(Third Person POV)
The morning after the lantern night was softer — sunlight spilled through the kitchen window like a warm secret, bathing the wooden walls of Tita Minda’s house in gold. The faint hum of cicadas blended with the smell of brewing coffee and warm pandesal.
Lexie sat at the small dining table, chin resting on her palm, while Tita Minda moved gracefully between the stove and the counter. Even with her simple floral duster and tied-up hair, the woman had an effortless calm — the kind that made you feel at home without trying.
“Good morning, hija,” Tita Minda greeted, smiling as she placed a mug in front of her. “You were quiet during breakfast yesterday. Everything alright?”
Lexie blinked, forcing a small smile. “Yes po. Just… tired, maybe.”
“Hmm.” Tita Minda sat across f
