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

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

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