His Promise

Chapter 53

Chapter 53
Disney Days and Sinigang Nights

I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing beside me. I groaned softly, pulling the blanket over my face. But when I peeked at the screen and saw Chan ❤️ flashing, I couldn't help but smile.

Chan: "Good morning, sleepyhead. Wear something comfy and cute today. I'm picking you up at 9. "

I blinked at the time. 7:32 AM.

What is he planning this early?

I texted back half-awake:

Me: "Where are we going?"

He only replied with a winking emoji. Typical Chan.

After my shower, I put on a white puff-sleeve top tucked in denim shorts, my favorite sneakers, and tied my hair in a low ponytail with a pink ribbon. Light makeup—just enough to look fresh.

When I went outside, Chan's car was already waiting. He stepped out wearing a simple white shirt, jeans, and a cap. But even in something so casual, he still looked like he walked out of a K-drama.

"Good morning, my vitamin," he greeted, flashing that smile that makes my heart melt faster than ice cream.

"Good morning. So... saan tayo pupunta?" I asked, crossing my arms.

He leaned in and whispered, "Enchanted Kingdom!."

"WHAT?! You're kidding!"

"Nope. You deserve magic today." He winked and opened the door for me.

--

At Enchanted Kingdom

The moment we stepped inside, the colorful banners, cheerful music, and the smell of sweet cotton candy filled the air. I turned into an instant kid.

"Chan! Look! It's the Ferris wheel!" I squealed, tugging at his arm.

He laughed. "You're literally glowing right now."

"Of course! It's Enchanted Kingdom!" I said, spinning around like a child.

We rode the Space Shuttle, then the EKstreme Drop. I screamed my lungs out while Chan just laughed the entire time, holding my hand. Every time I looked at him, he looked like he was falling for me all over again—those soft eyes that made me forget the rest of the world.

After lunch, we found a photo booth near the souvenir shop. The booth had cute filters—bunny ears, hearts, crowns.

"Let's do this!" I said, dragging him inside.

"Okay, but I get to choose one pose," he said, smirking.

"Deal."

The countdown started.
3... 2... 1!
Peace sign and big smiles
Chan doing a funny face while I laugh too hard
Me pouting, him pretending to kiss my cheek

...And on the last one, he surprised me by holding my chin and kissing me softly on the lips

"Chan!" I half-whispered, blushing.

He grinned mischievously. "That's the one I chose."

When the photos printed, I couldn't stop smiling. It was perfect. I slipped the photo strip inside my phone case.

Then, just as we were about to leave the photo booth, Chan pulled me aside, his usual playful grin replaced with a softer, more serious look.

"Hey, I have something for you," he said, his voice a little quieter than usual.

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "What is it?"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. My heart skipped a beat when I saw it.

He opened it, revealing a delicate silver ring with a small but radiant diamond set at its center. The simplicity of it made it even more beautiful. My breath caught in my throat.

"This is a promise," he said, his eyes locked with mine. "A promise that I'm not going anywhere. That I'll be here for you, no matter what. And one day, I'll take you to the real Disneyland—the one in Hong Kong. We'll do this all over again, but bigger and better, with a lifetime of memories to make."

I stared at the ring, then back at him, unsure of what to say. My heart was racing.

"You don't have to do this, Chan..." I whispered.

He smiled softly, slipping the ring on my finger. "I want to. You've made me feel like the luckiest guy alive. And I want you to always remember that, no matter where we are or what we do, I'm with you. For the rest of my life."

I felt a lump in my throat, but I managed to smile. "I don't know what to say... but I promise, I'm yours."

Chan leaned down, placing a soft kiss on my forehead. "That's all I need to hear, Sophie."

I stared at the ring on my finger, the diamond catching the sunlight, and felt an overwhelming sense of love and hope. A future with him, full of dreams and promises, felt more real than ever.

--

When we got home, I headed to my room to freshen up. The smell of something familiar started to fill the house. 

I walked to the kitchen and found Chan wearing my pink apron, humming softly while stirring something in the pot. 

 "Are you... cooking?" I asked, trying not to laugh."Hmm," he said proudly. "Guess what this is."  I walked closer and peeked at the pot.

"Wait... is that sinigang?"He smiled.
"Your favorite. I watched like three tutorials just to make it right."I giggled.

"You're unbelievable."He handed me a spoon.
"Taste test."I blew gently and took a small sip. My eyes widened.
"Chan! It's perfect!"He raised his brows playfully. 

"Of course it is. I made it with love."I laughed and threw my arms around him.
"You're my vitamin, my chef, my everything."He kissed the top of my head and whispered,
"And you're my home."

That night, we ate sinigang together while watching Tangled. The glow from the TV painted the room in soft gold as the "I See the Light" scene began to play.

Rapunzel and Eugene floated beneath the lanterns, their faces bathed in warm light. I glanced at Chan, who was already looking at me instead of the screen.

"What?" I asked, smiling shyly.

He shook his head softly. "You look prettier than any scene in this movie."

I rolled my eyes but felt my cheeks warm. "You're just saying that."

He reached out and brushed a stray hair from my face, his touch gentle. "I mean it," he said quietly, his eyes never leaving mine.

The song played in the background, lanterns floating across the screen. I felt his fingers intertwine with mine, his thumb tracing lazy circles on my skin. The world felt like it slowed down—just the two of us, the faint aroma of sinigang lingering in the air, and the soft hum of the TV.

"Chan," I whispered, barely breathing his name.

He leaned closer, his voice low. "Hmm?"

I smiled faintly. "Nothing. Just... thank you for today."

He pressed his forehead to mine. "For you? I'd do it all over again."

And as the lanterns danced in their tiny reflections in his eyes, he kissed me—slow, unhurried, like a promise that even ordinary nights like this would always feel like magic.

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