She Loved Me In Autumn (Book 1)

Camille Point Of View.

The moment we stepped out of the car, naamoy ko na agad ang aroma ng lutong bahay — may halong bawang, ginisa, at kaunting usok mula sa inihaw sa likod. Eli tugged on my hand, her eyes twinkling. “Ready ka na, Miss Camille?”

I just smirked and nodded. “I guess?”

Pagpasok namin sa bahay nila, agad kaming sinalubong ng isang matandang babae na may ngiting abot-tenga.

“Elise! Anak!” sabay yakap ng mahigpit kay Eli. “Ang ganda mo lalo ngayon, ah. At ito ba ang sinasabi mong nobya?”

I was not prepared.

“Siya po si Camille,” sagot ni Eli, proud pa. “Siya yung lagi kong ikinukwento.”

“Pasok kayo, hija! May inihanda kaming kaunti lang na pagkain,” tawag ng isa pang tita sa dining area, kahit punong-puno ang mesa ng iba't ibang putahe — may kare-kare, lumpia, sinigang, at may inihaw pa sa labas.

Marami sa kanila ay ngumiti rin sa akin, tinatapik ako sa balikat at inaabot ng baso ng juice o tubig. I wasn’t used to this warmth — it was overwhelming, but... nice.

But then, dumating siya.

A guy, probably early twenties, wearing a jersey and messy hair na parang bagong gising. He walked straight to Eli, like no one else mattered.

“Elise!” he called out, smiling wide. “Bumalik ka na, ha? Miss na kita ah!”

Nagyakapan pa sila.

I cleared my throat.

Eli looked at me and introduced, “Ah, Camille, si Jules. Kababata ko ‘yan, pero parang kapatid na. Mas bata lang ng konti.”

“Hi,” I said politely, offering a handshake, but he didn’t even take it. He just gave me a once-over and raised an eyebrow.

“Oh. Siya ba 'yung sinasabi mong girlfriend? Kala ko joke mo lang ‘yon. Ang sungit naman ng aura, parang prof sa university.”

I stared.

Eli laughed nervously. “Uh, prof ko nga siya... dati. Long story.”

I sat down beside Eli, but Jules took the seat on her other side and started chatting with her like I wasn’t even there. He was laughing, touching her arm, and acting way too comfortable.

My eye twitched.

Eli noticed. “Miss... okay ka lang?”

I forced a smile and stabbed a piece of lumpia on my plate. “Of course. I’m enjoying this.”

She gave me that guilty look. That "I-know-you're-about-to-blow-up" look.

Then she leaned over and whispered, “Don’t be jealous. Jules is annoying, not a threat.”

I scoffed lightly. “Says the girl whose cousin keeps touching her like he’s auditioning for a teleserye role.”

Before she could answer, Jules spoke again. “Eli, ikaw pa rin pinakamaganda. Kahit ilang years na, crush pa rin kita. Sayang taken ka na.”

I put my fork down.

Eli was panicking. “Okay, Jules, stop—”

But I had enough.

I leaned back in my chair, turned to Jules, and said with a sweet but sharp voice, “She’s taken, yes. By me. And believe me, I don’t share.”

Tahimik.

He blinked. “Whoa. Okay.”

Eli bit her lip, holding back a laugh.

I smirked at her and whispered, “You owe me later.”

She leaned close and kissed my cheek in front of everyone. “Noted.”

My face turned into red. This kid.

The air smelled of warm food, toasted rice, and a bit of countryside breeze. I had barely settled in when Eli’s mom started piling food onto my plate like I was already one of them.

“Camille, tikman mo ’tong adobo, recipe ko ’yan,” she said with a big smile.

Eli beamed at me across the table, while her dad nodded approvingly. “Matagal na naming gustong makilala kung sino ang nagpapakilig sa anak namin.”

Napakagat-labi lang ako habang si Eli ay parang batang proud na proud sa akin.

Then came the moment I didn’t expect — her father raised a glass and said, “To Elise and Camille. Sa inyong dalawa. Sana kayo na nga talaga.”

I blinked. “T-tito?”

He chuckled. “Bakit? Surprised ka ba? Eli has never looked this happy. And honestly, Camille, we’ve seen how you look at her. And how she looks at you. Hindi na namin kailangan ng paliwanag.”

Eli’s mom leaned closer. “And Camille... don’t feel like you have to prove anything to us. You’re welcome here anytime. Our daughter loves you. That’s more than enough.”

My throat tightened. I wasn’t expecting this level of warmth — not today. Not so soon.

“Thank you po,” I managed to say, holding back the lump in my throat.

Just then, Eli’s Childhood friend— Jules, if I remembered right — arrived and ran straight to Eli’s side, throwing his arms around her.

“Crush ko pa rin si Ate Eli,” he teased loudly, causing the entire table to burst out laughing.

“Hoy Jules,” Eli said, ruffling his hair playfully, “taken na ako, ‘di ba Camille?”

I glanced at her, and she winked.

The whole table cheered. There was no tension, no judgment. Just warmth and joy — the kind that made me feel like I belonged. For the first time, I saw what home looked like... in someone else's arms and someone else's family.

Eli slid her hand beneath the table and squeezed mine. I squeezed back.

This was more than enough.

After lunch, the house quieted a little. The older ones moved to the living room for coffee, and the kids ran outside to play. I found myself walking hand in hand with Eli toward the small balcony at the back of the house, shaded by bougainvillea and kissed by the wind.

“Okay ka lang?” she asked softly, leaning against the wooden railings.

I looked at her, still overwhelmed by the acceptance I had just received. “Honestly? I thought it would be awkward... but your family is amazing.”

“Told you,” she smirked, then leaned her head on my shoulder. “They’ve always been chill, pero ngayon lang nila nakita yung taong nagpapangiti sa’kin ng ganito.”

I held her waist gently, pulling her closer. “You’re lucky.”

“No,” she said, tilting her face up to meet my eyes, “we’re lucky.”

I smiled, brushing my nose against hers. “Especially me.”

We stayed like that for a while—just breathing, listening to the far-off laughter of children, and the soft rustle of trees. Everything felt so peaceful, so right. Like we were far from the expectations of the world, just two people who chose each other.

Then Eli whispered, “Next time we come here, magdala tayo ng pasalubong. Lalo na sa mga pamangkin ko.”

“Gusto mo na agad bumalik?” I asked, teasing her.

She grinned. “Bakit, ayaw mo?”

I shook my head, laughing softly. “Gusto ko. Gusto ko ng mas maraming moments na ganito. Yung tayo lang. Walang takot. Walang tinatago.”

She cupped my cheek and nodded. “Kasi legal tayo dito. Dito, hindi ko kailangang itago kung gaano kita kamahal.”

My heart clenched in the best way. I kissed her forehead, sealing the moment.

Yes, we were lucky. Because in this quiet corner of the world, love wasn’t complicated.