Our gang’s yearly gathering finally happened once again, and this time, it felt even more meaningful because so many things had changed within the year.
This was already my second time joining their annual vibe, and honestly, a lot happened before we even reached December. For one, we lost a head from the group due to personal realizations that had been lingering for quite some time. It’s not really my story to tell, so I’d rather keep the details private out of respect, but of course, moments like that still change the dynamics of a circle somehow.
On the brighter side, this year also became a turning point for me personally. I was able to grab a better opportunity abroad, and somehow, it made this year’s gathering feel different from the previous one — in a good way. Maybe because life had already shifted for most of us, yet despite all the changes, we still found our way back to the same table, the same conversations, and the same comfort.
I’ve always believed that Christmas parties should be more than just exchanging gifts and going home afterward. For me, the best celebrations are the ones where the night continues long after the gifts are opened — where people stay, eat together, drink together, sing randomly, share stories, gossip a little (oops, kidding), and simply enjoy each other’s company without worrying about the time or how late it’s getting.
So this year, we decided to do exactly that.
We booked an overnight staycation at Cube Nine Resort & Spa on December 19, 2025, and luckily, breakfast was already included in the booking.
And honestly? Fate probably wanted us to enjoy the trip even more because our accommodation unexpectedly got upgraded into a Pool Villa.
The villa had three rooms, a kitchen (though sadly without utensils), a smart TV connected to WiFi — which became very important because we spent the night blasting music online — and of course, a private jacuzzi that instantly made the stay feel extra luxurious.
Funny enough, the upgrade happened because of a reservation issue. Quick backstory: I actually requested to cancel the reservation earlier because I wanted to move the dates, but the request got rejected, so I simply left it as it was. However, when we arrived for check-in, we were suddenly informed that the reservation had already been cancelled because of my request. Since I never received any approval and only had proof of rejection, I showed everything to them. Thankfully, the staff handled it professionally, and that situation eventually led to the complimentary villa upgrade.
A stressful moment turned into a lucky one.
As usual, before checking in, we already bought food, drinks, snacks, and basically everything we needed for the night. Once we settled into the villa, we immediately prepared the table and had dinner together while music played in the background. We even set up a phone on timelapse mode just to capture all the little moments throughout the night — the laughter, random movements, chaotic conversations, and everything in between.
Then came one of the most exciting parts of the evening — gift giving.
This year, we decided to follow that trending color-themed gift exchange online where gifts are categorized only by color. We agreed on green, blue, red, yellow, and orange. Honestly, it awakened the inner child in all of us. There’s something exciting about receiving a gift when the only thing you know about it is the color. Nobody really cared about how expensive the item was or what exactly was inside. The mystery itself made everything fun.
After the exchange gift, I also handed them my personal gifts, and seeing them genuinely happy and grateful honestly made me happy too.
But of course, the night still didn’t end there.
The real fun usually begins after dinner and gift giving anyway. We spent the rest of the evening sharing stories, laughing nonstop, spilling tea over tequila, and simply enjoying the comfort of being around people who understand you. It became one of those nights where nobody wanted to sleep yet because everyone was too busy enjoying the moment.
Eventually, exhaustion won, and we finally decided to call it a night.
The next morning, we woke up early for the complimentary breakfast before heading back to the villa to maximize the private jacuzzi one last time before preparing for check-out.
But even then, the gathering still wasn’t over.
Before officially ending the trip, we had lunch at Donjjang where we enjoyed another round of luscious food and endless tea-spilling conversations. We were so immersed in talking and laughing that we barely noticed how quickly time passed once again.
And just like that, my second annual vibe with this circle came to an end — filled with laughter, memories, growth, unexpected upgrades, and the comforting reminder that no matter how much life changes, some connections remain exactly where your heart needs them to be.
