One More Chance
Chapter 39: Change

~~~You came and suddenly I was weak beyond control. I had given you my soul. My life was no longer mine. I love you more than life itself, I'll never love anyone else. I've tried to stop myself so many times it hurts me. A love like ours where can it go? I must be strong because I know it's wrong for me to stay and love you...~~~

-Ennio Morricone-

It really shocked me that I could hardly move from my place. But when he accidentally pushed or should I say kicked the decorative jar near the entrance, it was then that I immediately ran to him. "Hey, what happened to you?"

The first question that came out of my lips when our eyes met and I wasn't sure if it was sadness or pain that I saw in his eyes. But I refrained to ask him about it as I thought it wasn't important at that moment. I must first ask him if he's fine, what happened to him and where he got those bruises on his lips and one on the corner of his eyes.

"I just met someone rude at the bar!" Anger can still be heard in his voice. "We got into a fight.

I tried to breathe through my mouth as I really hate the smell of alcohol. It started when I was still pregnant with Cali and I don't know why I still have it until now.

"You got into a fight at the bar? I thought you had a client meeting at the Buena Vista Restaurant, so why were you at the bar?" I asked, simply glancing at the wall clock. "Anyway, it's already 10:30 pm, have you eaten dinner?"

"I'm going upstairs." He didn't answer any of my questions which got me confused.

"Hey---"

"I'm going to sleep in my room tonight."

That left me open-mouthed and stuck in my place for a few seconds.

"B-But why? You've been sleeping in my room since last month, so why do you suddenly want to sleep in your room tonight?" I asked running to help him walk upstairs.

But again, my mouth hung open when he took my hand off his shoulder and continued to walk as if nothing had happened.

"Luke..."

He stopped just when we reached the second floor and turned to me.

"You know I'm drunk, don't you?"

I nodded, looking him in the eye.

"Then, that answered your question."

"But---"

"I don't want my daughter to wake up next to me am I smell alcohol. As much as possible, I don't want her to know I'm drunk and I'm sure you understand it, right?" he didn't even wait for my reply as he started walking into his room, so I have no choice but to run after him again.

"Yes, but you haven't answered my question yet. What are you doing in a bar when you said you had a late meeting this evening?"

He closed his eyes tightly for which I hadn't understood before he opened the door.

"Because my client cancelled his appointment and my secretary invited me over for a drink--- for God's sake! Do I have to tell you everything that happens in my life every day, Samantha?" He asked or I should say he whispered-yelled as he loosened his tie and glaring at me at the same time.

"I-I didn't that's not what I mean, I just want to know what happened to you because I'm worried." I tried to get closer to him, but he immediately slumped on the bed with his stomach, after throwing his tie on the couch.

-'Why did he suddenly get mad? What's his problem?'-

"I'm tired. I want to sleep now."

"But Luke, can we just talk?"

"Please, Samantha I said I'm tired!" He waved his hand in the air, motioning me to get out.

I gulped, looking at him shocked and confused.

"O-Okay---"

"Just lock the door when you leave." And he took the other pillow and put it on the back of his head.

"Yeah, I will." I just nodded, even though he wasn't looking at me.

I remained on my spot, looking at him with dismay and a slight hurt that crept in my heart.

And a few minutes later, I could already hear his snoring.

Taking a deep breath, I started walking towards the door and with one final glance to his snoring figure, I finally went out of his room.

I leaned against the wall the moment I closed the door behind me. I don't know, but worry started to creep in me. I can't explain why there is a part of me that is afraid after seeing the familiar emotions in his eyes earlier. There were sadness and pain in them. Those emotions I've seen first when his ex-girlfriend left him.

"Mommy?"

I gasped when I heard my daughter's voice. I was with my eyes closed, so I didn't notice her if she didn'call me. She was standing in front of me, holding her favourite stuff toy that had been given to her by her father.

"Baby, what are you doing here? Why did you get up?" I asked, lowering my height into her level.

"I peed and I noticed you weren't in bed, so I went out to find you."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"How about you mommy? What are you doing here? Does my daddy already arrived?" She asked pointing to the door behind me.

"Yes, but he's---" but she cut me off.

"Is he inside?" I nodded. "Can I see him, mommy?"

"Uhm... he was tired, baby, I mean he had a lot of office work all day, so he got so tired and because he doesn't want to wake you up, he decided to sleep in his room."

"Ohh... poor daddy. Can I massage his hands mommy? Uncle Dale and Untie Jack told me I'm good at it."

I opened my mouth... I don't really know what to say.

"Baby, your daddy's already sleeping, maybe you can ask him tomorrow morning before going to his work, what do you think?"

"Okay, but can I just kiss him?"

I was about to nod, but suddenly I remember what Luke told me. He doesn't want Cali to know he's drunk.

"Yeah, you can do it, but I'm telling you he's already snoring," I whispered the last word with a fake disgust on my face. She hates it every time she hears her daddy's snoring. "Eww!"

I sighed inwardly when her face turned sour. I know she would bite it.

"Why don't we go back to our room and go back to sleep?"

"Okay, mommy. I'll just kiss him tomorrow."

"Yeah, that's right." I smiled, nodding. "Uhm... wait, Cali," I called her before she could even take a step. "Why don't you go inside first? I just want to check the front door if it's locked."

She happily nodded and returned to the room while I was left with a sigh. Honestly, I'm not going to check the front door because I was the one who closed it earlier, so I know it's locked. The truth is that I'm going to check on her father again.

I waited for her to come in and close the door before reopening the door to her father's room.

I wanted to know the reason why he got into a fight and who that person that's also involved in it, but based on his reaction earlier, he didn't have a plan to tell me what happened.

I don't want to judge him or make an accusation, but by living with him in almost four years, I got to know him somehow. He will not simply be involved in a fight for no apparent reason.

Yes, sometimes his ego gets higher than his nose, but he knows when to fight or when not and based on the bruises on his face, I'm sure he got into a hard fight. The reason is that something I want to know the following days or as soon as possible.