Heartstrings of Destiny

I woke up feeling disoriented and sluggish. Did I consume an excessive amount of alcohol last night? I really should refrain from drinking, as I'm aware it's not a healthy choice for me. Despite my cousin's wedding being a celebratory occasion, I need to prioritize my well-being and avoid overindulging in alcohol. My body simply cannot handle it. Yesterday, my cousin, Ate Jen, tied the knot, and they chose Valentine's Day for their wedding. The atmosphere was festive with heart-shaped rain adding to the celebration. The event turned into a family reunion as other relatives joined in to mark the occasion. The reception took place at our grandfathers' ancestral house, the largest in San Martin, our province. With its expansive hectares of land, it served as the perfect venue for all of us. The gathering felt like a local festival, especially considering the size of our grandfather's property. Some relatives traveled from abroad, while others, like myself working in Manila, returned home for the festivities a few days ago. Five cows and ten pigs were prepared for roasting, along with hundreds of chickens and fish. The event drew a large crowd, with almost the entire town participating in the festivities. In a surprising twist, the Mayor's daughter chose to marry my cousin, who happens to be from one of the most influential families in our community. "Are you awake, Candice?" my mother called from outside my room. I responded with a loud grunt, "Mom! I can't get out of bed! My head is throbbing. My mom entered my room, and with a shake of my head, I attempted to extricate myself from bed, struggling with the three blankets I was wrapped in. Given the chilly weather, particularly in February, the situation was exacerbated by a broken heater from the previous night. The issue remained unresolved as inebriated individuals were supposed to fix it, but instead, they removed all the sheets without completing the repairs. Luckily, we have an abundance of blankets. Our house serves as the venue for family reunions, and selling it is strictly prohibited. It stands as a legacy from my grandfather, allowing anyone to reside here as long as they don't abandon the property. Despite several decades passing since its construction, the house still retains its beauty. My mother issued a familiar warning, "I've told you repeatedly not to drink excessively, especially considering your limitations." I responded with an eye roll, saying, "Mom, why should I turn down my cousins? We've only just reconnected." I have relatives I haven't seen in nearly a decade. We were adamant about returning home because Ate Jen wanted all our cousins present before her wedding. Kuya Junjun flew in from Canada, even taking a week off from work to attend the ceremony in the Philippines. "He's doing well. He made it, and they organized a grand picnic in front of the house." As mentioned, the house sits on hectares of land. Upon entering the gate, it takes over half a kilometer to reach the main house. However, the back is even more extensive due to additional space. I raised both hands, signaling to my mom to help me up—a habit from childhood when I was too lazy to stand up. Shaking her head, my mother approached and gripped my arms. Something caught my attention, and I furrowed my brow. "Mom, what's the red string for?" I inquired. Confusion crossed my mom's face. "That? What red string? Where is it?" she responded. "There, on your ring finger," I pointed to her ring finger, where it seemed a red string was tied. My mom released my arms and inspected her fingers. "Nothing there. Are you still feeling the effects of alcohol?" I shook my head, but the motion made me suddenly feel dizzy. I took my mom's left hand and scrutinized her ring finger closely. My eyes widened when I realized something. "Oh my God, Mom! It's coming out of your finger!" Initially, I thought it was just knotted around her finger, but upon closer inspection, I noticed it was emerging from the tip of her ring finger. Mom pulled my hand away. "Enough with the nonsense, Candice. Get up! We need to find your cousins." Mom stood up from the bed and left my room. Hold on, what did I just witness? I can't be mistaken. The red string is clearly attached to my mother's finger. But could it be that I'm still under the influence of alcohol? The idea of still being drunk appears more plausible. I believe I am still intoxicated. —— After taking a shower, I exited the house. Not far away, I spotted a massive tent set up where everyone was gathered, sitting on spread-out mats. Meals were being served on customized Narra-made tables—a lengthy table crafted from a tree trunk split in half, with the flat surface facing up and small pillars supporting it. The table seemed almost permanently placed in front of the house due to its immense weight, requiring about twenty strong individuals to lift it. Approaching them, I halted after a few steps, noticing something peculiar—red strings, everywhere! I wondered why no one else seemed to take notice. Weren't they even concealed by those moles? What's even more intriguing is that they seemed to be connected to something else and emitted a faint glow. The connection between my mom and dad was apparent. There were also others that dimmed when slightly distant from the finger. Examining my own hands, I found no strings. Why was it like this? "What's happening?" I heard someone inquire. I turned around, and an exceptionally attractive man approached. As he walked towards me, he gasped. He sported a brown fedora hat atop his curly, brown hair that took on a golden hue when touched by the sun. With a slight tan, he exuded a supermodel-like presence and seemed a few inches taller than me. His dark chocolate-colored eyes twinkled, and he possessed a pointed nose and a chiseled face adorned with a few stubbles on his chin. Clad in black pants, he wore a light blue long-sleeved polo shirt paired with a navy blue vest. "Who are you?" I questioned, finding it impossible not to notice his extraordinary handsomeness. With an elegant posture that exuded charm, he responded, "Candice, right?" I nodded, and he extended his hand. "I'm Cupid," he declared with a smile. I couldn't help but notice his dimples. "Wait, did you say... 'Poopy'?" I chuckled at his name. "Poopy? What parent would name their child Poopy? It doesn't sound fashionable." "The one and only," he replied. Raising an eyebrow, I questioned, "And your last name?" He nonchalantly shrugged, "Just Poopy." I couldn't help but wonder if he would face any teasing with that name. Nevertheless, being my brother's handsome friend, I decided to play along. "Alright, Poopy, could you please enlighten me about what's going on here? What are those strings, and why does nobody seem bothered by them? Am I the only one seeing this?" Ignoring my inquiries, he turned away from me and strolled off. A few meters away, he pivoted, gesturing for me to follow.