In Barangay San Roque, Celia is well-known. She is 48 years old, an elementary school teacher, kind, and still has a beautiful face despite the lines of age. But in the eyes of her neighbors and relatives, she is a “poor old maid” who has been left behind by time.

Every day, every afternoon, Celia can be seen sitting on her veranda, looking out at the street, as if waiting for someone.

“Oh, Celia!” her intrusive aunt, Tiyang Luring, shouted while sweeping the floor opposite. “There you are again, waiting for nothing! Wake up to reality, Hija. It’s been fifteen years! I’m sure Mateo has a family abroad. Maybe he’ll just bring you a grandson!”

“Tiyang, he promised,” Celia replied calmly, although her heart ached. “He said he would come back to me.”

Mateo was Celia’s first love. He left in 2011 for Saudi Arabia as a construction foreman. For the first two years, there were frequent letters and calls. They were full of dreams. But it suddenly ended. No calls. No letters. Mateo disappeared like a bubble.

Even though there was no news, Celia did not get married. She rejected the Councilor who was her lover, the widowed policeman, and the businessman in town. To others, what she was doing was stupid.

“Your race is a shame, Celia!” the neighbors shouted. “Just adopt so someone will take care of you when you get old!”

One Saturday, Celia’s family had a reunion. Almost everyone was married and had children. She was the only one single. She was the center of temptation and pressure.

“Celia, I have something to tell you,” her cousin said. “You’re old, but you’re rich. That’s better than being alone.”

Celia was full. She stood up, tears streaming down her face. “I don’t need a man just to say I’m married. I’ll wait for Mateo. If he doesn’t come, I’ll accept being alone for the rest of my life. But I won’t break our promise.”

Some laughed. “He’s crazy in love,” they whispered.

While the party was in chaos, suddenly someone honked loudly outside.

BEEP! BEEP!

Everyone fell silent. They looked at the gate. A very shiny and brand new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado pulled up. Black. Tinted. It looked like a politician’s or millionaire’s car.

“Who’s that? Do we have a VIP guest?” Aunt Luring asked, suddenly excited.

The driver’s door opened. A man in a uniform got out. He opened the back door and pulled out a folding wheelchair.

The people were confused.

Page: SAY – Story Around You | Original story.

After adjusting the wheelchair, the driver and another assistant carefully lifted the passenger from the car.

An elderly man, white-haired, but handsome and decently dressed.

Celia covered her mouth. Her eyes widened. Her heartbeat was like a drum with force.

“M-Mateo?” Celia whispered.

The assistant wheelchaired Mateo into the gate. All the neighbors who had been laughing earlier were silent.

When they faced each other, Mateo’s tears flowed.

“Celia…” Mateo greeted. His voice was still the same, full of love.

“Mateo! What happened to you?” Celia cried, kneeling in front of the wheelchair and holding her boyfriend’s hand. “Why only now? Why didn’t you write?”

Mateo took a deep breath. He held Celia’s face.

“Forgive me, my love,” Mateo began. “Thirteen years ago, I fell from the scaffolding of the building we were building in Riyadh. I fell three stories. I was in a coma for six months. When I woke up… half of my body was paralyzed.”

The gossiping neighbors gasped.

“I’m ashamed, Celia,” Mateo continued, crying. “I don’t want to come home to you crippled. I don’t want to be a burden to you. I don’t want you to take care of a cripple while other women have husbands who can carry them. I want when I face you, I can give you a luxurious life even though I can’t walk.”

Mateo pointed to the car full of gifts and balikbayan boxes.

“I used my insurance money and compensation. I studied online trading and business while in the hospital. I worked hard even when I was lying down. I endured not being able to call you until I became successful. Now, I have my own company. I can no longer walk, Celia… but I can give you a life like a queen.”

Mateo took out a small box from his pocket. He opened it. A ring with a large diamond.

“Celia, you kept your word. You waited even when there was no certainty. Now, let me keep my promise. Will you marry me?”

Celia sobbed. “Yes, Mateo! Even if you have no wealth, even if you don’t have a car, even if I have to push you in a wheelchair for the rest of your life, you are the only one I want!”

Mateo put on the ring. Celia’s family applauded. Aunt Luring and the judgmental neighbors bowed in shame. What they thought they had “left behind” was returned by a millionaire with pure love.

That day, the entire village proved that true love is not measured by the length of time or the ability of the legs, but by the loyalty of the heart to stay, wait, and keep a promise no matter what. Celia, once laughed at, became a symbol of eternal hope.