One More Chance

Three months after the wedding...

"Good morning, sleepy head,"

I opened my eyes slightly when I felt the bed sink followed by my husband's voice and then felt his soft lips on my forehead.

"Hmm... good morning," I replied, adjusting my vision to the instant light hitting my eyes from the sun's rays peeking through the glass window of the room.

"Come on, sweetheart, wake up or you're going to miss the morning breeze," he said peppering kisses all over my face and neck.

"But I'm still sleepy and I don't feel like getting up and walking on the shore," I moved my face to the other side opposite from him to avoid his kisses but I guess it was a wrong move as he suddenly grabbed me by the shoulders and turned my body to him. "Ahh... you don't feel like getting up, huh," And since my eyes were still closed, I missed seeing the mischievous smile that crept against his lips. "Well, I'm so sorry my darling wife, but I won't let you stay in bed for the rest of the day!"

"I didn't say I'm going to stay here for the whole day I just--- agh!"

But I didn't get to finish my sentence as I screamed when he started tickling me on both sides. "Hey, stop it, it tickles!" I tried to stop him by pushing him on the shoulders but he didn't budge. He even held my hands above my head and buried his face in the crook of my neck as he began to nibble my skin. "Luke... stop it!" I screamed, catching my breath.

"Hmm? I'm sorry, I can't hear you," he said and continued what he was doing and of course, I continued to scream and laugh at the same time.

"Okay, okay, fine! I'll get up, just please stop..." And thank God, he listened.

He was still grinning when he let my hands go.

"Do you promise?"

I stared at him for a few seconds and then nodded. "Yes,"

"Okay, then get up," he held both my hands and was about to help me get up but I took them back.

"Wait, can you give me fifteen more minutes?" I asked, giving him puppy eyes but he just raised an eyebrow.

"Fifteen more minutes?"

"Hmhm..." I hummed in reply.

"And what for--- so you could go back to sleep?"

"Sweetheart---" I was about to touch his legs because it was one of his weak points but he was fast to stop my hands.

"Nope! I know what you're thinking, sweetheart, no! And I won't give you another minute in bed because I know you, you're going back to sleep the second I leave this room, so no! Get up!" "Ahhh..." I protested but this time he firmly held my hands and helped me sit up.

"There you go!" He kissed me on the forehead. "Do you want me to carry you out because I would love to,"

-'Hmm... what a lovely idea!'- I screamed in my mind before giving him a naughty smile. "Sure, but I want to go to the bathroom first," And I winked.

"Okay, no problem! Your wish is my command, dear wife,"

I couldn't help but giggle when he scooped me in a bridal style and started walking towards the bathroom.

Actually, I was just about to do my morning routine, but something came up in my silly mind and you know... the rest is for you to think and imagine.

It's been three months since we tied the knot for the second time and I can say it has been the best three months of my life so far... of course... except for those times I was with my daughter.

We are currently at the beach resort

that Luke purchased a few years ago and is named after our daughter Cali. I thought he had already sold it along with our house back then, sol was surprised when he brought me here after our wedding for our honeymoon. Since then, we decided to spend the weekends at the rest house he built a few months before we got married as a part of his unending surprises.

WY

There are a lot of things that have changed here... from a simple resort back then to a slightly crowded one now. Numerous stalls are located along the shore where guests can buy souvenirs and a few other

things and convenient shops for net

their personal needs. There are also

a few restaurants, small bars, and a large children's playground complete with various features and equipment such as swings, slides, climbers, spring riders, spinners, and sensory panels to maximize the fun not only for adult guests that are staying here but also for their children.

In the little time we had back then at least we were able to make some

memories here with our daughter...

somehow felt I was worth something to him and that

and as a family. That was net

somehow he had feelings forme too Based on the caresses, hugs, and kisses we shared here before, I thought I was the happiest woman who ever existed in the world.

We had a lot of fun... bathing and chasing each other by the sea, eating together, talking like a normal family and a loving couple until the not-so-likable memories happened. "Whew!" I immediately shook my head and at the same time shook that damn memory out of my mind too before it started to flow back again.

At that moment I didn't know my sudden action caught my husband's attention as we walked along the path to the beach.

"Hey, why, what happened?" he stopped walking and turned around to place his hand on my forehead. "You don't have a fever, but are you alright?"novelbin

His question along with the worry laced in his voice made me smile.

"Yup, I'm fine," I said nodding and grinning at the same time causing him to stare at me with a frown. "Well, a few memories we had here suddenly came back to my mind,"

I shrugged and then started walking again but now, with him behind me.

"We had so much fun here, didn't we? We walked, we talked, we laughed, we did so many things here as a family... "I paused to look at him with a teasing smile. "...before the cheating incident happened and before you cheated on me," "Aww! Sweetheart..."

And I couldn't help but laugh at the reaction he gave me. He was stunned and maybe confused at the same time as to why I suddenly remembered those things.

"Just kidding! Come on, let's go and see the beach!"

I held his hand to pull him out of the state of shock he was in and started running toward the shore.

"Hmm... so fresh and relaxing..." I closed my eyes and took a breath while waiting for what he was going to say. And then...

"I'm afraid,"

My eyes snapped open as soon as those words reached my ears.

"Huh? Why are you afraid and what are you suddenly afraid of?"

"I'm afraid that this thing--- this moment will come and happen and here it is, it's happening."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, I'm afraid that the day will come when you wake up, suddenly realize, and wonder why you still gave me a second chance despite those painful and unnerving words I said against you and those unacceptable things I did to you and worse... you chose again to marry

me."

"Hey---"

"And when I remember those horrible things and the way you might feel when suddenly you remember them too or someone suddenly reminds you of them, I feel like I'm going to go crazy. I'm scared, I'm scared almost every day, but I can't do anything because I know that this is one of the consequences of my previous actions."

"Ahh..." I suddenly pulled him and threw myself into his arms. "I'm sorry," I whispered as I kissed him on the neck.

"Why are you apologizing when it should be me---"

"Shhh..." I interrupted him by putting my finger against his lips.

"I'm sorry because I didn't think about the things you said. I always thought to myself and never thought that you were going through the same thing and that you were as scared as I was."