Coffee, Book Hunts, and the Kind of Joy That Doesn’t Need a Plan

 November 2, 2025

Some of the happiest days don’t start with an agenda.
They start with “Let’s just meet at the mall.”

That day at SM Lanang, it was me, my brother, and our cousins Wina, Roi, Mae, and Aleck. No big celebration. No milestone. Just time. And somehow, that made it even better.

We began where many good stories begin: coffee.

I invited them to Starbucks, half-excited, half-on-a-mission. I’m officially collecting e-stickers for the Starbucks Tradition Items 2026, a tiny ritual, a small joy, the kind of tradition that makes adult life feel playful again. They came along to “support”… or so I thought.

Plot twist of the day: Mae was collecting e-stickers too.

The realization hit us mid-order. We stared at each other, then laughed hard. Of all the coincidences. Two collectors. One table. Same mildly obsessive tradition. That moment alone was worth the coffee.

“Sometimes joy sneaks up on you disguised as coincidence.”

After caffeine and laughter, we wandered. No rush. No pressure to buy anything. Just walking, talking, existing together. We searched for Aleck’s favorite book at National Book Store, then Fully Booked. No luck. Optimism remained intact.

So naturally, we escalated.

“If it’s not here, let’s try Abreeza.”

Off we went, mall hopping like it was a mini adventure. Again, we walked, laughed, scanned shelves, and finally heard the most anticlimactic (yet hilarious) line from the cashier at Fully Booked:

“Sorry, the book isn’t available yet.”

All that effort. Zero book. Absolutely no regrets.

We lingered anyway. Because the truth was, the book hunt had already done its job, it gave us time together. And when hunger finally pulled us back to reality, we ended the day simply, comfortably, perfectly: dinner at KFC.

Plastic trays. Fried chicken. Endless stories.

It was ordinary.
And it was unforgettable.

A Letter for My Siblings and Cousins

To my brother, and to Wina, Roi, Mae, and Aleck.

Thank you for the easy laughter.
For the unplanned days that turn into core memories.
For feeling like home, no matter the location.

We may be cousins by blood, but in every way that matters, you are siblings of the soul. Brothers and sisters, not by title, but by treatment. By loyalty. By how safe it feels to be our unfiltered selves around each other.

Life will move fast. Careers will grow. Responsibilities will multiply. One day, we’ll look back and realize these mall days were quieter chapters that shaped us more than we knew.

I hope we never lose this,
the ability to waste time beautifully,
to laugh at small coincidences,
to chase books that aren’t available yet
and still call the day a success.

Thank you for being my people.

Always,
Me

Lessons the Day Quietly Taught Me

That day reminded me of a few truths worth keeping:

“The best memories are rarely planned, they happen when you’re fully present.”

We didn’t accomplish much, if we’re measuring by errands. But if we’re measuring by connection? We won.

Another one settled gently into my heart:

“Family isn’t just about shared blood, it’s about shared laughter.”

And maybe my favorite lesson of all:

“You don’t need grand experiences to feel rich in life. You just need the right people beside you.”

We didn’t find the book.
But we found something better.

Time.
Laughter.
A memory that will resurface years from now when someone says,
“Remember that day at the mall?”

And we’ll smile, knowing exactly which one.