She's One in a Million

Thirty-six

"Sam, the popcorn! Hurry up! Max's almost up!" Jesse shouted at his younger brother, sitting by the couch in front of the television, watching She's One in a Million.

"All right! All right!" Sam hurriedly ran with a bowl of popcorn and jumped towards the couch.

"Man, look at those beautiful ladies." Jesse sighed, helping himself with a handful of popcorn. "Max's lucky to be in a bikini showdown with them. I mean, look at Emilia's legs! Those damn legs!"

"I don't care about her legs. That beauty is worth worshiping.  I would do anything for that kind of woman."

"Yeah, unfortunately we only have a small apartment." Jesse added. "Ian's lucky to have her. Why let her go?"

"No, Emilia's the one who let go of him. She went to Europe. Casey said it, remember?"

Jesse nodded. "Right. Right. What the-? What is Max wearing? What is she wearing?!"

"She looked like an elementary student." Sam said, horrified. "I thought you gave her that black piece swimsuit!"

"I did! Wha...and now, she's being laughed at. Hey, my sister is still pretty though!" Jesse shouted at Brittany and threw a popcorn on her.

"Don't waste such good treats." Sam reached out for the thrown popcorn and ate it. "Max always say that we should not waste any food. Everything counts."

"Yeah. Yeah. You're right. She used to scold us if we have left overs on the table." Feeding himself with another bowl of popcorn, Jesse stared at her little sister being quiet on the Jacuzzi as the other girls were talking with Ian.

"And when we don't clean the house."

"And that time when we missed to visit mom. We never missed to visit her ever since"

Both of them sighed. They indeed missed their little sister so much.

"If ever Max's really going to win that 2nd prize, what are we going to do with it?" Sam asked his brother.

"Of course, we're going to buy that pub again. It's all she ever wanted. And we'll have enough money to get us by, we're going to have mom out of the hospital. And we'll be complete again." Jesse answered.

"And we're going to let Max finish school. She would've wanted that, right?"

"Yeah. And we could send you to college so you could have that architecture course you've always wished for. You've always been the smartest among the three of us." Jesse sighed. 

"Look, Ian's getting up and went to Max." Sam pointed out her sister on the screen as he ate the pop corn in speed. "Wooah. Isn't that something?"

"We were like, whatever. We've always knew that Ian has a good heart." Brittany said in the camera.

"I think everyone there were shocked that Ian stood up and went to Max." Casey said.

"I think we have a chance in winning this one, brother!" Jesse exclaimed. "You go, Max!"

"Even though she's out there, I actually miss Max." Sam said, melancholy.

"Of course I do, too. We all do. I mean, she's a small woman but she can actually headbutt you if she loses herself."

"You miss me that much?" A familiar voice  came from behind them yet they didn't budge.

"I miss her so much I could hear her." Jesse said in a sobbing manner.

"Really, guys?"

"I could hear her too,Jesse." Sam joined his brother. "I miss you, Max-hey!" He held his head after being thrown with a pillow. He looked angrily at the one who threw him with it and he could almost had his eyes popped out at the figure of his sister,standing by the couch with a grin on her face. "Oh my god. Even my eyes are giving me images of her."

"What the hell? It's me, Sam!" Max spread her arms around.

"MAX!" Jesse exclaimed and ran towards her sister, giving her a bear hug. "Max! You're here! You're really here!"

"Yup. I am here all right."

"Wow." Jesse broke away from her sister and stared at her, both his hand on his waist and nodding his head. "You..are..really here."

Max smiled at both of her brothers who gave her a confuse stare. "Surprise?"

"Is it done? Is it over? Did-did-you...won?" Sam asked slowly, walking slowly towards Max. 

"Nope. Actually, I quit. I went out of the Mansion. It seemed like I can't do it anymore." She said in a compose manner, not removing that smile on her face. She angled her head to see what's going on the television. "So, it is true you look bigger on t.v."

"Uhh...well-uh..."Sam stuttered but Max placed her hand on her brother's shoulder and smiled.

"No need for a grand welcome back party. I miss you too, guys." She walk passed by them and stopped to look at the t.v again. "And by the way, Katy's the one who got eliminated at that part."

Sam and Jesse watched their sister walk away from them and to her bedroom, not moving an inch nor even making a sound. 

"So, what now, Jesse?"

Jesse looked at his brother then to the screen."I don't know, bro. I don't know."

Max laid on her bed with her arms spreading on the sheets. They weren't as soft as the ones she had back at the Mansion but they were still comfortable. 

And she began to think of them: Casey, Emilia, Mr. Richfield, those crew people and Ian. I wonder if they'll see that video today? It's evening now. I'm pretty sure they had been running around and shouting and in panic. Casey would probably get mad at me. Emilia-well, I think she would, too. And Ian...

She gave a sigh as she saw an image of him in her mind. Is running away really the right thing to do? She sat up and stared at the cold hard floor. I've never been this cowardly before. I usually face things upfront but-this. This is the most cowardly thing I 've ever done but never of selfish reasons.

She looked out at the window and saw the tall apartments with its molds and cracks . She went towards it, and leaned on the window ledge and watch the neighborhood doing their own business once again. Women shouting at each other. There were men playing cards by the streets. They were a group of thugs walking by the pavement.

This was where she grew up and spend her life. For her, this is who she is. She was not that lady in glittery dresses,or jewels or those glamorous heels who eats food cooked by an exceptional chef nor sleeping on a large bed. She was not that lady who bathes herself with milk in a lavish tub. She was not the lady who dances in a beautiful dress in a large ball room filled with wealthy people she doesn't knew.

She was neither those.

 We are just two different people, Ian. Too different.