earned

LANCE'S POV

Second chances are earned. Hindi ito madaling makuha lalo pa't nasaktan ang tao. It's not easy to get when you know for yourself that you fuck up the idea. But the question is, are you willing to take the risk and fight your way in even if you are considered a stranger to him already?

My life has fucked up. Big-time. I was a jerk when I let the most precious treasure slip into my grip. Masiyado akong nagpakampante na hindi ako iiwan ni Ace. I was an asshole when I toke his feelings for granted. I became an abomination of mankind when I played his emotions.

All was planned. I need to marry whosoever the fiancée those old farts were talking and then take the company's ownership. It was very simple and very easy and all was done in my head. Until the moment I saw my soon to be husband. He was an angel himself. I swear the Gods out there are laughing at my lovesick state. He became the light in my most dark days, the happiness and my rest. When I'm with him, it seems like the world is at peace. I never even noticed how he became the center of my goddamn universe.

I never saw and never predicted things to go back at me. I was always primed and calculative but he... He just showed me those sincere smiles, and my resolve went haywire. I become the Lance I never thought I am. I become selfish for him—much more of possessive. I want him at my side always, gusto ko nalalaman lahat ng gusto niya. I want him to feel like he is my queen and so I did.

I showered him with love and gifts even though I know he won't need it. I was lost in my cheesiness that I forgot with my first plan.

"Lance!! I told you already, I don't want this! This—all of this!! I still have a dream! Hindi ko ito ginusto! Please help me. Please, Lance I'm begging you. Kahit ito lang mabigay mo sa'kin. Lance help me, please."

Growing up, I was sheltered and was taught to foresee my future and that is to rule the empire that my ancestors work their ass off. I never had a friend. Fuck, I don't even know how friendship works. I was too focused on my goal. I was so set on making my parents and grandparents proud.

But one person came up and introduced herself to me. I was still a young boy out then when we become friends. I don't know how but she was the one who taught me lessons that are not taught at schools. Then and there, I realized that the world has a lot to show and offer for me. Doon ko nabigyan ng pansin ang mga bagay-bagay na hindi ko namalayan. Damn, I was left behind by my co-age because I was too hard on myself. I don't even know what fun is until she blabbered all those shit. She became my companion, and my fortress herself. I was proud of our friendship.

"Stephanie, fucking no! I won't do that. That would ruin my baby!" I exclaimed and nagsisi ako when I saw tears in her rim. I don't want that. I don't want her to feel like she's alone because she's not. That time, I was sorry. I instantly regretted shouting at her.

"L-Lance. I'm begging you. I-if dad will know, he will find him and I don't want that. Hindi ko na gusto makita pa ang pagmumukha ng lalaking nakabuntis sa akin. He's a psycho for God knows!"

"I get it. But why in the hell would you ever throw a glance at that man?! Look at you for fuck sake! You know I love you, hell I can do anything for you but damn Stephanie! Hindi ko kaya ang pinapagawa mo without hurting my brat!" Thinking of this shit, hindi ko labis masikmura. Imagining the hurt image of my brat crying makes my inside sick. I can't do that to my baby for fuck sake! I'm so mad at the world for giving me this problem!!

"I know and I'm s-sorry. I shouldn't have bothered you." Akma siyang tatayo when I stopped her.

"Who is this asshole who fucking fuck you na hindi ka man lang kayang panindigan?!" I'm fuming mad for Pete's sake! My friend is an emotional mess right now due to this problem.

"You know the rules, Stephanie. You were the one who taught me this! Bakit ka nagpabuntis?! You can have fun for God's sake but why did you broke our rule? Safety first! What happened huh? And now I can't believe this happened. I swear I'll kill that bastard!"

Stephanie is my friend. She knows me more than my family. She know my secrets and shits, hell, she was even the one who bashfully sold me to his friends for a date. I love her but her request for me is impossible. That would lose me, my damn world would collapse the moment Ace will know about it and hell knows I don't want that. My brat is way special and I'll kill some asshole kapag makita ko itong umiyak. Cheesy, I know. I guess that is the effect of being in love.

"Promise me you won't hurt or even try to kill him, Lance." I don't know about that anymore.

"Yeah, yeah! Now tell me who this jerk is." I insisted.

"Nagsalita ang hipokrito." Was her reply and I gave her my middle finger.

"You were the one who taught me, Stephanie Gonzales." I replied sarcastically.

We were only twelve when we meet each other. It was his father's birthday when we first saw each other and damn she was so clingy. She can't understand a simple no, that's why I guess we become friends since then. Pareho kasi kaming matigas ang ulo.

"Damn you, Lance! Kung hindi lang kita kaibigan ay baka sabihin ko na sa baby brat Ace mo ang mga kagaguhan mo sa buhay." I glared at her direction and she just laughed. Damn, is this really normal for pregnant women to have this kind of fucking mood swings? It's damn irritating.

I don't even know why on hell would we end up as friends when in the first place ay puro kagaguhan at shopping lang ang nalalaman nitong babaeng 'to. We even framed each other and pretended like we're not close or magkilala when others are watching just and to laugh when they're gone. You see how stupid this girl is? The woman herself is irritating. Her ways of annoying me is beyond the limits. Hell, she knows I'm tied already on Ace but she, the stupid she is barged in my condo and pretended like she was my ex. Damn, it took me time to have Ace believed on me and my shits.

"Now tell me, who's the asshole?"

"Juanito Alcazar. Happy?"

As far as I can remember this was the son of the mayor, running for Governor in the near haciendas in the city.

"Tell me, did you record your bed scene again like the crazy shit you are?" Like I said, Stephanie is my friend and we have the same attitude but damn, she's too wild and adventurous sometimes so it's no wonder na nagka sex scandal siya. She's not even affected at the issue. Anyway, I don't care about her whereabouts.

"No, of course not! Masiyado 'yung conservative at tsaka I don't care about him no. Kainin niya at magpakabusog siya sa perfect image niya. I swear to hell na hinding-hindi niya makikilala ang anak niya."

My world collapse! Nangyari ang kinakatakutan ko sa lahat. Ace misunderstood all of it! I can't blame anyone except myself. Alam kong may pagkukulang ako. That night in Palawan, I was about to tell him who Stephanie really is. But damn the world goes against me and decided for a day black out. There was no way of communication since we are at the private villa on my private island. My phone was dead, the area was secluded, and everything was hell! I wanted to go home, but damn I just can't!

It was never a business trip. It was more on emergency since Stephanie was in there the whole time; she was hiding from that asshole!

Seeing my brat on his knees made me backed out on my plan. I was about to lost anything, bahala na basta hindi ko lang makita na umiiyak ang reyna ko. I can't take the scene of my brat helpless crying on the floor while Stephanie was spitting lies after lies! It broke me! Hindi ko aakalain na ang isang gagong katulad ko ang magpapa-iyak sa taong wala namang gina kundi ang mahalin at paligayahin ako. When I saw how broken he wss from all those lies, I know I fucked everything up! I know I will lose him!

Anyhow I was proud of him when I saw how he acted brave on us. He stands up on his own but I never thought he would end up escaping from me. That was the time that Stephanie's parents were alerted on her pregnancy and decided to confront the other party but we stopped them, convincing that I was the father of the child.

The Alcazar and Gonzales are never been close with each other's guts. They are more on each other's asshole sides. If Stephanie's parents will know, iipitin nito ang mga Alcazar leading them to their crisis lalo pa't it was election time. Kung ako lang ay wala akong paki! Hell, I am way cunning and it will lessen the hassle on my side on terrorizing their empire. But Stephanie is my friend and she insisted on keeping that bastard safe in line.

All was ready. All was in plan. Ang hindi ko napigilan ay ang pagtakas ni Ace. I admit that I was confident na hindi niya ako iiwan but his next actions left me crumbling. I was mad and furious at mom and dad for getting in with my business! I was ballistic when I heard that they let Ace signed the back-up contract letting him out of grasp.

What irritated me were the conditions on it! Fucking conditions made me red!

I was restricted on going anywhere near him! Tell me, how in the fuck I can do that! I tried but the Villamayor are set on flaunting me away from Ace! They threatened my family with the contract leaving my mom bedridden after she had heart attack! So I settled on watching my love from afar.

It toke me years on convincing and explaining the Villamayors that it was all an act of misunderstanding! They never believed in me at first. They even throw profanities and punches at me but I didn't mind! I didn't mind for I know it will be worth it. Stephanie in exchanged for the ruckus decided after giving birth to her son, Nikolai that she will help me. She was the one who patiently goes out and in the country to deliver me news about my brat and son.

Imagine my shock when I heard Ace was pregnant. I was so set on going in there. I was itching to go and claim my family.

"What in the hell is this woman? Ginagago mo ba ako?!" I flared as slammed the documents at the table.

Like the supportive friend she claimed herself she just rolled her eyes at me.

"Hoi, Lance! Kung inaakala mo na pinag-shopping ko na naman ang pera mo, hindi noh! Gago 'to! 'Yan nga ang nakuha kong documents from the doctor I hired to spy on Ace. Buntis si Ace! When I heard about it, hindi rin ako makapaniwala. Look you know na magkakompetinsya kami in our career pero his schedules are cleared for the next six months, don't ask me kung paano ko nalaman, may utak din ako kaya huwag ako! So ayon na nga nandoon n na tayo sa maganda na ako at matalino, the next month was the time na pinadala na sa akin ang mga documents na iyan, that was the time na kakapanganak ko pa lang. How dare you stress me after I just make silang to my anak you jerk!"

"So back to the topic, I can't believe it kaya I decided to go and check for myself leading me to found out that your husband is delivering a baby this month. And please don't go na, you'll waste your time kasi basi sa nakita ko, someone is making bakod and aligid to your husband na. You're such a looser na, my friend." I heard Ace was in depression and was taking medications and sessions but this document is pure out of nowhere! How in the hell can my brat was pregnant?!

"Who's the idiot man you're talking about?" I asked with no emotion.

"Kalurkey ka hoi! Don't use that voice on me, nakakatakot! Nyeta nito. Alam mo namang wala pang dilig tong pechay ng kumare mo kaya stressed! Dadagdagan mo pa! Hayst!" She rambled kaya napahilot ako sa sentido ko.

"So who's the man?" I gritted my teeth and I reminded myself that she is my fucking friend for damn's sake!

"Where's my payment muna?" She raised her fingers on me with that famous smirk of her, "Kung inaakala mong libre ang lahat ng serbisyo ko ay nagkakamali ka dear."

"Kung inaakala mong may natitira pa akong pasensiya ay nagkakamali ka. Hmm. Why don't we invite my dear friend, Juanito in here? Should we?" I've spent millions in this woman for her shopping already! I guess it's time for that idiot of a man, Alcazar to pay for those expenses! Walang libre- sa akin, lahat may bayad at pagbabayarin ko ang tanginang gagong 'yun dahil sa nangyari sa akin at sa relayon namin ni Ace! Tangina lang, oo pareho kaming gago pero ako mahal ko ang asawa ko!

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Hindi ka talaga mabiro Lance. Alam mo mas gwapo ka pa nga dun sa lalaki ni Ace eh. Hehe." Mas nagdilim ang paningin ko sa huling sinabi niya.

You brat! I'll make sure to punish you the moment I'll lay my hands on you.

"Okay. Fine. According to my source, the name of this man you're jealous to is Justin Wong. A close friend of Ace since ever! Yun lang. May bayad na ang susunod na impormasyon."

"How can I trust your words, Stephanie? How can I make sure you're not spitting lies again?" I raised a brow at her hurt expression. She's exaggerating.

"Okay, how about this. Babalik ako the next month to have a closer looks at the baby. Baka kasi hindi mo kamukha ang bata. Oh em gee what if hindi ikaw ang ama ng bata?!" I sent daggers at her and pinagtatapon ang mga laman ng mesa ko making her ran away from my office!

"Ahhhh!! You asshole! Punyeta mo gago! Putangina ka Lance! I was just joking okay?! Or maybe not!! Hahahaha! Karma is my twin, Lance! We both are bitches in never-fucking land! Mamatay ka sana sa selos!"

What a lunatic!

Ten years have passed. Ten years have passed when I saw the beauty of an angel that God gifted to my brat. I know he's my son. I don't need to look a second time, I'm certain. Alam kong naka-shoot ako. Matinik ang lahi namin kaya madaling makasita. Anyways.

"Hello my friend. Long time no see but now see now, eh?" I didn't mind the person who entered the room.

"Get your ass off in my penthouse, Stephanie." I shooed her away. I don't know how on hell ganito ang naging kaibigan ko. She's the mistress of demon herself.

"Don't be a party pooper, Lance. You know what. Nandito lang naman ang maganda mong kaibigan dahil may party akong dadaluhan. Exciting right?" I sent her a bored look.

"Ewan ko sa'yo! Bahala ka. Ngayon nga lang ako maka-uwi ng bansa, ganiyan pa ang trato mo sakin? I-a-unfriend na talaga kita sa social media. Hmp! Buuuuttttt before that, Alam mo bang naka-uwi na ang love of your life, Lance?" I smiled.

Every time someone will mention anything about him, I can't help but to smile. His memories with me will always be my soothing tool. I missed my brat so much that it's painful. I missed his kisses, his hugs, his smiles, all of him.

"Every time no? Kapag may narinig ka talaga about him; you would always be the Lance I tried to coerce. Alam kong alam mo na ang balita. Seeing your eyes glimmer with excitement with just the thought of your family I can't help myself, I'm so guilty for all of what I caused on you and Ace. Dahil minsan na kitang nakita na masaya kapag kapiling mo siya and now, I can't help but to feel sorry when I saw how sincere your smiles. Kasi ako mismo ang dahilan kaya naging ganito ka, naging ganito ang nag-iisang kaibigan ko na naging totoo sa akin."

"From the pit of my life, I'm so sorry, Lance. Pero huwag kang mag-aalala babawi ako. Pinangako ko na 'yan noon pa man, and this time sisiguraduhin kung maisasakatuparan na natin 'to. Ako naman ang magsakripisyo para sa inyo, Lance. Pagod na rin kasi akong takbuhan ang problema. Masaya na ako kasama ang anak ko. Kaya sana ikaw din kasama ang anak at magiging pamilya mo." I smiled at her.

No matter how hard she is on herself by taking up the blame, I can't stay mad at her. After all, she's my friend together with that shit, Ken whom I must say is very happy being married to my cousin. I'm may be hard on them, especially this past few years, it won't erase the fact that they're my friend. Somehow I'm still proud for them. They already had their family na paglalaanan ng araw nila. Thinking about it, a smile creeps up in my face as I envision my own family.

Wait for me, brat. Babawi ako.

"I know." Was my only response habang natatawang tinapunan ng tissue ang mukha ni Stephanie.

"You like shit when you cry. Fucking stop!" She glared at me but nevertheless take the tissue.

She explained me about a certain party na gaganapin hosted by Wong family on a certain hacienda celebrating the alliance of WHVG, a graphic company owned by my brat and that fucker, Justin. My idiot friend planned something way out of her. And I was glad that the plan went perfect together with the cooperation of Ace's dad, Tito Kingston.

"So you're telling me that you and that bitch is your friend-Best friend to be exact?" My brat asked as I was busy preparing our food.

He stared at me and then my phone again. I let him checked my phone and all of message logs since the day he found out and misinterpreted the whole scenario. I let him read all of my messages and activities hoping that he will lessen his guard on me.

Looking and staring at my world, I can't help but to smile. Finally, I can have him back. All those years I spent looking at them from afar was worth it. All those painful fucking years gazing my son and my brat happy in another man was damn frustrating! Nevertheless I can't help but to cry my insides as finally, I can give them the family that they deserves.

No secrets this time. No hindrance!

"It was supposed to be me." I said while staring at his beautiful face.

My brat is my personal drugs. It makes me weak and at the same time longed for him. I can't live without him for another year without the dosage of his gummy smile and sassiness. Ten fucking years is enough for drama, now I'm rooting for the happy ending of this love story. After all, my brat is my queen now, and I and my son am his knight in shining armor.

"H-huh?" I know he was bewildered by my statement, sa mukha pa lang niyang mukhang pagalit na, I can't help myself but to peek a kiss on those luscious lips. My haven!

"Quit kissing me already, Lance. Namamaga pa yang bibig ko dahil sa mga kababalaghan na nalalaman mo." He rolled his eyes at me but it didn't irritate me or so, it made me fucking giddy on the inside. Fucking cheesy but let me, I missed him so much.

"Hindi mo ako masisisi, Angel. I was celibate for years till that night. You can't stop me now, I'm addicted and hell will break, I want you." He pouted and rolled his eyes at me. Pero hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang pamumula ng tenga niya.

Damn, why so cute, mi amore. Years have passed but it seems I'm still so in love with this angel. All was worth it and now, I won't stop myself for marking my goddamn territory. After all he is mine in the first place to start with.

"Anong ibig sabihin ng sinabi mo ngayon Lance?" I removed my sight at the food I am cooking and tiningnan siya. Fuck my friend right there loves the sight of my brat sporting only my boxer and tee shirt. You can add the mark and love bites to his neck down to his chest to the reason why my commando down there is at attention.

"What do you mean? The part where I was celibate because my husband leaved me without me explaining my side? Or the part where I told you it was supposed to be me? Pick, my love." I kissed him for seconds before returning my attention at our food.

I was planning for breakfast in bed but he was up early.

"T-The part w-when you s-said 'it was s-suppose to be you?" Seeing him all red ay hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili na mas tuksuin pa siya sa kaniyang kalagayan. And as a reply I was shunned with a glare.

"It was supposed to be me. Fucking you! Making love to you. Owning you! Assisting you! Teaching our son his first walk! Buying your needs, Joxiah's milk or providing you my milk. All of it! It was supposed to be me and not that piece of ass you call Justin." I groaned when a spatula hit my head.

"Damn you, Lance. Anong owning you, making love to you? Hoi kung ina-akala mong may namamagitan sa amin ng kaibigan ko, nagkakamali ka. It was you all this time. Ikaw ang first kiss. Ikaw ang first time. At ikaw pa rin hanggang sa kagabi. You prick, don't you fucking smirk at me, and you look like a fool!"

"A fool for you, yes. Only for you, mi amor." I said and remove the distance between us as I kissed him like there's no tomorrow.

"I'm hungry already. Quit kissing me and give me food. Real food this time, Zapanta."

I detached myself from him and seeing him all flustered,

"I know you want me and your friend down there but food first and you can have your milk then."

"Fuck you!"