Sa bawat minutong lumilipas

Hinahanap-hanap kita

Hinahanap-hanap kita

Sa isip at panaginip

Bawat pagpihit ng tadhana

Hinahanap-hanap kita, ah-ah, ah-ah

– “Hinahanap-Hanap Kita” by Rivermaya from Atomic Bomb (1997)

Kate was clearly swooning, but Roanne remained unaffected by Kokoy’s heartfelt serenade, despite his friends’ lively performance. She appreciated the gesture but felt no special connection.

Later, Carlota and her daughters were setting the table for dinner.

“Kokoy is a good and hardworking young man,” Carlota remarked as she arranged the utensils. “He’s my godson, after all, the son of my good friend Pacita. He just got accepted at the DMCI power plant.”

“I agree, Ate,” Kate chimed in with enthusiasm. “He’s cute, he can sing, and he’s really sweet. If I were you, I’d say ‘Yes.’”

Roanne listened quietly, smiling politely as she placed the plates on the mats, acknowledging Carlota and Kate’s approval. Kokoy was undoubtedly a kind and respectable young man, but there was no spark for her. Roanne believed in marrying for love, and despite Kokoy’s virtues, she knew he wasn’t the right man for her.

During the day, on the shore, a festive gathering of townsfolk took place. The women wore old rose-colored gowns, while the men donned their barongs, traditional Filipino formal wear. Roel and his wife, Anna, stood before their wedding cake, newly married and glowing with happiness. Anna wore a flowing white wedding gown, her translucent veil gracefully draped down her back. The wedding cake was multi-layered and white, topped with miniature figures of a bride and groom. Roel cut a slice and playfully spoon-fed Anna a piece that was a bit too large, prompting her to take a small, mischievous revenge to the laughter of their guests.

After some time, the couple took to the center of the gathering for their first dance as husband and wife. One by one, guests rose to pin paper bills onto Roel’s barong and Anna’s gown, following the Filipino tradition of wishing the newlyweds prosperity. Roel and Anna continued to waltz, their smiles bright with the happiness of their new life together.

“Look at Kuya. He’s so happy. I’m really happy for him,” Kate, the more stylish of the two, said to the simple and modest Roanne.

Roanne quietly watched as Roel, arm-in-arm with his beloved Anna, danced. She thought to herself, I hope I can find that kind of love someday.

Meanwhile, Roel’s younger brothers, Jacob and Andrew, ran about boisterously. Nearby, Christine and Sarah, Roanne and Kate’s younger sisters, were being looked after by Carlota as they enjoyed the food laid out on the table.

“Thank you, Ninong, for sponsoring Roel’s wedding,” Carding said gratefully to the former barangay captain.

“No worries. The most important thing is that Roel is happy,” Dindo, the barangay captain, replied warmly.

It was nighttime, and the sky was nearly clear, with stars shining brightly. On the balcony of the Kennedy residence, father and son, Bill and Topher, stood together with a telescope.

“What do you see, my son?” Bill asked warmly.

“I see Andromeda—the Chained Maiden,” Topher replied, his eyes glued to the telescope.

“Did you know, Son, that constellation is visible from August through February? That large cluster of stars in the northern sky is connected to its neighbor, Pegasus,” Bill shared, smiling at his son’s curiosity.

As Topher continued observing through the telescope, Bill guided him further. “Look at the head of the maiden. See that bright star? That’s Alpheratz. It’s a blue giant star, 97 light-years from Earth, shining 200 times brighter than our Sun.”

“Wow, that’s amazing, Dad,” Topher said, his excitement growing.

He took another look through the telescope and suddenly gasped in surprise—a blue-white shooting star streaked across the constellation of Andromeda. Topher pulled away from the telescope, his eyes wide in awe, watching as the meteor remained clearly visible in the night sky.

“What’s wrong, Bud? Why did you get so quiet?” Bill asked, noticing the shift in his son’s demeanor.

“Dad, didn’t you see it? A huge, bright blue-white shooting star!” Topher exclaimed, filled with wonder.

Bill glanced up at the sky. “I didn’t see anything,” he admitted honestly.

“Maybe you just missed it,” Topher said, grinning.

“Yeah, maybe I did,” Bill conceded, though his thoughts wandered. A big, bright blue-white shooting star… just like the one he mentioned seeing when we were asleep on the plane at midnight. One of the memories he lost, even to this day…

The waves gently lapped against the shore, the hot sun gleaming overhead. Despite the heat, the leaves remained wet from the earlier rain—a common contrast during the wet season on the tropical shores of Laiya Beach, San Juan, Batangas.

A garnet car rolled past a cart of plantains. The window lowered, revealing Bill inside.

“Manong, how much for the bananas?” Bill asked the elderly vendor.

“Only peso, no dollars,” the vendor replied in halting English.

Bill smiled. “No worries, Sir. All my money’s in pesos.”

After a brief exchange, the vendor handed Bill a bundle of plantains through the open window. As the Kennedy family drove off, a short-haired, middle-aged woman in a long skirt watched from across the street, her curiosity piqued.

Isn’t that the American whose son was involved in the cave incident three years ago? she thought. Wasting no time, she crossed the road and hurried to Aling Kuring’s Store. Inside, two women sat snacking, while the store owner handed one of them a soft drink in a plastic pouch in exchange for a few coins.

“The Kennedys just passed by,” the short-haired woman announced, eager to share the news. “They’ve come back to Laiya after three years.”

“The interracial couple? The ones whose son got involved in that cave incident?” asked one of the women, her hair pulled back with a headband.

“Yes, exactly,” the short-haired woman confirmed.

“I remember that incident being the talk of the town,” added the third woman, her long hair streaked with gray.

“It was strange,” the short-haired woman continued. “A signal no. 4 storm that no one saw coming, paired with an earthquake at the same time. And the quake was felt deep inside the cave.”

“The whole town said it was something supernatural,” the gray-haired woman murmured.

The three women—Auring, Violi, and Margarita—never missed a chance to gossip, and Aling Kuring’s Store, conveniently close to their homes, was their favorite haunt. Across the street, the old plantain vendor shook his head in disdain, silently judging their way of life.

In the Kennedys’ resthouse, the family gathered with the Pangilinans, Sevillas, and Argentes. Inside, Christmas lights adorned the trims of the walls, casting a soft glow. The railing of the grand staircase was draped with garlands of spiky, plastic green leaves, decorated with golden bells and red ribbons.

A tall Christmas tree stood proudly in the corner, topped with a large yellow star. Red garlands spiraled around its lush green branches, which were adorned with golden bells, colorful Christmas balls in red, green, yellow, and blue, each gleaming with frosty swirls and sparkles. Miniature ribboned gifts, acorns, and candy canes dangled from the tree, completing the festive look.

Beneath the tree, Topher and Allison sat among the unopened presents, their reflections mirrored on the polished wooden floor.

“What’s wrong, Allison? You can talk to me if you want,” Topher said, noticing his cousin’s gloom.

Allison, looking downcast, rested her head on Topher’s shoulder. “Dad doesn’t want me to pursue acting. He wants me to focus on my studies,” she said quietly.

“That’s tough. Have you tried talking to Uncle Eric?” Topher asked gently.

“You know how Dad is. He never listens to me or Mom. He only cares about what he wants,” Allison replied with frustration.

“That’s really sad. But don’t worry, Allison. Once you finish college, Uncle Eric will finally let you chase your dreams,” Topher reassured her, offering a comforting smile.

“But that feels so far away,” Allison sighed, her voice heavy with disappointment.

“I believe you’ll be an amazing actress one day,” Topher said with certainty.

“Really? You think so?” Allison asked, her mood lifting.

Without hesitation, Allison hugged Topher, and he welcomed the embrace, unbothered by her sudden affection.

The fire crackled warmly in the fireplace, filling the great room with a cozy glow. The Christmas tree, adorned with lights and ornaments, stood proudly in the spotlight as the time for exchanging gifts arrived.

James stood and approached the tree, retrieving a present from beneath its branches. “The person whose name I picked is a kind, gentle, and sweet budding artist—Sophie,” James announced with a smile.

Martha gently encouraged her daughter. “Anak, stand up and go to your Kuya James. Don’t be shy, take your present.”

Sophie, overcoming her shyness, rose and stepped forward.

James handed her the gift with a grin. “I hope you like it.”

“What is it?” Sophie asked innocently.

“Open it first, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised,” James replied, teasing her curiosity.

Sophie’s face lit up as she carefully unwrapped the gift. Inside was an art set—a monkey clay figurine that came with watercolors and a paintbrush.

“Did you like it?” James asked, his tone friendly.

“I love it! Thanks, Kuya,” Sophie responded sweetly, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.

After a while, it was Benjamin’s turn. He walked over to the tree, ready to present his gift.

“The person I picked will gain valuable knowledge about science and much more—Michael,” Benjamin announced.

“What?! What kind of knowledge? Are you giving me a book?” Michael blurted out, horrified at the thought.

He grabbed the gift from Benjamin’s hands and tore it open with little patience. “Ugh, it is a book! A freaking almanac!” Michael groaned dramatically.

“It’s the teen edition, perfect for your age,” Benjamin replied, standing by his choice with a nod of approval.

“Yeah, whatever. I don’t care,” Michael huffed dismissively. “But you should be grateful, bro, because unlike you, I’m not a killjoy.”

With excitement, Michael pulled out his gift for Benjamin. “Here you go—collectible superhero cards! That’s the whole team right there. And when you tilt the cards, the images move. How cool is that?!”

“Those are definitely things you’d love,” Benjamin remarked, a bit let down.

“Hell yeah! And because I love them—you’re going to love them too!” Michael declared, completely convinced of his gift’s awesomeness.

The clock struck twelve—it was officially Noche Buena. The long table, draped in festive red, was laden with Christmas delights: hamonado (Christmas ham), kakanins (glutinous rice cakes), lechon (roast pig), fruit salad, queso de Bola (Gouda cheese), fruitcake, fried chicken, spaghetti, and more.

Grandpa Al couldn’t resist peeling off a piece of the crispy, juicy skin from the lechon.

“Al, control yourself—that’s bad for your cholesterol,” Grandma Emily scolded sharply, eyeing him with concern.

Meanwhile, Uncle Ronald piled his plate high with food, opting to eat with his bare hands, savoring the meal with gusto.

“Pa, fix your glass or it’s going to spill,” Ellie gently reminded Ansel, noticing his wine glass wobbling.

“Do we really have to do this—clink our glasses of red wine while our arms are crossed?” Ansel asked, slightly skeptical of Ellie’s romantic idea.

“Of course, Pa! It’s more romantic this way,” Ellie insisted with a smile. She then turned to baby Felicity, who was watching them with wide eyes and a happy grin. “Do you agree with Mom, baby Felicity?”

Baby Felicity chuckled, clearly entertained by her parents’ playful exchange.