After work, Elian finally returned home.
The moment he stepped through the door, the smell of freshly prepared food welcomed him. Mrs. Anna had already set the table, waiting patiently for him.
"Come and eat before the food gets cold," she said gently.
Elian smiled faintly and walked over. "You waited for me?"
"Of course. You've been working all day."
He sat down and began eating while Mrs. Anna watched him quietly from across the table.
For a few minutes, everything was peaceful.
Then Mrs. Anna spoke.
"Elian…"
He looked up. "Hmm?"
"What did you say about the house you were going to move into?"
Elian swallowed his food before answering.
"The house abroad? We're going to move there once everything is ready."
Mrs. Anna lowered her eyes.
"I see."
Elian noticed the change in her expression.
"Why are you asking?"
Mrs. Anna was silent for a moment before finally looking at him.
"I'm ready."
Elian stopped eating.
"Ready for what?"
"To leave."
His eyes widened.
"You mean… you're ready to move?"
She nodded slowly.
"I told you before that I wasn't ready. I thought I needed more time." She paused, her voice becoming softer. "But I don't want to stay here anymore, Elian."
Elian stared at her, stunned.
"I've lived here for many years," Anna continued. "But lately, I don't feel at peace anymore. I just want to go somewhere far away where we can start over."
Elian slowly put his spoon down.
He understood that something had changed inside her, even though he didn't know what.
"If that's what you really want," he said gently, "then okay."
Anna looked at him.
"I'll make all the arrangements. The house is already abroad, so I'll arrange everything we need. We can leave as soon as possible."
Anna's eyes softened.
"Thank you."
Elian nodded, but then his expression suddenly changed.
"Wait…"
Anna looked at him.
"What about Cherry?"
Anna remained quiet.
Elian leaned back in his chair.
"I can't just leave without her."
His voice was firm.
"She's my girlfriend. She's part of my life now. If we're leaving, she has to come with us."
Anna watched him carefully.
"Elian, you know her family—"
"I know."
He interrupted gently.
"But I'll talk to her. I'll talk to her family too if I have to."
He picked up his spoon again but didn't continue eating.
"I've already lost enough people in my life. I'm not going to leave Cherry behind."
Anna's heart tightened.
She knew how deeply Elian loved Cherry.
But the thought of taking him far away from Manila wasn't only about starting over anymore.
It was about keeping him away from the Haynes family before the truth she had spent years hiding finally came out.
Anna reached across the table and placed her hand over his.
"Then talk to her."
Elian looked at her.
"And if she wants to come?"
Anna forced a small smile.
"Then she can come."
Elian finally smiled.
"Good."
He squeezed her hand.
"Because wherever I go, I want you and Cherry with me."
After eating, Elian walked upstairs to his room.
He closed the door behind him and went straight to his wardrobe. He changed out of his work clothes, putting on something more comfortable.
Just as he finished changing, his phone began to ring.
Elian looked at the screen.
Cherry.
A smile immediately spread across his face as he answered.
"Hello, beautiful."
"Are you home already?" Cherry asked.
"Yeah. I just finished eating."
"With Grandma Anna?"
"Of course." Elian smiled. "She already had food prepared for me when I got home."
"That's good. You must be tired after work."
"A little."
Elian sat on the edge of his bed.
"But hearing your voice makes me feel better."
Cherry laughed softly.
"You always know what to say."
"I'm only telling you the truth."
There was a brief silence before Cherry spoke again.
"So, what are you doing now?"
"I just changed. I'm in my room."
"Did you miss me?"
Elian smiled.
"Do you really need to ask?"
"I want to hear you say it."
"I missed you."
Cherry giggled.
"I missed you too."
Elian leaned back against the headboard, listening to her voice.
After a moment, his expression became more serious.
"Cherry…"
"Hmm?"
"I need to tell you something."
Her voice immediately changed.
"What happened?"
"Nothing bad."
He paused before continuing.
"Grandma Anna told me she's ready to leave."
"Leave?"
"Yeah. She said she doesn't want to stay here anymore. She wants us to move into the house abroad."
Cherry was silent for a moment.
"When?"
"I don't know yet. I'll have to prepare everything first."
"And you're going with her?"
"Yes."
Elian's voice softened.
"But I can't leave without you, Cherry."
Cherry was quiet for a few seconds after hearing his words.
"Elian…"
"Hmm?"
"You really want me to go with you?"
Elian smiled.
"Of course I do."
"But my family…"
"I know." His voice softened. "I know leaving them won't be easy for you."
Cherry sighed.
"I've never thought about leaving Manila for good."
"I haven't either," Elian admitted. "But Grandma Anna has made up her mind. She doesn't want to stay here anymore."
Cherry was silent again.
Elian could imagine the thoughts running through her mind.
"I don't want you to feel like you have to choose between me and your family," he continued. "If you need time to think about it, I'll understand."
"But you said you can't leave without me."
"I can't," Elian said without hesitation. "But that doesn't mean I'll force you."
Cherry smiled faintly on the other end.
"You're making this difficult."
"How?"
"Because now I don't know what to say."
Elian chuckled.
"Then don't say anything yet."
There was another quiet moment.
"I'll talk to my family," Cherry finally said.
Elian sat up slightly.
"Really?"
"Yes. I'll talk to them and see what they think."
His smile grew.
"Thank you."
"But Elian…"
"Yeah?"
"Don't make any arrangements until we know what happens."
"Okay. I promise."
Cherry's voice became softer.
"I don't want you leaving without saying goodbye."
"I wouldn't."
"You better not."
Elian laughed.
"I'd come looking for you before I even got on the plane."
Cherry laughed too.
Then Elian heard her suddenly become quiet.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Nothing."
"You're thinking about something."
"I was just thinking…"
"About?"
Cherry hesitated before answering.
"If I really go with you, everything will change."
Elian looked toward the window.
"Maybe."
He paused.
"But maybe a change isn't always a bad thing."
Cherry smiled.
"As long as you're there."
Elian's heart warmed.
"I'll always be there."
They continued talking for a while, neither of them wanting to end the call.
Downstairs, Mrs. Anna stood quietly near the staircase.
She had heard enough to know that Elian had already made his decision.
He wasn't leaving Cherry behind.
Anna lowered her eyes, her expression filled with worry.
She knew leaving Manila would not be as simple as she had hoped.
Elian suddenly switched the call to a video call.
Cherry's face appeared on his screen, and the moment he saw her, his expression softened.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
Cherry shook her head slightly.
"Nothing."
Elian studied her face for a moment before a mischievous smirk appeared.
"Nothing?"
"Nothing," she repeated.
Elian leaned closer to the camera.
"Then why do I suddenly miss your lips?"
Cherry's eyes widened.
"Elian!"
Her cheeks immediately turned bright red.
Elian laughed at her reaction.
"What?" he teased. "I'm just telling you the truth."
"You're impossible."
"And you're blushing."
"I am not!"
"You definitely are."
Cherry covered part of her face with her hand, trying to hide her embarrassment.
Elian's smile grew wider.
"I wish I could see that face in person."
"Stop teasing me."
"I can't."
He gazed at her through the screen.
"I really miss you."
Cherry slowly lowered her hand and looked at him.
"I miss you too."
Elian smiled warmly.
"Then don't hide your beautiful face from me."
Cherry rolled her eyes, but she couldn't stop smiling.