New Life : A Second Chance

"I ..." Betty began and Sam got even closer.

Betty panicked and pushed at his chest, "Sam!"

"I dare you to lie to me," Sam said with a slow smile and a raise of his eyebrow, "You know I always carry out what I say I'd do if you do."

Betty looked down and pouted, "But it's so expensive."

Sam sighed and hugged her, saying, "You know how careful I am. Trust me, okay?"

Betty nodded.

Helena, watching this, was smiling so widely that she felt like her face was going to burst. These two kids are just so sweet and pure. 

She had seen so many couples come in to buy their wedding rings and all, but all of them paled in comparison to the sincere emotions this very young couple were showing. Perhaps, it's because they were still young that they did not appear jaded.

At first, she had been worried that it had been the girl that forced the guy to come to the shop, but it appears that was not so. It had been the guy's choice. 

Seeing the calm expression on the boy, Helena realised that still waters run deep. If he had been the one that chose this store, and he wanted a pink diamond, it could only mean one thing.

He was not a simple teen.

"It's settled then," Sam said and took the engagement ring.

Taking Betty's hand, he slipped it onto her finger, "Look, it fits perfectly. It doesn't even need any adjustments."

Betty looked at the ring on her finger, biting her bottom lips.

"But Sam …" 

"No buts," Sam said decisively.

He turned towards Helena and said, "We'll take these. Also, I'd like a simple gold chain."

She nodded, and led Sam towards the other display case with the gold chains.

Sam looked at Betty and said, "You choose this."

"What is this for?" Betty asked curiously.

"We're still in school, so you can't wear the ring on your finger," Sam said regrettably, "So it's best that you wear it on a gold chain and hide it under your uniform."

Betty's nose twitched a bit as she played with her hair, then she sighed, "You're right. It's such a pity, though."

She looked at the ring on her finger, mesmerized, already in love with it. Sam took that hand, kissed her fingers and smiled at her.

"Just think of it as the ring being close to your heart," Sam said, "The ring is normally worn on the ring finger of the left hand, as it is believed to be the one that has the vein that leads to the heart."

"We don't really need a ring, though," Betty said softly, "I already agreed, and the ring is just a symbol."

"It's not just a symbol and quite frankly, I'm selfish," Sam said.

"Huh?"

"I want the world to know that you're already taken," Sam explained, "This ring is to tell all those pesky flies to go away."

Betty blushed a pretty pink, and she hit him on the shoulder, "What are you talking about? There have never been any flies around. You're exaggerating."

Still, she smiled and turned to choose a simple chain. Sam watched her, saying under his breath, "That's because I got rid of them first."

Indeed. Sam may look like he's harmless and wasn't aware of anything around but any guy that seemed to show an interest in Betty, soon found out that was not the case.

Sam would call them out, warn them to stay away and for the more stubborn ones ... well, let's just say that Sam found some physical activity to be a stress-relieving exercise. All of this was done without Betty's knowledge, of course.

Once done, Sam placed the ring onto the chain and put it on Betty. She kept looking at it with a smile, thinking like all of this was like a dream.

As a final step, Helena checked Sam's ring size and said, "We'll need to resize this. Are you willing to do so?"

"Yes, of course," Sam replied, then handed her his card, "I'll collect the wedding bands when it's resized, while she will wear the ring out."

"Of course, Sir," Helena said, taking the platinum card and swiping it. 

Unsurprisingly, the card did not reject the payment. She had made a huge sale unexpectantly, and the others were also looking on enviously.

Helena obtained Sam's contact details, handed him the receipt and promised to call him once the ring was ready. 

After Sam and Betty left, Helena turned and was startled to find the owner of the shop suddenly behind her. Before Helena could say anything, the owner patted her on the shoulder and said, "Well done."

Helena smiled, and bowed in appreciation, "Thank you, Sir. I was merely doing my job."

"Yes," the owner replied, "I could see that. I have been observing you the past few months, actually."

"Sir?" Helena said, puzzled (and a bit worried). Why had she been under observation? Had she done something wrong to be monitored like that?

"Ms. Matthews will be transferred to another branch that I am opening," the owner explained, "Thus, the manager position here is now available. Would you be interested in the position?"

Helena's eyes went wide open before she accepted eagerly. Looks like the young couple brought her good luck indeed.

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Sam, thinking about the whole buying of the ring incident, smiled when he found out the lady that had served them got promoted. She certainly deserved it.

Right now, his moment of truth had arrived. Standing outside the door to Betty's house, Sam began going through his mind about all the things he had prepared to say to Betty's father.

Suddenly, Sam realised one fatal mistake that he had done.

Betty is already wearing the engagement ring, while he hadn't even asked her parents for her hand.

Cold sweat poured down his back. 

Oops.