Everything Has Changed

XXVI

"Happy birthday, happy birthday... Happy birthday to you!" -they all sing while clapping before watching the birthday celebrants, the twins, make a wish and blow their candles. They decided to celebrate the special day at a beach resort in Bataan. They didn't invite anyone else aside from family members and close friends: Henry and Paula, Aurora, Stacey, Rona, Jerry (a friend of Migo from work) and the maids are there with them too. While eating, Patricia remains quiet as she keeps on thinking how she's going to confess to Migo the feelings that she has for him and that they never really left. Migo notices this. But because Stacey won't stop talking to him, he can't ask Patricia if she's okay.

After eating, they head outside to enjoy the sun and have fun swimming, except for the elders. Aurora isn't in the mood to swim yet, she says. Henry and Paula on the other hand, want to have some rest first. So it's just the kids, Patricia and Rona, and Migo, Jerry and Stacey. Jerry stays with Migo while he waits for Stacey to finish spreading sunblock all over her body, all sitting on beach chairs. He can't help but to glance at Patricia's direction. She's still in her beach dress and hasn't taken it off yet. But she still looks so beautiful and sexy to him. He recalls the time when Patricia also celebrated her birthday at the beach and he was there too. Then he's about to recall that night when something happened to the both of them but Stacey cuts his thoughts as she stands up from the chair and takes her beach robe off, showing more skin and showing her sexy figure to the world. Jerry and Migo stare at her from head to toe.

"Uy, pare, mukhang naka-jackpot ka ata kay Stacey ha?" -Jerry whispers to his friend, laughing.

He laughs too. "Sira ulo."

"Sayang nga lang, kulang sa pwet." -Jerry jokes.

Rona and Patricia look at their direction.

"Hala sya, dinaan sa katawan." -Rona says. "May hitsura lang naman sya pero hindi naman kasing ganda mo, friend."

Patricia squints her eyes while looking at Stacey. She wants a best in swimsuit contest? She says on her mind. I'll give it to her. Patricia suddenly stands up, takes her beach dress off and flips her hair.

Jerry looks at her direction. He pokes Migo more than thrice.

"Ano ba?" -he asks.

Jerry points at Patricia.

Migo looks at her. His eyes widen. He looks at her from head to toe too. But unlike with Stacey, he wets his lips with his tongue and bites his bottom lip after. "Sh*t."

"Grabe, pare. Akin na lang yun. May Stacey ka na diba?" -Jerry kids, not taking his sight off Patricia.

"Gago." He pushes his friend on his arm.

"But seriously, pare. Mas jackpotted ka pala kay Patricia!"

"Ano? Jackpotted?"

"Jackpotted." -Jerry repeats. "Past tense na eh, ex mo na eh."

He laughs. "Sira ulo ka talaga."

"Kumpara kay Stacey, kahit kulang din ng pwet 'tong si Tricia, bakit parang okay lang?" -he asks. They both look at Stacey who's fixing her swimsuit. "Pero kapag kay Stacey, parang hindi okay?" Then back at Patricia again. "Si Tricia, medyo natalo yung bandang taas nya sa bandang taas ni Stacey, pero okay lang rin. Parang perpekto pa rin oh." He shakes his head. "Bakit ganon, pare? Paki-explain."

Migo looks at his friend who keeps on talking. "Isa pa, Jerry, isa pa talaga. Uuwi kang may black eye." -he warns him, partly joking.

"Sus!" He gently pushes Migo. "Na-miss mo lang katawan nung isa eh. Na-miss mo 'no?"