Masaya siya that Julie finally decided to be friends with him again. Naisip niya that Cebu really is their place. Dito nagsimula lahat. They were walking together just like the old times. Kinapa niya ang phone niya sa bulsa but it wasn’t there.
“Wait, Jules. I think I forgot my phone sa resto.”
“Hahaha. Sige sige.” And Julie stood by the hallway. Nagmadali na siyang bumalik sa resto and talked to the receptionist assigned.
“Uhm, miss. I think I forgot my phone sa table namin kanina.”
“Ah. Is this your phone sir? Nakita po kasi ng waiters namin.”
“Yes. Thank you ha?” he said.
“You’re welcome Sir Elmo.” Sabi nito at naglakad na uli si Elmo pabalik kay Julie. He was smiling as he was about to approach the elevator and nang makarating siya sa floor nila ay nagulat siya sa nakita. His mom was talking to Julie at kahit nasa malayo, halata niyang umiiyak ang dalaga. He slowly walked closer not making any noise para di siya marinig ng mommy niya.
“Friendship? Diyan nagstart lahat diba? You were friends before until my son started liking you at natuto na niya akong suwayin because of you. Sinasabi ko sayo, Julie. Never kang babagay sa anak ko. At hinding-hindi ako papayag na maging kayo. Dahil hindi tayo magkalevel. Kaya nga nilayo kita sa kanya eh. Ayokong matulad siya sa iyo na walang class. Ayokong magaya siya sayo at ayokong bumagsak ang career niya dahil sa iyo. Kaya I pulled him out in all the shows na kasama ka niya. I rejected every offer the network has for him na involved ka and I talked to all the interviewers to stop asking questions about you and your relationship status with my son dahil ayokong nadidikit ang pangalan niya sa isang babaeng katulad mo!”
He couldn’t believe his ears. Mommy niya ang may pakana ng lahat?! Kaya ba nagugulat na lang siya that his shows are getting cancelled or naiiba ang casting because of his mom?!
“What the hell, mom?!” nagulat naman sina Julie at Pia at sabay na napalingon kay Elmo.
“E-Elmo!” Pia said, shocked.
“Anong pinagsasabi mo that you pulled me out in every show I was offered? What the hell!”
“E-Elmo, son. Come on…”
“Don’t call me son. You are so mean, mom. And what are you saying na hindi kami bagay ni Julie?”
“Because she is a simple girl!”
“And that’s what I loved about her!” he shouted.
“How can you love someone as simple as her? She’s so plain. Lauren is the one fitt..” hindi na natapos ni Pia ang sasabihin because Elmo cut her off.
“And what?! She’s the one fitted for me? Hell no! Kahit san mo tignan hindi siya bagay sakin! She’s the exact opposite of Julie.” Galit na sabi niya.
“How can you say that?!”
“Do you really want to know? Okay I’ll tell you! That girl, she’s everything that I don’t want in a girl. She’s a party girl, she smokes, there’s nothing simple in her. Kahit katiting walang simple sakanya. Wala siyang ginawa kundi ipilit yung sarili niya sakin kahit na paulit-ulit ko siyang tinataboy everytime. Mom, she even tried to kill herself! Sobrang clingy at obsessed niya sakin. Now tell me, is she the one that you think is fit for me?”
“Hindi siya magiging ganyan kung bibigyan mo lang siya ng atensyon at kung mamahalin mo siya the way that she loves you.”
“That’s the point! I can’t! Mom kahit anong pilit mo, pilit ninyong lahat di niyo matuturuan yung puso ko. Dahil simula noon hanggang ngayon si Julie lang ang laman nito. And isa pa! Bakit mo kailangang ireject lahat ng offers sakin with Julie? Ano? Dahil ayaw mo sakanya? Dahil simple siya? That’s bullshit! You have no right to do that!”
