*Who's My Eternal*
*Manila — The Bay, That Afternoon*
The car hadn't even stopped before people noticed.
"Cherry!"
"It's Cherry!"
"She's alive!"
The whole bay came running.
Fishermen. Vendors. Kids.
All crowding the car, shouting, crying.
Elian got out first. Shielded Cherry as she stepped out.
The moment they saw her, the noise exploded.
Mrs. Rosa dropped her basket of fish.
Old Man Cardo started sobbing.
"_Anak!_" "You're alive!" "Thank God!"
Cherry couldn't speak.
Just stood there. Tears pouring.
Elian kept his hand on her back. Grounding her.
The news spread like wildfire.
Phone calls. Running feet.
Within minutes, the whole bay was at Mrs. Anna's house.
*Mrs. Anna's House*
The door flew open.
Mrs. Anna stood there.
Smaller than Cherry remembered. Hair whiter.
But her eyes…
Her eyes were the same.
Cherry broke.
"_Lola_," she choked.
Mrs. Anna didn't say anything.
Just opened her arms.
And started crying.
Cherry ran.
Threw herself into those arms.
Held tight.
"I'm sorry," Cherry sobbed. "I'm so sorry, Lola. I'm sorry I left."
Mrs. Anna shook her head. Rocked her.
"_Anak ko_," she whispered. "_Buhay ka. Buhay ka, anak ko._" _My child. You're alive, my child._
She kissed Cherry's hair. Over and over.
"I prayed," she cried. "Every day for five years, I prayed. God heard me."
Elian stood by the door. Watching.
Throat tight.
This was the woman who raised him.
And the girl who saved him.
Finally together again.
*By the Door*
Cindy stood there.
With Noa. With their father, Mr. Kael.
No one noticed them at first.
Cindy's face was blank.
Then twisted.
She watched Cherry crying in Mrs. Anna's arms.
Watched Elian standing guard over them.
And her nails dug into her palms.
_Why can't she die already_, she thought. Rage burning her chest. _I did everything I could to get rid of her. Every plan. Every lie. But she keeps coming back. Making me look like a mistress._
Her teeth clenched.
_After all, Elian was mine first. He was supposed to be mine._
Noa didn't see it.
He pushed past his sister.
Walked straight to Cherry.
And hugged her.
Tight.
"Cherry," he said, voice thick. "You scared us. We thought…"
He couldn't finish.
Cherry pulled back, surprised.
Hugged him back.
"Noa," she whispered. "I'm sorry."
Mr. Kael cleared his throat. Stepped forward.
"Mrs. Anna," he said politely. "We heard the news. We came to… pay respects."
His eyes weren't on Mrs. Anna.
They were on Elian.
Assessing. Calculating.
Because everyone in Manila knew who Arthur Harkwell was now.
And there he was.
Standing in the bay.
For a girl everyone thought was dead.
Elian didn't move.
Just met Mr. Kael's eyes.
Cold.
Warning.
Mrs. Anna pulled Cherry closer.
Like she could feel it too.
The storm coming.
Cindy's eyes never left Cherry.
And her smile didn't reach her eyes.
---
*Manila — Mrs. Anna's House, That Afternoon*
The air in Mrs. Anna's small living room was thick.
Half with joy. Half with tension.
Cherry was still in Lola Anna's arms, both of them crying.
Noa stood beside them, hand on Cherry's shoulder like he couldn't believe she was real.
Mr. Kael kept his polite smile. But his eyes stayed on Elian.
And Cindy?
Cindy's smile was perfect. Empty.
"Cherry," she said, voice sweet as syrup. "We were _so_ worried about you."
She stepped forward. Arms open.
Cherry pulled back from Mrs. Anna and turned.
Saw Cindy.
For a second, her breath caught.
But Cherry just smiled. Small. Tired.
"Cindy."
Cindy went in for a hug.
Elian moved.
Fast.
One step.
Now he was between them.
Not touching Cindy. Not threatening.
Just… there.
A wall.
Cindy's arms froze mid-air.
Her smile twitched.
Elian looked down at her. Cold.
Cindy's eyes flashed.
"Elian—"
"everyone cherry is officially my partner now" he said. Loud enough for the room to hear.
Silence.
Mrs. Anna's crying stopped.
Noa's head snapped up.
Mr. Kael's polite mask cracked.
Cherry's eyes went wide. "Elian!" she hissed, grabbing his arm.
He didn't look at her. Kept his eyes on Cindy.
You're not serious, she's just a nobody,she can't be your partner.. Cindy snapped
The whole bay heard it.
Cherry flinched. Like he'd slapped her. .. Cindy that's enough
"Why should I? You took everything from me!"
Cherry shook her head. "I didn't take anything. Elian was never yours. He was mine. Since we were eight years old."
She took Elian's hand. Laced their fingers.
"And I'm not letting you hurt him anymore. Or Lola. Or me."
Mrs. Anna stood up. Weak, but furious.
"_Lumabas ka sa bahay ko_," she told Cindy. _Get out of my house._
"_Lola_—" Noa started.
"No," Mrs. Anna said. "She is not welcome here. Not after what she did to my _apo_." _My grandchild._
Mr. Kael's face was stone. He grabbed Cindy's arm.
"We're leaving," he said.
Cindy yanked her arm away. Looked at Elian. One last time.
"You'll regret this," she whispered. "Both of you."
Elian's grip on Cherry tightened.
"Try me," he said.
Mr. Kael dragged Cindy out.
Noa stayed. Looked at Cherry. Apologetic. Broken.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
Then he left too.
The door shut.
The bay people outside were dead silent.
Then Mrs. Rosa yelled: "Good riddance!"
And the whole place erupted.
Mrs. Anna pulled Cherry back into a hug.
Elian exhaled.
Finally.
Pulled Cherry against his side.
She was shaking.
"Hey," he murmured. "I got you. I've always got you."
Cherry buried her face in his chest.
"I know," she whispered.
Outside, a car peeled away. Fast. Angry.
Cindy wasn't done.
Not even close.