Elian remained by the river, lost in his thoughts, when he heard footsteps approaching behind him.
One of his men stopped a few feet away.
"Sir."
Elian opened his eyes and turned around.
"Yes?"
"We've finished distributing everything you ordered."
Elian nodded.
"The fishing equipment?"
"Delivered."
"And the farmers?"
"Their new tools were delivered too. Everything they requested has been supplied."
Elian looked toward the fishing base, watching several fishermen inspect their new equipment.
"Good."
His man hesitated before speaking again.
"They're asking for you, sir. The fishermen and farmers want to thank you personally."
Elian glanced at him.
"They don't need to thank me."
"They insist, sir."
Elian sighed softly before looking back at the river.
"Alright. I'll go see them."
His man nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Elian pushed himself away from the railing and followed him toward the group.
As he walked, his mind briefly returned to Cindy.
Then to Cherry.
His expression darkened.
Whatever he decided about his heart, he knew one thing.
He couldn't keep running from the consequences forever.
Elian walked toward the group of fishermen and farmers gathered near the river.
The moment they saw him, their faces brightened.
"Sir Elian!"
Several of them stepped forward.
"Thank you so much for the fishing equipment."
"And thank you for the farming tools," one of the farmers added. "You've helped us more than you know."
Another man bowed his head.
"The money you gave us helped us feed our families. We won't forget this."
Elian smiled modestly and shook his head.
"You don't have to thank me. Just use everything well and take care of your families."
An elderly fisherman stepped forward and placed a hand over Elian's shoulder.
"May God bless you, young man."
The others joined him.
They prayed for Elian, asking God to protect him, bless his future, and reward him for helping their community.
Elian stood quietly, listening.
For once, the weight in his chest seemed to ease.
When the prayer ended, everyone thanked him again before returning to their work.
Elian watched them for a moment.
Then he heard a familiar voice behind him.
"Apo."
He turned.
Mrs. Anna was walking toward him with a proud smile on her face.
Elian smiled.
"Lola, what are you doing here?"
Mrs. Anna stopped beside him and looked at the people he had helped.
"I came to see what my grandson has been doing."
She gently touched his arm.
"I'm proud of you, Elian."
Elian's smile softened.
"Really?"
"Very much."
She looked at him with warm eyes.
"You've changed so much, apo. You have wealth now, power, and everything you could have dreamed of. But you still remember the people who have less."
Elian lowered his gaze.
"They deserve a chance too."
Mrs. Anna smiled.
"That's exactly why I'm proud of you."
She squeezed his hand.
"No matter how successful you become, never lose that heart."
Elian looked at his grandmother and nodded.
"I won't, Lola."
But even with her words warming his heart, the confusion about Cindy and Cherry still remained somewhere deep inside him.Elian walked toward the group of fishermen and farmers gathered near the river.
The moment they saw him, their faces brightened.
"Sir Elian!"
Several of them stepped forward.
"Thank you so much for the fishing equipment."
"And thank you for the farming tools," one of the farmers added. "You've helped us more than you know."
Another man bowed his head.
"The money you gave us helped us feed our families. We won't forget this."
Elian smiled modestly and shook his head.
"You don't have to thank me. Just use everything well and take care of your families."
An elderly fisherman stepped forward and placed a hand over Elian's shoulder.
"May God bless you, young man."
The others joined him.
They prayed for Elian, asking God to protect him, bless his future, and reward him for helping their community.
Elian stood quietly, listening.
For once, the weight in his chest seemed to ease.
When the prayer ended, everyone thanked him again before returning to their work.
Elian watched them for a moment.
Then he heard a familiar voice behind him.
"Apo."
He turned.
Mrs. Anna was walking toward him with a proud smile on her face.
Elian smiled.
"Lola, what are you doing here?"
Mrs. Anna stopped beside him and looked at the people he had helped.
"I came to see what my grandson has been doing."
She gently touched his arm.
"I'm proud of you, Elian."
Elian's smile softened.
"Really?"
"Very much."
She looked at him with warm eyes.
"You've changed so much, apo. You have wealth now, power, and everything you could have dreamed of. But you still remember the people who have less."
Elian lowered his gaze.
"They deserve a chance too."
Mrs. Anna smiled.
"That's exactly why I'm proud of you."
She squeezed his hand.
"No matter how successful you become, never lose that heart."
Elian looked at his grandmother and nodded.
"I won't, Lola."
But even with her words warming his heart, the confusion about Cindy and Cherry still remained somewhere deep inside him.
Later That Evening
The sun had begun to set over Manila, painting the sky in warm shades of orange and pink.
Elian drove toward the Haynes house.
Tonight, he wanted to see Cherry.
He pulled up outside the house and stepped out of the car. A few moments later, Cherry came outside.
The moment she saw him, her face lit up.
"Elian."
He smiled.
"Ready?"
Cherry looked at him suspiciously.
"Ready for what?"
"It's a surprise."
She laughed softly. "You know I don't like surprises."
"I know."
He opened the passenger door for her.
"But you're going anyway."
Cherry shook her head, smiling as she got into the car.
Elian closed the door before walking around to the driver's side.
A few minutes later, they drove away.
Cherry glanced at him.
"So where are we going?"
Elian kept his eyes on the road.
"You'll see."
She crossed her arms playfully.
"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"
"A little."
Cherry laughed.
After a while, Elian pulled up at a beautiful quiet restaurant overlooking the water. Small lights decorated the outdoor dining area, and a table had already been prepared for them.
In the center was a vase filled with roses. 🌹
Cherry stepped out of the car and stared.
"Elian..."
He walked around to her.
"I thought we deserved a night where we could forget everything else."
Cherry looked at him with a soft smile.
"You did all this for me?"
"Of course."
He offered his hand.
"Come on."
Cherry placed her hand in his.
As they walked toward the table, Elian couldn't help but smile.
For tonight, he wanted to forget the confusion in his heart.
Tonight, he wanted to remember why he had chosen Cherry in the first place.