One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

"Hmm... tsk. tsk. tsk... why don't you ask him again?"

"Haist! What is the point of asking him again if he can't even answer my questions or should | say he doesn't

want to answer them?"

"Do you think he really did cheat again this time?"

"I don't know! | really wanted to believe that he didn't, but he's not cooperating! He wantsto believe him but

he doesn't make a way forto believe him!"

Silence stretched between us for a few seconds.

"Hmm... you're right, but anyway, you and David met three days ago... how is he?"

| looked at her and a smile crept into my lips.

"Whoa! What's with that smile? | just mentioned his nand your face suddenly lit up? Oh, my goodness!"

| couldn't help but chuckled and rolled my eyes at her reaction. She motionedto put little Ashley in the

stroller.

"What do you mean by suddenly lit up? You're exaggerating!" | even laughed out loud as she snorted in front of

me.

But little did | know that at that very moment, Luke was standing in the hallway to the kitchen and was now

listening to our conversation. He cexactly when Jack askedabout David.

"So how is he? Does he still look handsas he was a few years ago or has he aged a bit?"

"Yeah, he aged a little, but it suited him,"

"Is he still a surgeon?"

"Yes, he's still doing what he loves and he's just here to attend a seminar,"

"Wow! Is he still single?"

| laughed again at her question.

"You really have a lot to ask, don't you?"

"Oh, con, I'm just curious! Just answer it, girl! Is he still single? Does he already have a girlfriend or hasn't

he moved on from you yet?"

"Jeez, Jackeline! He's now actually getting married!"

"Whoa! That's good to hear!" | raised an eyebrow. "What | mean is that at least he's already moved on, you

know," she gavea shrug.

"Yeah, | get it."

"But..." she exclaimed a little loud that caused her baby to stir in her sleep. "Oops! I'm sorry, my love," she

kissed her on the forehead and when she looked at me, she continued her question. "But | have a question--—- a

hypothetical question," "Aww, con, Jack! | know you too well so don't ever continue with what you are about

to ask because | know I'm not going to like it!"

"Tss! You're the one exaggerating now ang not me. It is just a hypothetical question, hello!"

"Haist!" | rolled my eyes. "Fine! Shoot it!"

"What if... huh... just what if you hadn't met Luke again two years ago and David asked you to marry him like

what he was supposed to do before following you here in LA, was there a possibility that you accepted his

proposal?" "Oh, my goodness! Your question, Jack is---"

"Con, just answer it! It's been two years, | mean, more than two years,"

"Yeah, it's been over two years so what's the point of asking this question? Besides, nothing will change because

everything that happened has already happened."

"Exactly! Nothing will change even if you answer it now!"

"Gosh!" it tooka few seconds to finally answer it, without realizing that Luke was hearing our conversation.

"If I hadn't met Luke back then, maybe yes, | accepted his proposal.” "Ohh... okay," she said nodding. "But one

last question please?" she even emphasized the word last.

"Jack!"

"Please?" | took a deep breath but then nodded. "If you and David could have ended up together, where do you

think you would be now? Are you still in New York or here in LA?" "Uhmm..."

"And if ever, do you think you're happier with him now? | mean, he's a good man--- there are no questions asked

about it, he has a stable future and | know he truly loved you, remember? So if you could ever go back in time,

you'd be able to ttravel back into the past and you'd already have an idea of what's going on in the present,

and you'd be given the opportunity to change the decision you made back then... do you think you would still

choose the way your first decision was? Will you still choose to love Luke despite knowing what will happen in

the future or will you choose David because you know you will never experience what you experienced with

Luke?"

She had already finished her question a few seconds ago but my mouth was still hanging in mid-air. | felt like my

mind was left in the middle of her supposed to be the 'last' question but ended up in a few more, long sets of

questions.

"For God's sake, Jackeline!" | exclaimed as soon as | gathered myself. "Is that what you call your last question?" |

asked, with a surprised expression as | emphasized the last two words.

"Haha... | couldn't help it," she laughed hilariously.

"I haven't even gotten to answer your first question but--- gosh!"

"Con, you can do it!"

| took a long, deep sigh before starting to answer her questions from the very beginning with a smile.

"Alright, regarding your first question, if David and | ended up together, | think maybe we are in New York right

now. Hmm...he's still a surgeon as you know he loves his job, his profession, and I, maybe still run our coffee

shop in New York. But---" But | was about to get ready to answer her next question when she screamed.

"Luke?"

And | don't know but suddenly | felt like my blood was draining from my body when | turned around and saw him

with an inexplicable expression.

| couldn't form any word when our eyes met at that moment.

"How long have you been there?" Jack asked him and like me, the look of surprise can be seen in her eyes too.

"Just a few seconds ago," he shrugged and immediately turned his eyes away from me.

"Ohh..." Jack said nodding. "Why didn't you enter right away?"

"Because | saw you busy talking and | thought | would just interrupt your conversation, so | decided to just stay

here, besides, | was still talking to someone on the phone."

"Ahh... is that so? Anyway, what can | help you--- how can | help you?"

"Nah, | was just going to get sbeer. | don't like what the boys were drinking and | still have to drive later,"

"I see, can | help you?"

"Nope, thanks, | just need two bottles,"

"Alright, then suit yourself,"

| held my breath when he walked past in front of me. He didn't even sparea glance. | watched him grab two

bottles of beer from the fridge, contemplating if | should hold his hand and talk to him about what he heard but

then | held back. Honestly, before he came, | was about to say 'but even if | could go back in tand have the

opportunity to choose again, | would still choose my first decision. | would still choose him even if | already knew

what will happen in the future.

I would still choose to love him and be with him despite the pains | will go through with him because that is what

love truly is. Love won't be strong if you don't get hurt and don't make mistakes. And from those mistakes, that's

where you will learn to pick yourself up and move forward in life.

And even if the world turned upside down, even if | went back to the past or were reborn, | would still choose

him, but yeah... | had lost the chance to say them as he cI'm front of us all of a sudden.

"Uhm... Luke," she called him before he could even reach the door. "Can you please tell my husband that I will

just follow him to the pool after putting our daughter to sleep?"

"Sure," he nodded and has already left the kitchen without even looking at me.