*Who's My Eternal*
*Manila — Draven House, That Night*
Mr. Kael loosened his tie and looked at Cindy.
"I accepted a marriage proposal for you," he said. "You're getting married next month."
Cindy stared at him. "What? I'm not interested in marriage. You can't decide that for me."
"It's to Nicklaus Haynes," Mr. Kael said.
Cindy froze.
_Haynes._
"The family that took Cherry in," Mr. Kael added. "The ones she lives with now."
Everything clicked in Cindy's head.
_If I marry Nicklaus I'll be living in Haynes House. With Cherry. I'll be family. I can get close. I can get rid of Cherry. And Elian… Elian will be mine again._
She forced a smile. "Fine. I'll marry him."
Noa had been quiet by the stairs. Now he stepped in front of her.
"Cindy," he said, voice low. "If you agreed to this just to hurt Cherry, I won't let you."
Cindy laughed. "And what are _you_ going to do, Noa? You couldn't fight Elian. You couldn't win Cherry. You think you can stop me?"
"I'm not like you," Noa said. "I didn't let love turn me into a monster."
Cindy's face went red. She jumped up.
"I HAD ELIAN FIRST! HE LOVED ME FIRST! Cherry stole him from me!"
Noa didn't back down. "You _did_ have him. But you threw him away because he was poor. He was nothing back then. Now that Cherry stayed by him, now that she helped make him who he is… now you want him back?"
He shook his head and started upstairs. "You'll lose me too, Cindy. Keep going down this path."
"IF I DON'T END HER, MY NAME IS NOT CINDY!" she screamed after him.
---
*Haynes House — Same Night
The car stopped outside Haynes House.
Elian cut the engine. Looked at Cherry.
"Home," he said. Soft.
Just like he promised Mrs. Jennie and Nicklaus he'd do — get her back safe.
Cherry unbuckled. "Thanks for today, Elian."
She opened the door. Got down.
Turned back to him before shutting it. "Goodnight."
She was about to walk in.
Elian caught her hand.
Pulled.
Cherry stumbled back into him, gasping.
"Elian—"
"You're not forgetting something?" he asked. Voice low.
Cherry blinked at him. Confused.
She checked her purse. Frowned. "I… no? My phone's here. Keys… I don't have keys. Did I drop something?"
Elian smirked.
He lifted her chin with one finger.
Made her look at him.
"Oh," Cherry whispered.
Then his mouth was on hers.
Cherry's eyes went wide.
For one second.
Then they fluttered shut.
And she kissed him back.
Elian's arm went around her waist. Tight.
Pulling her against him like he'd never let go.
Like he'd dare anyone to try and take her from him again.
Her hands fisted in his shirt.
The bay. The docks. The five years.
All of it burned away in that kiss.
A few minutes passed. Or maybe hours.
Finally, Elian broke it.
Slow. Reluctant.
Cherry was panting.
Her face was red. Like tomatoes, just like he always teased.
Elian saw it and laughed. Low. Warm.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"_Now_ you can go in, Pink."
He let her go.
Cherry touched her lips. Dazed.
"Goodnight, Elian," she whispered.
Then she turned and practically ran inside before her legs gave out.
Elian stayed by the car.
Watched the door close.
Smiled to himself.
And drove off into the night.
---
Second floor. Window cracked open.
Nicklaus Haynes stood there.
He'd seen the car pull up.
Seen Cherry get out.
Seen Elian pull her back.
Seen the kiss.
His fists were clenched so tight his knuckles went white.
The glass of water on his desk cracked.
"How dare he," Nicholas whispered.
His jaw was locked. Eyes burning.
"Kiss her. Touch her. Like she's _his_."
He watched Elian laugh. Kiss her forehead. Let her go.
Watched Cherry run inside, face red.
Nicholas stepped back from the window.
Heart pounding. Sick. Furious.
"I don't care if she's my sister now," he said to the empty room. Voice shaking. "I don't care if Dad took her in. I don't care if she calls me _brother_."
He punched the wall.
"Cherry is _mine_."
---
*Cherry's Room — Seconds Later*
The door clicked shut.
Cherry leaned against it.
Heart racing.
She touched her lips.
Still warm. Still tingling from _him_.
Then she ran to the bed.
Dove onto it. Face-first.
And screamed into the pillow.
"AHHHH!"
Muffled. Excited. Giddy.
She rolled over. Stared at the ceiling.
Touched her lips again.
"He kissed me," she whispered.
Another scream. Softer this time.
She kicked her feet. Rolled side to side. Hugged the pillow.
"He _really_ kissed me. Not a forehead kiss. Not a cheek kiss. A _real_ one."
Her face was on fire.
She buried her face in the blanket.
"Elian Harkwell kissed me," she mumbled. "And I kissed him back."
She rolled again. Laughed.
Five years of pain. Five years of missing him.
Gone.
Just like that.
Because of one kiss in front of Haynes House.
Down the hall, Nicklaus heard the muffled scream.
He closed his eyes.
Pain and rage twisted together.
"Keep screaming," he whispered. "Enjoy it while you can, Cherry."
Because tomorrow…
Tomorrow he was going to remind her who she belonged to.
---