Love and Resilience

A New Chapter Begins

JOVANA’S POV

The morning air felt lighter today, as if the universe knew this day held something special. Serena and I finally had the free time we’d been waiting for. We agreed to meet early, and I found myself eager to take her somewhere meaningful somewhere personal.

We decided to visit my mom’s grave. As we walked through the quiet cemetery, hand in hand, I could feel the anticipation building inside me. Lila had always been thoughtful, but today felt like more than just a visit.

When we reached my mom’s gravestone, Serena crouched down beside it. Her voice was soft, but steady. She spoke to my mom as if they had always known each other.

"Hi tita, thank you for raising such a strong, kind woman," Serena said, her hand resting gently on the gravestone. "I promise to take care of her, to love her the way you did. I won’t leave her, not this time."

Hearing those words made my chest tighten. It was as if a piece of my heart settled into place, one I didn’t realize had been missing.

We stayed for a little while longer, before heading to my parents’ house.

It was time for Serena to meet my dad. He’d heard a lot about her, but seeing them together made it real.

As we pulled up to my dad’s house, my stomach twisted in a way I didn’t expect. I’d told him about Serena, of course, but introducing her as my girlfriend? That felt different. Bigger. More permanent. I glanced at Serena beside me as I turned off the engine. She seemed calm, her usual confident self, but I could see the slight tension in her fingers as they rested on her lap.

"Ready?"  I asked, my voice low but hopeful.

Serena smiled, her eyes meeting mine with that gentle reassurance I loved so much. "Always."

We stepped out of the car, and as we walked up the familiar path to the front door, I could already hear my dad moving around inside. He’d been excited for this, and I knew he’d be on his best behavior. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

The door swung open before I even had a chance to knock. My dad stood there, grinning like he’d been waiting all morning. His eyes lit up as they landed on Serena, and without hesitation, he stepped forward and enveloped her in a warm hug.

"Serena, buti naman at nakapunta ka, matagal na kitang gustong makita at makilala," he said, pulling back but keeping his hands on her shoulders. "Ang daming kwento ni Jovana sakin tungkol sayo."

Serena smiled, clearly a little surprised but in a good way.  "It’s great to finally meet you po, Mr. Rommer. Si Jovana rin po lagi kayong nababanggit sakin."

Dad waved off the formality with a chuckle. "Cut the formality, Ija. Just call me Tito."

"Tito it is, then," Serena said with a laugh, and I could see the tension leaving her shoulders. She was good at this better than me, even.

Dad ushered us inside, and as we stepped into the cozy living room, I cleared my throat. "Uh dada,"  I started, glancing nervously between the two of them,  "I wanted to officially introdue you to Serena."

Dad raised an eyebrow, already sensing where I was going with this.

"She’s not just... my friend," I said, my voice gaining confidence as I continued. "Serena is my girlfriend, dada."

For a moment, there was a pause. Then, a wide smile spread across Dad’s face, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of pride and happiness. He stepped toward us again, this time clapping me on the shoulder.