Heart Over Matter Book Cover

Made by Cheska Lilyana R. Escaño for this book.

Lance Robert was an orphan who fell in love deeply with his best friend Nicole. When Lance was eight years old, he ran away from the orphanage and met a guy named Greg Vallejo who eventually adopted him. His new family treated him well and gave him everything he'll need. Because of that, Lance felt like the need of paying his indulgence to the family in every way he could. But beyond his knowledge, a dark secret was being kept from him by everyone that can destroy the name of Greg's family. Lance's love for Nicole will be tested when his family demanded her for his brother, Charles. Would Lance give up Nicole or would he fight for the girl who holds his heart?

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Acknowledgment - Heart Over Matter

Acknowledgment

First and foremost, I want to thank Jhasmin Datuin and Rogelio de Guzman for inspiring me to do this story, if you don’t know; now you know. I got my concept from the two of you – a girl falling in love with her best friend.

I want to thank my first readers and critics for your kind words. It inspired me to make this book as best as I could.

To JoBaKS, thanks for the encouragements, to Tropang Kalogers and Tropang Feras, thanks for the complements. All of you made a huge contribution in this book.

Special thanks to Mylene Ferrer for being my editor. You made my life so easy! Thanks a lot; I hope that I can do something for you in return.

To Cheska Lilyana Escaño for the book cover, thanks a lot! To Nova Krisanta Vallo for criticizing me and at the same time making me strong.

I also want to thank IV-2 batch 2011 of Bayambang National High School for letting me use your names. This is dedicated for you.

Thanks to Taylor Swift, Greenday, Matchbox 20, Mandy Moore, Adam Lambert, Kris Allen, Kyla, Juris, Carol Banawa, Katy Perry, David Archuleta, Yeng Constantino, and to those singers who sang the songs that inspired me.

Acknowledgement to the movies Pano na Kaya, Till my Heartaches End, A Walk To Remember, and Dear John. It gave me an idea about love and pain.

Above all, I thank God for giving me wisdom every night when I begin to make my stories.

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Epilogue - Heart Over Matter

Epilogue

6 years later…

“Nicole, have you called the bakery already?” Lance asked. “It’s the first birthday of Alex; I don’t want him to celebrate it without his birthday cake.”

“Relax Lance,” Nicole said. “They’re coming. Besides, the party won’t start in three hours.”

Seven years had passed; Nicole and Lance had their own family already. They have two sons. A year after their wedding, Nicole gave birth to their first son Rafael, and after five years they had their second son Alex.

Nicole sat beside her husband, “It’s been 9 years since you saw your family last.”

“Yeah,” Lance agreed.

“Did you miss them?” Nicole asked.

“I don’t know,” Lance said. “Sometimes I want to talk to them; there were times that I wish they’re hearing, like when Rafael was born, I don’t know anything about being a father. I wanted to call him, you know. I want to ask him to guide me.”

“I think it’s time for you to go back,” Nicole said. “Your Dad isn’t getting younger.”

“Your right,” Lance said.

“Do you want to go back tomorrow? Well do it together,” Nicole said.

“Thank you Nicole,” Lance kissed Nicole’s forehead.

“That’s a kiss for old people,” Cheska said. “Real lovers kiss on the lips and not on the forehead.”

“Tsk, do you mind?” Lance said in irritation.

“Hmp! Sige lad tan!”

*     *     *

Lance drove down the farm. The farm change not a bit, except for the once green farm now a dried farm. Lance heard the people talking that the Vallejo’s planed to sell the farm and their business.

Lance went out of his car. He walked slowly towards an old man sitting under a tree. The man’s hair was grey, not like when he saw him last, he can see the aged skin of the man. Lance can see that the man was now weak.

Lance neared him. He took a deep breath and said, “Dad,”

Greg turned around; his old handsome face was now old and filled with wrinkles. Lance can see that Greg is not in a good condition, his Dad is dying.

“Son,” Greg said. “You have returned.”

“Yes Dad,” Lance smiled. “I’m back.”

--End—

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Chapter 28 - Heart Over Matter

The Final Heartbeat

I opened my eyes; the sun light has blinded me for a second. As my sight slowly become clear, my brain has come back to the reality. For just a few minutes, I had recalled all that had happened to me for the past years.

Believe me or not, I still feel the pain, the love and the bitter sweet flavor of my past. Mark and his friends went to the Louvre Museum. I decided to go here in the cathedral – Notre Dame.

People say that if it’s your first time to go in a church, you can have a wish. Well, I’m lucky to be here standing in front of a cathedral. It’s my first time here, so I’m hoping that God will grant my wish.

As time passed by, I have learned so many things. I have learned how to love, how to let go, and to fight when it’s time or when it’s right.

Nicole, Nicole. She’s my best friend. As far as I could remember we have already known each other. We’re playmates, then we became friends… she’s one of those poor children who were abandoned by their parents, or those who were deprived of good provision like me.

Now I see, I shouldn’t regret that I run away that day. Because if I didn’t, then I wont be able to meet them. They maybe lied to me about everything, they maybe hid my past, my true identity, but behind those they showed me one thing that’s not a lie – love. I know because I felt it.

Maybe I can’t forgive them now, but in time, my feet would take me back to that place, and I hoped that I can let go of the anger, after all, we can’t move on if we still think about the past, past is something I cannot change, but the future, it’s something that I can hold, and I can mold.

Atty. Nova Calderon-Cuison has her own law firm now. His Dad was so proud and Nova had let her mother go back to the Philippines from working abroad. She married her long time boy friend Tom, and I heard that she had just gave birth to her first baby, a girl named Antlia, they named her after Nova’s favorite constellation. But when I told them Antlia means Air Pump, they gave it a second thought.

Cheska Lilyana Villareal has her own bank now. She’s struggling to have branches all over the Philippines. She’s planning to marry her boy friend soon, but first she has to tell her mom about it. She’s already 24 years old, but she has never told her parents about his boy friend.

I heard Charles was now managing the family business and the Hacienda Vallejo. Aunt Sandra told me before she die that the business is near to bankruptcy, and they don’t know how to revive their dying business. I heard Charles had his first daughter named Sandy, named after her departed mother. Cheska told me that the baby is blind, and the doctors said that her condition can’t be fixed with operation. And I know that this will be a tough job for him.

As for Marla, I heard that she’s now a politician. She followed the footsteps of her parents.

Well now, let’s see. I will graduate Medicine this year. I’ll take up my specialization next year so, and Mark promised that he’ll help me to find a work.

I looked at my watch and saw the time, its 1:48 a.m. here at Paris. The date is June 22, 2018. The air was filled with the smell of the Seine River, the place was filled with lovers, and the sun blazed above the roofs of the buildings. I converted the time here at Paris to the time at the Philippines; it’s already 8:45 p.m. there, but it’s still June 21, in short, I have five minutes left.

“Please, bring her back to me, please,” I finally said my wish. For a reason, the bells of Notre Dame rung and everyone looked at the bell tower. The bell isn’t supposed to ring in this hour.

Four minutes…

Nicole is the most wonderful thing in my life. She’s the person who knows me better than anyone.

Three minutes…

My breathing got shallow, and rapid. I’m nervous.

Two minutes…

Should I say goodbye to you now Nicole? Is this goodbye?

One minute…

I guess it is… Good Bye Nic-

“Lance!” a voice shouted behind me.

I turned and looked at the girl who called my name. It’s the girl whom I’m waiting for… the girl whom I thought I would never see, the girl who holds my heart.

Times up. She’s just in time.

I ran towards her. I pulled her hand, put my arm around her waist and kissed her passionately in the lips. Nicole put her arms around my head; she ran her hands in my hair.

“Am I too late?” Nicole asked.

“No,” I said. “You’re just in time.”

“I love you Lance,”

“I love you more,” I said and kissed her again in the forehead.

For a moment or two, we held each other, not minding the people who stare at us. Our eyes were closed and I felt my heart pound. It’s my final heartbeat, the heartbeat that last forever… and it’s for Nicole, my Nicole.

*     *     *

“I, Lance Robert Vergara, solemnly vow to love and protect Nicole Angela Alvarez as my wife, to give her my loyalty and love, and a life time of happiness,” Lance said as he wears the ring in Nicole’s left ring finger.

Nicole did the same while saying the same vow that Lance had said. They stared at each other for a second, but it seemed to be a lifetime when the Priest said “You may now kiss the bride,”

Lance gently kissed Nicole in the lips. People clapped and cheered. Their friends were there, congratulating them.

Photographers were taking pictures now, and Lance’s arm was around Nicole. The moment was so perfect. The choir played the song Lance made for Nicole. They can’t explain, but when the music played, the memories of their childhood, when Nicole suddenly bumped into Lance when they’re going to take the college entrance exam, to the moment Lance revealed that he’s Robert, until that afternoon in the locker room with Lance holding a bouquet of tulips, until the meteor shower, until that night in the rain…

“Nicole,” Lance said. “What if you came late that day? At Paris?”

“I’m not late,” Nicole said. “I saw you there in front of the Notre Dame fifteen minutes earlier. I just waited for the last minute before I called your name.”

“Huh? Why?”

“For a dramatic entrance,” Nicole said sarcastically.

“But what if we didn’t meet that day?”

“Lance, please, it’s our wedding day,” Nicole said. “And besides, I prayed to see you again. That’s my wish in the cathedral.”

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Chapter 27 - Heart Over Matter

Stars

It was fullmoon, and the dark sky was filled with stars. There will be another meteor shower that night and Nicole was waiting for it. Three months left, Nicole sighed. I need to see Lance again in three months or else.

A week from now, she’s going to Paris to meet his father’s older sister, her Aunt Marian.

After Lance left, she continued her studies at Ateneo De Manila University. Nova and Cheska are visiting her every now and then. They’re telling her what Lance had told them the last time he called.

Lance never called her. He’s too serious with that 3-year-agreement they have. But Nicole saw him once in a restaurant, he’s working there as a waiter. Nicole wanted to call him or even run beside him, but she can’t because she’s riding on a bus. She saw him again in a hospital. Nicole followed him until Lance vanished in the crowd. Every time it happens all she could do is to cry.

When the meteor shower started, Nicole felt Lance beside him. She felt his warmth; it’s like when they first watch the meteor shower together. But the one that made her cry is when she heard Lance’s voice saying “I love you, my Nicole.”

*     *     *

It’s been five months since Sandra passed away. Mark will take him to Europe tomorrow. He wanted to have a trip to Europe, but since Mark doesn’t have family, he’d take his friends with him, and it includes Lance.

Five months before June…Five months… Lance thought.

Lance is loosing hope. It would be very impossible for them to meet. The world is bigger than they thought it would be.

“Lance, have you packed your things?” Mark asked.

“Yes,” Lance answered.

“Well leave tomorrow morning. So sleep early so that you can wake up early,” Mark reminded him.

Lance looked outside through the window of the condo unit. The sky was starless, but the full moon was so bright, like it owns the night. If we won’t see each other again…if were not meant to be, I just hope that you wont forget that I love you and I always will. And if that day comes, I hope that you’ll be happy in the arms of someone you love… with someone who’s meant for you. Nicole, my love, my destiny, my soulmate, my forever.

That night Lance dreamed again. It’s the same dream as before, or rather it’s continuation. This time he’s running at the dark road. But he saw that there’s another path towards the right road. Lance followed it and he knows that he made the right choice. He’s now out of the life of regrets and back to the life of happiness.

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Chapter 26 - Heart Over Matter

Patient

2 years later…

“Take this patient,” Dr. Tennyson said. “That patient had her stroke, and this is her 3^rd time.”

“Yes Doc,” Lance said.

It was 2 years later when he left everything and everyone behind. After he said his goodbyes to Nicole, Lance drove to the Hacienda Vergara to meet his good old friends – Bernardo and Alicia.

Lance told them what he found out that night, and Bernardo and Alicia told him something that would add another piece of his past.

“We’re sorry that we kept the truth from you,” Alicia said. “Greg asked us not to tell you, and he promised that he’ll do it himself.”

“It’s okay,” Lance said. “I understand. But, why did he ask you to do so?”

Bernardo and Alicia looked at each other.

“Is there something I need to know?” Lance asked. “Tell me please, I want to know everything about me, about my parents…”

“Remember what I told you about my daughter?” Bernardo asked.

“Yes, you told me that your only daughter was missing and the last time you saw her last was when she’s… Oh no, you mean…”

“Yes, Elena is your mother,” Bernardo said. “It was the 21^st of February, 20 years ago. Elena was laboring; the midwife came to see her. But then Ferdinand Allegre sent people that night to take my daughter and kill you both, but the village people helped us and Elena was able to run away. But after that we never saw her again.”

“Why does this Ferdinand Allegre wants to kill us?” Lance asked.

“He’s Sandra’s father. He’s afraid that if your grandfather – Leon Vallejo – founds out about you, he won’t continue the merging of their businesses. You see, Leon Vallejo is a good friend of Ferdinand, but Leon is against the idea of your father and Sandra being married.

“After eight or ten years, Greg came here and told us that he found you. We insisted to see you, but he said he hadn’t told you about it. He promised us that he’ll take you here when your ready, but he never did tell you.”

Lance thanked them and left. He’s happy to know that his grandparents are good people, not like his father.

He went to Manila; he worked as a waiter on a fancy restaurant. He plans to take the board exam to have a license and work on a hospital as a nurse. After 6 months someone called him and said that he wanted to meet him. Lance met the guy, it’s a lawyer. To Lance surprise, it’s the lawyer of Mr. Abenidos, his patient who had a lung cancer and the one who encouraged him to tell Nicole about his feelings. Apparently Mr. Abenidos is dying and wants to see him. Lance went to see Mr. Abenidos. He asked Lance what happened after that day when he left the hospital. Lance told him all that had happened. After 4 months Mr. Abenidos died peacefully.

Mr. Abenidos doesn’t have a family, he’s only companion in life was his adopted son. Mr. Abenidos gave his foster son all his money and property. But to his generosity, he gave Lance his ranch at Zambales and 2 million pesos. Lance used the money to continue his studies. Luckily, the university gave him an exam to test what year level he can take, and the results said that he can take 2^nd year. Lance’s happy because he’s not left behind.

He never lost his communication with his friends, but he never told them where he is. He never saw Nicole nor talked to her, not even once.

Now, Lance is currently studying at Washington University. Mark – Mr. Abenidos’ foster son – sent him there to study. Mark was 47 years old, and he’s a business minded person that he forgot to start his own family. He helped Lance to change his name, now, everyone knows him as Lance Robert Vergara.

Lance looked at the paper which Dr. Tennyson gave him. It has the name of his patient, his hand shook when he saw the name. Sandra Vallejo.

*     *     *

Sandra opened her eyes. The first person she saw was the person she hated and hid before – Lance.

“Lance?” Sandra said.

“Hello,” Lance greeted coldly. “I’m just here to introduce myself; I’ll be your doctor from now.”

“I see,” Sandra smiled. “Please sit down.”

Lance pulled a stool and sat beside Sandra’s bed. “Are you thirsty?”

“No,” Sandra said.

“Where’s everyone?” Lance asked.

“Charles was left at the Philippines. He needs to handle the business. Do you know that he’s married already?” Sandra said.

“Who’s the lucky girl?” he asked.

“Kristine Cervantes,” Sandra said. “He met her a year after you left.”

Lance just smiled.

“He’s here,” Sandra said. “Your dad I mean. He’s with Ivan and Janine. Ivan went with your Dad to get some things at the house while Janine went to buy some medicine.” When Lance didn’t answer, Sandra added “I know you didn’t ask about them, I know you’re still angry with him, but I just figured that you want to know.”

“Yeah, I’m kind of curious,” Lance said. “Lucky guess?”

“No,” Sandra said. “Of course there are times that I’m angry with my father, but no matter what it is, I still care for him, I still love my father. My father is not the best dad on earth, or the best person, but he’s my father, and no matter what mistake he has committed before, I still cared for him. I just hoped that you still care for your dad.”

Lance told Sandra everything that he’s been through since he left. Sandra said that he’s lucky, and that is the blessing from god for his kindness. Sandra told him then that she’s the one who left him at the orphanage and told him what happened to his mother, and that she’s the one who told Stephen to send him out of the orphanage.

“I’m sorry Lance,” Sandra said. “I’m sorry for everything.”

“You’re forgiven,” Lance said. “We can’t move on if we’re still thinking about the past.”

“If ever you want to see your mother’s grave, just look for a person named Lucio Santos. He knew where your mother was buried.”

“Thank you,” Lance said. “But can I ask you a favor?”

“What is it?” Sandra said.

“You have kept me for eight years before, now I’m asking you to do it again, please don’t tell anyone that I’m here in this hospital,” lance plead.

“Okay,” Sandra said. “I will do it not because I want to keep you away from them again, but because you asked me to.”

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