*Who's My Eternal*
The next day, sunrise over Manila Bay.
Kael took Noa and Cindy to the old fishing camp in Navotas. He grew up running these docks with his bare feet. Same bamboo huts, same nets drying in the sun, same smell of salt and diesel.
His old friends were already there, hauling in the morning catch. "Kael Draven!" Mang Tomas shouted, dropping a crate of bangus. "Twenty years and you still walk like a rich man." They clapped his back, loud, laughing. No handshakes, just hugs. Warm. No one here cared about New York.
Kael grinned for the first time in days. He crouched to show Noa how to untangle a net. "See this knot? Your lolo taught me—"
He didn't notice Cindy wander off.
She was 6, curious, and the water was calling. She slipped past the huts, past the drying fish, right to the edge where the bay lapped at the wooden stilts. She dipped one foot in. Cool. Then the other. She giggled and waded deeper, her dress floating up around her knees.
"You shouldn't be out there. It's dangerous."
The voice made her jolt. She spun, water splashing.
A boy. Maybe her age. 7 years old, sun-dark hair, wearing a too-big t-shirt that said _Eldridge Holdings_. He stood on the dock above her, arms crossed like a tiny grown-up. Serious eyes. No smile.
"I'm fine," Cindy shot back, chin up. Draven stubborn.
"Fine until the current takes you," the boy said, matter-of-fact. "My lola says three kids drowned here last year." He crouched, held out a hand. "Come on."
Cindy stared at him. No one in New York talked to her like that. No one warned her. They just watched.
"…Who are you?" she asked, but took his hand anyway. His palm was rough. Fisherman's grandson hands.
"Elian," he said, pulling her up onto the dock. Water streamed off her dress. "Elian Eldridge. You're new. I saw you with Sir Kael. He's my lola's friend."
Cindy blinked. _Eldridge_. She didn't know what that meant yet. Just that he didn't look at her like she was breakable.
"Cindy," she said. "Cindy Draven."
Behind them, Kael's laugh cut off. He'd finally noticed she was gone. "Cindy!"
Elian let go of her hand fast, like he'd been caught. "You better go."
But Cindy didn't move yet. She looked at him — this boy with serious eyes who saved her before she even knew she needed saving.
Cindy walked away, her wet dress dripping a trail on the wooden planks. She didn't look back.
Elian watched until she rounded the corner of the bamboo hut. Something tight sat in his chest. He didn't know what it was yet. He was 7.
Then someone cleared their throat behind him. Loud. Deliberate.
He turned.
Cherry Pink stood there, hands on her hips, one year younger than him but acting like she owned the whole dock. Her hair was tied up with a red ribbon, and she had fish scales on her cheek. She'd probably been helping her mom clean bangus again.
"I told you to stop showing up unannounced like that," Elian said, trying to sound annoyed.
Cherry rolled her eyes so hard her whole head went with it. "Pardon me, your highness. I didn't mean to interrupt your staring."
Elian's ears went red. He rolled his eyes right back. "It's not my fault. She's pretty."
Cherry gasped like he'd personally offended her ancestors. She crossed her arms. "I'm more prettier. I'm the prettiest girl in the world. That's why my name is Cherry."
Elian couldn't help it — he laughed. "Keep telling yourself that. Cherry is one of the ugliest sharks in the ocean."
"No it's not!" Cherry stomped her foot, making the dock wobble. "Take it back!"
"Never. Sharks eat—"
"CHERRY PINK!"
The scream cut across the fishing camp. Sharp. Final. Mrs. Eva's voice could part the Manila Bay.
Cherry froze. Her brave face cracked. "Oh no."
"Better go or Mrs. Eva will steam you alive today," Elian said, smirking. But he nudged her toward the path. "Run."
Cherry let out a frustrated sigh, fish scales and all. "See you later, Best." That's what she called him. Short for best friend. Only she could use it.
Elian nodded. "Yeah. Later, Best."
She took off running, red ribbon bouncing, yelling "Coming, Mama!" as she disappeared between the huts.
Elian stayed on the dock a second longer, looking at the spot where Cindy had been standing in the water. Then at the path Cherry just ran down.