MANILA – December 2025
The auditorium at the Philippine Science High School was packed with students, parents, and teachers from across the country. Liza sat on stage with the other finalists of the National Mathematics Competition, her hands folded in her lap as she waited for the host to announce the winners.
Andre and Rose sat in the front row, holding hands tightly. They'd driven to Manila the night before, staying at a small hotel near the school. Rose had helped Liza practice her problem-solving skills every night for weeks, while Andre had built her a custom calculator case to keep her tools safe.
"You think she's nervous?" Andre whispered, watching Liza bite her lip as the host began to speak.
"Of course she is," Rose replied with a smile. "But she's also ready. She's worked so hard for this."
As the host called out the names of the winners – third place, second place – Liza's hands clenched into fists. When they finally announced first place, it wasn't her name. Rose reached over to squeeze her shoulder as she walked back to her seat, but Liza just shook her head slightly, forcing a smile.
After the ceremony, they found her sitting on a bench outside the auditorium, staring at the certificate she'd received for making it to the finals.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly without looking up. "I know you both worked so hard to help me prepare."
Andre sat down beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. "What are you sorry for? You made it to the national finals, Liza. That's amazing – not everyone gets to do that."
"Besides," Rose added, sitting on her other side. "This isn't the end. You'll be back next year, and you'll show them what you're made of."
Liza finally looked up, tears in her eyes. "Really?"
"Really." Andre nodded. "Now, how about we go celebrate? I saw a place nearby that serves the best halo-halo in Manila."
As they walked through the busy streets of Quezon City, heading toward the dessert shop, Rose noticed a familiar figure standing outside a small convenience store. It was Marcus – he looked thinner than she remembered, wearing a plain shirt and pants, with a monitoring bracelet on his ankle. He'd clearly been released from prison recently.
He saw her at the same time, and for a moment, they just stood there looking at each other. Then he took a slow step forward.
"Rose," he said quietly. "I… I didn't think I'd see you here."
"Andre, this is my brother Marcus," Rose said, turning to face him. She could feel Andre's hand tighten around hers, but he didn't pull away.
Marcus looked at Andre, then back at Rose. "I got your letter. About Liza, about the shop… about everything. Thank you for writing back. I've been working at a construction site here in Manila, trying to save up to pay back the people I scammed. Every penny I make goes into a fund the authorities set up."
"That's good," Rose said carefully. "We're glad you're trying to make things right."
"I heard about the competition," Marcus said, looking at Liza. "Congratulations on making it to the finals. You must be very smart."
Liza hid behind Andre's arm slightly, but nodded. "Thank you."
Marcus pulled something out of his pocket – a small envelope. "I know I don't have the right to give you anything, but I wanted to contribute to your next competition. It's not much, but it's all I have right now."
Andre started to shake his head, but Rose put a hand on his arm. She looked at Marcus, then at the envelope. "We'll take it. Not as a gift, but as a payment toward what you owe. And we'll put it all toward Liza's preparations for next year."
Marcus nodded, relief washing over his face. "Thank you. That means more than you know."
That evening, as they sat in the hotel room, Liza asleep on the bed after her big day, Andre pulled Rose close.
"I never thought I'd be able to be in the same room as him," he said quietly. "But seeing him like that… trying to change… it makes me think maybe people really can grow."
Rose leaned her head on his chest. "We all make mistakes, Andre. You did, I did, Marcus did. The difference is whether we choose to learn from them and do better."
Andre looked out the window at the Manila skyline, the lights shining bright even in the late hours. "Three years ago, I thought the only way to protect you was to leave. I was wrong. The real way to protect the people we love is to stay by their side, to face everything together – the good and the bad."
Rose looked up at him, her eyes shining. "And that's exactly what we're going to do. For the rest of our lives."
He leaned down and kissed her, soft and gentle, as the city continued to buzz outside their window. Liza shifted in her sleep, mumbling something about numbers and equations, and they both smiled.
They had built a life together out of honesty and second chances. They had a shop that was growing every day, a school where Rose could make a difference, and a young girl who was just beginning to discover all she could achieve. There would be more challenges ahead – there always were – but they knew they could handle anything as long as they were together.
The past was behind them, and tomorrow was theirs to build.
THE END