Everything Has Changed

XX

Olive arrives at the restaurant where she's meeting with Migo. She sees him at the corner of the place, alone, with his chin on his knuckles, staring outside through the glass. She sits in front of him and waves her hand close to his face. "Huy."

He looks at her, a bit surprised.

She looks around. "Hindi mo naman siguro feel na feel ang pag se-senti 'no? Dito ka talaga sa sulok pumuesto?" She places her bag behind her on the chair.

He smiles emptily. "Order ka na."

She shakes her head. "I'm not hungry. Diet ako eh."

He frowns. "Diet my foot. Kailan pa? Pigs don't do diet."

She stares at him rudely.

He chuckles. "Joke."

She sighs. "What happened ba kasi? I thought you were going to tell Patricia the truth na?"

"I did." He looks down. "But I didn't get to hear her response."

"Huh? Bakit naman? No comment, ganon?"

"Sana nga no comment na lang eh..."

"Eh ano nga? What happened? Nag walk out ba? Ano?"

He looks up at her. "He's back, O. David is back."

She widens her eyes. "Ay?" She shows him her unsatisfied face expression. "Wrong timing."

They spend the whole day talking about Patricia and David. Migo telling her how much he wanted to hear her answer, how he expected that she'd tell him something after his confession... Olive being patient as usual, listening to her best friend's problems, giving him the best advice she could give... And when Migo tells her his thought of choosing to stay away and just let his children be happy with David, Olive just can't agree. She doesn't like the idea, obviously.

"Ano?!" She covers her mouth, stopping herself from shouting. "Hoy, Miguelito Javier, are you crazy?!"

He takes a deep breath then takes a sip of his wine.

"You'll leave your children dun sa lalaking yo'n na hindi naman nila kaano-ano?!" She hits the table quite hard. Hard enough that people around them start to look at them. "Javi, bad idea! Very bad idea." She clicks her tongue repeatedly while shaking her head. "And I can't believe na talagang naisip mo pa yan ha? My God."

"What do you want me to do? I know how much they love David and I know that he helped them at times when they needed a father the most."

"Exactly! A father. YOU'RE the father, Javi. YOU'RE the one they need!"

He looks at her. "I'm not really sure about that.."

"Hay nako, tigilan mo 'ko, Javier. Wag kang pabebe." She massages her temple. "Naku, sinasabi ko sayo talaga. Pag ginawa mo yan, humanda ka sakin."

"Olive, they're happy when David is there. They feel more comfortable with David than with me. Ano namang laban ko do'n?"

"That you're their real father! As simple as that, Javi. YOUR blood is the one running through their veins!" She points at him. "Ikaw ang nag bigay ng buhay sa kanila." She lets a deep sigh out. "Please, Javi, I'm begging you. Maawa ka sa mga bata, wag mo naman gawin yang binabalak mo. You know that I grew up without a father and I'm telling you, hindi madali."

He sighs too. "Sorry.."

"Sorry sorry ka dyan... Hay!" She takes his glass of wine. "Pahingi nga! Bini-beast mode mo 'ko, tao ka."