Kick-Start

Dinners

Note: Technically, hindi yata "tanan" yung situation nila but pagbigyan niyo na 😅

~maia~

--

"Bakit mo ba kasi ako binalik sa magulang ko?"

Her voice broke when she asked this and James knew this was the time he had been waiting for to explain. But, "Not on the phone, Ella. Can we talk please?"

"I... guess it's time na din. Sige. Soon sana?"

"I'd like that. Do you want to meet up somewhere?"

Ella was silent for a little while, thinking about where they could have their long overdue discussion. Then, finally said, "You live on your own, right?"

"Paano mo alam? Ikaw ha? Keeping tabs on me."

"Natural - para alam ko saan ka susugurin kapag iritang-irita na ako na lagi mong kinakalaban ang businesses ko."

James laughed. "Akala ko pa naman kasi crush mo ako!"

"Whatever, James del Rosario. Ano na? If you live alone, diyan na lang sa place mo? Para we have privacy also."

He agreed. "Okay. Dinner? Or earlier?"

"Early dinner. Maaga akong magutom eh," she said.

He smiled remembering their dinners.

*

The first few weeks they spent together was not at all romantic.

James spent the better part of it feeling guilty about their situation and seeing Ella have difficulties with this new life.

That first night, they hugged each other. Happy at being together but afraid of what the future held for them.

"Ella, I'm sorry it had to get to this," he said.

"I didn't think palalayasin ako ng Daddy ko," she admitted, tearfully. "That's what hurts most."

James kissed her on the forehead and pulled her close. Their stomach grumbled but neither said a word, they didn't have food in the house anyway.

The following morning, Ella was already weak from hunger so James begged his grandmother for food and rushed back home. "Here. Kain ka na. Sorry hindi ko naisip bumili agad kahapon ng food."

"Tama na yung sorry. We'll make it work ha?" Ella said to him. "Santiago?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for staying with me."

He applied as a student assistant at the library and got an allowance from that. He also applied for a full scholarship and was accepted so the money that his parents deposited can be used for their expenses. He also negotiated with his grandmother to give him odd jobs, he did errands of a houseboy and he got paid weekly.

Ella's aunt allowed her to use her kitchen to bake cookies and other pastries that they sold. It was her aunt who also loaned her the amount to start up.

But, even with that, they still got by because of so much help from so many people and by being thrifty.

"Hi! Sorry late natapos yung class ko. Bumili na din ako sa canteen nung pang-dinner natin," Ella greeted James outside the library. "May vegetables din tayo diyan."

"Uy ayos. May money ka pa? Idedeposit ni Lola yung kinita ko last week. Ibibigay ko sayo kapag nandun na."

"May surprise ako!" Ella said.