One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 143: Thick-skinned bitch

~~~ know there have been times that | have caused you pain, I'd turn them all around if | could start again.

There's something | must say | know it's overdue. The sweetest thing I've known or ever called my own begins

and ends with you. The meaning of my life, it all

begins with you. How I love you... How | love you~~~

-Engelbert Humperdinck-

| heard nothing so | glanced back at him only to see his expression more pleased than earlier.

"Let's eat," The only thing | uttered before passing the plates to the two of them.

"Hmm... it looks yummy, mommy," Cali exclaimed excitedly. Luke sat down next to her so | chose to sit across

their seats on the table. "What do you call this dish? It also smells delicious!"

"This is one of the famous Filipino dishes, baby, it is called menudo," I replied as | started transferring a small

amount of dish onto her plate.

"Wow!" She even clapped her hands.

As | was about to pour onto my plate, | was surprised when Luke suddenly pointed to his plate and said...

"What about me?" He asked, showing a childish expression.

| blinked repeatedly at his action but moved the serving spoon in his direction.

"You have your hands, right?" | smiled but he didn't stop there.

"Please...?"

-'What the heck?'- | gritted my teeth but maintained my smile because Cali was observing our interactions.

"Please... sweetheart? This is my first ttasting this dish and I'm sure it would be so delicious when you're the

one who pour it into my plate."

"Huh! Will the taste change if I---"

"Please?" And guess what---he even looked atwith puppy eyes.

Even though | admit he's being cute at that moment, | still can't help but feel a little irritated with his over-acting

way of pleasing us. It's the first the's done something like that and God---how | want to slap him on the

forehead.

But my daughter's reaction was the opposite of mine as she found it cute and funny. She seemed to enjoy his

father's craziness, so | guess | was left with no choice t that time.

Taking a deep breath... with a stretched smile... | took the serving spoon and started pouring the dish on his

plate. And when he pointed to the bowl of rice, | couldn't help it any longer and kicked his knee under the table.

"Ouch---ohh...thank you, sweetheart!"

He was about to say 'Ouch' as he was hurt, but with just one glare, he changed his sentence.

"Just for you, sweetheart," | grinned, emphasizing the endearment.

It's been three days since the incident at the coffee shop happened and after Luke had dinner with us, we've

never seen him again. Well, it's not that | have no idea where he is, but | just don't ask my daughter about his

whereabouts even though she keeps mentioning that her father is on a business trip with his team in Cebu City,

one of the Cities in Visayas region.

| know he keeps calling her every morning and every night before going to bed and there was one tthat |

overheard their conversation, but | pretended to be unaware. Luke was asking where | was and if | was too

already going to bed and the silly daughter of mine giggled before answering him with a yes. He even tried to

talk tobut | went to the bathroom and said | was going to pee and when | cback, the call has already

ended.

And now, a busy afternoon at the coffee shop and Cali is playing scomputer games in our mini-office. Since

it's a Saturday afternoon, we have a double number of customers. Dana is in the counter area while I'm helping

our staff assist our customers.

And because we're busy taking orders, we didn't notice Luke's team has entered the shop. Martha was the first

to see and approached them first but then she calledand pointed to my ex-husband.

An excited smile formed against my lips the moment our eyes met, but only to be fade after a few seconds when

| saw the thick-skinned bitch. The smile | was wearing turned into a scowl.

-'Haist!'- the only thing | mumbled before turning around and walking towards the counter to prepare my

customers’ order.

-'Huh, she doesn't like the ambiance, but she keeps coming back here. Hmm... well, she has no choice because

she's also just an employee!'-

| was preparing a cup of cappuccino when a familiar scent hit my nostrils. It's him. | slowly turned around and

saw Luke standing a few inches away from me.

"What are you doing here?" | asked him in a dazed voice. | didn't know he followed me.

"I'm here to treat my employees and of course, as a customer."

"I know you are a customer, but what | mean is that what are you doing here inside the counter? This area is

strictly for employees only and customers are not allowed here."

"Oh, | know, but the co-owner of the shop allowedto cin and talk to my wife." He shrugged, grinning,

and winked at Dana who's pretending to be oblivious of what's happening in front of her. Even though | was

surprised at his last word, | still managed to correct it.

"Ex-wife! We have been divorced for two years, so | am no longer your wife."

"Fine, ex-wife," he shrugged. "But | just want to talk to you."

Before responding to what he said, | drew Martha's attention and asked her to bring the cup of coffee to the

customer on table number 34 and then face him again.

"And what do you want to talk about?" | asked, raising an eyebrow.

It took him a few seconds before he answered but not after a long sigh.

"Nah, | just want to tell you that | missed you," He said that made my insides melt and my toes curled inside my

shoes.

"So that's just what you want to talk about?"

"Yeah, I've been away for three days and it felt like my world was empty. | missed you and Cali,"

I don't know but his words made my heart jump in excitement, but as I said, I'm now Samantha Soriano 2.0, so of

course, I'd have to play hard to please.

"Tss!" | huffed. "It's only been three days and you missed us already? But why haven't you felt that in the last 2

years?" | asked, turning quickly to hide the stupid smile that curled up against my lips.

But to my surprise, he grabbed my elbow and he's already in front ofin an instant.

"And who said | haven't missed you in the past two years?" His voice suddenly becserious. "I missed you.

God knows how much | missed you and how I tried not to call you even Cali kept askingto contact you." "But

why didn't you callor even try to call me?" | asked again, hiding the excitement in the farthest corner of my

stupid heart.

"Because | was afraid to find out that you still hatefor what | did. | was afraid that when I did, | would find out

that you're already happy with someone else and | don't know if | can handle that."

That was a mind-blowing confession but to my utmost dismay, the thick-skinned bitch suddenly cagain into

our view, interrupted our serious conversation, and jeez--- she didn't givethe chance to speak. "Luke, |

thought you're just going to order for us?"

She asked him, and my eyes followed the movement of her hands as she stroked his arm.

"Oh, you're here, girl!" She then pretended to noticehaving a fake smile on her face.

-'Haist! This was what I told him!'-

But | didn't hide the irritation | have towards her, so | turned to Luke instead of responding to his fake greeting.

"Mr. Williams, | think you should handle your employee first before flirting with the store owner." | sneered.

"Excuse me, | still have something important to do!"

And without waiting for his response, | left him frowning with her next to him.