! Don’t—“

“What is your problem?” David annoyingly asked Will who still hasn’t calmed down.

“Just mind your own freakin business! I’m not asking for any help.”

“Why can’t you go to her and fight for it, if you really love her?”

“I…I just can’t…I told her I don’t love her.”

“You’re an idiot! Letting that guy have her is more acceptable, but telling her you don’t love her? Are you out of your mind?”

“That’s the only thing I can do for her…so please, forget it!”

“No! You’re just fooling yourself Wilbert!”

“Just please, forget it dude! I had enough bull$hits in my life and just seeing her happy around him…seeing them both happy…how can I possibly interfere?”

“That wouldn’t make you a saint or a hero. Think about your feelings! You’re just hurting yourself!”