“Kira!” her mother said, hooking an arm around hers to drag her toward the extension of the open barn that served as the village event area. “Mayette has been talking our ear off about this fancy pan de sal she bought from a panaderia in Makati, and I have run out of ways to say it’s amazing.”
“Is it?” Kira asked, wondering what could possibly be improved about an already perfect roll.
Alice Luz shrugged, like she’d completely given up on making a fair judgement. “Just come with me, please?”
The members of the food committee greeted the Luzes with choruses of “hello!” They were still serving the “light dinner” before the huge Media Noche at midnight, so the spread was mostly pan de sal with various fillings, quezo de bola (if it’s not Marca Piña, we’re not having it!) and fiesta ham, or arroz caldo for those looking for something a little heavier.
Among their group was Ate Nessie, cursing a cup of barako and arguing with Josie from three houses down about who made the best bonete in Lipa. Mang Roldan was sitting beside her, very calmly listening and trying to hide his smile at Ate Nessie’s wild gestures.
“Kira dear, when are you going to bring a young man with you to New Year?” Tita Vilma asked, and it took all of Kira’s willpower not to wince. “Preferably a nice boy who can keep that chocolate shop running for you!”
“Ha?” As soon as Kira put the pan de sal in her mouth. She’d stuffed hers with guava jam and kesong puti, and was chewing so she couldn’t answer. “Tita, my chocolate shop will keep running regardless of if I have a boyfriend or not.”
“Oh goodness, these millennials, I really don’t understand them.”
“Don’t worry, Tita,” Kira assured the neighbor who really had no reason to worry about her. “I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. Boyfriend or no.”
And for the first time in a long time, she really, truly meant that.
“I suppose that Santillan boy is a no-show again this year.” Tita Mayette sighed, turning her head toward Santi’s house, a bungalow place that currently had all its lights closed. “It’s like nobody actually lives there.”
In the distance, she spotted Jake and Cassie making their way to the smaller fireworks and saw that as her chance to escape. She quickly made her excuses and joined her niece and brother-in-law to distribute the sparklers to the children, while the older kids were allowed to light the lusis, as long as they didn’t take pics from the front.
“Kira.” Ate Nessie’s urgent voice caught her attention, but she didn’t turn away from the kids. “I need to speak with you.”
“Ate Nessie, it’s New Year’s Eve! It’s time to cast away our cares and for you to stop looking at me like that.” Kira chuckled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders in a side hug as Ate Nessie rolled her eyes.
“Should I be concerned that Dan has yet to kiss me?” she asked. “Am I not kissable?”
Kira paused, realizing quickly that Dan must be what she called Mang Roldan, before she asked Jake and Cassie to cover for her while she led Ate Nessie away from the festivities. She was sure she wanted privacy right now.
“We’ve been on quite a few dates now,” Ate Nessie explained, the furrow in her brow deep. “And they’ve been fun! He’s such a good listener, and we like the same music, and we both love being around nature, ganun...”
“But?” Kira asked encouragingly.
“Every night he drives me home and kisses the back of my hand! Like I’m his grandmother! Hay nako.” Ate Nessie sighed, her shoulders dropping. “I am too old for this. Maybe he just doesn’t see me as an attractive person.”
Kira wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, no.”
“Hija, if you’re going to speak in tongues, you have to let me know.”
“No, I mean he’s attracted to you!” Kira interjected, nudging Ate Nessie with her elbow. “Ate Ness, the way he looked at you at the chocolate shop the other day was sinful.”
“What!” she exclaimed, and even in the dark, Kira could see the telltale signs of Ate Nessie blushing.
“The man wanted to drop everything and kiss you,” Kira said, and honestly, where was the lie? Mang Roldan could deliver a smoldering look better than anyone, and Ate Nessie as the recipient could not have missed that. “But maybe he’s looking for a little...um, encouragement from you?”
“Hija, I wore my malandi lipstick, what other encouragement do I need to give him?” Ate Nessie looked genuinely flustered and a little bit frustrated, and Kira wanted to hug her again. She really could go into a whole tangent about how red lipstick really was great, and that Kelly Monago’s collection was amazing, but it really was more for herself than for Roldan, and that wasn’t the lecture today. Nah.
“I think Mang Roldan will appreciate a more direct approach,” Kira said, carefully choosing her words. “Like...you can ask him if he wants to kiss you.”
“Hala, I cannot ask him that!” Ate Nessie insisted, shaking her head. “I would rather just kiss him myself!”
Kira grinned at Ate Nessie, surprised and amused that she would come to that conclusion all by herself. Ate Nessie blinked back at Kira, as if shocked that she had. The two of them stared at each other, forever doomed to be at an impasse.
“I don’t think you need my help anymore, Ate Nessie,” Kira said gently, giving her the reassuring hug she needed. “You know exactly what to do.”
“But...”
