CHAPTER 5
763 Words
*Chapter 5: The Decision*
He had 72 hours left in Manila.
The NGO extended his contract. "3 more months," Daniela emailed. "Or come home now. Your choice."
Elias stared at the email for an hour.
Three more months in Manila. With her. With Jon.
Or leave now. Again.
---
### *Day 1: The Ask*
Mara texted at 2pm.
"Can we talk? Tonight? Just us."
KapeTayo. 8pm.
She was already there when he arrived. No laptop. No Jon. Just her and two coffees.
"I talked to Jon," she said right away.
Elias sat down. "Okay."
"I told him about us. Everything. The typhoon. Europe. The key."
Elias didn’t breathe. "How did he take it?"
"He was quiet. Then he said 'I knew there was someone before me. I just didn’t know it was still a question.'"
Elias looked at his hands. "And?"
"And he said I need to decide. Not for him. For me."
Silence. The fan above them was loud.
"The NGO offered me 3 more months," Elias said. "Here."
Mara’s eyes widened. "What did you say?"
"I said I’d think about it."
She nodded. "Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah."
"If I wasn’t in the picture. Would you stay?"
Elias was honest. "I don’t know. Manila is home. But I’m also scared to stay."
"Because of me?"
"Because of what happened to us."
---
### *Day 2: The Talk With Jon*
Jon asked to meet him.
Tomas Morato. 6pm. Just the two of them.
Elias expected anger. He got beer instead.
"I’m not here to fight you," Jon said. "I’m here because I love her. And I think you do too. Just... differently."
Elias didn’t answer.
"Look," Jon continued. "I’m not going anywhere. I’ve been with her for 5 years. I know her coffee order. I know how she is when she’s stressed. I’m home."
He took a sip.
"But," Jon said. "If you’re gonna stay, you have to mean it. No more leaving. No more 'maybe'. Because I won’t watch her break again."
Elias nodded. "Fair."
"I’m not the villain here," Jon said. "And you’re not either. We both love her. That’s the problem."
They finished their beers in silence.
---
### *Day 3: The Decision*
Elias didn’t sleep.
He walked. Cubao. UP. KapeTayo at 3am, empty.
He thought about Lisbon. The bakery at 5am. The red doors.
He thought about Mara’s laugh. The way she said his name when she was mad.
He thought about Jon. Stable. Kind. Here.
At 7am he sent two emails.
*To Daniela:*
_Thank you for the offer. I’m declining. I need to go home. For real this time._
_-E_
*To Mara:*
_Can you meet me at the airport? 4pm. Gate 12. If you want to._
_If not, I understand._
_-E_
He didn’t wait for a reply.
---
### *4pm: NAIA Terminal 3, Gate 12*
His flight to Istanbul boarded in 30 minutes.
He was sitting with his camera bag when he saw her.
Mara. Alone. No Jon.
She sat next to him.
"I came," she said.
"I see that."
"I told Jon I needed to say goodbye properly."
"Okay."
Another silence.
"I’m not asking you to stay," Mara said. "And I’m not going with you."
"I know."
"I just needed to see you. One more time. To know we ended this right."
Elias looked at her. Really looked.
"You look happy," he said.
"I am. Most days."
"Good."
The boarding announcement came on.
Elias stood. Picked up his bag.
Mara stood too.
He hugged her. Not quick. Not desperate. Just... full.
"I’m glad it was you," he whispered. "That first brownout."
"Me too," she whispered back.
He pulled away. "Take care of yourself. And Jon."
"I will. You too."
He walked to the gate. Didn’t turn around.
She watched until he disappeared.
---
### *Epilogue: 6 Months Later*
*From Elias in Istanbul:*
_The coffee is still terrible. But I’m opening a studio here. Teaching kids. It feels like home. How’s Manila?_
*From Mara in QC:*
_Manila is loud. Jon and I moved to a house. Small. With a garden. Lola likes it. I’m still writing. Still burning the garlic. Take care, Elias._
*From Elias:*
_Tell Lola I said hi. And tell Jon... thank you._
*From Mara:*
_I did. He said you’re welcome._
They emailed like that. Once every few months.
No "I miss you." No "come back."
Just life.
The key was still in Mara’s drawer.
Elias still had the photo of her asleep.
But they were both home now.
Just not in the same one.
---
This ending leaves them apart, but at peace.
- Writer
