Seven Years Later...
"Ready to go?" Clark asked with a smile, holding his phone.
"Yeah, coming!" came the voice on the other end of the line. He shook his head, chuckling a little. It was only seven in the morning, but he could already feel the excitement for their trip.
A few minutes later, the car door opened and Angela peeked in. "Sorry, I overslept."
"It's alright." He smiled and waited until she had fastened her seatbelt properly before starting the engine.
As he drove, they fell into their usual banter and storytelling—random things, work updates, and how time seemed to fly by too fast. But beyond their casual conversation, there was a deeper reason why Clark couldn't miss this outing.
It was his mom's birthday, and the celebration was being held at a resort in San Diego. If it were just up to him, he might've skipped the gathering again. But Angela had promised his mother that she'd go—leaving Clark with no choice but to attend. Susan Smith knew her son well. She knew Angela was his only real weakness.
Clark's mom had long known how he felt about Angela. So, every chance she got, she found ways to bring the two closer. She constantly brought up Clark in conversations with Angela, always hoping something would change. And even though they had been together for years and there was clearly something between them, their relationship remained what it was—solid, but undefined.
At a glance, one would think they were a couple. How could they not? Clark was so caring toward Angela—always there, putting her first, never letting her go through anything alone. But whenever someone asked what they were, they'd just laugh and say, "We're just friends."
They had a long drive ahead—over seven hours from San Francisco to San Diego. But for Clark, that was fine. He'd rather endure a long road trip if it meant being with Angela.
When they stopped to eat and use the restroom, Angela tried to take the wheel.
"My turn. I can drive long distances, you know."
"No way." Clark shook his head. "No. I can handle a long drive, you know."
"Clark, you're treating me like I'm useless. You didn't even let me chip in for gas or food. At least let me drive, so I feel useful," she reasoned.
Clark glanced at her, clearly unconvinced. "I earn more than you. Besides, it's my mom who invited us. Let me handle it."
But Angela didn't listen. Before he could protest, she had already walked around and slid into the driver's seat. He grinned, having no choice but to hand over the wheel.
As they cruised down the highway, Angela's thoughts drifted to the past. To how she and Clark had crossed paths again—the very person she once avoided was now the closest person in her life.
Since getting out of the institution a year and a half ago, Clark had been by her side. He never stopped showing up in her life, always making time even during her grueling med school days. It was only then that she found out he had moved to California—his father had insisted after Clark's grandmother passed away. Clark had once chosen to stay in the Philippines for his grandmother, but after she was gone, he had no reason to remain.
Angela, on the other hand, started over in San Francisco, distancing herself from Orange County. She didn't rely on the money left to her—she became a working student to support herself. She became more frugal, more independent.
Through all of that, Clark had always been there. He never left.
Still, even though his feelings were obvious in the way he acted, Clark never said a word. And Angela never tried to define the special place he held in her life. They were both afraid. Both unwilling to risk what they had.
When they arrived at the resort, Susan and some of Clark's relatives greeted them right away. The welcome toward Angela was warm, as if she were truly part of the family. Amid the laughter and feasting, Clark looked over at Angela as she chatted with one of his aunts.
"Angela, how long have you two been together?" the aunt asked teasingly. "You're such a cute couple."
Angela froze. She glanced at Clark, who had just stood up to mix drinks. Both of them fell silent.
"Oh—uh, we're just friends," Angela replied, forcing a smile.
"Really?" the aunt raised an eyebrow. "Well, you two look so in love."
After the party, while cooling off on the veranda of their room, Clark grew quiet again. He sat on the railings, gazing at the sea. Angela walked over and sat beside him. Neither spoke for a while.
"Sorry about earlier," Angela said first. "I was caught off guard."
Clark chuckled. "No need to be sorry. It's not the first time someone's asked that."
Silence. Only the wind and waves could be heard.
"Clark," Angela said softly. "Have you ever thought about it?"
"Thought about what?" He feigned ignorance even though he knew what Angela meant.
"Us." She looked into his eyes. "What we really are."
Clark took a deep breath. "Every day."
Angela looked up at the stars. "Then why didn't you ever say anything?"
"Because I was scared," he said as a matter of factly. "Scared to lose you. Scared that maybe… you didn't feel the same."
Silence again.
"Seven years, Clark," Angela whispered. "I was scared too. But I waited. I waited for you to say something first."
Clark turned to her, and finally, he didn't hold back. He gently took Angela's hand in his.
"Then let's stop being scared," he said, quietly but firmly.
Angela smiled, and for the first time, they both felt that something had changed. It wasn't hanging in the balance anymore. It wasn't a game of hesitation. This was the beginning of the real them.
The rest of their vacation in San Diego—originally just for Clark's mom's birthday—turned out to be even more memorable. Because of what happened, everything was now clear between them.
"At long last!" Clark's mom cried the next morning when he told her about him and Angela.
"I'm so happy for you, son!" she said as she pulled her only child into a tight hug.
"Come here, my dear!" she called to Angela for a warm embrace.
"Thank you so much, my dear! You make not only my son happy, but me too," Susan added, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Mom! Gel's just my girlfriend—we're not getting married yet," Clark said, laughing.
"Shut up! I'm just so happy for you and Angela! I waited years for this—because you were so slow and such a coward!" his mom teased, making both Angela and Clark's stepdad burst into laughter.
And for the first time in a long while, Angela felt like she was exactly where she belonged. And Clark, at last, no longer had to hide in the shadow of his feelings. For them, this was the beginning of a new chapter—one full of courage, truth, and love.