One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 197: Happily ever after is a choice

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you... Happy birthday... happy birthday... happy birthday to you!"

Everyone sang and cheered during the birthday celebration of our four-year-old son, Marky. Yes, Luke was right

with what he said ‘father's instinct’ as | gave birth to a healthy baby boy four years ago. We named him after

us... Mark Samuel. "Okay, blow your candles, my little boy," | said motioning my son to blow the candles on the

chocolate cake in front of him.

He looked atwith eyes full of joy before looking back at the cake.

"Yeheey!" We all cheered again after he proudly blew his candle.

At that moment, | couldn't help but hold him in my arms and peppered him with kisses all over his chubby

cheeks and face.

| couldn't explain exactly how | felt when | saw my husband staring and smiling at us that time. | with a smile.

Different emotions could be seen in his eyes as they met mine. But | know one thing is for sure... he's happy.

He's satisfied, fulfilled, and contented. A few seconds later, | felt the arms of my firstborn wrapped around my

waist before Luke could pull us into a family embrace.

"Happy birthday, my little boy," he said kissing his son on the forehead. He even kissed Cali on top of her head

before givinga quick kiss on the lips. "I love you,"

| smiled when | heard him whisper near my ear.

"I love you too," | whispered in the air.

Food and drinks were served a few minutes later. After helping my children get their food and let them have fun

with their friends, | found myself on the balcony with a glass of my favorite red wine in hand.

A smile after a deep sigh left my throat painted against my lips as | looked at the now flowering daisies in Cali's

garden. She loves flowers just as | do.

| was about to sip my wine when | felt a hand slide around my waist followed by my husband's voice near my

ear.

"Hey, what's with the sigh? Are you alright?" The concern was laced in his voice.

"Yup, I'm alright," | smiled as | turned around to look at him.

"Then... can you tellwhat's bothering you?"

My smile widened and sipped my wine before answering his question.

"Nah, | was just thinking about how the tflies so fast. Remember the first twe got married? We were too

young then."

"Uhuh..."

"And when we first held Cali in our hands... how tiny and cute she was at that time. I still remember how | felt

when | had them and gave birth to them. But now..." | paused as another sigh escaped my lips. "...look at them.

Our Cali is already a teenager and our little boy is growing so fast that we don't realize he will soon beca

teenager too and a few years after that... they will leave our side---"

| didn't get to continue my sentence when he tookinto his arms with a light chuckle.

"Hey, sweetheart! Don't you think it's too early to have those thoughts in your mind? Marky is only four. Cali is

just a teenager. That means we still have a lot of years, decades ahead of us to be together."

"You don't get my point," | stared at him after breaking free from his embrace.

"Nope! Of course, | get your point but what | mean to say is that they're too young for whatever that thing is in

your mind. You know, | also think about those things sometimes and | don't want them to happen right away

either. But sweetheart, we can't stop that from happening. We don't have control over nature especially when it

comes to our children's growth. We don't have access to that,"

He grabbed my face with both hands and madelook at him.

"Stop overthinking, Sam. You will only drown yourself by overthinking everything. So what, if they grow up so

fast or soon becadults like us? And so what, if soon they graduate from school, find a job, someone to spend

their lives with, and decide to leave our side one by one? So what, if all that happens soon?"

"Are you not worried?"

"No, why would why? Whether we like it or not, that's how life works, sweetheart, and we can't stop it from

happening. All we can do is enjoy and live with it. Because if we constantly think about all the things that have

happened or will happen, how will we be able to enjoy life? How can we appreciate the life we have right now?"

"But"

"And as parents, the only thing we can do is guide them, support them, show them love, and be their role

models until the tcomes when they can stand on their own and decide for themselves. And as we do so, the

two of us, we will make the most of every day, every hour minute, and second together... hand in hand. We'll go

for a walk, we'll go to all the places we've never been. We will eat in restaurants or eateries that we have never

tried before and most of all, we will collect memories that we will cherish until we grow old."

| bit my lower lip to suppress the exciting grin that suddenly wanted to escape my lips. For the past few years,

Luke has changed a lot and | can say maturity has helped him becmore understanding of the things around

him and | have learned to love and appreciate him more for that.

"So, if the tcomes when we can no longer walk, stand, or do what we want, not only because we can no

longer do it but because we are satisfied with where we are sitting, at least we have memories that we can

share, talk happily about and look back on."

It tooka few seconds to realize | was already in tears and he's now gently wiping them away with his thumb.

"So stop overthinking, okay? I'm here, I'm always here and forever will be here."

"I know, thank you," | placed the now-empty glass on the table and swung my hands around his neck

"Shhhh... you're always welcome, sweetheart and | love you too,"

If | were to go back to the sixteen-year-old me, | guess | would still make the sdecision | made before and

choose to love Luke Marcus Wilsons again. But of course, there are sthings | would change...

...Happily ever after is not a fairytale. It's a choice...

Maybe | won't be as stubborn as | used to be or maybe | will appreciate more the advice of my brother Dale and

my best friend Jack, and especially of our parents.

But if there are things | would change about myself and the situations | was in before, well, there are also things |

wouldn't.

Though | may not be the stubborn

Samantha | was before, | think I'll still do 'sjust ‘some’ of the stupid things I did back then... just in a

different way. Maybe | will still chase my man. | will still make efforts for him to see and notice

| will make him appreciate

me.

presence early so that | don't have to

struggle talking and paying a

bartender just to get him to sleep

because that might end up in a

pretty bad situation again and | don't want that to happen a second time.

Back then, | had nothing else in mind but for him to feel the sfor me. It seemed like | had no other priority

and goal in life but to chase him and be his girlfriend... until everything that happened happened.

But at spoint, if | hadn't been stupid then, | wouldn't have Cassandra Lizeth and now Mark Samuel or maybe

we wouldn't be in the situation we're in right now. Even though he said he lovedfirst before I fell in love with

him, there is still no certainty that we will be together.

A lot of things happened. A lot of people were affected by what happened to us... and through it all, | realized

one thing...

...You will get exactly what you need when the tis right. Have patience...

Yes, it's true. Over the years a lot has happened, speople have disappeared from my life and our lives. We

also met speople who over tbecpart of our lives too. Many things should not be worried about and

returned to, yet there are sto be thankful and grateful for.

Each of us has made mistakes and stumbled but learned to get up and fight again. Life has taught us many life

lessons. We all learned to forgive, worked hard, and fought every challenge that cour way.

As we now face the new chapter of our lives together, we are grateful to have experienced all the things we have

experienced in the past because at least in sway we now have an idea of how to approach the different

phases of life in the future, especially in our relationship not only as a couple but as new versions of Luke Marcus

and Samantha. Now we are ready to face every challenge together and hand in hand.

Yes, we know and understand that relationships and marriage are not just about dating, movie nights together,

holding hands, kissing, and lovemaking. There will be arguments, fights, laughter and tears, and ups and downs

in our journey. Sometimes there will be things said out of anger, attitudes, and jealousy.

And we also know that after being together for years, it will get boring. But love isn't just a feeling and marriage

isn't just a promise... rather it's a commitment. It's a commitment to love each other every day, physically and

emotionally. It's sticking around through the good and bad, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer.

We know it's hard. It isn't a fairytale nor romantic movie that we can rewind, pause, and fast forward. But since

the day we made a promise, we knew we had already sealed it with love, sincerity, and commitment to stay in

each other's arms no matter how hard and rough the journey and the road it gets.

The end...

Soon... a continuation of Sam and David's story...