"YOU look so pretty with your outfit sweetheart. Are you going somewhere?" it was a pleasant Sunday morning and Ella came to see Mrs. Tecson, her landlady to pay for her rent for the coming month.

"It's Matthew's birthday, Mrs. Tecson," she is talking about her three-year-old son.

In fact, she almost loses her hope of being able to celebrate her son's birthday with her. Her supervisor Myra didn't give her full permission on her to an exchanged day off from her regular which is Tuesday. It is true that Sundays are more crowded so that day it needs more manpower. Fortunately, in the end, she was able to convince the strict supervisor that is why she is here today.

The lady smiled and looked up at her. “I admire your resilience sweetheart. I know that someday everything will turn out okay with you and your son. By the way, just in case you knew someone who is looking for a modest apartment, by next week the room next to you will be vacant.”

She nodded. "Thank you, I'll go ahead," she said after walking out the gate.

It's been four years since she started working as a sales clerk at the mall where she met Marvin. The father of her son Matthew. She was young, just a nineteen-year-old girl and a new in Manila then. Marvin who was a salesman courted her, she fell in love so she accepted him. They dated for a year and after she became pregnant.

She had been carrying the baby for a month when she had the courage to tell Marvin about it. She is afraid to communicate her condition to the man. But like what she has been afraid of, Marvin left him and didn't stand up for her and their son. A week after their last conversation, she returned to San Luis to inform her aunt Ludy about her condition.

At first, her Aunt Ludy was so angry. But eventually, she also accepted everything in the end. and now for three years, she has been the one who is taking care of her son. She regularly came home to them on payday to visit and spend some time with her son and also to give her aunt some money for their expenses. They also have a livelihood in the province. Their multifaceted store has a good income from which they have lived since her childhood days.

After a year, she finally accepted that Marvin is really gone. She thought that maybe it was normal because he was the first man that she ever had in her life and also the father of her son. But for now, just in case they meet again, she knows for sure that she will be able to look him in the eye. And if she will be given the chance, she'll even thank him for he was the one who brought Matthew in her life.

Her son is the number one reason why she is so inspired to work every day. She wanted to give him the best life that she can provide. Being a single mom needs a lot of courage. She was able to know her capabilities since Matthew came into her life. He was the best thing that ever happened to her. And she has no regrets that she raised him even without Marvin.

____________________

IN front of a bakeshop, Luis parked his car. It is a special day for him because of Kristel's birthday. She was his childhood friend and first love also. Luis smiled at the last thought.

Kristel died years ago. They were classmates since kindergarten. She was his constant companion and they really agreed on many things. She is beautiful, quiet, and gentle. Everything he ever wanted in a girl is with her.

But it, as they say, life is not fair. She was born with heart failure. A condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. This is the reason why Kristel cannot do so much. The only way to cure this kind of heart problem is a heart transplant.

They were in their fourth-year high school when he decided to confess his feelings to Kristel. That he loves her very much. He was so happy when Kristel told him that she has feelings for him as well. But because of her heart's condition that feeling is not acceptable. Months later her condition worsens and that gave Kristel all the reasons to reject him and remained friends.

At first, he was having a hard time accepting and understanding everything. But before long, he gradually understood why things have had to happen. And it was only then that he proved how much was his love for his best friend and the other way around as well.

That she was able to sacrifice her own feelings for him just because she doesn't want him to be too much involved in her life.

Kristel knows that when they make their relationship official, it will hurt him a lot once she dies.

He was in third-year college when Kristel passed away in the hospital where she was admitted. Just like other patients with heart failure, Kristel needs to queue in the waiting list for a heart donor. But sadly, she wasn't able to wait any longer.

Putting his life back on track became very hard for Luis. That is the reason why he decided to go to America and continue his remaining years in college. He will be living with his Aunt Linda a sister of his late father.

And now, after eight long years, he will be able to visit Kristel's grave.

He must admit. There have been so many women since she died. But Kristel's different, that is why he decided to visit her.

On the other hand, Luis is still open to the possibilities to love again. But this time, he hopes for a lifetime relationship because just like what his mother said, he is not getting any younger.

He truly is not in a hurry, but he must admit that despite his successful career, something is missing he knew that needs to be completed.