Everything Has Changed

XXVII: Love Always Finds A Way

***

Migo smiled at her and held her hands. "Stacey.." -he started. "You're a very nice girl and lahat na ata ng magandang katangian na sayo na."

She smiled sweetly upon hearing those words coming from his mouth.

"I like you. I like the way you always make people around you happy. I like that you always make me feel comfortable when I'm with you." -he confessed. "But, it's just that..."

Her smile slowly faded away. "Naku, mukhang basted tayo." -she whispered.

He wetted his lips. "I think my feelings are just not enough, you know? I mean, ang sabi mo you like me so much and I can feel that. That's why I don't want to be unfair to you."

She looked down.

He held her hands tighter. "Iba ang like sa love, Stacey." -he said. "Ang like puedeng temporary lang. Ang love pang matagalan."

"Pero puede namang mapunta sa love ang like, sir." -she tried to change his mind.

He chuckled emptily. "Pero hindi sa lahat ng tao.." He made her look at him. "Maybe we were meant to meet each other to be friends, but not to be lovers..."

She nodded and smiled weakly. "Si Patricia pa rin ba?" -she asked. Noticing that he wasn't planning to answer, she nodded again. "Si Patricia pa rin." -she confirmed. She took a deep breath and withdrew her hands. "Well, I can't blame you naman, sir. Maganda naman talaga sya, I must admit."

"Hey..." He put his hand on her shoulder. "You're beautiful too, okay? You just have to wait for the right person to appreciate your beauty as you appreciate others' too."

This made her smile. "I understand, sir. Sinubukan ko lang naman talaga, kasi malay ko, eventually magka-gusto ka nga sa akin." She chuckled. "But now it's clear to me. Si Patricia talaga ang laman ng puso mo."

He smiled lightly.

"I just wish the best for you and Patricia. Sana magkaroon na kayo ng happy ending with your kids."

"Thank you for everything, Stacey. Pero sana hindi dito matapos ang friendship natin. I really appreciate you as a friend."

She shrugged. "Hindi ko sure kung bet ko ba yang idea mo, sir. Kasi medyo masakit ma-basted, you know?" She chuckled. "Sana lang hindi masayang 'tong pang ba-basted mo sa akin."

He frowned, not totally understanding what she just said.

"I mean, binasted mo na rin ako't lahat, sana naman you fight for who you really love." -she explained. "Baka mamaya bina-basted basted mo 'ko dito tapos pag nag kita tayo in the future wala pa rin nangyayari sa inyo ni Patricia."

He chuckled.

"Ipaglaban mo sir, ha? Mag usap kayo. Life is short nga diba?" They both laughed. "Sure naman akong love ka pa rin no'n."

"How can you tell?"

"Because I see it in her eyes. Babae rin ako. I know what she feels every time she looks at you." She smiled and stood up. "Find the right time and talk to her. Tell her how much you love her. Hindi lahat ng tao nabibigyan ng ganitong chance. Gawin mo na bago pa makawala sayo ulit."

***

Migo sees Patricia with her parents and Dylan as he walks to the hallway of the hospital. He approaches them and sits beside Patricia who is crying. He puts his hand on her back. "Hey, what happened?"