*Who's My Eternal*
*Later That Night*
By sunset, the whole barangay knew.
_Cherry Pink found a diamond._
_Worth millions._
_And gave it to Elian Eldridge_
The bay was buzzing. The farm was buzzing. Mang Rodel couldn't stop talking. The woman in the dress was mad she didn't get it.
Everyone was shocked.
*Cherry's House — 7 PM*
Mrs. Eva didn't yell.
She sat Cherry down at the kitchen table. One look. That mom look.
"Anak," she said. "Is it true?"
Cherry picked at the table. Nodded. "Yes, Ma."
"You gave him a diamond. Worth millions."
"Yes."
Mrs. Eva was quiet. Long.
Then: "Why?"
Cherry looked up. Eyes clear.
"Some part of me told me it was the right thing to do, Ma," she said. "I don't know how to explain it. I just… I saw it in his hands and I knew. He needed it more. He needs a way out."
Mrs. Eva sighed. Deep. Reached across the table. Took Cherry's hand.
"You still love him," she said. Not a question.
Cherry opened her mouth. To deny it. To say _he's Best_. To say _I moved on_.
Nothing came out.
Mrs. Eva hugged her. Tight.
"I know, anak," she whispered. . Since you'd rather get in trouble with him than be good without him. It's written all over you. Even when you think you hid it."
Cherry's eyes burned. "Ma…"
"I support you," Mrs. Eva said. Pulled back. Cupped her face. "But listen to me. Money changes people, Cherry. Riches can make a good man forget. Can make him think he's better. Can make him—"
"Elian won't," Cherry cut in. Fierce. "Even if he changes, Ma… even if he wears suits and lives in a condo… the truth will stand. He won't forget where he comes from. He won't forget the dirt. He won't forget us."
She believed it. Said it like a prayer.
Mrs. Eva looked at her daughter. At the fire in her.
And nodded. "Okay. Then I believe you."
*Draven Estate — Same Night*
Cindy dropped her wine glass.
"WHAT?"
Noa was on his phone. Face blank. "It's all over the bay's group chat. Cherry gave Elian a diamond. Big one. Lola Anna confirmed it's real."
Cindy's shock melted. Fast.
Into a smile. Slow. Sharp.
"Finally," she said. Picked up her phone. "He's going to be something. He'll sell it. He'll have money. Status. We can—"
"No."
Noa's voice. Cold.
Cindy looked at him. "What?"
"Stop," Noa said. Stood up. "Stop getting your hopes up for something that'll never happen again, Cindy."
Her smile dropped. "Excuse me?"
"He's not yours anymore," Noa said. "You threw him away. Called him _servant boy_. Said he was below you. Remember?"
"That was before," Cindy snapped. "Before he had—"
"Before he had money?" Noa laughed. Bitter. "So now he's good enough? Now he meets your standards?"
Cindy didn't answer.
Because he was right.
"Let him go," Noa said. "For real this time. You don't get to want him just because he's rich now. That's not love. That's greed."
He walked past her.
Didn't look back.
"Where are you going?" Cindy called.
"Out," Noa said. "Away from this."
The door shut.
Cindy stood alone.
Phone in hand.
Thinking about diamonds.
Thinking about Manila.
Thinking about Elian.
And for the first time,
Wondering if she'd made a mistake money couldn't fix.
Elian's House — 11 PM*
The house was quiet.
Lola Anna was asleep. Radio off. Only the crickets outside.
Elian was on his banig. No pillow. Just the ceiling and his thoughts.
And the diamond.
It sat in his palm. Heavy. Cold now.
He hadn't put it down since Cherry left.
Couldn't.
Millions.
A new life.
Manila.
But he wasn't thinking about that.
He was thinking about her hands.
How she closed his fingers around it.
How she said _I choose you_.
How she punched his chest and called him an idiot.
_Friends can't be more._
God, he was dumb.
16 yearrs of her sitting next to him on the dock.
16 yearrs of her bringing him lunch when he forgot.
16 years of her fighting his fights like they were hers.
And he'd wasted it chasing someone who looked at him like dirt.
He turned the diamond in his hand. Watched it catch the moonlight through the window.
Cindy wanted him now. He knew it. News like this flies.
_Now he's good enough._
_Now he meets her standards._
He laughed. Quiet. Bitter.
Too late.
He closed his fist around the stone.
It didn't matter.
Manila didn't matter.
The money didn't matter.
Not if he left and she stayed.
Not if _building a new life_ meant building one without Cherry in it.
_Go build a new life, Elian. One where nobody calls you servant boy._
He could.
He could take this diamond. Be gone by morning. Never wear that polo again.
But what was the point of being free if she wasn't there?
Lola's words came back.
_So tell me, apo. Who's really been your home?_
He looked at the diamond one more time.
Then set it on the small table beside his banig.
And reached for his phone.
No messages.
He typed one anyway.
*Elian:* _You awake?_
Three dots.
*Cherry:* _No. Sleeping. Leave me alone._
He smiled.
*Elian:* _Liar. You never sleep before 12._
*Cherry:* _Shut up. Why are you texting me._
His thumb hovered.
Could say anything.
_Thank you._
_I'm scared._
_I don't want to go without you._
Instead he wrote:
*Elian:* _Just wanted to say goodnight, Pink._
Three dots. Long time.
*Cherry:* _Goodnight, stupid._
*Cherry:* _And don't call me Pink._
Elian put the phone down.
Looked at the ceiling.
Diamond on the table.
Cherry's name on his phone.
Her voice in his head.