Another Chance In Progress

8 Alin

I always get this feeling that I talk too much when people ask me about the girls, but I can't really avoid it. Those two can be a pain in my ass, but they're also my proudest accomplishment for sure. Nothing in this worlds makes me happier than looking into their eyes and see that shine they hold so effortlessly, and I want to keep it there. I made it my priority, to take care of that beauty they see everywhere and make sure nothing shakes it.

- You already know a lot about my girls, wanna tell me about your little devil? - I ask him smirking.

By now, the waitress takes our plates and leaves the dessert menu. Chad takes it but talks:

- Ryan it's one of his kind. He's very smart but I'm not with him as much as I wanted to. - he says with a weak smile that doesn't reach his eyes.

- It's that bad, hum?

- His grandparents tried multiple times to talk sense into Lilly, but she's not really interested about doing what's best for him. She cares about hurting me, that's all. - he's scanning the menu now - She even called the cops on me once, for going there to pick him up. Made a footage, a fake one of course, of me assaulting her with him on my lap, can you believe it? After being humiliated, and pushed around a couple of times I defended myself, trying to push her away. She used that to file a complaint against me.

- I'm sorry that I'll ask this but, how long have the two of you been together? - I'm asking looking into his eyes.

- 8 years. - he answers huffing.

- Was it always like that?

- I think I knew what she was like all along, but I tried to believe she would change after being a mother.

- Are you ready to order? - the waitress interrupts our conversation, but my eyes are upon him.We ask for coffee and the special dessert of the house to split.

The guy I was seeing right now wasn't the confident and charming Chad I met the night before. This man here was struggling for a solution that didn't seem to come and I felt sad about it. I could see he wanted his son with him and that his privileges as a father were being ripped away from him. It made me want to help somehow, but I couldn't just involve myself into his life after one night of s*x and hope for the best, that's not how the real world works.

We finish our lunch in silence, not really sure if we should talk any further.

- I am really sorry that you have to go through that, Chad. - I am the first to break the silence so that he doesn't think I'm numb to his testimony - It's sad that she doesn't understand how wrong that can be for little Ryan, growing up. But what she's doing to you, as a man, has no excuse.

- Well, she made it clear that she would do everything to turn everyone against me so that I would end up alone. I guess I should see it coming. - he huffs again.

Ladies, this is one of the moments that I feel embarrassed for being a woman. For years we fought for equality and rights, and in a generation as good for us as now, we take the chances that were given to us and apply it wrong. I'm not a feminist, never was. I am one to believe that everyone must have a chance to prove themselves and work our way to the top, man or woman. That includes caracter. I'll never sit well with a man diminishing a woman, but the other way around bothers me equally.

- I don't know what you're thinking, Alin, but I'm not a victim. I chose to stay put, okay? - he says, almost as if he could read my mind.

- That doesn't make it any less wrong. She's compromising Ryan's caracter by taking away the right role model from him. That, Chad, it's being a victim. You might not be, but he is.

He's looking at me, but his mind it's elsewhere and he keeps quite for a while.

- You are good... - he smirks.

- What do you mean? - I can't avoid but open a smile for him.

- You took my problem and resumed it, clarifying the point that needs solution. Quick thinking.

- Well, when you're alone as I am, you need to think fast about the battles that are or not worthy of your energy.

- What if you start a battle that you think it's worthy and end up finding out it will not go according to your prediction? - he leans on the table looking straight at me.

- I'll take it to the end, and win it.

Right now, his eyes darkened and his gase on me it's predatory. Something tells me that he liked what he heard.

I learned things throughout the years, things that allow me to read people and find out what kind of thing to expect from determined behaviours. I also found out that I can be ruthless and cold when the situation demands it, no matter how much it goes against my caracter. To win, fairly, we have to swallow our emotions and be rational to the point of intimidating our opponents. Some people think that threats are intimidating, some people try to intimidate using loud words and aggressive behaviours. I respond to intimidation with silence and my personal poker face, and realise that alone scares the most. Ignorance threats us for the fear of the unknown.

- What are you doing next? - he asks me.

- I didn't plan anything today, why? - he smirks widely and goes for his wallet. - Let me...

- No discussion. I'll cover lunch, you dinner.

So, looks like we do have plans. He leaves the money and grabs my hand for us to leave.

- Wanna go to your place to pick up some clothes for tonight? - he asks me when we get to the car.

- That's a great idea, actually.

We ride to my place and I take him to my house. When I open the door, I notice his eyes roaming around the place. The only good thing about them being with my mom it's that the place look spotless! Chad walks with me around the house absorbing the spaces and smiles when he sees the girls room. I am very proud of that room, all painted in white but with baby pink and blue everywhere.