A Stalemate

Chapter 8

Lance's POV

I still remember. I still remember the day I met her. It was back when we were still six.

_ _ _

Flashback

"Lance, behave. We're going somewhere today," dad said sternly.

Noong mga panahong 'yon I didn't know what pain was yet. Hindi ko pa alam ang ibig sabihin ng salitang sakripsyo.

"Hon, don't be so mean. Lance is just a boy," mom scolded dad.

"Don't spoil him. Masasanay 'yan masyado sa'yo," natatawang sagot ni dad.

My mom squatted to reach my height and fixed my hair. She fixed my bowtie and kissed my forehead.

"But seriously, behave. There will be a lot of people there. Well, just make friends. You'll have fun, you'll see." Tumayo na si mom at ngumiti sa akin bago niya kinuha ang kamay ko.

We went outside holding each other's hands. There in front of us stood our black limousine and two bodyguards and dad talking to them.

Habang nag-uusap sila, my mom all of a sudden asked, "Do I look pretty?"

Nilingon ko siya at tiningnan. She was wearing a long beige off-shoulder dress and a diamond necklace paired with diamond stud earrings.

Tumango ako. "You're always pretty."

My mom's eyes turned from soft to amused. I like my mom happy.

"Let’s go," sabi ni dad. Naglakad kami at pumasok na sa loob ng sasakyan.

Matapos ng ilang oras ay dumating kami sa aming destinasyon. Isang malaking party para sa isa sa mga pinsan ko. It's her 18th birthday, I think.

I entered the huge hall after my parents gave our invitation card.

The hall was magnificent. There was lot of golden chandeliers and flowers of every kind around the corner. The tables were draped with white fine silk and even the floors were beautiful with its intricate designs and petals all over the floors. People were talking, dancing, and eating. It was truly a party fit for a princess.

"Clare!" rinig kong tawag ni Aunt Clarice kay mom. Lumingon kami ng sabay ni mom at hinarap siya ng may maliit na ngiti sa aming labi.

"I'm so glad you could make it! Where's Ran?"

"He's with his friends." Ni hindi ko napansin dad left. My dad is always busy so he often doesn't spend time with us let alone his friends so may be he's just making up for those lost time.

"Ohh? Is this Lance? You're so cute! Ang laki-laki mo na!" She just saw me two weeks ago. I couldn't have grown that much.

"Come, I'll introduce you to the other kids," sabi ni Auntie.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at sumama na lang sa kanya matapos ako senyasan ni mom na sumama.

There was a huge long table with many kids of different ages, probably from 3-12 years old. They're eating and loudly talking.

"Kids, this is my nephew, Lancelot. Please be nice to him," pakilala sa akin ni Auntie.

Pinaupo niya ako sa isa sa mga upuan doon at umalis matapos kaming bigyan ng isang malaking ngiti.

They all started trying to talk to me and they were crowding me. Alas, I couldn't understand them since they were all talking at the same time so I just smiled at all of them and said hello.