STAY WITH HIM
1236 Words
The tension between Fiona and her father had lingered throughout the day. At breakfast, Antonio Villanueva barely spoke to her. During lunch, he buried himself in work. By dinner, the silence inside the Villanueva's mansion had become almost unbearable.
Fiona knew, of course! her father was angry. Not because she had lied to him, about the two years of her secret relationship with Erwen. Not because she had broken any rules. He was angry because she refused to give up Erwen.
One evening, as soon as dinner ended, Fiona slipped out of the house and sent a text message.
-Can we meet?
A few moments later, her phone vibrated.
-Same place. I'll be there.
A little smile appeared on her face, when Erwen replied to her. No matter how difficult things became, Erwen always found a way to make her feel safe.
About thirty minutes later, Fiona arrived at a quiet hill overlooking parts of Calinan, Davao City. It was one of their favorite places, a peaceful area surrounded by grass fields and coconut trees where they could talk without interruption.
She spotted Erwen sitting beneath a large mango tree.
And the moment Erwen saw her approaching, he stood and said, "Hey."
Neither of them immediately moved, and smiled.
Both could sense that something had changed. Hence, he is so familiar with Fiona's mood, something is bothering her.
"Are you okay?" Erwen finally asked. Watching her sad face, as if it weakened her posture.
Fiona lowered her eyes. "My parents knows."
Erwen took a deep breath. "I thought so."
"And... he wants me to stop seeing you." Fiona added.
The words hung heavily between them. For that moment, only the sound of the wind could be heard.
Finally, Erwen nodded. "I expected that."
"You did?"
Erwen smiled at her to boost her mood. "Honestly? Yes."
Fiona frowned. "Why?"
Erwen turned toward the distant city lights. He took a deep breath before he said, "Because people like your father don't see people like me."
The sadness in his voice broke her heart.
"What does that mean?"
"It means he looks at what I have instead of who I am." Erwen said.
Fiona stepped closer. "He doesn't know you."
"No."
"Then he's wrong." Fiona insist.
Erwen smiled weakly. "I appreciate that.. But?" he sighed. "But maybe he's right about one thing."
Fiona's eyes widened. "What?"
Erwen turned to her and said, "I don't have much to offer you right now. I don't have any amount of money to show them that I can build a family with you, besides I don't have a decent job. I'm just a farmer"
The statement hurt her more than she expected.
For years she had watched Erwen work harder than anyone she knew. Every day he woke before sunrise. Every day he sacrificed his comfort for his family. Yet somehow he still believed he wasn't enough.
"Don't say that."
"It's true. I am a lowly guy." Erwen said.
It makes him feel broke to realize that he can't give anything to her, unlike some other guy or someone that is financially stable.
"No, it isn't." The sadness on Fiona's face is un-withdrawable.
Then... their eyes met.
"You have something that most people don't have." Fiona corrected him.
Erwen looked confused. "What?"
"A good heart."
For a moment none of them spoke. But the sincerity in Fiona's voice made it impossible to look away. Then she reached for his hand. "When I imagine my future, I don't see money."
Erwen remained silent. "I don't see expensive houses. Luxuries, any of them... there's only you and me."
Erwen still silent
"I see you." Fiona added.
"Fiona..." His chest tightened.
But Fiona is so confident that they can fight this relationship whatever it takes. Then she said, "No matter what happens, I choose you."
The words hit Erwen harder than he expected. All of his life, he had felt overlooked. Ignored, and treated as unimportant. Yet here, the one standing before him was someone willing to fight for him. Someone willing to choose him. Not because of wealth, not because of status.
But because of love.
For the first time, he smiled. A real smile to realize that he has this girl, willing to stand and stay with him in this life. This time, his smile reached his eyes.
"You know, you're incredibly stubborn." he said softly.
Fiona laughed. "I learned from my father."
They both laughed together. For a brief moment, all their worries disappeared. As the evening deepened, they sat beneath the mango tree watching the stars appear overhead.
The countryside was quiet. The distant sounds of motorcycles occasionally echoed from nearby roads. Beyond that, there was only peace.
Fiona rested her head against Erwen's shoulder.
"Do you ever think about the future?" she asked.
"Every day."
"What do you see?"
Erwen thought carefully. "In a farmland, the center of it there is a small and happy home. There.. there are ten kids running with the pigs, chickens and goats.
Fiona smiled. "That's all?"
"Maybe there is a carabao and five cows."
She laughed. "How about the kitchen?"
"A mother named Fiona, who's cooking our food" Erwen said.
"Of course I do."
"And maybe a small barbeque restaurant someday." Erwen added.
Fiona lifted her head. "A restaurant?"
Erwen nodded. "Not a huge one."
"Why a restaurant?"
"Because good food brings good people together." Erwen smiled, while imagining those things.
Fiona was surprised by his answer. Because most people dreamed about becoming rich. Owning luxury cars. Living in mansions. But, Erwen's dream was different. Simple, honest and beautiful.
"I think you'd be good at it."
"You really think so?" Erwen asked.
"Definitely."
A warm feeling spread through his chest. Nobody had ever encouraged his dreams the way Fiona did. Not his parents, and not his brother, nobody only her..
"What about you?" he asked.
"What do you mean?"
"What do you think about the future?"
Fiona stared at the stars. "I see happiness."
He smiled. "That's a good answer."
She turned toward him. "And you're part of it."
For a second, Erwen forgot how to breathe. Then he laughed nervously. "You're making this hard."
"What?"
"Trying not to fall even if you were already in love with me, That's why I love you"
Fiona's cheeks immediately turned red after what he said. Even the world turned upside or down she is ready to fight her relationship with Erwen. Because she can feel that Erwen is the best man for her.
"Erwen!"
"What?" Erwin looks at her seriously.
"You're the best man I ever dreamed of" Fiona continued.
He grinned. "And I hope we will stay forever like this" Erwen said.
Unfortunately, they both laughed.
Above them, the stars continued shining brightly.
Like how sweet their relationship is, like how precious this moment truly was.
Meanwhile, across Davao City, Antonio Villanueva, Fiona's father sat inside his small library at home.
The room was illuminated by a single lamp. Business reports covered his desk. Yet his attention remained elsewhere... On his daughter Fiona. And about Erwen Sanchez.
While he is in deep thoughts, knocks interrupted.
"Come in." he said.
Marissa his wife entered. "Still awake?"
Antonio nodded. "We need to talk."
His wife sat across from him. Right after, Antonio sighed and said, "I want to talk about the future of our daughter"
"Yes darling.." Marissa sighed.
"I was afraid of that." Antonio folded his arms.
- Writer
