Everything Has Changed

VIII

Everybody's getting ready for the house blessing this afternoon, except for Henry and Paula who are currently working. But they will come, they made their daughter sure. Patricia is helping the caterers with the food, David is helping the organizers with the table arrangements and all, while the twins are helping the maids fix their things in their own respective rooms. Patricia is happy and excited but quite nervous and sad at the same time. Mixed emotions, as they call it. She's excited to start a new chapter with her children. Although they've already started a new one since they got back in the Philippines. But this is different. They will no longer live with her parents anymore. From now on, the kids will only see their grandparents thrice or four times a week and not everyday because they'll be going to their new school next week. Patricia insists that they go to an international school so that her children won't have a hard time adjusting with the language. Yes, they know how to speak Tagalog, but not that much. They only know a few words. They're only fluent in English and Spanish (but more in English). She wants to get a personal Filipino teacher for them first, before getting them into a Filipino school. What you may all be thinking right now is right. She spoils them so much. Too much. But what can we do? They're her only children. Her firstborns. She promised to herself that even though they don't have a father, she would give them everything and anything they would want and need. That they would not feel incomplete because -and though- they ARE incomplete. They don't need a father, she would always think. But is she sure about that? Dylan and Pippa are starting to grow up faster and they're starting to ask questions too. They've been, actually. But she would always tell them not to. Okay, let's say they don't need a father now. Because David is always there for them. But doesn't she need a partner? A man who would take care and love her endlessly for the rest of her life? Someone that would always make sure that his lady is his and only his? A man who's exactly like...

"Pat." -aling Cecil approaches her. "Ang Dad mo is on the phone."

"Bakit daw po?"

"I don't know, basta pinatatawag ka."

She nods and tells the caterers that she'll be back. She goes to the living room and picks the phone up from the small table there. "Hello?"

"Tricia? Yes, ah, I just wanted to ask if you invited architect Uy for the event later?"

"I did, dad. Yun lang ba?"

"Okay, good. Eh yung lagi nyang partner daw? Ininvite mo rin ba?"

She frowns. You mean Migo? Hah, in his dreams.

"Hello? Tricia, are you there?"

"Uhm, yes dad. I mean no, I didn't invite him."

"Oh, why not? Eh magaling raw yun ah? The owner of Paint With Us? Magandang companya yun, Tricia. I've heard of it before."

She sighs. "Dad, I can't invite him. Ayoko."

He frowns. "Oh, bakit? Sige na, kung nahihiya ka ako na lang. I'll send Olive a message and tell her to bring her friend with him. Okay? Sige, bye."

"Dad! No dad, he's--" And her dad hangs up. Shoot. What the hell? Migo Javier is coming?! Gosh, what to do, what to do... She walks here and there and here and there. She runs her fingers through her hair. God, why me? She covers her face and takes a deep breath. Okay. Calm down, Patricia. It's just Migo, anyway. No big deal. She inhales. No big deal. And exhales. "Everything's gonna be fine." -she tells herself. She sighs before going back to the garden to help arrange the tables.

"Are you okay?" -David holds her waist. "You look quite nervous."

She nods and smiles lightly.

He makes her face him and holds her hands. "If this is still about the other night--"