One More Chance

"How long are you going to stay in the Philippines?" I asked with a pout when Luke told me he had to go to the Philippines as he had something important to do in his company.

"I'm not sure, sweetheart," he replied as he sliced the steak on his plate. "I guess I'll have to stay there for a week or so."

"A week or so?" I repeated with my mouth hanging in mid-air.

"Yes, my team and I have to sort out some problems that Lucy's father left in the company."

"Ahh... I - I thought you were only staying there for two or three days?" I tried to keep the disappointment from escaping but it was so hard and a heavy sigh suddenly left my lips. Deep inside I was hoping to hear the other way around and that he would say 'Okay if you don't want me to leave then I won't or maybe he would ask me if is it okay to leave again after what happened,'

I stared at him... watched him as he gracefully chewed the food in his mouth and then smiled when he found me staring at him. He didn't seem to hear my sigh.

"Hey, sweetheart,"

"Hmm?"

"Don't you like your food?" He asked instead, which kinda shocked me.

"Huh? No, uhm---"

"We can order something else or whatever you want. Tell me, what do you want? Don't you like your steak?"

"No, I'm fine, I like it," I instantly shook my head. "I like it," I tried to smile and pretended to be excited in front of him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yup," I started to get a small slice and shoved it into my mouth without glancing at him.

We are at his favorite steakhouse in LA having dinner after watching a thriller movie and stepping out of the cinema.

And as I pushed through the third or fourth bite of my steak, I kinda lost count, my mind weighing whether to confront him or to just keep the disappointment to myself.

But a few minutes later, I slowly dropped my knife and fork and looked at him. I can't hold it any longer. He saw my reaction and gave me a look of confusion.

"You know what, honestly, I was expecting to hear the opposite of what you said. I was hoping you could cancel or postpone your appointment in the Philippines for a week or so and that you could stay until my parents' anniversary this coming Friday, but I guess you've already decided and your meeting is more important," I wonder how I said those lines without even batting an eye.

It's only been two weeks since we talked and sorted things out, but now he's leaving again.

"Sweetheart---"

"But it's fine, I mean, I'm fine," I shrugged, looking away from him as I don't want him to see the disappointment in my eyes but I guess actions really speak louder than words.

And because I was quick to avoid his eye contact, I missed the mischievous grin that appeared in the corner of his lips.

"No, I guess you're not," he said shaking his head as he leaned back against his seat.

"No, I'm fine, really," I grabbed the glass of wine in front of me and gulped a few.

"Sam..." I noticed how he bit his lower lip, maybe trying to stifle the smile that wanted to escape from them. "Why don't you come with me? I'm sure Dana and all your friends will be glad to see you again," That's a good idea but...

"Yeah, that's a good idea if I don't have a daughter who I promised to take on her field trip the next day and my parents aren't celebrating a wedding anniversary three days from now."

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry," he held my hand that was resting on top of the table. "I'm sorry, but I will try my best to finish my appointments immediately so that I can attend your parents' wedding anniversary celebration." It took me a while to absorb what he said and gave him a listless smile.

"It's alright, I kinda understand that you need to go there, it's just that I didn't expect you would stay that longer."

"Sam..."

"Maybe I'm just paranoid and a bit scared after what happened. You know, you just told me you were having a new project, but I didn't know you already had an accident."

Having said those thoughts, he immediately stood up and without a word grabbed me by the cheeks and kissed me deeply on the lips.

A loud gasp escaped my lips as I grasped his muscular arms, trying to stop him even though I was enjoying myself as I felt the envious stares from the people around us. "Luke..." I said in a muffled voice.

"I love you, Samantha, I love you much,"

I couldn't help staring at him right after he said those words. It was after letting my lips go and kissing me on the forehead.

"I love you too, but gosh--- Luke Marcuz, people are staring at us right now!" I whispered, patting him gently on his side.

"I don't care!" he just gave me a shrug and a very handsome smile. "They can stare all they want and I don't give a shit!" I bit my lip when he winked at me.

"But let's get back to the topic," he caressed my face before going back to his seat. "Sweetheart, I know you're worried because of what happened last time---"

"I'm not just worried, I am scared," I emphasized that last word. "You don't know how scared I was when I found out what happened to you,"

"I know, sweetheart, I know,"

My eyes followed the movement of his hand when he took my plate and sliced through the medium-rare steak that I haven't touched yet. And I stared at him when he put it back in front of me as he continued to speak. "I'm sorry if I kept it a secret from you, but I promise it's not going to happen again. I'll be extra careful this time."

"Accident is an accident, Luke Marcuz! It can happen to anyone, anywhere at any time if you're not careful!"

But instead of talking back, a smile formed on his lips, so I couldn't help but ask him with a frown.

"And why are you suddenly smiling, Mr. Williams?"

"Nah," His smile widened as he shook his head. "I realized how lucky I am to have you in my life... how blessed I was even before for having you and Cali next to me,"

"Tss! That's not the issue here, Mr. Williams!"

"I know, sweetheart, but what can I do if I realized it all of a sudden?"

"What the--- argh! You just seemed to realize it now?" My lips pursed as the crease on my forehead deepened.

"I did, I mean I already figured it out

before but with you here with me after so many years, those things that happened, those ups and downs, the separation, the accident and yet seeing you mad and worried in front of me at the same time right ngw makes me wonder how I ever get so lucky out of all the men in the world?" novelbin

"Hey, you forgot one thing, Mr. Williams!" I raised an eyebrow. He stared at me in confusion. "Cheating, continued and I

chuckled when his mouth dropped in mid-air. "You've mentioned everything even the ups and downs and the separation but you forgot to mention the cause of that

separation."

"Whoa! Sweetheart..." The look he gave me as he scratched the back of his neck made me laugh at him.

I didn't know that a moment like this would ever come because never in my life would I have imagined that we would be sitting in front of each other and talking about the past especially what he did. "But thank you for giving me the chance to have this family back,"

"You've already said that before, haven't you?"

"I know," he shrugged. "I just want to say it again to remind myself how lucky I am as a man, as a father, and as a person. And do you know what I've also realized after this roller coaster journey?" "What?"

"That cheating really is a choice,"

-'Ohh...'- My mouth hung in mid-air after hearing what he said and a few seconds later, I just found myself laughing in front of him.

"Indeed! Cheating is a choice!" I repeated and then laughed again. I can't help but feel amazed at how our conversation was going. "Whoa! I can't believe I'm hearing such words from you right now!"

"What? Why are you laughing? Is it because of the word cheating?" He asked and even though there was a hint of confusion in his voice, amazement can be seen in his eyes.

"Uhuh!" I nodded, still laughing. "I never once imagined that one day you will say that phrase that cheating is a choice!"

"Because it is," he shrugged. "I heard you talking that thing before. At a time when all these things hadn't sunk into my brain and by the time I realized it, it was too late because you were gone, my family and everything was already gone." And that was just the time I stopped laughing. I took a deep breath before launching the question that had suddenly crossed my mind.

"Hmm... How do you think, I mean,

how sure are you that you're not

going to do that thing again in the future? Won't you ever be tempted to look at other girls and cheat again? Because yeah, cheating is a choice, but you know, there is also this saying 'Once a cheater, always a cheater,"