An island emerges from the sea—and vanishes again. In part 1, the friendship of the young Levi and Cecilia that blooms in the island called Hain is cut short because of a disaster. Levi survives, and Cecilia could have perished, but Levi searches for her—and for the possibility of future love. In part 2, the lives of Levi Cruz, Professor Pilar Grace, Doctor Elaine Wan, and the house help Manang Nida Salvacion are entangled in a web of madness as they try to make sense of the disaster and their own tragedies. Time catches up with the novel’s characters as part 3 reveals past lives that must be freed.

1. Philippine fiction (English).