It was Bernie’s last day in San Isidro, and he was determined to make it count. He invited Isabella to a farewell picnic by the river, hoping to finally seal the deal. They swam, ate, and laughed, and Bernie felt like he was on top of the world. As the sun began to set, he took a deep breath and pulled Isabella close. “I really like you, Isabella,” he said, his voice trembling. “I know I’m leaving tomorrow, but… I want to be with you.”

Isabella smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. “There’s something you need to know first,” she said. Before Bernie could ask what she meant, she took his hand and led him to a quiet spot by the water. “I’ve had an amazing time with you, Bernie,” she said. “But I haven’t been completely honest.” She took a deep breath, then said, “I’m transgender. I was born a boy, and I still have… you know.” She gestured vaguely, and Bernie’s eyes widened as the realization hit him. They both have the same kind of private parts.

Bernie’s mind reeled. He wasn’t sure what to say, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. Before he could respond, a group of townsfolk emerged from the bushes, laughing hysterically. “Surprise!” one of them shouted. “We knew the whole time!” Tita Linda was there too, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. “We wanted to see how long it’d take you to figure it out, city boy!” she said. Bernie’s face turned bright red. He felt like the butt of a giant joke, but when he looked at Isabella, she was smiling softly, her expression a mix of amusement and vulnerability.

“I’m sorry they tricked you,” Isabella said. “I wanted to tell you sooner, but… I liked you too much. I didn’t want to ruin things.” Bernie took a deep breath, trying to process everything. He wasn’t sure how he felt about the revelation, but he knew one thing: Isabella was still the same person he’d fallen for. “It’s okay,” he said finally. “I had the best time with you. I just… I need some time to think.”

They hugged, and Bernie promised to keep in touch. As he boarded the bus back to Manila the next morning, his head was still spinning. He’d come to San Isidro looking for a fling, but he’d gotten so much more—a wild story, a new friend, and a lesson in not judging a book by its cover. The townsfolk waved him off, still chuckling about their prank, and Bernie couldn’t help but smile. It had been a crazy two weeks, but he wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Back in the city, Bernie sat on his bed, staring at a photo of him and Isabella at the festival. He laughed to himself, shaking his head. What a story to tell.

THE END