Stacey was a joyous person. She loves pink, her color as she said. Tinaguriang Miss Congeniality mula pa noong nasa elementary. A person that is always energetic. She always smiles, and no dull moments when she's around. Every teacher loves her because of her enthusiasm. She excels in everything, she's also great at dancing. Her passion while she's on the stage, gracefully moving in her own world. But no one knows how vulnerable she is inside. When no one is around she is still the little girl who longs for her mother. Isang batang kahit kailan hindi naman talaga masaya.
Who would have thought that the same day of her birthday, was the same day her mother died. She even celebrates every year, making other people happy but she's not happy at all. After her celebration they will go straight to the cemetery, to visit her mother even though she doesn't want to. A price she has to pay for being alive.
She grew up with the guidance of her grandmother. Who always reminds her how to be a prim and proper lady. How to be her mother when she's alive. All her life, she lives in the shadow of her dead mother. She was in highschool when her grandmother decided to live with her other children. That's when Stacey finally breathes and can show the other side of her. The prim and proper lady was gay, and even if they don't want to accept it she gladly shows it.
She met Mikha, the love of her life. The woman she dreamt to marry someday but she can't. And it breaks her heart thinking that it's not gonna happen.
'We've been together for years Mommy pero hindi ko alam bakit hanggang ngayon hindi mo parin kayang tanggapin si Stacey! Mikha said.
'You are my only child Mikhaela. I want you to have a family of your own. I dreamt to be a grandmother', sagot ng Ina nito.
Stacey stunned. She felt a pang of pain in her chest. After all these years Mikha's mother was still against the relationship they had. Naiintindihan naman niya, hindi lang siya handa na mas gusto nitong bumuo ng pamilya si Mikha pero hindi siya ang kasama.
Tahimik siyang lumisan sa tarangkahan ng bahay nang mga Lim. Plano nilang mag-date ni Mikha kaya nag-prisinta siyang siya ang susundo dito, ngunit iba pala ang dadatnan niya.
Huminga siya ng malalim bago siya muling tumayo sa gilid ng sasakyan, saka niya idinayal ang numero ng kasintahan.
'Wifey, nasa labas na po ako', saad niya habang pilit pinasasaya ang tono. 'Hindi na ako papasok, hintayin na lang kita. Pakisabi ke Tita, kinakamusta ko siya.
Wala pang limang minuto matapos ang tawag ay nakangiting Mikha ang sunalubong sa kanya. Agad siya nitong niyakap ng mahigpit, at tila nakalimutan nang puso niya ang sakit na naranasan kanina lamang.
'Magmu-motor lang tayo? tanong nito.
'Oo. Gamit ni Daddy yung kotse para sa check up ni Lola', nakangiting sagot niya.
'Alright. Ako na magda-drive ha. Walang prinsesang pinapagod', nakangiting sambit nito.
'Bolera!
Mikha put her helmet on, she even kissed Stacey's nose that made the latter blush. She makes sure that her woman hugs her tight while riding a motorcycle. Stacey felt safe around her girl, but her heart was still in pain after she heard her mother's words.
Mikha proposed to her that day but she declined because she can still hear those words from Mikha's mother. It echoes in her ear. And it breaks her heart even more when she sees how vulnerable Mikha is, that day.
