"'Tol."

"'Pre."

Joy and Seulgi sat at the gray concrete steps facing Freedom Park. Across them, people of all ages and from different walks of life congregated at the huge green field. The sky exuded a certain dim, nothing dark, just the Elysian effect of an overcast. 

"Masaya ka ba?" Seulgi asked, looking straight, the wind carrying her soft but firm words.

"Masayang-masaya," Joy responded, the gaiety evident in her voice.

"'Yun lang ang mahalaga."

Seulgi felt Joy rest her head on her shoulder. 

"Pasensya ka na 'pre, 'di ko kaagad nasabi. Gusto ko kasi muna intindihin itong mga pagbabago bigla sa sarili ko at sa nararamdaman ko. 'Di ko alam na balang araw, magmamahal rin ako ng kapuwa ko babae."

"'Tol, you don't need to explain yourself. 'Yang uality at identity natin, it's something we embrace in our own time. We should always strive to respect each other's pace."

Joy glanced up at Seulgi. 

"Salamat 'pre."

"Salamat din 'tol at ipinagkatiwala at ibinahagi mo itong pagbabago sa sarili mo na ito sa akin --

--- pero ibig ba sabihin ba nito 'tol na-let go mo na ang itlog?" Seulgi couldn't help but ask.

Joy laughed.

"Hindi ko alam kung na-let go ko na ba talaga 'pre. Pero alam ko, mas naging bukas ang puso ko sa iba't ibang uri ng pagmamahal."

"And that's what matters most 'tol."

Later that evening, Seulgi noticed how Wendy worked hard in the kitchen, as she made sure she prepared Seulgi's favorite dishes. Joy must have told her that the way to her best friend's heart is through her stomach, as Seulgi noted that Wendy served her top picks pork sinig