Everything Has Changed

I

"...On behalf of Emirates Airlines and the entire crew, we'd like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. Have a nice day!" -they all listen to the flight attendant's last announcement before taking their seatbelt off, getting all their things and making their way to the door.

"Thirteen years, Tricia..." -Paula says. "Are you ready?"

Patricia doesn't say anything and only nods her head and smiles at her mother.

She suddenly feels hot because of the heat of the air and also the coat she's wearing. She stops walking to take her coat off.

•••••••

While on the way to their old house -the latest one, not the oldest from her childhood days- she stares outside through the window, not really paying attention to what she sees but kind of overthinking. Did I tell Mom the truth? She thinks. Am I ready? She sighs. After thirteen years... Thirteen long years. Am I really ready?

The car stops and Patricia sees their house. She stares at it. Observing every single thing she can see. The windows, the main door, the balconies, the gate... The gate.

***

"Pat-pat it's me, Miggy! Patricia come down!" She heard him shout all over again. She wanted to look through the window. She wanted to see him so bad, to hug him. But she knew she couldn't do that. He betrayed her. He cheated on her. He told her he loved her and that they shouldn't see each other for a while for their own good. But it was all a lie. He just wanted to get rid of her and the truth was, her best friend was the one he really liked. He chose Karen over her.

***

"Patricia?" -Paula cuts her thoughts. "Are you okay? Come out, we're here."

"I think she's too tired, mommy." -says Henry. "Get out of the car and go upstairs. You need to rest."

Patricia goes out of the car. "I'm okay, Dad, Mom. Pagod lang nga siguro."

"Eh sino ba naman hindi mapapagod sayo? One day before our trip back here nag trabaho ka pa rin. So hurry up and get a rest." -her father insists.

Patricia just smiles at them before giving each one a kiss on the cheek. She walks to the main door and the maids welcome her back. "Good morning, ma'am! Welcome back po!"

Yaya Weng, Yaya Gigi, and-- "Oh. Is she the new one?" -she curiously asks upon seeing a new face in the house. "What's her name?"

"Opo ma'am. Sya po yung na-hire para alagaan po si--"

"What's your name?"

"Fina po, ma'am. Ako po ang mag alaga sa--"

"Nice to meet you. I hope you'd take really good care of them. They're not with us yet, next week pa sila darating. Pero ngayon pa lang, I should warn you about your patience. Pasensya lang, 'ya. Kapag hindi mo na kaya, mag sumbong ka sa akin. Ako na bahala sa kanila." -she winks at her before making her way to the stairs but stops when she remembers she forgot something to ask. "Where's aling Cecil?"

"Akala ko nakalimutan mo na ako eh."

Patricia looks up and finds Cecil, her personal maid since she was a teen, waiting for her to go up. She smiles before running upstairs and gives her favorite "yaya" a warm hug. "Aling Cecil! I missed you!"

Cecil giggles and hugs her back. She pulls away and takes a step back and tells Patricia to stand straight.

She chuckles and curiously asks why.

"Just do as I say."

So she does. Cecil stares at her from head to toe. She tells Patricia to turn around so she does. She observes everything she's wearing. From her yellow scarf to her white floral blouse, to her plain black jeans, to her black heels. She covers her eyes to avoid her tears from falling. Patricia hugs her again and as she rubs her back gently, "Aling Cecil..."

Cecil pulls away as she wipes the tears on her cheeks, "Grabe lang, Patricia. Ang laki na ng ipinag bago mo."

Patricia smiles at her, "Should I be happy that you said that or should I be offended?"

They both laugh.

"What do you think? Did I change in a good way or in a bad way?"

"Mas matured ka na ngayon, Pat. At mas gumanda ka pa kesa dati. Dyosang dyosa ka na ngayon talaga."

"And that's why you're my favorite." She winks at her before heading to her bedroom.

•••••••

"I miss you too. See you on Monday! I love you both!" -she texts her last message before getting ready to sleep. She's about to close her eyes when she hears a familiar voice. "Pat-pat! Come down!" She widens her eyes and sits up. What--? Is that...? She gets up and goes out to the balcony. She checks both sides of the street. Right, left, right, left, down. Nobody. She gets back inside and tucks herself in bed. What the hell was that, Patricia? She shakes her head. Don't expect that he'd still show up after what happened in the past 13 years. That's a very long time and he didn't even try to find you. She sighs and closes her eyes, trying hard to fall asleep.

•••••••

8pm that day

Patricia wakes up but doesn't hear a thing. Her parents are fast asleep and she doesn't know where the maids are. She puts her robe on before heading downstairs to get something to eat. She opens the refrigerator and smiles upon seeing a box of red velvet cake. She takes it and finds a note saying, "I hope it's still your favorite cake. Binili ko ito para sayo, doon pa rin sa dati mong binibilihan. Welcome back, Patricia! Love, yaya Cecil". She smiles wider but it fades when she remembers something. Something from the past. That text message. From Migo. The last message from him she replied to, 13 years ago. She sighs. Stop it, Tricia. Why are you still thinking about him? You shouldn't care anymore. You don't even know if he still thinks about you or he's already happy with someone else's arms. She cuts the cake, gets a plate and puts the slice on it.

///////

Hi guys! Sorry if it took me too long to write this story. I just didn't find much time because of school, fangirling, You're My Home, social life, etc. But here you go, MBFL's sequel, "Everything Has Changed". Hope you enjoy! :)