This night was special for Lorna.
It was her 25th Wedding Anniversary with her husband Berto — their Silver Anniversary.
That’s why Lorna went all out. She wore a shimmering red gown she had borrowed from her friend. She had full makeup on, five-inch heels, and even went to the salon. She expected Berto to take her to a fine dining restaurant or maybe a hotel buffet.
“Happy Anniversary, my love,” Berto greeted her as he came out of the room, wearing only an old polo shirt.
“Shall we go? I’m starving,” Lorna said excitedly.
They rode Berto’s old tricycle. Lorna thought they were heading to town, but Berto stopped just around the corner, in front of “Aling Bebang’s Ihaw-Ihaw and Turo-Turo.”
The smell of barbecue smoke filled the air. The ground was muddy. Dogs waited under the tables for leftover bones.
“B-Berto?” Lorna stammered. “What are we doing here?”
“We’re eating,” Berto smiled. “The dinuguan here is delicious.”
A volcano erupted in Lorna’s chest.
“BERTO!!!” she shouted, shocking the bystanders.
“25 YEARS! Twenty-five years of marriage! It’s our Silver Anniversary today! And this is where you bring me?! I’m wearing a gown! I’m in heels! And you’re feeding me isaw and betamax?!”
“Love, calm down…”
“Calm down?! Berto, I’m exhausted from our poverty! We’ve been renting for 20 years! Our roof is falling apart! And you can’t even treat me properly on our anniversary? You’re so stingy!”
Lorna sat on a plastic chair, crying. Her mascara ran down her face. The people eating lugaw stared at them.
Berto stayed silent. He ordered two servings of dinuguan with puto. When the food arrived, he also placed a brown envelope in front of Lorna.
“What is this?!” Lorna snapped. “Divorce papers?! Are you leaving me?!”
“Open it,” Berto said gently.
Lorna angrily grabbed the envelope, ripped the tape open, and pulled out the document.
She read the heading: DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE and LAND TITLE.
Lorna’s eyes widened. The address written was the house they had been renting for 20 years. And at the bottom, the names were Alberto Cruz and Lorna Cruz.
“B-Berto…” Lorna said in a trembling voice.
“I’m sorry we’re only eating here tonight,” Berto explained, tears welling up in his eyes.
“Our savings were completely drained. I paid the landlord this afternoon. The house is ours now. No one can evict us. We won’t pay rent anymore. It’s ours.”
Lorna fell to her knees on the concrete floor of the eatery. She hugged Berto’s legs while sobbing.
“I’m sorry, Berto! I’m sorry for my harsh words! I thought you had no dreams! I didn’t know you were sacrificing everything—skipping good meals—just to buy me a house! I’m so sorry, my love!”
The customers eating barbecue applauded.
“Sana all!” the bystanders shouted.
The couple embraced — a touching moment, overflowing with love.
After the tears, Lorna wiped her face.
“Alright then, let’s eat the dinuguan. You’re really sweet,” she said while fixing her gown.
They ate happily. After the meal, Berto checked the bill.
Suddenly, he panicked.
He checked his pocket.
Checked the other pocket.
Checked the back pocket.
Berto turned pale.
“Love…” he whispered. “Did you bring your wallet?”
“No,” Lorna replied. “Weren’t you paying? I left mine at home because I thought this was our date.”
Berto slowly looked at her.
“I paid everything for the house, love. Even the money for our ride home went to the transfer tax earlier. I don’t have a single coin left. Not even one peso.”
The couple looked at each other. Then they looked at Aling Bebang, who was waiting for payment with a ladle in her hand.
Thirty minutes later…
The romantic vibes were gone.
Berto had his pants rolled up, wiping tables.
Lorna, still wearing her sparkling red gown, was at the eatery’s sink.
CLANG! CLANG!
Furiously scrubbing frying pans, Lorna washed greasy plates covered in dinuguan fat.
“You’re unbelievable, Berto!” she shouted as soap bubbles soaked her gown.
“We may have our own house, but we can’t even pay for dinuguan! On our Golden Anniversary, make sure you have money! Or I’ll feed you to the dogs!”
“Yes, love! Sorry, love!” Berto replied while sweeping the floor.
And that’s how the night ended —
with a brand-new house,
but the wife washing dishes instead of enjoying the anniversary.