envious

ACE'S POV

Days and weeks passed by, and the word 'nagkakamabutihan' really awestruck me! Day by day, I'm falling for my Lance's charm and possessive ways. I'm scared honestly, I'm so young! Too young! I wasn't expecting to be tied this early. I was expecting my life would be full of adventures, those cliché high school flings, and all those stuff but NAH, someone barged in and fucked the hell out of my system.

But I am happy as to where my life is heading, I wasn't expecting it to be like this, but I am happy. That's the important thing that matters right? As long aswere happy, walang natatapakan na ibang tao, ay 'yun ang importante.

These past days, he didn't fail to amaze me. From the flowers, chocolates, kisses and his ways of courtship, his words, not mine.

There are this instances na nanonood ako ng mga romantic movies, and it comes with the proposal or wedding part. It made me cry from their joy, their smiles, their laughter. I can't help but question myself, 'Magkakaganiyan kaya ako?' 'Will I also have that romantic proposal?' 'May magmamahal kaya sa akin gaya ng sa pelikula?' 'Am I worth it?' When he saw me in that state, naiiyak dahil lang sa movie na pinanood namin, pinagalitan ba naman ako. Like seriously, nakakahiya kina Mom and Dad dahil pinagalitan ba naman ako with the reason na pipili lang naman daw ako eh dun pa sa iiyak. Grabe ang trip ng gago, hindi ko maintindihan.

He didn't stopped me kaya ayun nasabi ko sa kanya ang rason kung bakit ako naiyak and he was there. He was there for me. Someone was beside me aside from my friends and family to comfort my silliness, romantically. He promised to make me experience those dreams, and at the end of that day, I was spooned with love and assurances. That's the very most that matters to me. His assurances of this relationship, and we're honest from each other, then it's good.

"When with me, I will show you fantasies." I know I want to experience and live my life with the memory of that special day. Some may mock me for being so cliché, but, 'yun ang pangarap ko eh. Ang mahalin at pahalagahan.

Who doesn't want that anyway?

I looked at the man who showed me admiration, and worth this past month. I can see the smile in his face, and even from this state, nababasa ko na ang mga nasa isipan niya.

He's happy with his successful planned date.

It was magical being on a yacht, drinking wines and eating luxurious delicacies. It was perfect. Too contrasted with my planned date, nagkasundo kasi kami to planned each other's date kaya ayun dinala ko siya sa mga street-foods dito sa plaza namin. His reactions were gullible and funny at the same time.

"Matutunaw ako niyan." Napatawa ako sa mukha ng taong alam kung may parte na sa buhay ko.

"Jerk, conceited, and mahangin; wow ano pa ang kulang, Zapanta?" I muttered below my breath and tumingin na lang sa mga sasakyan na nasa harapan.

"Lance, babe, I told you to stop calling me with my last name."

"Keep dreaming, asshole."

"You don't want to know what my dreams with you are." I scoffed at him.

From the smirk he's sporting, kamanyakan na naman naiisip nito.

"Ang halay mo rin eh, no?" Umiling-iling akong pinagkrus ang mga kamay sa dibdib.

"What? Wala akong sinasabi ah."

"Totoo namang mahahalay 'yang mga mind mo."

"Excuse me, innocent until proven guilty, brat. Come on babe wala kang ebidensiya." Kampanting sagot niya na tinawanan ko lang. Evidence pala ah.

Sinapo ko ang pagkalalaki niya and dahil sa gulat ay gumeywang ang sasakyan. I'm confident naman na hindi kami mababangga. Na-confirm ko rin ang argumento.

"The argument has ended. I won, Zapanta." Binilatan ko siya and kita ko naman ang pamumula ng mukha niya.

"Damn, brat. Don't do that again." Hingal na sabi niya.

"Ang alin? To turned you on? Daddy, it's my inborn talent." I wiggled my brows purposely and tinapik ang isang hita niya na malapit sa akin.

"Damn. Only you, brat, ikaw lang."

The trip back home was peace at last. Nakatulog kasi ako.

"Oh, Lance, anak? Komusta ang date niyo?" Kaagad na salubong ng mommy ng makapasok kami sa bahay.

Ngiting-ngiti ang gago at humalik sa pisngi ni mommy na naka-abang sa sala, chismis na naman inatupag nito. Bakit alam ko? Palagi kasi niyang inaabangan ang uwi ko at nagpapakwento kung ano ang nangyari.

"It was fantastic, mom."

"Nakita ko nga sa instagram stories mo. Taray mo anak, ah. Date on a yacht. Parang kami lang noon ng daddy mo noon," Natawa naman kami sa inasal ng mommy.

Nagpaalam muna ako na magbibihis at ng makapag-usap na silang dalawa.

My family and his are close to each other, tinago lang talaga nila sa'min ng mga anak ang kasunduan, fearing that it anger us, and plot twist it did but it's heading great.

Supposedly, the past month pa lang ang kasal, but Lance, he insisted to re-prepare the wedding again, this time ay sa Spain na ang kasal. Wala kami masiyadong stress in terms of the wedding preparations since Tita and Mom insisted na sila na raw ang bahala. Dad and Tito also are pretty busy with the merging of both families' company.

Mostly, runaways and couture and signed contract ang pinaglalaanan ko ng panahon, with the reason of Lance supervising every contracts that I'm signing.

I proceeded in changing night clothes after shower and bumaba na. Mahaba-haba ang oras na nagalugad ko sa banyo and by the time na natapos na ako, it was late already and from the laughter sa sala ay mukhang hindi pa nakaka-alis si Lance.

I ordered a maid to bring Miles a glass of milk, I reminded Miles also about the files I sent her. I walked downstairs observing mom and Lance habang nasa hamba ng pintuan. I was looking at them and their silly chismisan. Lance lived up on his words, tinutuhanan talaga niya na magpapa-impress siya sa pamilya ko.

"Oh, princess, come here anak." Nakuha ni dad ang atensiyon ko kaya I smiled at him. He's with mom and Lance, talking with business.

"Hi, dad, I missed you. How was your day by the way, I heard about the investments you were talking, I believe it will benefit the company though we need to make some adjustment especially the shipping force. As a matter of fact, I can talk to Tito Lindon with the shipping of the cargos." I kissed his cheeks and hugged him.

"It was busy. But your mom here is enough to cast that tiredness away." I smiled at mom's blushing face. They really are made for each other. "For your Tito Lindon, the Marquez Shipping Line is a brilliant choice, princess."

"You three are all business, Lance anak, don't forget to remind your mom about our shopping galore tomorrow." Tumayo si mom and inalalayan ang daddy papunta sa itaas, still arguing who's this and that. "As for you honey, you're just tired. Matulog na tayo, hayaan na lang natin ang mga bata na mamahala sa kompaniya."

"I envy your relationship with your family." I turned my head to Lance, he offered his lap for me kaya I sit on it at sinandal ang ulo sa matipuno niyang dibdib. He keened me on sitting on comfortably and so I did.

"You're family now, Lance. No need to feel envious."

We are making our own family now and I'll give the attention and maybe love for the rest of our life. I kissed him, sealing my promise in my head.

"I will give you the family we want, Lance. Hindi man sa ngayon, but when that time happens, I will make sure I am changed to the better version of myself." I really want what's best for my family. I want to change the negative traits I have; including my personalities.

"You don't need to change anything, babe, you are perfect."

"Ayaw ko sa bratinela at conyonita kong sarili, Lance, I don't want our kids following the bad habits I have." I murmured and sigh, I heard him sexily chuckle. He kissed me on my forehead, it was sweet and calming.

It felt home, "Have I tell you on how fucking lucky I am when God gave me you, brat?" He keened me on sitting on his lap and so I did.

"A thousand times a day, hermoso."

"Damn, stop making me kilig, baby." Natawa ako sa sinabi niya at umalis sa pagkakandong niya bago pa kami makita ng kuya.

Doon ko lang napansin ang isang box ng regalo. Tinignan ko si Lance silently asking kung sa kaniya ba ito pero umiling lang siya. I saw a card kaya binasa ko 'to. Hindi naman kalakihan ang regalo, katamtaman lang. I saw my name in the card kaya I decided to open it. I was stunned to see the insides, it held a diamond bracelet with my named engraved in its palette. It was beautiful,

"Ace, this is my advance gift for your birthday celebration this coming week. I can't go home kasi busy dito sa states. Happy Birthday, my Bunny. - Justin Wong" Hindi ko napansin na naka ngiting-aso na pala ako habang binabasa ito.

Justin Wong is no other than my best friend.. Just like me, he's busy kasi kaka-open lang niya sa gallery doon. He's a very successful photographer. We are very much alike in terms of hobbies and he was part of the reason kung bakit I'm working as a nude supermodel.

"Who the fuck is Justin Wong?!" Nagitla naman ako ng biglang pumutok itong katabi ko. Seeing his angered face, I can't help but to think of a nakakalokong plan.

"Oh, he was a casual fling."

"A fucking what now?"

"The one who claimed my first kiss, a fling,"

"Are you fucking kidding me, Villamayor?"

"Justin, my very first,"

"He has the guts on sending you gifts? Why? Tell me, are you two still entertaining assholes behind my back, Villamayor?!"

"Pfft!" Bigla siyang tumayo and naglakad palabas kaya dali-dali akong sumunod sa kaniya. Luh, pikon. Shems. Knowing him, alam kung totohanin niya ang mga sinabi niya. Possessive bastard,

"... Ken you better has the fucking information tomorrow or else I'll skin you fucker."

"Hoi, Lance! Wait," Buti na lang at tumigil ang gago. Masiyadong seloso,

"Lance..." No answer.

"Oi, ano ba. Joki-joki lang naman 'yun." No answer.

"Hermoso naman eh,"

"Get back inside, Ace. It's getting cold."

"Sorry na kasi, it was a joke." I pouted,

"Well it wasn't funny," He glared in no particular.

"Hindi naman 'yun totoo kasi," Nakita ko ang paglandas ng kaginhawaan sa mukha niya kaya sinungaban ko siya ng mahigpit na yakap at tumingala sa mukha niya.

"And the first kiss?" He raised a brow at me kaya lumukso ako at ipinulupot ang mga paa sa beywang niya. I gave him a peck on the lips.

"It's you who stole my first kiss, Zapanta." I smiled sweetly at him and nakita ko naman ang pagngiti niya.

"That's good To hear, babe." Yun lang ang sinabi niya kaya nahiwagaan naman ako sa kung bakit hindi siya nagtanong about the second subject.

"Uhm... Are you not going to ask about the second thing I said?" I was contemplating of course. What if alam na pala niya na magkakilala sa amin noon? Will he be disgusted on my desperateness and idiocy?

"Look, brat. I'm no virgin and you never questioned that. It is only fair for me to not ask you about it. Pero selos na selos ako sa mga bagay that I could've give to you earlier."

I was touched by his words.

"Thank you, Lance."

"I only want to give you the best, even if I'm worst myself. It's you that matters the most for me." Sinubsbb ko ang mukha sa leeg niya after hearing him say it. Kinikilig ako.

He walked me inside the house and bumaba naman ako at kinuha ang regalo na nakalatag sa lamesa. I saw his eyes darkened at the sight kaya I decided to explain him what this gift is, and who sent it.

"Justin Wong is my kababata. We were a tandem back then but we got disconnected since he needs to go to States for personal reasons. He must've remembered that it's my birthday this next week kaya nagpadala ng regalo." Itinuro ko ang picture frame na nasa estante at tumingin naman siya doon.

"I want our photo bigger than that." I rolled my eyes at him.

I opened my phone and showed him my wallpaper, "oh, hala eto." I showed him for the first time ang kuha ni Marken, ang secretary niya.

It was him looking at me while I was laughing my heart out. Stolen picture namin 'yun after ng marriage council meeting namin,

Ngumiti naman ang gago ng nakakaloko while showing me his phone. It shows me wearing his shirt, may tumutulo pang laway while natutulog ako sa bed niya, may mga hickeys pa!

"Lance! Akin na ang phone mo," Itinaas lang niya ito upang hindi ko maabot. He's such a bully, pero pikon naman.

"Kahit pa umiyak ka, you can't change my mind in deleting the photo." Namumula akong sinugod siya. I swear to God! Makakasapak ako ng unggoy ngayon!

"Ugh! I hate you!"

"You can't hate me. I'm too gwapo for you to hate me." Nawindang naman ako sa kahanginan ng loko.

"You're not gwapo. Ang pangit mo kaya. I wonder on how on hell I fall for you." I was murmuring the last statement kaya alam kung hindi niya narinig 'yun.

"Oh, I thought I'm your hermoso? Hermoso means handsome and handsome in tagalog is gwapo."

"Hmp! Dahil sa ayaw mong i-delete ay pangit ka na. PANGIT!"

"Pina-ungol ka naman ng pangit na'to." He smirked after saying those kahalayan. I showed him my middle finger.

"Nasarapan ka naman!" I showed him my middle finger, again.