Chapter 41
All good things must end. In a wink, the week ended, and Ryo and Ellie were tightly hugging each other at the airport again. Both unwilling to let the other person go. Their silence spoke the words their mouths did not want to say. They hugged and kissed until the PA system announced Ellie’s trip was boarding. Ryo gave her another tight hug, another torrid kiss. Ellie did the same. Both uncaring about the world around them.
Ellie wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand and looked at Ryo. “I’ll miss you, baby. Eat well and follow your nutritionist, ok?” Ellie said between sobs.
Ryo nodded and pulled her closer again to plant a kiss at the top of her head. He sniffed her hair, taking in as much of her scent as he could. “You take care too, mahal ko. Call me when you get there. Haru will pick you up from the airport, so you don’t need to take the bus home.” Ellie nodded her understanding and wrapped her arms around Ryo’s waist.
Airports are such ironies. It’s the same place where one welcomes a person with joy and bids goodbye to them with sadness. Ellie Finally released Ryo and without taking a second look went to the boarding area.
Ryo left only after he knew Ellie’s plane had taken off. His heart felt heavy, and he wanted to grow wings to catch up with her plane. If there’s anything that gives him joy now, is Ellie’s promise that she’d move in with him at the end of the year. It’s still far, but it’s worth waiting.
Ellie arrived in Manila after four hours. There’s a slight drizzle, and the sky is overcast, matching how she felt. With heavy feet, she walked towards the arrival area and, like what Ryo said, Haru waited for her there. He helped her with her luggage and assisted her to the car.
Their drive had been quiet. She is not in the mood to talk at all. It felt like her soul remained in Japan and only her hollow body traveled back home. Home. How odd. It felt like Japan has become her home. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to fall asleep. She wanted to be in a place where she and Ryo could be together in an instant.
The past week had been nothing but bliss. Ryo wanted to show her around Tokyo and shop like crazy. But then, being the homebody that she is, she preferred they stayed home. She gave Ryo cooking lessons. Seeing he does not have the basic skill to feed himself, she took it upon herself to make sure he learns it. Ryo had been a diligent learner. Like her, he’s a perfectionist. They ended up eating four servings of fried eggs each because Ryo could not perfect, making a sunny side up egg. He only got it on the eighth try, thankfully. At the end of the week, he cooked steak complete with sides and a dessert. It impressed Ellie, of course.
She also learned a lot about Ryo in that week. She learned he starts his day with a martial arts training. He also took it upon himself to teach her some basic moves. After her experience with Angelo, she wanted to learn how to defend herself. Ryo was such a patient teacher. Ellie lacked body coordination and a simple move took her hours to learn. Ryo did not laugh at her or scold her. He adjusted to her pace. At the end of the week, she’s able to complete an exercise drill complete with punches and kicks. She felt so badass.
Ellie wanted to meet with the old Japanese couple she met in her shop but the two went on a trip abroad. But to make up for that, he and Ryo had a hiking trip and camped for a night. It was such a perfect night because there was a meteor shower then. The sky was so dark in the countryside and the stars twinkled against it. They stayed up huddled around a campfire and watched the meteors pass across the sky. It was so dreamy; it felt like they were in a movie.
That was when she decided. She no longer wanted a long-distance relationship. She wanted to experience Ryo every day, if possible. Of course, Ryo’s job was demanding, and it would be more difficult for him to move with her than her moving with him. She asked Ryo to give her until the end of the year so she could iron out everything. She could not close shop at whim. Beth and Maya depended on the shop to help with their family expenses. So, she had to help them get another job first.
She also needed to settle things with her landlord. Her lease contract is until the end of the year of the following year. So, she’d have to review the terms of their contract about the early termination of her lease agreement. It should not be a problem; her landlord is easy to deal with and is professional.
As for her family, she knew they’d support her and Ryo. They love Ryo. But she also knew that moving out of the country would sadden them. It’s a huge undertaking. It’s one that needs a lot of preparation. So, the end of the year is reasonable. They still have a few more months to go.
Ellie did not notice that they had already arrived at her shop. Haru’s driving was so smooth she did not feel any discomfort at all. His gentle call woke her up. She scratched her eyes to adjust to the light and saw the front of her store.
Haru helped her unload her luggage and put it in her store. He knew Ellie did not want people other than family up in her personal space, so he did not insist. She left the luggage where they were, closed the shop, and went up to her living space.
No matter how tired she felt, she still took her warm shower and changed into clean clothes. She and Ryo talked on the phone until her battery died. Sleep did not elude her at all. Ryo’s voice calmed her, and she did not even notice she had already fallen asleep.