Kick-Start

Dating Again

They haven't defined it but Ella and James started going out again.

"I want to get to know you again," James told her one day and she didn't protest.

Aside from finding out what they liked nowadays, once in awhile, they reminisced about their time together fondly.

One time James picked her up and brought her those cookies with a frosting on top. "Look! Ito yung binibili ko parating pasalubong for you dun sa sari-sari store sa may atin!"

Ella's eyes sparkled. "Oo nga! Wow."

When they used to live together, they often went home at the same time except for times when James had work. In those moments, he would pass by the store and buy her a pasalubong before he headed home to her.

"Gusto mo ba talaga yan? Or ayaw mo lang ako masaktan?"

"Uy. Gusto ko talaga. Plus the fact na alam ko how hard you worked para lang mabili ito for me," she loyally stated. "I liked that sari-sari store. Parang feeling ko bata ulit tayo when we go there."

"Oo. Sobra! Pero alam mo, one of the things I'm proudest about sa atin?"

"Ano yun?"

"Never tayo umutang sa store."

Yes, they were indebted to a lot of people who offered help, financial or otherwise, and they did resort to borrowing some money at some point. But, they made sure they budgeted their expenses so they could pay it as soon as they are able.

"Did you ever rebel? I mean, when you started earning biglang gusto mo mag spend ng magspend?" Ella asked.

James pondered on it. "Sa gadgets, kinda. But nung simula, hindi pa kasi talagang goal ko to save up to pay your dad back. Ikaw?"

"Oo. I was heartbroken and partly still mad at my Dad for cutting me off, so when I got back I shopped and traveled all expenses paid by him," Ella shared ruefully.

At her flat, James asked, "Ella, how are you and your dad?"

"We're... civil. I mean, it's gotten better."

"Sorry na nagcause ako ng rift," James said.

"No. I mean, how we are now is how we've always been. Civil, respectful but not particularly close. After what you told me... of course, there's still a part of me that will always be sad about it, but I can't get mad. Daddy ko pa din siya eh," Ella explained. "I guess yun ang dilemma ko now."

"What do you mean?"

She sighed. "He still doesn't talk about you and I wonder if I can be in a relationship with you again, knowing na magkaka-conflict na naman."

James said nothing.

"I... still want us, James. I'm just scared about what will happen na naman if we risk this."

"But we got through those challenges naman?"

"Yes. Pero alam mo yun? Yung nalagpasan mo na and thankful ka pero ayaw mo na balikan. I'm just not ready to face those trials and heartbreak again."

"Do you want me to go?"

Ella saw how difficult it was for him to ask that. "No. I have to sort myself out, but no. I don't want to lose you again. Please be patient with me."

"Pero Ella, what if your dad won't accept me no matter what?"

*

That question was left hanging.