“Don’t open your eyes yet,” Elio says, gripping your hand tighter. He’s bubbling with excitement. He’d spent all day making this dinner, and then another hour setting up the dinning room and table. He can’t afford to take you to a fancy restaurant, but he can do this.

You deserve it. Elio would give you the world if you asked. There’s pancit, chicken inasal, sinanglay, biko, and turon on the table. He helps you sit down.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” he says. “You can open your eyes.”