Next to an old airport in a remote town in the Visayas, there is a small repair shop that is almost always quiet. It can be seen on the edge of the airport fence. There is a rusty sign that says Elmers, Motors and Parts that seems to have been forgotten by time. Inside that shop, a man with calluses on his face, a body that has been broken and a gentle face is busy repairing an old generator, Sias Elner.
25 years old, quiet, hardworking and known in the area as a young genius in steel. Elmer grew up in that town with his mother, Aling Cora, a former school cook who is now bedridden after a mild stroke two years ago. Elmer was still young when his father died in a plant accident.
Since then, he has been the pillar of the household. Elmer, son, maybe you can change the fan because I’m being cooked here. Aling Cora’s weak language from the fama. He stopped taking apart the parts for a moment and looked at his mother. Okay, just wait. I’ll see if I have a spare motor there. But it might take all day.
I don’t want to interrupt what I’m doing. Don’t neglect yourself, son. Don’t strain your body at work. Elmer smiled. No, no. It feels good and then maybe tomorrow a passenger with a car or motorcycle problem will come by again. It’s a waste of money. But the truth is, customers rarely come by.
His shop is old and the airport people often laugh at it, especially the pilots who only touch down briefly to refuel. To them, Elmer is just a lowly man with no diploma, no formal training and only relies on the patchwork of knowledge from his father’s past experiences.
Hey, Elmer, someone called on the airport radio again. It’s Run Generator of the runway lights. Lito shouted at the young porter in the other shop. Please say, “I have another place to go. Tell engineer Mike, maybe he can take a look.” Elmer replied while busily checking the wires on his old voltmeter. “Oh my, you really don’t know anything about timing.
Madam Isabel might notice you if she happens to be the one passing by.” Lito joked. Elmer shook his head. I’m not looking for attention. I just want to work. Lito was referring to the famous CEO Isabel Ison. Owner of Ison Aviation Holdings. One of the largest companies in the country that operates private jets and luxury charter flights. She rarely lands at a small airport. But when she passes by, it’s as if the world stops, the whole town knows it. But Elmer, even though he knows Isabel, doesn’t care about the glamour of the rich world. What matters to him is keeping the small shop running, buying medicine for his mother, and if he’s lucky, fixing the roof that always leaks whenever it rains.
One afternoon while Elmer was polishing the rotor of an old alternator. Suddenly a chopper flew over his shop. Low, like an emergency landing. He turned around and saw smoke coming from the end of the runway. Not far away, a white plane was being forced around by emergency crew members.

“That’s awesome, that’s a private jet.” Lito exclaimed, immediately following Elmer. It looked like Madam Isabel. She must have been forced to land due to a problem. Elmer immediately fixed things, he put some tools and a voltmeter in a box. Not to brag but because he was intrigued by the malfunction that had occurred.
In Elmer’s world, every broken machine was like a riddle, a puzzle he had to solve. When he arrived at the edge of the runway, he saw the jet stopped. There were several members of the airport’s maintenance team hunched over, looking helpless. Maybe they could help. He spoke softly as he slowly approached.
But before he could get close to the machine, a sharp and cold voice interrupted. “Who are you?” asked a woman wearing dark glasses and an elegant black padsuit. Behind her were two bodyguards who looked like robots in their stance. Ah, Elmer, I have a repair shop next door. Maybe I can take a look at the machine.
Are you a mechanic? Are you a Rolls-Royce trainee Engines? The woman asked sarcastically as she looked Elmer from head to toe. No, but I know something about diagnostics. But if none of you can fix it, maybe I can help. The woman was slightly upset. You might damage it even more.
Don’t bother us. Elmer backed away silently. He wasn’t used to being insulted but he wasn’t going to fight either. Instead of fighting back with words, he just looked closely at the plane’s exhaust. He noticed that the turbine casing was heating up too quickly. Ma’am, I’m sorry but the oil line might be clogged. It’s possible it overheated.
If you had troubleshooted that right away, you might have had to fly it back to Manila. Isabel turned around, slightly surprised. How did she know? She nodded to one of the technicians. Check what he said. After a few minutes, the tech nodded as if he couldn’t believe it. Ma’am, he was right. It was clogged. The diagnostic software missed.
Isabel was silent. She stared at Elmer for a moment but didn’t still showed gratitude. Maybe it was just a coincidence. If there is another problem, we will not come down here. That language was still cold before turning away. As Elmer put away his tools, he sighed.
He did not expect that his simple suspicion was right. But as before, he did not expect anything in return. Not broken. He whispered to himself as long as they left safely. He did not know behind the tinted window of the jet, Isabel looked at him again. full of questions and something he had never felt before.
The next day, an article in the local newspaper reported on the plane’s emergency landing at a small airport and how a local mechanic helped determine the problem. Although Elmer’s name was not mentioned, many townspeople guessed who it was. At his repair shop, customers passed by one after another.
Not to get work done but to say hello, congratulate or simply be curious. Hey, Elmer, maybe you should open a branch in Manila. Just kidding Mang Berto, the old jeepney driver who had been a client for a long time. Elmer smiled as he cleaned the old alternator. It wasn’t in the plan, Mang Berto. I’ll just stay here for now.
I can’t leave mom just yet. While Elmer was busy fixing a generator for a client, on the other side of the city, Isabel Ison was furious as she stood in the conference room of her headquarters in Manila. A video recording from Jet’s security cam was captured. It showed the scene the technician had described about the local mechanic who had broken down. She wasn’t used to being embarrassed.

He wasn’t used to someone who knew more than him, especially in technical matters. Especially when it was uneducated, anonymous, and from the suburbs. Who gave that footage to the press? Isabel asked her staff sternly. Ma’am, it didn’t come from us. Maybe from the airport’s maintenance team.
They said they saw the man who helped. One of them answered. Isabel was silent. Even though she didn’t owe anyone Elmer any favors, she couldn’t deny that her suspicion was correct. And if it was true that he didn’t have formal training, how did he do it? How did he bypass their jet’s own diagnostic software? While she was processing the questions in her mind, Inay Pilar suddenly called.
her advisor and long-time business partner. There’s only one thing you can’t fix, Hija. And that’s your pride. Anipilar on the other line. If I don’t take this kind of person seriously, maybe tomorrow more people will emerge who they’ll think are better than us. Isabel scolded. Maybe you don’t always have to prove that you’re the best.
“Sometimes you have to learn to listen too.” Pilar replied before hanging up. Isabel paused. Pilar had never spoken to anyone like that and not been kicked out. But at that time, it was rare for anyone to tell her the truth. A few days later, Isabel passed by the small airport again. She wasn’t supposed to get off but there was a slight glitch in the navigation system of the new jet.
She waited in the VIP lounge while the airport team fixed it. It wasn’t planned but she turned around by the window and saw Elmer busy again under an old truck. There was oil on his arm and mud on his shoes. He quietly got out of the car with the bodyguard. He approached the side of the shop and looked at Elmer.

Hey, you might break that engine again. There was a hint of a joke but his tone was still cold. Elmer turned around slightly surprised. Ma’am, it’s you again. Is there something wrong again? Just passing by. Checking if you really are the magic boy of engines. He replied while pointing at a jet in the distance.
He stood up Elmer and wiped his hand on the rag. I don’t have magic, ma’am. Maybe I’ve memorized the machine’s beat like the beating of a human heart. When something goes wrong, you can hear it, you can feel it. Isamel was silent. He just stared while Elmer spoke. Despite the mud, behind the sweat, there was a mystery hidden behind this man’s eyes that he couldn’t read.
Tell me, “Where did you study? What training did you have? “What do you want, sir?” he asked seriously. I only finished elementary school. The others were just self-study. And my father used to be a mechanic in military aviation. I watched him every day since I was little until he disappeared. Maybe that’s where I learned. Ah, so you really don’t have a license.
Isabel’s tone was cold. Elmer nodded. You’re right. I don’t have a license but there’s never a day that I don’t get fucked. Isabel was silent for a moment. Not because she agreed but because there was a slight pain in her heart when she heard this. It was like there was a pain she couldn’t explain. She remembered her own childhood.
Growing up in luxury yes but not safe from illness either. Her father left them to be raised by another family. And the poor people they trusted before were the first to betray and steal from them. Do you know why I don’t just trust them? Isabel suddenly asked. Elmer shook his head.

I don’t know, ma’am, but I understand that we all have our own reasons for having walls. Isabel smiled slightly but was clearly restraining herself. Not all people are trustworthy. Especially those from the lower classes. You think you’re kind but there’s a price. There’s always a price. Elmer didn’t respond.
He knew it wasn’t the right time to contradict the beliefs of someone like Isabel. But he knew to himself that not all poor people have plans to take advantage. That night, while Elmer’s mother was resting inside their shack, she sat outside and watched the distant runway of the airport.
In the dark of the night, the lights on the plane were like stars slowly coming closer and farther away. Mom, sometimes I wonder if I also happened to be the child of a rich man, maybe they would see me differently. He whispered to himself. Far away, inside Isabel’s jet that was about to take off again, the CEO was silent as he stared at a small screw that Elmer had handed him earlier.
It was just a piece of iron, but it seemed to carry a weight that he couldn’t explain. And that day, even though he wouldn’t admit it, something inside Isabel had begun to move. A doubt not in anyone else but in his own beliefs. It was a hot day when Isabel’s same jet landed again at the busy airport.
For the third time in just two weeks, he was forced to pass through a place he hated to visit, where the poor, the hopeless, and people like Elmer hung out. But this time, the reason was not just a simple malfunction. The auxiliary engine of his plane had completely failed and there was no replacement technician available from Manila who could arrive immediately.
Ma’am, we can’t do this without the new auxiliary module. It was estimated that it would be three more days before a unit could be sent from HQ. The pilot Captain Reyz explained while showing the diagnostic tablet. 3 days. I can’t be stuck in this back for 3 days. Isabel replied angrily while combing her hair vigorously with her fingers.
No signal, no meeting room, this place is useless. There is a local mechanic, the pilot replied. Don’t say that Elmer. Isabel cut off as she stood up and walked towards the lounge. He was only a last resort if there was really no other choice. But it seemed that the wind heard what she said because just a few minutes later Elmer approached the side of the airport.
He was carrying a toolbag and an old diagnostic scanner that he had built himself using parts from broken radios and cellphones. Ma’am, I heard that there is another problem with the plane. Can I try to take a look? He offered while looking straight into the woman’s eyes. Isabel took a sip, looked up at the sky and then turned her gaze back to the man.
Did I teach you the last time we met that not all your problems need to be yours? I’m not getting involved. It might help while we wait for the parts from Manila. It might even work somehow. Elmer replied firmly but calmly. Isabel realized that they really didn’t have any other options.
And at that time, getting back to Manila was more important to her than her pride. Fine, Annie Isabel, try. But if you damage it further, your life will be ruined too. Elmer nodded and immediately began looking inside the engine. Jezabel watched him from the side with her eyebrows slightly raised. Two hours passed.
Elmer was sweating profusely. His arms and neck were covered in grease. But he didn’t stop. He patched up the Macarine wire. He tore open the auxiliary inlet and turned the manual turbine valve a few times. After a while, he pressed the small switch inside the panel. He closed his eyes for a moment while holding the two wires with his protective gloves.
Suddenly, the auxiliary engine started up. It roared continuously. Captain Rey stood up in shock. Oh my god, he actually did it. Isabel came closer. She couldn’t believe it. I used the fuel bypass technique that was used in old cargo planes. Then I made a temporary relay circuit using the spare fuse from the rundown jeep that Elmer had brought to the shop earlier.

Isabel was silent. The whole surroundings seemed stunned. Elmer was still bowed. He seemed tired but satisfied. After a while, Isabel laughed. Not happily but with a playful laugh full of annoyance and surprise. You. You are the most impossible person I have ever met. On the one hand, you are annoying. But on the other hand, she shook her head and then suddenly approached Elmer. All right.
If you can get that working again tomorrow and we can fly, I will marry you. Captain Re laughed to the side but immediately stopped when he saw the serious face of his boss. Elmer was stunned. Ma’am, I said if you can get that working again and we can fly properly tomorrow, maybe I will marry you. Isabel repeated.
Now her chin was raised and her tone was tinged with sarcasm. Maybe you were just joking. Elmer answered weakly while trying to suppress the blush on his face. Just kidding, do you think I’m joking? You are a lowly mechanic. No name, no wealth, nothing. So if you can make a plane fly that my licensed engineers can’t fix, maybe you deserve to marry someone like me.
Isabel said as she walked away from the airport staff. The scene was like something out of a soap opera. Some staff were whispering and preparing gossip. Back at the shop, Elmer still couldn’t believe what he heard. Not because of the idea of ​​marriage but because of how he was treated like an object, not a person.

I saw the reporter say on the radio, “Is that true? You’re getting married to a billionaire.” asked her mother, Aling Cora. ​​while lying on the mat and holding a rosary. That’s not true, Mom. It was just a joke. But I still have to do my job. Maybe in the end I’ll get at least a little respect. Her mother was silent.
You don’t have to prove yourself to them. But if you’re going to do it, do it for yourself. Not so that he could pass you but so that you could see that you were really capable. Elmer nodded in his entire life. He had never been challenged like that. No one had ever played with him with such high stakes.
Not just reputation but his very being. That night, as he reexamined the jet’s auxiliary panel design, he began to sketch out a better system. In his mind, this wasn’t about the woman. It wasn’t about marriage. It was about a chance to show the world that even though you came from nothing, you can stand on your own two feet and finally be heard.
Elmer was awake early. He hadn’t slept much all night. Isabel’s challenge and her mocking voice replayed in his mind over and over, as if they had left a mark on his chest that could not be erased. But more than that, he felt a strange determination.
Not for the woman, not for the money, but for his father’s name and for his own honor that the world had looked down on for so long. While preparing breakfast for his mother, Elmer noticed that the edge of the old shelf in the warehouse of their parong-barong was wet. The roof had leaked again because of the mist last night.
He approached to fix the wood that had bent a bit. But as he moved the things. an old box suddenly opened and fell to the floor. There were papers that seemed old and smelled of dust and under them was a leather bound notebook covered with old canvas. He slowly opened it.
His father’s name was written on the first page. Diary of Hektor R. Lopez 1983. He was surprised that his father was quiet and simple, he never thought of writing such a profound note. As he flipped through the pages, he saw detailed sketches of engines, turbine diagrams, fuel circulation techniques, oil pressure conversion that are not taught to the average mechanic. This is for dad.
He whispered softly as his chest’s heartbeat gradually accelerated. For all I know, the source is even deeper. In one part of the diary, there is a page titled backup auxiliary power system proposed manual override. Elmer immediately fell to his knees on the floor and could not paint his face.

That was the exact issue with Isabel’s plane. Shocked and aghast, Elmer looked at the Viceroy again and confirmed that the solution he had come up with yesterday was exactly the same as what his father had written over 20 years ago. This was not luck. This was not coincidence. This was a legacy. He left the warehouse, carrying the diary, and returned to his workshop.
He brought his father’s old tools there including an old-fashioned voltmeter and a small box of resistor kits. He spread the diary out on the table and began to study the design in its entirety. Now that I know the true source of my knowledge. There’s no turning back. He whispered to himself. I’m not just going to fix the plane.
I’m going to build on my father’s legacy as he connected components for a prototype circuit. Aling Cora entered. Holding a hot coffee. She was obviously tired from walking from her bed but had a smile on her face. Son, what are you doing? You’re already busy in the morning. I’m fixing the jet’s auxiliary panel system.
I need to get it working tomorrow. Why do you look like you have a fire behind your eyes now? Elmer smiled and reached for the diary. This is for dad. Everything I’m doing now. He’s done it before. It’s like he’s training me, mom, even though he’s gone. Aling Cora was quiet as she opened the diary.
She looked at her son with tears in the corner of his eyes. Your dad used to say that time is never wasted if it’s spent thinking. You don’t have to be at university to learn. As long as you know how to listen to your surroundings, you’ll learn. Elmer continued working all day. He built a model circuit from scratch using part of an old washing machine motor and some pieces of wire from a broken portable fan.
He used the diagram from the diary as a guide. But he added his own technique. A simple resistor balance that would adjust the temperature of the system even without digital control. When it worked on the first test, Elmer burst into tears, using his father’s knowledge and his own hard work, he had created something that Isabel’s entire engineering team could not do.
This was not borrowed technology. This was knowledge accumulated over a lifetime, passed down and now brought back to life. Around 8 pm, Captain Reyz arrived at the repair shop. He was carrying a bag containing several documents from the main office. He bowed slightly as he entered. Elmer, said ma’am Isabel, if you can stabilize the plane before morning, the trip will continue.

But don’t expect help from our team. It’s up to you. Elmer nodded. It’s okay. I was hoping for it too. But thanks for getting the message across. Captain Reyz looked at the prototype on the table. What was that? A backup for the auxiliary system. Manual override but with an automated cooling circuit. Made from an old part of an electric fan.
Enough for the engine to last two hours. The pilot couldn’t believe it. You were the only one who did that? Not just me. With dad. In mind and heart. Captain Reyz left with a mixture of amazement and respect in his eyes. That night, Elmir looked up at the sky again. Holding the diary and praying softly.
Dad, I’ll bring this tomorrow. This isn’t just about the challenge, this is about you. For everything you’ve done quietly but truly. The entire repair shop was silent. But inside it was a heart that beat with courage and hands that weren’t afraid to get dirty. Because he knows that with every piece of metal he fixes, he is reviving a history.
The morning dawned calmly for Elmer. But inside the airport, a different kind of tension was swirling. Inside the main hangar, there was one of the most respected and feared people in the world of aviation engineering. Engineer Mauricio Valerio, the chief engineer of AON Aviation, a man known in the industry not only for his intelligence but also for being unscrupulous.
When he wanted to prove something. He was old. He had a large body, a bald spot in the middle of his head and always carried a clipboard. He had heard that Elmer, an unlicensed, uneducated young man from a shantytown, was the one who fixed the auxiliary engine of the CEO’s private jet. For Valerio, this was an insult and he would not let a lowly mechanic defeat his professional reputation.
Upon arriving at the hangar, he immediately went to Isabel who was busy inspecting the jet before the planned departure. “Ma’am, I heard a funny story.” Valerio began while still hiccuping in annoyance. “Is it true that you allowed an unlicensed mechanic to touch the engine of one of our jets?” Isabel stopped what she was doing. It was true.
because she was the only one who did it. Where were you when the malfunction occurred? Valerio couldn’t answer right away but she was used to not losing an argument, “Ma’am, I’m just protecting the company. What if the plane exploded in midair? He had no training, no insurance coverage, no record. But he got the engine running.
Something your entire team couldn’t do in a day.” Isabel replied firmly, what he did was nothing if it didn’t pass standard protocols. We don’t have black and white proof. Anyone can take a chance and get lucky. Valerio insisted vehemently. But despite the argument, Isabel knew that Valerio was also right. Even though she wanted to defend Elmer, she still had to consider legal liability. So he didn’t say anything more. He just nodded and walked away. While they were talking. On the other side of the hangar, Elmer was busy fixing the new prototype made from his father’s design. Several technicians from the airport were secretly approaching, asking for advice or simply looking with admiration.
But one of them, Carlo, a junior tech who had once been Engineer Valerio’s apprentice, was secretly watching and spying. It was late when Elmer returned to the repair shop. When he opened the door, he was shocked. The things were in disarray, the tools were scattered and it seemed like someone was trying to find something.
He approached the diary shelf and was shocked by what he saw. His father’s old notebook was gone. “Mom, did someone come in here?” He almost shouted as he entered his mother’s room. “I was sleeping, son. I thought you were the one rustling earlier.” “I didn’t think it was someone else.” Aling Cora replied, almost in tears.
Elmer immediately went out furiously and headed to the airport guard house to check the CCTVs. But he was told that there had been a surveillance blackout for a few hours earlier due to a system update. A very convenient excuse for an inside job. The next morning, Elmer quietly went to the front of the Jet. He brought with him the remaining sketches from the diary he had photocopied a week ago.

He continued to fix the auxiliary override while mentally constructing the possible motive of the person who took the diary and who it was. Engineer Valerio arrived soon after. Carrying his clipboard and a technician behind him. I thought to myself that I would not allow this plane to fly if it did not pass my final inspection and that included removing all modifications made by an amateur.
Elmer looked at him. He did not choose to explain. I am not hiding anything. You can check everything. But do not disrespect my work. What do you think of yourself that because you have made an engine work, you are better than people who have graduated from university? Valerio was insulting. You are just the son of a mechanic. No degree.
You have no decency to interfere with this kind of vehicle. Isabel came closer after hearing the answer. Enough. If you want to inspect, do it. But no one will remove any part until I say so, I am still the owner of that plane. Valerio nodded silently but inside he was seething with anger.
After a few hours, he secretly talked to Carlo. ‘Where’s the diary? See, I scanned it last night. There’s a page there that could be used to say he copied the idea from a previously patented system. Carlo replied, “Good, Valerio’s response was cold. If I can’t oust him in front of people, I’ll destroy his name on paper.
” In the following days, gossip suddenly spread in several aviation forums about potential intellectual property theft. Which happened in connection with the auxiliary override system that was already being used on Isabel’s jet. No direct name was mentioned but it was obvious that Elmer was being targeted. Elmer read it from a copy of the article that one of the technicians had handed over.
They said your system was so good that it was possible that you stole the idea from their world. When you’re poor, it’s impossible to be right. Elmer while looking at the clouds. But Elmer wasn’t done yet and in his heart he knew that this wasn’t just a fight for his name. It was a fight for the dignity of every person who was looked down upon because of their origin. Behind the anger and the destruction.
A fire was starting. A fire of fighting that could no longer be stopped. It was still morning when Elmer was busy behind the shop. He had to fix a portable prototype system that was planned to be mounted in the auxiliary section of the Jet this afternoon. Even though the issue about the Dumanoy Intellectual theft wasn’t over yet, he didn’t flinch.
He had no intention of backing down. Instead, he was more determined to show that he wasn’t just a mechanic relying on luck. He was fighting for principles. While he was polishing a circuit board, he heard a car approaching. A black SUV with tinted windows stopped in front of the repair shop.
He didn’t have to guess who was on board. When the door opened, Isabel appeared. wearing a simple blouse and pants. But even in the casual setting, the aura of power still prevailed. “Mom!” Elmer asked as he put down the tools and approached the shop door. “I just want to talk to your mom.” Isabel said bluntly, “No fooling around.” Elmer paused.
Mom, why? I asked Captain Re who the old man was in the picture I saw yesterday in the corner of your house. He was holding your old graduation photo. He said, “That’s your mom. I want to meet her.” Isabel’s voice was firm but not rude.
Although hesitating, Elmer let the woman continue. They pulled over to the side of the narrow path leading to the room where Aling Cora was. Sitting in a wheelchair and busy sewing a pillowcase. “Mom, we have a visitor.” Elmer said softly. Aling Cora turned around, her eyes widening. She was stunned for a moment and then slowly smiled.
“Oh! The little one.” She said as Isabel approached. Isabel’s past was swept away. Oh, you don’t remember me anymore, Hija. I’m Cora, the cook of your family. When you were little, I was the one who always cooked aros kalaldo with eggs whenever it rained. Aling Cora smiled while patting Isabel’s hand. It was as if Isabel had been struck by lightning.

Memories of her childhood came back. The times after her father’s death, she hardly ate and the only one who fed her was Aling Cora. ​​She suddenly knelt down in front of the old man. Mother Cora, it was you. You are weak, she said, her spine trembling. I’m sorry. I didn’t remember you right away. It’s been a long time, Hija.
Our house in the province is gone. The times are gone too. But I can see the beautiful and brave one’s face. Isabel couldn’t answer right away. She had only just returned to this place, the place where the part of her youth that she had long forgotten began. And the woman she thought was just a part of the past.
Here, in the very home of the man she hated, envied, and for some inexplicable reason, was getting closer to her feelings. “Why? Why didn’t you come to us? I wish we could have helped you before.” What did Isabel say? She felt a weight in her chest. I had no strength left. After losing my husband and having a stroke, my son took care of me.
I don’t need to ask for help from others as long as I know he still has a reason to live. Annie Aling Cora, while watching Elmer who was just quiet in the corner, seemed to not want to get involved in the emotional scene. Isabel looked at Elmer who looked at her differently. He wasn’t just a mechanic. He was the son of the woman who had once been part of their family.
And in a way, he seemed like a member of her family. I’m sorry, Elmer, if I was rude to you earlier. I didn’t know that your mother was Nay Cora. ​​Elmir didn’t answer right away. But in the end, he nodded at Isabel and smiled softly. That’s not it. Honestly. It’s not your fault. The world often looks at those from below in the wrong way.
The three of them were silent inside the small room. Outside, the sound of an old fan could be heard, the chirping of birds and the footsteps of children playing in the street. It was as if the world had stopped for a moment. Ma’am, do you want to eat? Aling Cora offered a few minutes later. I cooked some tinola.
Not as social as your restaurant but it was hot and had soup. Isabel smiled for the first time with an open arrogance on her face. I like it, I haven’t tasted Nay Cora’s tinola in a long time. Isabel had been chosen to stay at Elmer’s house all day. They ate together, she chatted with some neighbors and even for a moment, she left her CEO status.
At that time, she was the only one, the child who was fed soup whenever it rained. In the afternoon, as the sun was setting, she approached Elmer in front of the shop. He was sitting alone. He was holding a tool while looking at the panel attached to the jet. “Can I sit down?” Isabel asked. Elmer nodded.

“Yes, of course. They’re quiet for now.” Isabel spoke up after a while. “I just thought about it, Elmer, you don’t have to prove yourself to me. In fact, I have more to prove to you.” Don’t think that way. We’re going through the same thing. It’s just that the other one just faced the world more quietly.
Isabel looked at her, no longer arrogant, not judgmental but knowing how to listen. And for the first time, Elmer saw that this woman wasn’t just hard-hearted. She also had a wound that was just covered up with gold, makeup and posture. But inside, she was also a person who needed connection, understanding and perhaps healing.
Two days passed after Isabel and Aling Cora’s warm meeting and it seemed that a strange silence had settled between her and Elmer. Although it wasn’t directly mentioned, Elmer felt Isabel’s tone gradually change whenever they met. This was no longer the woman full of belittling but someone who knew how to listen at least.
But as the relationship between them calmed down, one night Elmer noticed something he didn’t expect. He was coming from outside the compound. From a small shop where he had picked up some supplies of batteries and wire. He passed behind the fence of the old hangar. a shortcut he had taken several times.
As he walked, he noticed an unusual crack, black in color, without a license plate and seemingly forced to hide under the tarpaulin. There were two men wearing maintenance crew uniforms hurrying to carry large boxes into the cargo hall of a second jet that was old and looked like it was decommissioned.
He didn’t show up right away. Instead, he slowly knelt down on the edge of the grass. He peeked in and listened to the conversation. Dude, don’t drop that. It’s gold inside. It might get messy. One of them whispered. The black market boss sells these parts. Do you know how much the titanium casing on the outside is worth? Well, the electronics are all military grade.
The profit could be doubled. Elmer was in a state of shock. The contents of the box were no ordinary cargo and if what he had heard was correct, there was smuggling involved right inside the airport. An operation that Isabel was certainly unaware of and that some of her staff were probably involved in. The next morning, he couldn’t take it anymore.
He brought the old drone he had bought a year ago. While not as advanced as the security personnel’s equipment, it was enough to get footage from above. He fitted it with a small camera, powered it with an improvised battery pack and slowly flew it over the part of the hangar where he had seen the boxes.
Within minutes, the drone captured the act of loading the boxes onto the old jet. There was a clear visual of the faces of the men lifting and the serial numbers themselves on the sides of the crates. He wasted no time. He immediately went to the airport security manager’s office and asked for his attention.
Sir, I have some footage I would like to show you. I saw a possible illegal transport of high grade materials in the old hangar. Huh? What are you talking about? The security manager responded, clearly annoyed and not wanting to be disturbed. Please just watch the video, sir. If you don’t see anything, I’ll leave immediately. Annoyed, the manager accepted the USB and inserted it into the computer.
But as the video played, his expression gradually changed. He saw the box, the label and the people working under the radar. Pipa What, where did you get this? The manager asked. Did you read it in your voice? It doesn’t matter. What matters is that something illegal is being done inside the compound and action needs to be taken.
The manager did nothing but pass the footage on to Isabel. And before noon, Elmer was surprised when Isabel’s black SUV arrived in front of his repair shop. The CEO got out. holding a tablet with a video open. Did you take this? He asked, directly, not angry but serious. Elmer nodded.
Yes, I saw them one night. I had no intention of getting involved. But I also couldn’t keep quiet. Do you know how dangerous this is? If someone else had seen it, you might have been silenced. But with so many people not speaking up, maybe if at least one person did the right thing, things would change. Isabel was silent. She turned away for a moment, looked around, and then spoke again.
I never thought something like this would happen in my own place. I’ve been trying to legitimize my business for years. But some of my staff have their own agenda. The next day, Isabel suddenly launched an audit of the entire maintenance division. Several staff members were immediately suspended, including some of Engineer Valerio’s close aides.

Even though Valerio was not directly involved, his nervousness and irritation may have been due to his actions. A week after the operation, Isabel called Elmer into the private lounge of the jet. There, in front of several staff members and the security manager, she patted the young man on the shoulder. If it weren’t for you, my company might have continued to suffer.
Thank you for your courage. But Elmer’s answer was simple. I wasn’t looking for gratitude. I just wanted to be true to what was right. At that moment, Isabel no longer felt respect for him. A new kind of trust gradually emerged. Trust that cannot be bought with skill, diplomas, or formal titles.
Trust carved by honor and determination. And in the middle of the clean runway while the wind blew from the plane’s wings. Isabel thought that maybe this man could fix more than just machines, despite the broken beliefs that he had held on to for a long time. While Elmer was fixing up his house, the entire airport, and Isabel’s eyes, he was also improving the projects in his small repair shop.
The prototype was going well and it was expected that within a week or two it would be included in the test flight of one of the jets. But during that time of busyness and success, a tragedy struck that he had not expected. Something that no mechanic could fix. One morning while Elmer was busy training some junior technicians in the use of the auxiliary cooling circuit.
Someone knocked on the shop one after another. One of their neighbors was panting, obviously with bad news. Elmer was on the floor, unable to breathe. He immediately ran. He left his belongings behind and almost fainted from nervousness. When he arrived home, he saw his mother. Lying on the edge of the bed. Her whole body was pale and shaking.
He immediately picked her up and put her on the tricycle. Throughout the entire trip to the municipal office, he hugged his mother. He kept whispering. Just fight, Mom. Don’t. Our fight isn’t over yet. They went straight to the Munting District Hospital. It was old, poorly equipped, and always short of doctors. Upon arriving at the ER, he was immediately rushed inside.
Elmer was left outside. Trembling with nervousness, drenched in sweat. The nurse came after a few minutes. Sir, we need to have him have a city scan in town. We don’t have enough machines here. We also need a specialist. How much is needed? If we do it right away, we need about 30,000. It could be even higher if it’s late at night.
Elmer was shocked. He didn’t have that much money. Most of what he earned went to making prototypes, tools, and some medicine for his mother. He didn’t know where he would get that much money in a few hours. It was already late and he was still outside the hospital. Tired and anxious. Isabel saw him there, coming from the office of their new project at the airport.
Elmer asked as he got out of the car. What are you doing here? Elmer didn’t answer right away. For the first time, Isabel saw that the young man seemed to be covered by heaven and earth. No mask of courage, no technical explanation, just a desperate child. Mom was attacked. He needs a city scan.
I don’t have that much money. Isabel was quiet. She didn’t ask many questions. She immediately approached. She took out her phone and called her assistant. Transfer him to a private hospital in the city. Book an ambulance. Right now. I’ll take care of the expenses. Her direct order. Ma’am, don’t.
I can’t afford that. I can’t accept that. Elmer’s answer was almost begging. It’s free, Elmer. You don’t have to pay back. You did the right thing for my company. It’s just a small way to make amends. But Elmer stood up. Smiled brightly and nodded. Thank you, ma’am. But I would like to give back, even if it’s just a little bit.

I’m not used to receiving nothing in return. Isabel smiled not in mockery but in admiration that she had never felt from anyone before. The next day, Aling Cora was in the ICU of a private hospital. She was on oxygen, had IV fluids, and regained her strength after a few hours of surgery.
According to the doctor, she had suffered a minor stroke. It was weaker than before. But if it hadn’t been treated immediately, it could have resulted in severe physical damage. In the hospital room, Elmer sat quietly next to his mother. He held her hand while watching the slow movement of her chest as she breathed.
“Son!” Aling Cora whispered, opening her eyes slightly. “Thank you for letting me go.” Elmer burst into tears. No, you won’t lose me by your side for ever. Sabel came in a few minutes later. She brought a basket of fruit and quietly sat at the end of the bed. How is mother Cora? She asked softly. She’s recovering.
Elmer replied. Aling Cora looked at Isabel and nodded. Thank you for your help, Hija. I thought I had no place in your world. Isabel came closer. and held the old man’s hand. You have a place in every part of my life. The part of goodness I learned began with you.
That night in the hospital, while everything was quiet, Elmer returned to the repair shop. Not because he no longer cared about his mother’s condition but because he knew there was a promise that had to be kept. Before her condition worsened, Aling Cora had one request that impressed him. “Don’t give up on your dream, my child, even if I’m the one in return.” On her table, the prototype circuit was still lying. She had to finish it for her mother, for herself, for all the people who once believed they couldn’t get up. And in the days to come, there was no turning back. There was still a fight. And in this personhood, not just the heart was at stake.
Her whole personality, her whole determination, her whole life. Three days have passed since Aling Cora was confined to the hospital. She is gradually eating and speaking more clearly. Elmer visits her mother every day. But every night, he returns to his shop to finish the prototype override system that is being prepared for the Jet’s final test.
The day set for the test flight. One night before the scheduled testing, he sits quietly in the corner of the shop. plasticizing the remaining wires and removing the grease from the small bolt that will be used for mounting. In front of him is his father’s drawing still open to the page titled Emergency Auxiliary Control Manual Fail Recovery. He holds the wrench but what seems to be heavier in his hand is the trust his father left behind and the last words he heard from his mother. Finish it. This time. Finish it. By morning. Isabel’s black SUV arrives at the shop early. Elmer, are you ready? He asks as he opens the door. Elmer nodded as he adjusted the collar of his old gray polo shirt.
I was ready a while ago, ma’am. There’s media later. They want to see the test slide. I didn’t invite them. They presented. Then I shouldn’t have made any mistakes. They boarded quietly and headed straight to the airport. When they arrived there, many personnel were already waiting. There were several company engineers, Captain Reyz who would serve as the pilot and even Engineer Valerio who, even though he was silent, seemed to be mocking in the corner while leaning against a column.
At the edge of the runway, a white jet was waiting. The same jet that had once been a problem and would now face its biggest test. Elmer had already connected his prototype to the engine’s auxiliary panel. It looked simple. A metal box with a simple switch and LED indicator. But inside it was hidden a combination of manual logic and temperature triggered regulator that was directly from his father’s design.
An hour before the testing, cameras had surrounded the area. A reporter from a local TV station approached Isabel. Isabel, is it true that an unlicensed mechanic built the prototype system for this jet? Isabel looked at Elmer before answering. It’s true.

But if our basis is a license, maybe the first airplanes in the world would not have been built either. Sometimes it is not paper that makes a person intelligent but the heart and determination. A little later, Captain Reyz was called. He climbed into the Jet Cockpit while Elmer was next to the ground crew. Focused on the signal of his controller.
Standby for engine activation in 3 2 1. The plane’s engine hummed. After a few seconds of idle, power switched to the auxiliary system, the very part that Elmer had repaired and built. Auxiliary system functional by the copilot inside the cockpit. Override system engaged. Maintain idle for 2 minutes. Then initiate taxi command by the tower.
On the side of the runway, Elmer held his tablet connected to the prototype’s thermal sensor. He could see the pressure increase in the valve system on the live reading but the entire unit was still stable. Auxiliary unit temperature is within limits, maintaining balance. He whispered to himself but there was a trace of nervousness. A few minutes passed and the jet slowly moved along the runway.
It reached the takeoff position. It stopped for a moment and then ran the entire length of the asphalt again. The second time the turbine spun, the jet lifted off the ground. High, clean and without any problems. Elmer took a deep breath. Next to him, Isabel was silent but could not hide her smile.
For the first time, the crew did not laugh at him. Instead, he heard gentle applause from the staff on the side. In the control tower, an engineer called Isabel. Ma’am, the prototype is holding perfectly. All readings normal. were preparing for landing in 5 minutes. Isabel turned to Elmer. I don’t know what is more amazing, your system made from a broken electric fan part or your courage to stand up for it even though everyone doubts it? Both come from the heart and both come from the person you first judged. Elmer replied. But there was no arrogance in his voice, only contemplation. After five minutes, the jet landed smoothly. The media quickly approached. Isabel and Elmer wanted to take a statement. But before the reporters could even ask her a question, Isabel spoke first. Ladies and gentlemen, she said.
This man, Elmer Lopez, is not an engineer on paper but he is a true inventor, leader and more disciplined than many in our industry. And if you remember what I said, it was a week ago. At the same time, he called Elmer aside. Everyone fell silent, especially since some remembered Isabel’s joke or seemingly challenge before.
I said that if he could operate my jet using his system, I would kill him. People laughed. Some laughed while others looked at each other. But in front of everyone, Isabel turned to Elmer. She smiled and joked gently. Can you still stand by what you did even though you know that we might actually get married? Elmer smiled not because of the challenge but because of the dream he had achieved.
As for the plane, I did everything I could to make it fly. But as for love, I don’t want to take off without your permission. Everyone laughed, but there was respect, there was admiration, and there was the truth that on that day the once broken plane witnessed a success that could not be measured by paper, diploma, or status in life, but by the courage, integrity, and determination of a man who was once laughed at and recognized by him.
After the successful test flight, it was like a party inside the airport. The staff who had previously been silent or looked at Elmer as if he were useless were now applauding, enthusiastic, and undeniably admiring. Even some technicians from Valerio’s team came over to congratulate him. Although not all were open-minded, it was noticeable that their view of the young man had changed.
He was no longer the wiring cleaner they ignored, but a mechanic capable of changing the system. Tol, you were great earlier. I’m ashamed to admit it, but our engineers started copying your design. A ground technician joked while shaking Elmer’s hand. That’s nothing, sir.
That’s for the plane. We all just want it to fly properly. Elmer replied with a simple smile. Just as he was busy talking to people, a familiar voice came from behind him. Isabel called Elmer. The tone was cold but with a hint of personal emotion. When he turned around, Isabel was there wearing her cream colored business blouse.

But in her eyes, she was not the usual strict and strong leader but a woman who seemed to want to clarify something. “Ma’am!” Elmer replied. Her voice was calm. “Can we walk to Glit?” Isabel asked. Elmer nodded. They left the happy group and went to the back of the hangar.
where it was quiet and no other staff saw them. There they sat on a long cement in the shade of a kalachuchi. They were silent for a moment. Earlier in front of everyone, I told my joke before. But now I’m serious. Elmer began Isabel while looking into the distance. What joke is that? Elmer asked. Pretending not to remember.
If you get this plane working, I will marry you. I know I said that to make you laugh, to make you think that it’s impossible for someone like you to get close to someone like me. But now it seems like I’m the one who can’t get close to you. She looked at Elmer straight in the eyes. Elmer didn’t immediately answer. He looked at the grass for a few moments before speaking.
Ma’am, I didn’t do this to prove that I was worthy of being loved. I did this because I wanted to prove that I was useful, that not everyone without a diploma is worthless. I knew Isabel’s voice was weak. And that’s where I fell even more. Elmer turned around. Ma’am. Isabel looked at him. Now there was no wall in her face. No more hiding.
I don’t know when it started. At first, I was killed, angry, and doubtful, but as I watched you every day doing those amazing things, as you tried to get better even though no one was there to help you, it seemed like I slowly learned to admire you. Until it became an inspiration, until it became a nuisance. A nuisance.
Isabel smiled and at the same time said, a nuisance. because you changed the system of my world. Before, my life was simple. Work, orders, money, control. But you came. An unlicensed mechanic. But you entered my world without me realizing it. Now I can’t think straight.
You are the biggest trouble of my life. I advised Elmer. He didn’t know how to accept that statement that someone like him who grew up in a shantytown, the son of their former maid, is now accepted and appreciated by the same billionaire who once called him a nobody. “It’s hard to believe,” Elmer whispered, that you chose to talk to me in this way, that I was the reason why your world was shattered. That’s true.” Isabel replied.
“And I know you’re hard to court, Elmer. I know you won’t just accept it just because I can afford your mother’s hospital or fix your repair shop. But I’m ready to come down from your world if you want to climb into mine.” Elmer was silent. He slowly pulled out a piece of an old screw from his pocket.
An item he brought with him to every test as a Lucky Charm. Do you know what I call it? What? Isabel asked. Reminder. Reminder that no matter how careful you are, there’s always one screw you won’t immediately notice. But that’s what will level the whole machine. And in my life now, that’s you.
Isabel didn’t say anything anymore. She slowly stood up and came in front of Elmer. He stared at him and for the first time Elmer was the first to come a few inches closer. A simple moment between two people from different worlds. But hearts are in the same direction. There’s no guarantee between the two of us.
Elmer. Isabel’s language is weak. But if there’s a machine “You can build it without a manual, maybe we can try to build it without a guide.” Elmer laughed. That’s another thing I never expected in life, that one day you would be the one to power both my engine and my heart. At sunset, while the airport was quiet again and the planes were sleeping in the heat of the metal, two people who were once strangers to each other decided not to start a relationship but to give

opportunity for a new form of connection. One that is not based on status, education or wealth but on the fact that sometimes even a broken system. can be made work by the right person. A week after the successful des flight and the emotional conversation between him and Isabel, it seemed that the silence around Elmer had returned.
But inside him, there was a new unease not because of lack but because of a question he could not answer. What was next? That morning he received a call from a foundation that had read an article about him in an international magazine. His prototype had been featured in an article titled Ingenous Inventions by Unsung Minds.
One of the board members was a Filipino American engineer who worked for a well-known aeronautics company in Singapore. Elmer Lopez, this is Dr. Miguel Castañeda. I’ve read your story. Impressive work. We’re offering you a full scholarship and development grant under our alternative innovation program.
The voice on the other line said scholarship. Elmer could hardly believe it. Yes, it’s for nonegree inventors and builders. You’ll be based in Manila for a year. Then transition to Singapore if you meet the pro standards. Elmer didn’t answer right away. He didn’t know if this was the answer to his long-held dream or the beginning of his separation from the world where it all began.
That night while he was feeding Aling Cora in the hospital, she was just looking at him silently. He felt his mother wanting to ask him something. What are you thinking about again, son? I have an offer, Mom, a scholarship. A job in Manila and then Singapore if I pass. Haven’t you been dreaming of that for a long time? Yes.
So why does your chest feel heavy? Elmer looked at his mother. Because if I leave, who will take care of you? And Ma’am Isabel. Aling Cora smiled and took her hand. Elmer son, I knew right then that your intelligence wasn’t just for this. If you’re always here fixing tricycles and old generators, your brain that your father inherited will be wasted.
Don’t worry about me. I’ve been through a lot. But I want to see you leave not because you’re running but because you’re ready to fly. The next day, Elmer made up his mind. He accepted the offer. But before he could finally travel to Manila, there was one more difficult conversation that needed to be addressed. For Isabel, he looked for her in the hangar but she wasn’t there.

He followed her to the main office but according to the secretary, Isabel was on a field inspection for an expansion project. He caught up with her at her house, a rest house behind the runway, late at night. When he knocked, Isabel herself opened the door, wearing her simple nightgown and holding a cup of tea. Elmer asked.
Slightly surprised. Ma’am, I need to talk to you. Come in. They sat quietly on a small veranda overlooking the lights at the end of the runway. They were silent for a few minutes until he spoke first. Ma’am, I’m leaving. Isabel didn’t mix but her eyebrows moved slightly.
There was a scholarship offered for those like me who didn’t finish but were capable. One year in Manila. If you pass, then continue to Singapore. Isabel just nodded. When are you leaving? Two weeks from now. Isabel was still silent. But in her eyes, it seemed like a wall was being torn down. A wall she hadn’t thought would come back for a long time.
What do you want me to say, Elmer? Congratulations. Good luck. Elmer couldn’t answer. I don’t know. I just wanted to tell you. Thank you for all the help, the trust, the opportunity and everything you didn’t say but showed. Isabel stood up, walked over to him and looked him in the eye. You know, Elmer, if I had just made another woman believe that I wouldn’t leave her, I might have asked you to stay.
But I’m not that kind of woman. I’m not asking. But I want you to know that you don’t have to choose me. Choose yourself. You haven’t been a bother. You are one of the reasons why I am ready to leave. Because you have proven that there are people who know how to look at each other with equal eyes. Their eyes met and that night there was no kiss, no hug, no promise, only respect, only loyalty and a feeling that was just allowed to live at the right time, at the right distance.

Two weeks passed. On the day of his departure, Elmer visited the repair shop for the last time. His father’s old tools, blueprints, and the broken electric fan he used for the prototype were still there. As he loaded his bag into the car that was going to pick him up, a black SUV pulled up. Isabel got out.
He held up a small box. “Before you go, I just want to give you something,” she said. Elmer opened the box. It contained a small plaque. It had something engraved on it for Elmer Lopez. The man who fixed the broken plane and the heart of a billionaire. Elmer smiled. Thank you, ma’am.
I won’t ask for anything. But if one day after you fly, you think about coming back, the runway is still open. He smiled, nodded, and got into the car. As the car drove away, Isabel watched the young man, once despised and now cherished, gradually shrink. And in his heart, he knew that between them, distance was not forgetting.
It was part of building and returning if fate would allow it. Three years had passed. During that time, Elmer’s experiences had not been easy. At first, he was new to the city, to the chaos, to the heat of politics in the field of doubt, to a culture that valued diplomas more than intelligence. But because of dedication and the memories of his father who taught him every screw and circuit board in their old shop, he overcame every challenge.
Under the alternative innovation program in Manila, he graduated as one of the best in the class. In his second year, he was flown to Singapore to undergo deeper immersion training at a world-renowned aviation lab. There, he further honed his engineering skills and designed fuel-efficient turbines and alternative propulsion systems.
From the son of a mechanic in the Visayas, he became the Philippines’ representative in various tech forums in Asia. But no matter how much he accomplished each night when he returned home to his small apartment in Singapore, he couldn’t help but remember their repair shop, the hospital where his mother came from and the wind in front of the airport where the jet’s wheels first turned because of him.
And most of all, he couldn’t forget the billionaire woman who once changed the course of his life with a joke, Isabel Ison. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, Isabel’s influence in the aviation field has expanded even further. Isen Aviation Holdings has opened regional training centers and has also begun accepting scholars from poor provinces.
An ambition that began after he met Elmer. Many were surprised by this change. The once-known strict businessman is now helping people like the ones he once looked down on. Until one day, an invitation came to Elmer. It was for the Asian Tech Con, an international aviation convention to be held in Manila.
He was one of the invited speakers to share his journey from garage to global. But there was one person standing out from the list of panelists. Yesabel Ison, CEO of Ison Aviation, was the key speaker on the panel on sustainable private jet systems. When she arrived in the Philippines, the organizers immediately took care of her.
A day before the panel, all the guests had a welcome dinner. Inside the ballroom of a five-star hotel in Makati, businessmen, innovators, and engineers from different countries began to arrive. Elmer was quiet at a table in the corner while drinking coffee. He preferred to observe his surroundings rather than shake hands.
until a familiar voice came from behind him. I didn’t think you were really coming. He turned around, and there was Isabel. Wearing a simple navy blue dress, holding a wine glass. And her posture, although formal, had softened more than before. I didn’t think you were invited either. Elmer was joking.
Actually, I was the one who recommended that you be included on the speaker list. Isabel replied. They don’t know I know you. I just want to hear you on stage not as a mechanic but as an innovator. Isabel sat next to him. There was a moment of silence before she spoke again. How is Singapore? I hear you have your own company being built there.

Elmer nodded. Yes, it’s still small. But I’m helping to build the first hybrid propulsion prototype that I designed when I was still in training. My dream is to also help regional airlines in the Philippines. The province can afford their own airlink. If you need an investor, you know who to approach.
Isabel smiled. Isn’t that a conflict of interest? Elmer replied jokingly. Maybe just a conflict of history. Isabel replied. But seriously Elmer, I’ve learned a lot since you left. There’s a lot that needs to be fixed, not just in business but in myself. Elmer looked at him.
You’ve changed and so have you. But not all changes mean distancing. Sometimes that’s the way to get closer. Isabel said they didn’t talk for long that night. But with every look they gave each other while in the same ballroom, there was a silence that said, “It’s not over yet.” The next day, in front of hundreds of delegates, Elmer went up on stage while talking about his journey, he couldn’t help but turn his head to the audience.
There he saw Isabel sitting at the front. Just listening quietly. You know, not all lessons come from within the university. Sometimes they come from your mechanic father’s old diary or from a broken plane that you thought was hopeless. And sometimes from someone who said I’ll marry you if you can get it working.
The audience laughed but Isabel didn’t laugh. She smiled. Strong, full of memories. It seemed like that was the confirmation that even though a lot of time had passed and even though the world had changed between them, the bond they had had together had not been erased. At the end of the convention, their paths came closer again. Do you have a flight back to Singapore yet? Isabel asked while holding a folder.
I still have a few meetings here this week. Is that so? Maybe you’d like to join me tomorrow. We have an event at the new scholarship center in the province. I would like to introduce you as an inspiration. Sure, Elmer replied. Then it would be nice to go back to the province from time to time. That’s where it all started.
Isabel looked at him for a moment, joking. Maybe we could finally finish our long-standing prototype there. Elmer didn’t answer. He just laughed and in his eyes there was a ray of understanding and return. It might not be the time for a formal answer yet. But one thing was clear. Their reunion was not an accident. It was a continuation.
A stage they had been waiting for for a long time. The sun was shining brightly when Elmer and Isabel flew to Bicol aboard a small private plane. The event they went to was for the inauguration of the Ason Aviation Technical Scholarship Center. A new school that aims to empower young people in the province who want to learn to repair and operate airplanes even without money or a diploma.
Elmer was the featured guest of honor. An example of a success story from nothing. He was warmly welcomed. There were placards, laughter, and young students with hopeful eyes. And as he spoke to them on stage, he felt as if he had returned to his own youth behind their old repair shop in the Visayas.
while opening a broken generator and powering it up using only his father’s old diagram. After the event, while sitting in a quiet corner of the training center, Isabel approached, carrying two cups of coffee. “You seem like a different person now,” she said as she handed him a cup. “I guess I’m not the only one who’s changed,” Elmer replied.
My world has changed too.” Isabel smiled. Thank you for coming. I don’t know how I would have done this without you. But in the midst of that beautiful day, a danger was looming in Manila. An old acquaintance of Elmer’s, Engineer Mauricio Valerio, was once again active behind the scenes. After being fired from Ison Aviation, he hid in the shadows of competitor companies and gradually regained his connections in the industry.

But the deep pain left in his character was the fact that in Isabel’s eyes he was replaced by a mechanic without a degree, Elmer Lopez. Elmer was surprised when he received a call the next day from one of his engineer friends in Singapore. Elmer, there’s a rumor going around. Someone posted a vlog article online.
It was said that your prototype system for the auxiliary engine is similar to a patented design applied for by an independent Filipino engineer 5 years ago. It was posted. Who? Elmer asked. There was a hint of fat in his voice. It’s not clear yet, but a PDF of a comparative diagram is being circulated. This is quite dangerous. Especially since your company has a pending investor deal.
Elmer immediately returned to Manila. As soon as he got off the plane, he was greeted by the secretary of the Singaporean Investors. Sir, we need clarification. This IP infringement claim could jeopardize the entire partnership. Elmer studied the document and was shocked to see the diagram being used against him. The old sketch from his father’s diary.
But in the PDF version that was circulated, the date was removed and the name was changed to submitted draft by M. Valerio. He cursed in his mind. Valerio said that he could not just file a lawsuit but that he would not allow a lie to destroy the dream he had built from his father’s sacrifice.
He immediately went to the foundation’s archive in Singapore where his father’s diary was first scanned. There he found the original copy of the page. It had his father’s date and signature. A solid piece of evidence. The next day, in front of the PEC developers’ press conference, Elmer appeared on the Stage to answer the issue.
Thank you very much to all of you who are here today. There has been an accusation that my system prototype is not original. I just want to clarify that this design came from the diary of my late father, Hector Lopez, a former military mechanic in the 1980s. I now have the original page in front of me, dated 1983.
Something no one can copy. No matter how good a liar he is, a scanned copy of the diary is displayed on the screen. Along with some photos of their old repair shop with sketches on the wall. Enough toprove the origin of the concept. At the edge of the hall, Isabel sat.
Silently but intently staring at Elmer’s every word. With him was Dr. Miguel Castañeda, the head of the Singaporean Innovation Group. This is why I chose him Dr. Castañeda not only because of his intelligence but also because of his attitude of never giving up on what is right. Meanwhile, in a small office in Quezon City, Valerio was dumbfounded watching the live stream.
In an instant, the sabotage plan disappeared. Instead of embarrassing Elmer, it was praised even more. He could no longer move. The mechanic he once hated was now applauded by the entire industry. That evening while on the rooftop of a building where the closing dinner of the tech conference was held.
Isabel approached Elmer who was looking at the city lights. You know how much I have been through in business. But I only now believed in one thing. It is not enough that you are the owner of the company. You must have a heart to fight for. Elmer looked at her. That’s what I learned, ma’am. I’m not the only one who has changed. Don’t call me ma’am anymore.
You’re one of those people I can call by my last name. They smiled at each other and in the cool breeze above the city, they both had something in common that made them understand that the fight for a name, for a principle, and for honor is never easy. But it’s always worth it when the payoff is not just victory but peace of mind.
After the successful press conference and the sudden outpouring of sympathy from the public, Elmer thought everything was over but clearing his name in a world full of papers, lawyers, and technicalities was not that easy. Although he had proven the truth to the public, investors, stakeholders, and some industry officials still needed formality, legal documents, and official recognition.
The next morning, he received a call from the Department of Trade and Industry office. Mr. Lopez, we want to meet. A complaint has just arrived that you need to answer formally, especially since there is an intellectual property case filed against you by Gustavong Mauricio Valerio. The thorn on the other line said.
Did he really file it? Elmer whispered. His hand was shaking while holding the phone. Yes. But you can present your evidence. If possible, bring the original diary and if you have a witness or legal counsel, even better. He immediately called Isabel. I heard. Isabel said on the other line. Don’t worry.
I know a lawyer, an IP lawyer. He was also our former in-house legal. He is on your side. Two days later, in front of the DTI conference table, Elmer was there with Isabel’s lawyer. On the other end, Engineer Valerio, neatly dressed, wearing a knotted tie, also carrying a lawyer and a document called a patent file.
The meeting began in silence. Mr. Valerio, you are claiming that the auxiliary override system used by Mr. Lopez is the same design as the one you applied for? The moderator asked. Yes, I filed it 3 years ago under my name but I haven’t released it yet because the development is ongoing. That’s why I was very surprised when I saw in the media that the system he used was almost the same as mine.
Valerio replied. He seemed confident. But Elmer’s lawyer was calm. Do you have a copy of the notarized design sketch or any signed time stamped copy prior to your filing? Valerio’s camp handed over the paper. This is the patent application file 2020. Elmer was silent. But when he was asked to speak, he took out his father’s diary, the original.
He let the people around him smell it, the old paper, the old and faded ink and most of all the date 1983. The design of the auxiliary system that I use is based on the diary of my father, Hector Lopez. He used to be a military aviation mechanic. Here on this page, you can see the manual drawing of the prototype.
There is a date, there is a signature and this is the entire document that has been shown to the media several times and scanned by the Singaporean Aviation Archive. Everyone is quiet, it is up to us to verify the authenticity of the document, the official said. But for now, this is the first we have seen the original and there are pets that are older than Mr. Valerio’s application.

Valerio’s lawyer shook his head. But the concept is not entirely unique. There are variations in design. Elmer stood up. For the first time, he spoke boldly. I never said I was the inventor of the auxiliary system. All I did was build a prototype from my father’s old concept using modern materials and simplified mechanics.
If that is the definition of intellectual theft, then we are all thieves here because we all stole from those who came before us. What I am fighting for is not ownership but truth. Valerio was silent. For the first time, Elmer saw him uneasy. His body sank in his chair. He just nodded at every criticism of the law and evidence.
A few days later, the official decision was released. There is no basis for the IP claim filed against Mr. Elmer Lopez. Furthermore the documents provided by Mr. Lopez are deemed authentic and legally time stamped. At the same time, investor confidence began to return. The company sent a letter of intent to continue in Singapore.
Some big companies in Southeast Asia have sent interest to collaborate. Dr. his mentor even flew from Singapore to personally shake hands. You have impressed us Elmer not only with your work but also with your principles. Now, we want to make you the global ambassador of the program.
At the headquarters of AON aviation, a simple ceremony was held. There, the scholarship fund named after Hector Lopez was formally inaugurated, a program for the children of ordinary mechanic technicians who want to enter the field of aviation technology. Elmer was at the center of the stage while giving a speech.
He was wearing a simple polo shirt with the logo of his own startup. But his heart was full of gratitude. I don’t know how I ended up in front of people who were previously impossible in my imagination. But what I am sure of is that it all started with an old diary. With the story of a man who was quiet behind the machine but worked hard his whole life for his son to fly one day.
From behind the seats, Isabel was there. Sitting quietly, no flash, no camera in front of him, but with tears in the corner of his eyes. Because he knew that in that fight, Elmer not only won but also believed that he had once failed in life. But now he was revived by a man who was not afraid to fight for the truth.
Despite the recognition that Elmer received from the industry, the media and various groups of innovators, he was still not completely at ease. As his success in the field of technology expanded, he felt himself moving further away from the personal quiet and simple life that he once had. And above all, he felt the rift between him and Isabel.
a distance not caused by physical distance but by unspoken questions and doubts. One night, after a dinner meeting with investors, Isabel approached him outside the hotel ballroom. They were on the veranda. The lights of Manila were in view and there was a silence that seemed to weigh heavily between them.
Elmer! Isabel’s weak opening. I’ve noticed that you rarely show any emotion. Elmer shrugged. He quietly sipped the cold water from his glass. He’s just taking care of a lot. Don’t call me that anymore. We’re not strangers anymore. Isabel answered. What’s going on? Elmer looked at him.
There was still respect in his eyes but it was as if he was hiding something. I don’t know where I fit into your life now. He answered. I don’t know if I’m still part of your everyday life or if I’ve just become part of the past you want to destroy. Isabel took a deep breath. Elmer, you don’t have to be perfect. I’m not asking you to dedicate all your time to me either.
But with so much going on right now, sometimes I wonder if I’m really the one you need. Because if I was the one you were looking for before, the mechanic from the province with no name, he might not be the one you’re facing now. Isabel looked at him directly. That’s why I loved you, Elmer. Not because of your simple life but because of your strength to stand even when you are being trampled on.
But now that you are at the top, it seems like you are the one who doesn’t want to look at me. Elmer didn’t immediately answer. He felt the weight in Isabel’s every word and didn’t want to add to it. Instead, he turned away for a moment and then spoke. Do you know the truth? I am afraid of what? Of falling. Because I have only reached this high now.

I was only listened to now. I was given the same respect that people who used to laugh at my name gave me. And in all of this, you were the only part that I wanted to lose. Isabel came closer. She put her hand on his shoulder. Elmer, I didn’t want to love you because you needed me. I loved you even though you didn’t want to admit it.
And now that you’re here, you don’t have to leave yourself just to stay on top. You can come down if that’s what it takes to remember who you are. Elmer nodded and that night, under the calm sky of the city, they both realized that understanding wasn’t enough. Every day should be a choice.
But that wasn’t always easy to do. A few weeks later, Elmer was busy building his own innovation hub in the Visayas. A hybrid engineering center that would combine old school mechanical learning and modern AI assisted engineering. While Isabel continued to travel around the different branches of Ason Aviation to supervise the new set of scholars and trainees.
Because of their busy schedules, they rarely see each other anymore. It sometimes takes two weeks before they talk and even though they have video calls, it’s not like it used to be. Long conversations are gone. Just exchanging updates, schedules, and news. One day while Elmer was in the middle of training for new scholars, he received a message from Isabel.
Can I see you tonight? They met at a small restaurant in Tagaytay. No media, no entourage, just a simple dinner. The beginning was quiet, they both pretended to be tired from work until silence filled the space between them. Elmer and Isabel, I have a question. What is it? With so much that has changed in you, are you still ready to be in a relationship with a woman like me? Older, braver, more complicated than the women around you now.
Elmer smiled but there was sadness in his eyes. The truth is, I’ve never seen myself with another woman. It’s really just you. But sometimes I also wonder if our worlds are so different now. The question is, do you still want those two worlds to meet? Elmer stood up from his chair, came to Isabel’s side and held her hand.
I don’t know what my answer will be tomorrow or in the months to come. But tonight, I just want to say that no matter how far I’ve come, you’re still the home I want to go back to.” Isabel burst into tears. Finally, one thing was clear. They may not know what path to take yet. But they both refused to let go.
And that night, as the cool breeze embraced the two, they decided to try again. Not to prove that they could do it but to face the possibility of mistakes and a new beginning together. Elmer returned to the province again for the soft launch of his dream innovation hub.
Over the months, more and more young people wanted to learn mechanical engineering and aeronautics using the hybrid system. a fusion of old-fashioned and modern ways of learning. But while he was reaping praise in his field, there was expected news that disturbed his quiet world. Damian, the man who had almost killed him with trampling and contempt, made himself felt again.
It was rumored that he was one of the financiers of a competing Aviation part company in Cebu. And what’s more, he uses Damyan’s connection was to poison Elmer’s reputation with several suppliers and investors. Elmer gradually felt the effects. Several contracts suddenly backed out. Some partners turned cold and those who were once open to help became elusive.
Elmer, we need to talk to the legal team. Isabel suggested when she caught Elmer quietly on the veranda of their new office. I knew it was Damian. I saw his name on the board list of those who would replace one of our suppliers. Elmer sighed. I thought that nightmare was over.
People who are angry at the world don’t easily forget the shame they feel. And you know Damian can’t accept that he lost. Elmer’s memory returned to the day of his first encounter with Damian in the hangar. How he had humiliated and hurt him. Back then, he didn’t have the strength to fight.

But now he is no longer the man he used to be. But despite the power he could wield, Elmer still chose to go through the right process. He did not want to retaliate using the same method as the person who had caused him fear before. One day, while Elmer was at a conference in Makati with other innovators, the MC stopped the program to make way for an urgent announcement.
Everyone was shocked when a leaked video was seen on the screen. Damyan and some of his staff were caught taking an under the table deal from a well-known supplier. Elmer’s name was also mentioned in the conversation. You know that Elmer does not know how to get along. He wants everything legal. In this day and age, you will not progress in holiness. Annie Damyan in the video.
The accomplices snored. The entire venue made a noise. Those who previously doubted Elmer’s integrity seemed to be glued to their seats. Suddenly, a reporter approached him from the audience. Sir Elmer, do you have any comments on this video? Elmer was silent for a moment. He felt the heat on his neck.
not because of anger but because of the weight of the time he had fought to get to where he was today. He felt again the bitterness of the times when he was told he had nothing to gain. I have no intention of celebrating the misfortune of others. But in these times, it only proves that silent struggle, integrity and determination are worthwhile.
He replied, “Palakpakan. Even his industry colleagues came forward to express their admiration for his restraint. And from that day on, investors’ trust in him was rekindled. Those who had backed out, returned. Those who had previously doubted were now coming forward to join forces. When Elmer returned to the province, he was welcomed by the entire Innovation Hub staff of Palakpakan.
Several scholars approached him. Some even said that he was their inspiration to continue their studies even though they had no money. Sir Elmer, one of the students said, thank you for choosing to be sensible in a world full of deceit. If it weren’t for you, I might have thought that cheating was normal. Elmer approached, grabbed the young man by the shoulder and nodded.
It’s not easy to be honest. But you don’t have to be dirty just to succeed. That night, while he was on the rooftop of the building, Isabel arrived. She was carrying two cups of coffee. They sat next to each other in silence. You didn’t slander him, Elmer, even though you could you, I don’t have to do what he did.

I prefer to succeed through hard work, not through sabotage. Isabel smiled. That’s why no matter what happens, I will still choose you. They stared at each other. No kiss, no hug but there was an agreement in their eyes that despite everything they remained true to themselves and each other. As Elmer watched the light of the poles around his hard-earned innovation hub, he knew that this was the result of holding back a quiet revenge used with principle instead of anger.
These were not sweet victories but they were real. And sometimes that was what mattered most. Elmer stood in front of a private hanger that had been newly built near the edge of the old airport. As he breathed in the fresh breeze, he saw the plane that he himself had designed and helped revive from being an old rusty one.
Above it, a large white flag was attached. It read. Love that flew from the ground to the sky. Isabel could hardly believe it as reading it. Are you the one who fed it, Elmer? He asked as he slowly approached the pinata. Elmer nodded.
I said before, when I got the plane working, you would marry me. I just didn’t know that it was true for you. Isabel smiled. There were tears in the corner of her eye. The truth is, even though you hadn’t fixed the plane yet, you were the one I wanted to be with for the rest of my life. But I chose to test you. I wanted to know how true you were to your dreams, to your words and most of all to your love. Elmer approached.
He gently took the girl’s hand. I didn’t just fix the plane, Isabel. I fixed myself with every piece I adapted to the old makila. I learned that durability is not only in the materials but also in the determination. Mellow music began to play around. Selected guests were arriving, their fellow engineer friends, several scholars from the Innovation Hub.

Even those who once didn’t believe in Elmer. But now they were there to witness the fruit of his efforts. They had no grand altar, no fancy church. The plane itself served as a symbol of their union. A union built not on wealth but on dreams, sweat and trust.
This is where we will get married Isabel, Annie Elmer as the plane door opened. This is where it all began. This is where I also want to start my life with you. Inside the cabin, it was arranged as a small ceremonial hall. There were flowers on the side and a groom was waiting. Isabel was wearing a simple off-shoulder dress while Elmer was wearing a light gray suit.
There was no excessive decoration but their stance was full of dignity. Yabel Villare Realal, introduction to West. Do you accept Elmer Cruz? Not only as the man you loved in the midst of life’s challenges but as a partner in every future, whether in hardship or comfort. Isabel looked at Elmer. Yes. And more than that, I accept him as a man who never gave up on his own principles.
And in my heart he is the man who is more than a millionaire because he enriched my world. Tears rolled down Elmer’s cheeks. Elmer Cruz, as the West said. Do you accept Isabel? Not only as a woman who challenged you during times of hardship but as a partner who will support you in every step of life? Elmer smiled. Yes.
She is the woman who taught me that love is not just romance but cooperation. That true wealth is not found in the account balance but in the many reasons to continue the fight. After the sweet Idu, along with the gesture of Huwes, the plane began its low flight.
Just a circle in the sky as a symbolic start to their new chapter. While in the air, the couple looked at the entire community below. The Innovation Hum, Elmer’s old house, the alley where he once sold broken spare pots and the old hangout he and Tata Ben used to hang out at.
It’s like a dream, Isabel whispered as she looked down. Your old world is now a memory of success. I can’t forget where I came from. Elmer replied. because that’s where I proved who I really am. A few weeks later, articles flooded in about the airplane wedding of a billionaire woman and a former poor mechanic.
But beyond the romantic angle, many praised the lesson of their story that love, when risked for the right reason, can lift people to the highest dreams. Like an old airplane that was reactivated to take them to a new beginning. When they returned to the ground, they were greeted by white balloons, applause, and hugs from the people who witnessed their love.
And from that day on, the once broken airplane was called the sky of dreams by the villagers. Elmer and Isabel’s story became a regular inspiration in schools, radio, and even on social media. They established a foundation for children who want to learn mechanical engineering even if they don’t have money.
Elmer, although a billionaire, can still be seen every day with grease in his hand. Teaching free lectures under an old umbrella in front of the hangar. And every time the kite of dreams flies in the sky, the children below shout for Kuya Elmeran. He is the man who dreamed and loved faithfully.