"Elmo, bro." I heard someone said. Si Enrique pala.
"Uy, dude!" I said. "Uuwi na kayo?"
"Yeah. Kayo?" Julia, his bestfriend, answered.
"We’re gonna have dinner pa. Nga pala. Guys, this is my bestfriend. And my one and only. Si Julie." I told them. "Manager, si Enrique, co-model ko and his bestfriend Julia."
"Hi!" Julie said and shook hands with Julia. Then she looked at Quen. "You look familiar." she said. Uh-oh. Nagkita na ba sila before? Is it… No. It can’t be.
"Hoy, Tabs." Julia said and slapped Enrique’s back.
"Oooww!" gulat na sabi nito. "H-ha?"
"Sabi ko parang nagkita na tayo." Julie said.
'Hindi pa kayo nagkikita Julie. Hindi pwede.' I thought.
"Ah. Uhm… Y-yeah you do look f-familiar." Enrique said. Patay.
"Hm. Ah!! You’re the guy who bought flowers for your mom!!" Julie snapped. Yun na. Nagkabistuhan na.
"Yeah ako nga. Hahaha. And you’re the girl who bought lilies right?" he asked.
"Yeah. Ako nga. Anyway, you guys wanna join us for dinner?" pagyaya niya. Bigla naman akong napatingin sa kanya.
"Ma—" I started but she pinched my lips to stop me from talking.
"Ano?"
"Hm. Maybe next time." Julia answered.
"Ha? Wala naman tayong gagawin ngayon Bru diba?" Quen asked.
"Tumawag si tita sa akin kanina eh. She wanted us to come over." she replied. Enrique looked at us, eyes apologizing.
"Sorry, guys. Maybe next time?" he said. I removed Julie’s hand from my lips and held it bago sumagot.
"Sige dude. See you next shoot na lang ha." I said.
"Nice to meet you two. See you around." Julie said to them.
"You two enjoy ha. Bye!" Julia said sabay hinatak na niya si Quen papunta sa kotse nila.
*****
"Bru, bakit tayo pinapapunta ni mom?" I asked Julia.
"Ewan ko din eh. She just wanted us to be there daw." she answered. We rounded the next street going to my mom’s pad.
I parked the car and we both went upstairs to my mom’s unit. Hindi pa man kami nakakalapit, we can already hear music and people laughing. I rang the doorbell and nang magbukas ang pinto, they all shouted…
"SURPRISE!!!" and party poppers were popped and everyone was clapping. I looked around and saw my cousins, Julia’s family and si mom.
"Ma, what’s this?" I asked still surprised.
"Wala lang. Julia told me about your new endorsement so yun. We decided to have a small party for you. Alam mo naman how proud I am kapag may bago kang endorsements diba?" she said and kissed my cheek.
"Haha. Mom, you shouldn’t have. Napagod ka pa tuloy." I said.
"Nonsense! Hindi lang naman ako gumawa nito no. Julia helped with the preparations. Kaya enjoy ka lang ha? This is for you!" she said.
"Okay. As long as di ka talaga napagod dito ha? Alam mo naman na ayokong pinapagod mo sarili mo. You’re not getting any younger ma. Baka mahilo ka or something."
"Quen, stop worrying about me. I’m as healthy as a horse! Okay? Osige na. Join your cousins na at namiss ka niyang mga pinsan mo." she said and pushed me towards them. Natawa na lang ako tsaka na ko tumabi sa mga pinsan ko.
