Still Holding On: A JuliElmo FanFiction

White Lies

“Uy, friend, ba’t nakasimangot ka diyan?” Maqui said as she patted Julie’s shoulder. She went straight to the studio for her concert rehearsals. “Before I tell you, I’d like to make this clear, hindi-ako-nagseselos. Okay?”

“Okay…” She said curiously.

“Pero kasi, Maq. Sumabay sa amin si Layla kanina at parang ang weird ni Moe. Ewan ko nga eh… It’s like they have something pero they’re really bad at keeping it from me. Ang awkward kasi eh!” Julie’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Pero hindi ka nagseselos?”

“Kase I trust Elmo. I know he’d never cheat on me. It’s the way he acts lang talaga.” Julie said sadly.

“Ayaw mo ba na magkasama sila ni Layla?”

“I don’t have a problem with that. Yung sa akin lang, is that he shouldn’t act that way around me. He shouldn’t act like I have to worry about something.”

            Maqui wrapped her arm around Julie’s shoulders to comfort her and she smiled. “Julie?” Julie heard a voice calling her name. She turned to see who it was and to her surprise it was Ashton.

“Ash! Hi!” Julie gave him a quick hug.

“Anong ginagawa mo dito?” He asked her.

“Malamang nagrerehearse. Ikaw?”

“Magrerehearse pa lang.”

            “I’ll leave you two alone. Kakausapin ko pa kasi si direk.” Maqui said, she walked away afterwards. Ashton smiled at me and we both sat down.

“Is something wrong? You don’t look okay.” He asked.

“Is it that obvious?” I answered.

“Kinda… Elmo problems?”

            She glared at him for a moment. She was insulted. How dare he think that Elmo was causing problems? And even if it were true… He didn’t have the right to comment on it. When he had realized that he had made a mistake, he turned away in shame.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.” He apologized.

“Hay… Ash, ano ka ba? Yes, I’m a little offended but it’s okay. Just don’t do it again.”

“Sorry…”

“Okay na… You’re my friend, right?” Julie smiled.

“Of course…”

“And you’re friends with Layla too, aren’t you?” She continued.

“I am… Where is this going?”

            Julie held his hand and took a deep breath in. She couldn’t believe she was actually going to do this, but she had no choice.

“I can trust you, can’t I?”

“Of course, Julie.”

“Ash, does Layla still have feelings for Elmo?”

            Ashton definitely knew the answer to that… But if he tells her, then everything will be over. All of his and Layla’s plans will be through. And he will never get his chance to be with Julie again. If he tells her that Layla does not have feelings for Elmo, she will be at ease and loosen her grip on Elmo. She won’t even worry about anything, giving Layla the chance to steal Elmo while her guard is down. And the less she thinks about Elmo, the bigger the chance he will get to steal Julie from her boyfriend.

“No. She doesn’t.” He lied.

“Really?”

“Yes.” He lied again.

            A smile grew on Julie’s face and she gave him a big hug. “I just don’t know what I’d do without Elmo, you know. And you, of course, you’re my best friend. I just don’t know if I could trust Layla… Pero naniniwala naman ako sa’yo… So… I’ll take your word for it.”

“Alam mo, you have nothing to worry about. Layla respects your relationship.”

            “Julie! Tara na…” Maqui called her. Julie smiled at Ashton and kissed his cheek. She left him afterwards.