Being Poor is Not Easy

Chapter 9: The Search That Changed Everything (Part 1)

The annual town fiesta had always been the most anticipated celebration of the year.

Long before sunset, every street leading to the plaza was already crowded with families, children, and visitors from neighboring towns. Colorful banners fluttered overhead, dancing gently with the evening breeze, while rows of bright lanterns stretched across the streets like tiny stars waiting for nightfall. The sweet aroma of roasted corn, grilled barbecue, freshly cooked rice cakes, and cotton candy filled the air, mixing perfectly with the cheerful sounds of laughter and music.

As darkness slowly embraced the town, the fiesta truly came alive.

The stage at the center of the plaza exploded with colorful lights as a local band began performing familiar songs that had people clapping and singing along. Children chased one another around the fountain while teenagers gathered beneath the glowing decorations, taking photographs to remember the evening. Vendors enthusiastically invited everyone to sample their food, while carnival games tempted visitors with giant stuffed animals hanging proudly above each booth.

It was the kind of night that reminded everyone why they loved coming home for the fiesta every year.

Lester smiled as he walked through the lively crowd.

After weeks of working and keeping himself busy, this peaceful evening was exactly what he needed. His plan was simple—walk around the plaza, enjoy the performances, eat far more street food than he should, and head home with happy memories.

Simple plans, however, had a strange habit of changing whenever his younger cousin was involved.

"Couz Lester!"

Lester stopped walking.

He didn't even have to turn around immediately.

That voice carried a very familiar combination of excitement and panic.

It was the unmistakable voice of someone who had created a problem and was now looking for help.

Slowly, Lester looked over his shoulder.

Sure enough, Jerwin was jogging toward him, weaving through the crowd with slightly messy hair and an expression that suggested he had spent the last hour searching for someone.

Lester folded his arms.

"Why do I suddenly feel like my peaceful evening is officially over?"

Jerwin slowed to a stop, trying to catch his breath.

"I really need your help."

Lester sighed dramatically.

"I knew those words were coming."

Jerwin offered an awkward grin.

"Please?"

"What happened this time?"

Jerwin hesitated.

"I... made Anabel angry."

Lester blinked once before letting out a quiet laugh.

"You mean the same Anabel you've been talking about for weeks?"

Jerwin nodded.

"The same girl you kept insisting would eventually notice you?"

Another nod.

"The same girl you said was 'just playing hard to get'?"

Jerwin lowered his head.

"...Yes."

Lester couldn't help smiling.

"I had a feeling this conversation was coming sooner or later."

Jerwin scratched the back of his head.

"You're making this harder."

"I'm just making sure we're talking about the same Anabel."

Jerwin sighed before finally admitting everything.

"I kept trying to talk to her at school."

"I noticed."

"I waited for her before class."

"I heard."

"I offered to carry her bag."

"Mhm."

"I kept sitting beside her whenever I had the chance."

Lester simply stared at him.

Jerwin cleared his throat.

"And... I may have greeted her every single morning."

"Anything else?"

Jerwin looked away.

"I also tried talking to her during every recess."

"Every recess?"

"...Every recess."

Lester pinched the bridge of his nose.

"So let me get this straight."

Jerwin remained silent.

"You followed her around campus."

A guilty nod.

"You interrupted her free time."

Another nod.

"You rarely gave her personal space."

One final nod.

"And somehow you thought all of this would impress her?"

Jerwin covered his face with both hands.

"When you summarize it like that..."

"It sounds terrible?"

Jerwin slowly lowered his hands.

"Exactly."

"That's because it was."

For a few moments, neither of them spoke.

The sounds of the fiesta continued around them. Nearby, a group of children laughed as they tried to pop balloons with toy darts. A vendor shouted the day's special discount on grilled squid, while another proudly displayed freshly made coconut ice cream.

Despite all the excitement surrounding them, Jerwin's thoughts were somewhere else.

"I wasn't trying to scare her," he said quietly.

Lester looked at him.

"I honestly thought I was showing her how much I liked her."

His shoulders dropped.

"But now I realize..."

He sighed deeply.

"I was only making her uncomfortable."

Lester noticed something different in his cousin's voice.

The usual confidence was gone.

There were no exaggerated plans.

No dramatic speeches.

Only sincere regret.

"I don't expect her to forgive me," Jerwin continued.

"I don't expect her to like me."

"I just..."

He paused.

"...want to apologize."

Lester studied him for several seconds.

Then he smiled.

"All right."

Jerwin looked up immediately.

"You'll help me?"

"I'll help you find her."

Jerwin's face brightened.

"Thanks, Couz Lester!"

Lester raised one finger.

"But listen carefully."

Jerwin nodded.

"If Anabel doesn't want to talk..."

"I'll respect that."

"If she walks away..."

"I'll let her."

"If she ignores you..."

"I'll accept it."

Lester smiled with approval.

"Good."

Jerwin extended his hand.

"Deal?"

Lester laughed before shaking it.

"Deal."

The two cousins began walking through the crowded plaza together.

Jerwin's eyes searched every corner.

Every girl with long hair briefly caught his attention.

Every few steps, he would stop and look around.

"There!"

He suddenly pointed toward a food stall.

Lester looked.

"That's not Anabel."

Jerwin blinked.

"Oh..."

A few moments later...

"What about the girl buying cotton candy?"

Lester squinted before laughing.

"Jerwin..."

"What?"

"That's someone's mother."

Jerwin groaned dramatically.

"I think panic is affecting my eyesight."

"I noticed."

They continued walking.

The music from the stage grew louder as they moved deeper into the plaza.

Couples strolled beneath strings of lanterns.

Children proudly carried glowing balloons almost as large as themselves.

Friends laughed together while balancing plates of barbecue and cups of fresh fruit shakes.

Jerwin barely noticed any of it.

His attention remained fixed on one mission.

Finding Anabel.

Suddenly, someone called his name.

"Jerwin!"

Both cousins turned.

Standing beside a barbecue stall was one of Jerwin's classmates.

"Heindrix!"

Jerwin walked over immediately.

"What are you doing here?" Heindrix asked.

"Looking for someone."

Heindrix smirked knowingly.

"Let me guess."

Jerwin sighed.

"You already know?"

"Anabel?"

Jerwin nodded.

"I figured."

Lester introduced himself with a friendly handshake.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Lester."

"Heindrix."

The young man smiled warmly.

Jerwin wasted no time.

"Have you seen Anabel?"

Heindrix thought for a moment before pointing toward the brightly illuminated stage.

"Actually..."

He smiled.

"Yes."

Jerwin's eyes widened.

"You did?"

"About ten minutes ago."

"Where?"

"Near the stage."

Jerwin leaned forward eagerly.

"She wasn't alone."

"Who was with her?"

"Reilyn."

The unfamiliar name echoed quietly inside Lester's mind.

Reilyn.

He had never heard that name before.

Yet somehow it lingered for a moment longer than he expected.

"They were sitting on one of the benches beside the stage," Heindrix continued.

"I think they're watching the performances."

Jerwin grinned.

"Thank you!"

As he hurried away, Heindrix laughed.

"Hey!"

Jerwin stopped.

"Whatever you're planning..."

"I'm only apologizing."

"Good."

Heindrix pointed toward the busy plaza.

"Because the whole town is watching tonight."

Lester chuckled.

"I'll make sure he behaves."

The cousins thanked Heindrix one last time before continuing toward the stage.

The closer they came, the larger the crowd became.

Rows of plastic chairs faced the brightly lit performers.

Families stood shoulder to shoulder, enjoying the music.

Teenagers danced near the front of the stage while younger children sat on their parents' shoulders to see above the crowd.

Jerwin suddenly stopped walking.

"There."

Lester followed his gaze.

Beneath the soft glow of hanging lanterns sat two young women on a wooden bench.

One wore a light blue blouse.

The other wore a simple white dress that reflected the colorful lights surrounding the plaza.

They laughed together while watching the performance, completely unaware that two cousins had just found them.

"That's Anabel," Jerwin whispered.

Lester nodded.

"And beside her?"

"That's Reilyn."

Without realizing it, Lester looked at the young woman sitting beside Anabel for a second longer than he intended.

She laughed softly before brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

There was nothing dramatic about her.

She wasn't trying to attract attention.

She simply smiled, listened, and enjoyed the evening.

Yet somehow...

She stood out.

Lester quickly looked away.

"Focus," he quietly reminded himself.

"This isn't about you."

Beside him, Jerwin took a deep breath.

"I'm going."

Lester nodded.

"Remember our agreement."

"I will."

"No chasing."

"I promise."

Jerwin straightened his shirt, inhaled one more time, and slowly walked toward the bench.

Neither cousin realized that in only a few moments, one heartfelt apology would unexpectedly become the beginning of an unforgettable love story.