Everything Has Changed

IX

"Huy, Trixie!" -Dylan calls his sister out who's looking through the window. "What are they doing ba? You've been peeking for hours!"

"The visitors are gone already. I can't see grandpa and nana. Maybe they're in the living room."

"Is Migo still here?"

She shakes her head. "I can't see him either. I only see Mama and Migo's friend there sitting beside each other."

He frowns. "Where's David?"

"I saw him a while ago kissing Mama's cheek goodbye. But I was too lazy to say goodbye eh."

•••••••

Olive drinks from the can of Coca-Cola. The pressure is getting higher as she's been beside Patricia for minutes and no one has broken the ice yet. As she puts the can back on the table, Patricia finally speaks.

"So..."

Olive looks at her. She raises her eyebrows.

"How many years have you been together?"

She frowns. "Sorry?"

She smiles. "Migo and you.. How long have you been in a relationship? I see that you're always together kasi."

She chuckles. "Us? In a relationship?"

She raises her left eyebrow. "Bakit, hindi ba?"

She stops chuckling and thinks. "We've been best of friends for one year..."

So you're not his girlfriend?

"And as a couple, two years and a half... And! Counting." She grins.

Patricia stares at her for a moment before managing to show her a smile; a fake one. She nods slowly. "Medyo matagal na rin pala kayo.."

Olive nods. "You know, when I met Javi, his life was painted with black and white. His world was totally dark and he was really unhappy." She takes a sip of her soft drink. "I could see it in his eyes. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, ganyan pa din yan. Even when he doesn't say anything, his eyes tell me everything."

Patricia looks away. Then takes her glass of wine and drinks from it.

"So sabi ko sa sarili ko, I have to change this man's life. I have to repaint it. And so I did." She smiles. "You see, the Migo you're seeing now, is totally different from the Migo I first met before. Yung Migo na yun, sobrang bigat lagi ng puso dati. Yung damdamin nya, laging naka-kulong lang sa isip at puso nya. Ayaw nyang ilabas."

You don't have to tell me about him. I know him. I know him more than you do. She puts the glass back on the table. I knew him first.

"But lucky him, may dumating na isang Olive Uy sa buhay nya." She chuckles.

Patricia raises her eyebrow again. This time, more showy.

"The only girl who had the guts to change his life for the better." I'm sorry for having to do this, Patricia. But you're hurting my best friend too. And I just can't stand here and do nothing.

She stares at Olive, squinting her eyes.

"Alam mo kasi, si Javi, never naman akong tinitiis nyan eh. Kahit ano binibigay nya basta para sakin. So when I got to ask him about his past, he had no choice but to tell me about the girl who broke his heart and left him without any explanation."

Patricia's eyebrows meet. She makes sure that she doesn't take her eyes away from Olive. "Broke his heart? How painful..."

Olive stops for a moment. Is she actually trying to pretend that she's not that girl? She nods. "I know.. That's why I always tell him that he doesn't deserve that kind of girl. Na yung mga gano'ng babae hindi na dapat hinahanap."