*Who's My Eternal*
*NAIA Terminal 3 — Departure Gate, 10 AM*
A few days passed fast. Too fast.
Mrs. Eva made calls. Old friends from Cebu. From her jeweler days. Connections abroad.
The diamond was gone. Sold. Safe.
And now Elian was leaving.
Not just Manila.
_Abroad_.
Canada.
New life. For real.
Cherry knew it was coming.
Didn't make it easier.
She was crying before they even got to the airport.
Not pretty crying. Not quiet.
_Dramatic. Baby-level. Full ugly-cry._
"Cherry, you're gonna flood the terminal," Elian said. Laughing. Trying not to cry himself.
"Shut up!" she wailed. Hit his chest. Then buried her face in it. "I'm not crying! You're crying!"
"I'm not," Elian said. Voice thick. "See? Dry."
She punched him again. Harder.
He just held her tighter.
Mrs. Eva and Lola Anna stood a few feet back. Watching.
And laughing.
"Look at her," Lola Anna said. Shaking her head. Wiping her own eyes. ", crying like when she lost her kite."
"She's always been dramatic," Mrs. Eva said. Smiling through tears. "Takes after her father."
Behind them, Cindy stood stiff. Arms crossed. Sunglasses on. Even indoors.
Noa beside her. Hands in pockets.
Neither said anything.
Elian pulled back. Just enough.
Held Cherry's face. Both hands. Thumbs wiping her tears. Useless. More kept coming.
"Hey," he said. Soft. Just for her. "Listen to me."
She hiccupped. Nodded. Couldn't talk.
"I'm gonna work hard," Elian said. "Harder than I ever worked at the farm.
He looked at her. Really looked.
"I'm gonna make money. Learn. Build something. And I'm coming back, Cherry. I swear to God, I'm coming back to you."
Cherry nodded again. Still speechless. Still crying.
"Okay?" Elian said. "You believe me?"
She nodded.
And Elian made a choice.
Ignored the airport.
Ignored Mrs. Eva and Lola Anna.
Ignored Cindy blazing ten feet away.
Ignored Noa watching with sad eyes.
He leaned in.
And kissed her.
No warning. No asking. No _can I_.
Just his mouth on hers.
Cherry froze.
For one second. Cherry Whole body stiff. Eyes wide.
Then she melted
Eyes closed. Hands fisted in his shirt. Then around his neck. Holding him like he'd vanish if she let go.
Not knowing how to kiss someone back.
Like eighteen years of _Best_ finally broke.
Like _friends can't be more_ was the stupidest thing she ever believed.
The terminal didn't matter.
The flight call didn't matter.
Just them.
Mrs. Eva pressed a hand to her mouth. Crying now. Happy.
Lola Anna nodded. "Finally," she whispered.
Noa exhaled. Long. Slow.
Sad. Because he lost his chance years ago.
Happy. Because his best friend finally got it right.
Cindy's face burned.
Under the sunglasses, her jaw clenched.
_Servant boy._
_Below my standards._
_Not my type._
And now he was kissing the girl she called _poverty_ in front of the whole airport.
With millions in his bank.
With a future she couldn't touch.
Elian pulled back. Rested his forehead on Cherry's.
Both breathing hard.
"I'll be back," he whispered. Against her lips. "Wait for me, Pink."
Cherry nodded. Couldn't speak.
Just held him.
*"Final boarding call for flight PR 118 to Vancouver."*
Elian kissed her forehead. One more time.
Let go.
Picked up his bag.
Looked at everyone.
At Lola Anna. At Mrs. Eva. At Noa — who nodded.
At Cindy — who didn't.
Then at Cherry.
And smiled.
Real. Bright.
Then he walked through the gate.
Didn't look back.
Because he didn't have to.
She was already his reason to come home.
Cherry stood there.
Lips tingling.
Chest aching.
Eyes full.
And smiled through the tears.