One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 150: The New Revelation

~~~ I believe in happy endings though I've only known a few. For as rare as they are

like a bright falling star, I found one in you. Sometimes, all the world can seem so friendless and the road ahead so

endless and the dream so far away. Sometimes, when I'm almost to surrender then I stop and I remember I have you to save my day~~~

-I Have You (Carpenters)-

-'Forgodsake! How did he become so handsome and more attractive even after these years?'- I asked myself as I stared at him.

He stared back with confusion visible in both his eyes.

"Really? Let me help you set the table then." I stood up, trying to calm my insides and hold back myself at the same time.

"Nope, I got this," he shook his head. "You just have to take a seat and wait for me to set up the table, okay?" He urged me to sit down again before going back to the counter.

So that's what I did. I waited for him to put on the table what he had prepared for our dinner with a silent prayer I kept repeating in my head to stay calm until the dinner is over. "Here they are!"

"Wow!" My eyes went wide as well as my mouth when he put all the dishes in front of me... Chicken garlic pasta, Caesar salad, and what made me smile more was the flavorful, crunchy fried chicken wings. But he mistook my smile for something else.

"I'm sorry, I'm not a professional cook, and I---"

"Hey, why are you apologizing?" I interrupted him as I saw a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

"Because I don't know how to cook a formal dinner." He sighed. "I should have taken you to a fancy restaurant---"

"Luke!" I immediately took his hand as I urged him to look at me. "I appreciate all of this and your efforts and honestly, I like it here more than eating in a fancy restaurant out there." "But that's all I had prepared,"

"So what? It's okay, it's just the two of us, besides, didn't you know that these are my favorites--- the crispy chicken wings together with pasta?" I grinned.

His eyes suddenly lit up.

"Really?"

"Uhuh! So you don't have to apologize and please... can we start eating now? My tongue could no longer wait to taste those wings!" I excitedly pointed to the plate of crunchy wings.

That made him laugh and kissed me on the forehead and even though it surprised me, I still managed to hide the excitement inside.

A few minutes later...

chuckled referring to the food in

I asked Dana and Jack to help me with what to cook for dinner but none of them

gosh! What did they say?" I bit my lip

I don't know what happened to those women as they suddenly turned their backs on me!" He said

your brother, Patrick, and Caleb. Dale told me to cook pasta, Patrick suggested the salad,

that it doesn't matter whatever he cooked tonight because what really made me excited was the idea of having dinner with him but I changed the words I used to appreciate

and I appreciate it and thank you for the best homemade fried chicken I've ever

He sighed.

with me. I've been wanting this to happen many times over the past couple of years, but I didn't have the courage to ask you, besides, you hate me so much then." "Hmm... kinda," I shrugged, smiling. "But at

a few minutes before both of us

in surprise as we spoke in

stared at each other as we

first---" but then we stopped for the

we stared at each other, our laughter blended in mid-air at

can speak first," he said his grin still

go ahead first," I

it's okay, you can go

I would like to hear what you're

which made me hold my breath

me?'- I wondered as

made you decide to stay here in the Philippines

my lips and I brought the wine

because I felt

in those countries I've been to for the past two years." I smiled, staring at him. "In other words, I found peace here. I met Dana, her whole family, and of course, Caleb. I even witnessed how their love grew and

alone again. And I stayed here not because they made me happy but because I found a home and a

to

shared a smile and raised our

made you stay in the Philippines? I know you have already expanded, but the company in Los Angeles is much bigger than the branch you have here, besides, you have a lot of people to manage your business here in the Philippines." He stared at me for I don't know why before giving me

"I don't know,"

you mean you don't know?"

but after knowing that you're here, I think I now know the reason. Maybe because fate

I gulped.

but I felt my stomach churn and my toes curled under