NEW LIFE : A SECOND CHANCE

[Kay, get Betty in here. Make sure she doesn't say a word and wait outside the door]

[Got it, brother. Playing Cupid, are we?]

[Well, someone has got to do it. Xing Han did his role, Beatrice did her bit and now, it's all in Betty's hands]

[We're here]

Kyle silently slipped out of the bathroom and rolled his eyes as he saw the cocooned Sam. He opened the door quietly, utilising all his skills in making sure Sam was unaware of it. He saw Kay and Betty outside, and put his finger on his lips, indicating for her to be quiet.

She nodded, and he stepped aside, letting her in.

He closed the door just as silently and high-fived Kay.

"Do you think she'll succeed?" Kay whispered to Kyle as they walked down.

Kyle shrugged, "Who knows? If she can't get past this, however, then perhaps she's not the one for Sam then. He needs someone who can handle all of him - the normal Sam that he shows everyone and the Baby Sam."

Kay laughed, "If anyone can handle Baby Sam, that person is definitely the one for him."

"I know, right?" Kyle replied with a grin as they entered the living room.

?? Sam's Bedroom ??

Betty tiptoed to the bed, standing at the edge and her heart was in pain, seeing the bundle there that is supposed to be Sam. She knew Beatrice had confessed and had been rejected. She also knew that Sam's reason was that he was in love with someone else.

That gave her hope.

And courage.

So when Kay told her to go up to talk to Sam, she went. Now, however, she was nervous.

She kneeled down at the edge of the bed, staring at what she thought to be Sam's back.

"Sam, I'm sorry," she began.

Betty observed the bundle but the bundle didn't move. She didn't give up. She knew it wasn't going to be easy so she was going to go all the way this time. She was always impulsive, right? So she should use this part of her to get through to Sam.

Whatever it takes.

"I'm sorry for hurting you the other day when I rejected your confession," Betty continued, feeling braver as she didn't need to look at Sam while saying this.

"I didn't reject you because I saw you as a big brother. I'm sorry I lied about that," Betty said, her voice breaking a bit as she struggled with her words, "I ... I ... "

Betty took a deep breath and tried again.

"When you confessed, honestly, I was so happy. But ... I ... foolishly could not bear to hurt Beatrice. She loves you and I felt she was a better fit for you," Betty said, "I couldn't accept you, not because I didn't like you but because I didn't deserve you."

Betty waited but still, the bundle didn't move.

"I like you, Sam," Betty finally said after a minute of silence passed by.

Still no response.

"Sam?" Betty said hesitatingly, her eyes now brimming with tears, her voice shaking, "Say something, please? Anything? Shout at me, curse me, whatever ... but please, don't shut me out like this."

She got up, bending down and reached out to him. Her hand landed on his shoulder when suddenly, the blanket was pushed aside. Her wrist was grabbed and she was pulled down. She fell on top of him - half on him and half on the bed - when she felt his hand let her go and then held her down by the waist and neck.

Before she knew it, he brought her face towards him and their lips touched.

[Sam's POV]

After Beatrice's confession, he wrapped himself up inside the blanket to block himself out from the world. He wanted to block out everything. Out of sight, out of mind. With everything pitch black, it was as if he was blocking out the entire world and it stops the growing hope that refused to be snuffed out in his heart.

"Sam, I'm sorry," came the sweetest voice in the room.

Sam's eyes popped wide open. That was Betty's voice! When did she come in? How did she come in? Why didn't he hear anything? He froze, not moving a single muscle.

[No no no no no. I will resist. I will ignore her. Yes, yes. That's what I will do. Ignore her. Don't respond] Sam said to himself.

"I'm sorry for hurting you the other day when I rejected your confession," he heard her say. "I didn't reject you because I saw you as a big brother. I'm sorry I lied about that,"

[No no no no no. Hah. As if. Really? So the 'Big Brother' reason was just you wanting to soften the blow? har har har] Sam was happily arguing with her in his mind [No, not happening. Nope. Nuh-uh].

"When you confessed, honestly, I was so happy. But ... I ... foolishly could not bear to hurt Beatrice. She loves you and I felt she was a better fit for you," the sweet voice continued.

[YES. YOU ARE A FOOLISH GIRL. Didn't I tell you not to put yourself down like that? What better fit? Am I a puzzle or whatnot? Who are you to decide who is a better fit for me? I can decide for myself, thank you very much]

"I couldn't accept you, not because I didn't like you but because I didn't deserve you."

[Oh? Really? Seriously? You're still going on about that? You don't deserve me? What? I am some prize meat is it, to be going to and fro between the two of you, is it? What? You didn't think I had a choice in the matter? Hah. Yeah. Right]

Sam gritted his teeth, angrily scolding Betty in his mind, refusing to budge even an inch.

"I like you, Sam" came her sweet melodious voice, saying the words that he had been dreaming to hear for so long.

Sam froze.

No. Way. No freaking way. Not possible. She didn't say that, did she? She didn't actually, really, truly say she liked him, did she? No. It was his imagination. He was dreaming. Yes, that's it. Dreaming.

"Sam?" he could hear her voice shaking and his heart couldn't take it. All his anger dissipated like magic.

"Say something, please? Anything? Shout at me, curse me ... but please, don't shut me out like this."

When he felt her hand on his shoulder, he acted.

Fuck this.

Flinging the blanket off, he grabbed her wrist and turned to lie on his back, pulling her along at the same time. She fell forward onto him and the moment she landed on his chest, he let go of her wrist. She was partly on him and partly on the bed so he held her down by putting his hand around her waist and the other behind her neck.

She liked him, right? So the bunny is his now, right?

Now that she confessed, he's never letting her go.

Ever.

He brought her face to his and kissed her.

It was a gentle kiss, with him simply kissing her lips softly.

He remembered what Kyle had 'taught' so long ago and he put it into practice now. He had positioned his face and hers so that they angled and he placed his lips on hers softly. As much as he was desperate to feel those sweet, soft lips on his, he was gentle and slow.

He was sick so he wasn't going to do anything other than just give her lots of soft kisses on her lips. He didn't want her falling sick because of him but he couldn't stop himself anymore from doing what his heart wanted.

His heart wanted lots of kisses.

He smiled to himself when he felt her returning the kisses and he hugged her tighter. Finally, after what seemed like hours, he reluctantly stopped and looked at her flushed face above his.

He put his forehead on hers, and said, "I love you."

Betty's face went bright red as she replied, "I love you, too."

He held her close, hugging her to him and she put her head at the crook of his neck. She could hear his heartbeat and she snuggled closer, liking the sound and the slight, musky masculine scent that he had.

"Looks like things went by pretty well," Kyle's voice broke into their private moment.

Betty was shocked and jerked up but Sam held her tightly, not letting her go.

"Go away," he growled, hugging Betty and glaring at Kyle - and the others who were behind him, grinning stupidly.

"Auw, Sam's the first of us to get a girlfriend," Xing Han lamented, "Baby Sam has grown up."

"Eh, excuse me, Mr-I-have-a-fiancee?" Kyle scoffed, "You're the first of us who are attached."

"Technicalities," Xing Han said, waving his hand as he watched the two on the bed, "That one, though, is real. Look at him, being so possessive and such. Betty's sure going to have it tough."

Betty's face was really red with embarrassment by now, and she hid it on Sam's chest. She tried to push herself up but Sam was having none of it.

"Sam, please," Betty whispered, looking up at him.

"No," Sam said firmly, hugging her, "You can't leave me again."

Betty's heart lurched at that, seeing how insecure he was being and how much he needed her with him. She was torn now, not knowing whether to insist on getting up or not.

As for Sam, he was in 7th Heaven.

This was better than lying down on Kay's lap. His bunny was soft and smelt so sweet. Holding the real deal was nothing like as all the things he imagined. He didn't want to let go, feeling like a part of him would be missing if he did.

"Come on, Sam," Kyle said gently at the side of his bed, "We need to go back now and you need your rest. We'll come again to visit another day, okay?"

Sam shook his head, "No. Can't leave."

"Sam," Kyle said firmly and Sam looked at him, pursing his lips before saying, "Not another day. Tomorrow."

"Fine, fine," Kyle said, gently pulling Betty away, "Tomorrow. You better be good and take your medicine, okay? Get well soon and you can take Betty out on a date."

Sam's face brightened up at that.

"Promise?" Sam said, still holding onto Betty's hand.

"I promise," Kyle said, patting Sam's head and pulling Betty to go behind him, "Now, just go to sleep."

Sam's eyes were getting heavier as he listened to Kyle's voice and the gentle administration of his hand on his head. He couldn't keep them open and finally, fell into a deep sleep.

They left quietly.