Who's My Eternal*
*Kael's Estate — Steps, 12:15 PM*
Weeks later,every day cherry bring food for Elian, even though he told her not to worry but she didn't stop,she was happy doing it and making sure Elian is taking care of himself , she's not expecting anything in return either.
Cherry: rice, fried fish, pickled papaya.
Elian: same.
Quiet. Just the sound of spoons on plastic.
Then Cherry felt it.
Eyes.
She looked up.
Elian was staring. Not eating. Just… looking. At her.
Not like before. Not teasing. Not _Best_.
Like he was trying to memorize her face.
"What?" Cherry said. Mouth full. "Do I have something on my—"
"Nothing," Elian said. Too fast. Looked down at his food.
"Then why are you staring at me like I grew a second head?"
He shoved rice in his mouth. "I'm not."
"You so are."
"Eat your food, Pink."
She rolled her eyes. But she smiled a little.
He didn't.
Just kept eating.
But his eyes kept sliding back to her.
Every time she wasn't looking.
*Elian's House — 8 PM*
The house was small. One floor. Tin roof. But clean.
Lola Anna was on her wood chair. The one Elian fixed last month. . Radio playing low.
. Back bent. Hands wrinkled. But her eyes? Sharp.
Elian came in. Quiet.
Didn't say _Mano po_. Didn't smile.
Just walked to her. Sat on the floor at her feet. Like he did when he was nine.
Lola Anna sighs.
Looked at him.
And knew.
"Anak," she said. Soft. "What's wrong?"
Elian didn't answer at first.
Just leaned his head against her knee.
Like he was nine again. Like the world was too big.
Then he talked.
Everything.
Cindy. New York. _Servant boy_. The field. The crying.
How she said _you're below my standards_.
How she said _you never were my type_.
Then he talked about Cherry.
How she showed up. Every day.
How she brought food.
How she held him when he's broken
How she never changed.
Not when he was poor.
Not when he was stupid.
Not when he loved someone else.
Not when he's nothing.
Lola Anna listened.
Didn't interrupt.
When he finished, the house was quiet.
Just the radio. Just crickets.
Lola Anna sighed. Long. Heavy.
Put her hand on his head. Fingers in his hair.
"Anak," she said. "Let me tell you something."
Elian didn't move. Just listened.
"Sometimes," Lola said, "the people we think we know better… are the ones we can't trust with our heart."
She stroked his hair.
"Look at Cindy," she said. "You gave her 16 years. Your love. Your waiting. Your loyalty. And when she came back, she gave you _servant boy_. Because she saw your polo, not your heart."
Elian's throat closed.
"Now look at Cherry," Lola said. Voice warmer now. "That girl saw you with mud on your face. With no money. With no future. And she still sat beside you. She still brought you food. She still threw stones with you when you were mad."
Lola Anna tapped his forehead. Light.
"Some people love you when you're shining, anak. When you're useful. When you look good on their arm."
She tapped his chest. Over his heart.
"But the real ones? They love you in the dirt. When you're crying. When you have nothing to give. They don't leave when the lights go out."
Elian closed his eyes.
"Cherry was there for your good time," Lola said. "But more important… she was there for your bad time. And she didn't ask for anything back."
Silence.
Then Lola Anna leaned down. Kissed his head.
"So tell me, apo," she whispered. "Who's really been your home?"
Elian didn't answer.
Didn't need to.
Because he already knew.
And it wasn't the girl in New York.
It was the girl with muddy boots.
Eating lunch with him on the steps.