Elle mutters a string of swear words under her breath as she rifles through her knapsack for her airpods, the final battle weapon in her arsenal against the wordless man seated beside her. But all she finds are useless trinkets–a candy wrapper, a hair tie she thought she'd lost years ago, and a business card for a laundromat. No airpods.

"You good?" Naoki asks.

She huffs in frustration, "Yep."

In defeat, Elle places her bag between them, creating an imaginary barrier. Zoe watches them from the passenger seat, waiting for a signal to go.

"Ready? You have everything you need?"

Elle presses her lips together firmly and offers a small eyebrow quiver, faking enthusiasm for the Baguio trip she can vaguely remember agreeing to.

"Alright, let's go!" Kaito announces.

Elle props her left cheek on the window, gazing outside, her thoughts reeling back to five days before. As  Kaito revs up the engine, she wishes she was anywhere else but there.

December 25, 2023

Gifts were unwrapped one by one post-noche buena dinner. Elle's cousins, Cindy and Theo, were so excited they frantically tackled the adults with hugs. Naoki, who got them cool toys from Toy Kingdom, earned extra high fives. Elle's mother's face lit up when she saw her new teacups, and her Aunt and Uncle thanked Naoki for their bottles of perfume.

Elle hadn't expected anything from Naoki. Not getting anything pinched her slightly, nevertheless. Because she had a tiny inkling that he might have gotten her something. He always did. Before.

Keyword: Before. She really, really had to jog her memory all the time that she was no longer privileged to receive the best boy treatment.

At 1 AM, the kids were tucked into bed, and the adults cleaned up. Elle and Naoki remained in the living room, Christmas carols floating in the air and sustaining the festive ambience.

"Thanks for coming," Elle said. "I know this isn't exactly how you celebrate Christmas, but I still hope you had fun."

"Of course," Naoki reassured her. "I appreciate the invitation." Naoki checked the time on his watch, and with a small yawn, he said he'd head out so they could rest.

"Yeah. Absolutely. Um, thanks," Elle replied, although she truly didn't mind staying up later.

She accompanied Naoki to say his goodbyes, and her Ma repeatedly extended invitations for dinner before his departure from the country. Elle's features contorted, her jaw clenching rigidly at the reminder that Naoki would leave soon and that she might never see him again.

Naoki petted Lilo and Stitch, whose tails wagged excitedly. Lilo even lay on the floor to get belly rubs, and Naoki obliged.

"It's absolutely rare for them to like a stranger," Elle commented.

"What can I say? I'm the dog whisperer."

She scoffed, a playful grin spreading across her lips.

Elle walked Naoki to his car despite his protests. It was a chilly Christmas night. Definitely not as icy as the winter in the Northern and Western parts of the world, but it was cold enough to put on a sweater or a jacket, the air crisp and clean.

"Thanks again for inviting me to your home."

"Just out of curiosity, where would you have gone if not here?"

"Actually, I'm not sure," he answered, stroking his chin. "Probably at home. I don't know. Can't crash with Kaito and Zoe all the time."

"Well, happy to help you not spend your Christmas alone, then. It was nice having you here."

"It was nice being here." Naoki nodded curtly and walked to the driver's seat. "Good night, Elle."

"Hold on," she muttered, inching forward, chewing her bottom lip.

"Yeah?"

"Can we meet one last time? Before you go?"

Naoki's shoulders tensed up, squinting his eyebrows, and the hesitation stirred a pang of disappointment and embarrassment within Elle. Heat rose to her cheeks, tears pricking her eyes, so she dipped her chin to conceal her reaction.

"If you're busy, it's fine," she uttered, trying to hide the deflation in her tone.

"No, Elle. I'd like to. But I'm unsure if I'll have the time," he explained. "I haven't seen my schedule for this week and the next."

Elle's heart sank at the obvious excuse. "It's the holiday season," she answered, desperately trying to blink her tears away. "People don't have work."

"Alright," he exhaled, but what Elle heard was a groan, and she snapped, "Actually, Naoki. Never mind. You have a lot of things to do, for sure. I understand. Guess this is goodbye."

"No, Elle–"

"Good night." She mumbled and quickly escaped to the gate, locking it behind her without throwing Naoki one last look.

Was that it? Was that the end of her reunion with Naoki? They had a rocky start, but things were better. They were back to being friends, at most, and it was a relationship she struggled to accept but wanted to keep. Because Naoki was important to her.

Elle drew three sharp breaths and shook her head. Gosh, she was being immature. All the hard work to reconcile with Naoki would go down the drain because of her. She couldn't let that happen. If this was truly the last time they'd see each other, it had to end differently. Something that would at least not make her cringe or cry when she stumbled across the memory. A good story to tell.

Elle dried her tears with her fingers and unlocked the gate, determined to apologize and have a proper send-off. Their friendship deserved to have a beautiful goodbye.

But she was too late. Naoki had left no trace, and the sound of her heart shattering echoed through her chest, drowning out all the other sounds, and tears streamed down her face like sharp blades leaving a trail of sorrow in its wake.

Naoki trudged into his apartment with a heavy heart, his shoulders hunched and his mind spinning from everything Tita Rose had admitted to him. She evidently wanted Elle to move with him or perhaps persuade him to stay. A year ago, it wouldn't have been an issue. Naoki would have been prepared to give up what he had in Japan in a heartbeat.

But after the wedding, an opportunity to work in the United States landed on his desk. He didn't think he would ever see Elle again, let alone have the chance to mend their relationship. So, he signed his life away. A five-year contract, with a possibility of extension.

Naoki pulled a can of beer from the fridge and slumped onto the stool by the kitchen island. He rummaged through his pocket and extracted a small blue velvet box. Flipping it open, the box revealed a sunflower resin necklace that shimmered in the light.

Despite his lingering feelings for Elle, Naoki must let her go and not complicate things for her. He wasn't naive to think she wasn't in love with him, but Tita Rose took precedence, especially with Tito Benjie's death weighing on her.

It was beyond Elle's control. But while people had moved on and resumed their normal lives, those who had lost loved ones because of the tragic event in history continued to mourn relentlessly. In the grand scheme of things, Naoki understood that he was the easiest option. When Elle had to recollect herself, he was the one thing she could bear to lose.

The only difference now was that he had made the choice to walk away, just as he initially wanted back in October.

No matter how much it would kill him, he must say goodbye first.

Elle was fresh out of the shower when her phone rang. Her body felt leaden, her mood still sour from the other night, so when she turned on her camera she couldn't force a smile even if it would save her life.

"What?" she muttered as she applied moisturizer to her face.

Zoe didn't answer immediately, assessing her best friend from the small screen of her phone. "Elle... You alright?"

"Yup."

"You don't sound like it."

"I'm okay, Zoe," she replied, looking at the phone and grinning foolishly before returning to her skincare routine. "So, why'd you call?"

"Okay. I just called to let you know we'll pick you up at 5 AM."

Elle halted and shot Zoe an incredulous look. "Picking me up for what? What are you talking about?"

"The Baguio trip! We agreed to go for New Year's, remember? I sent the itinerary to your email, Elle. The hotel rooms are booked. No cancellations."

Elle's jaw dropped. She strived to dig through her memory for any recollection of this trip but came up empty-handed.

"I haven't checked my email since the holidays!" she exclaimed. She grabbed her iPad from the desk and scrolled through her inbox, finding the email sent on the 23rd. "When did I say yes to this?"

"We talked about when we had our drinks," Zoe retorted impatiently, folding her arms. "I guess you were pretty thrashed by then."

Elle smacked her lips together, squeezing her eyes shut. That night was definitely not one of her proudest moments.

"I don't know, Zoe. I think I'll have to pass. I really should be with my Ma for New Year's," Elle replied, feeling guilty for even considering leaving her mother alone for the celebration.

Zoe moaned, nose scrunched up. "You can't! Everything's been paid for. You sent me the money that night!"

"I did?" How could she forget all of this?

"What's up with you and Naoki? He also wanted to bail," Zoe sighed. "Kaito convinced him, though. Come on! It'll be fun!"

Elle wiggled her eyebrows curiously. "Naoki's going? Really?"

"Yes. It took a lot of guilt-tripping from Kaito's side, and here I am trying it with you. So please, please! Let's go!"

"How long is this trip again?"

"Two nights. We'll be gone from the 30th to the 1st. We'll be back by the 1st, promise."

Elle bristled with annoyance, and she ground her teeth. Naoki was all dodgy about meeting but he could spare three days?

"So? Are we good?" Zoe pressed.

Elle huffed, waving her hand dismissively. "Fine."

Hah. She'd show him.

It is Elle who struggles all morning on the 30th, however. Naoki has barely spoken a word to her, nor has he thrown her a glimpse. They shared a moment upstairs, in her room, and that was it. Why has he been withdrawing after that?

Suddenly, it dawns on her, and Elle's eyes widen at the realization.

Has he been plotting revenge against her all this time? Is that it? The kind of game in dramas where they get you to fall in love with them and then leave you hanging?

Elle moans silently, tears welling up in her eyes again, the gorgeous views of endless trees and mountains incapable of distracting her. Over and over, she acknowledges she hurt him, and their fallout is her fault, but would Naoki go all his way to hurt her in return?

God, was she so stupid to allow herself to be vulnerable before him? Has she willingly entered the lion's den, accepting her demise?