"Julie Anne bakit hindi ka kumakain?"
Napaangat ng tingin si Julie nang tawagin siya ng Papa niya.
They were all sitting around the dining table, eating dinner. Well, Ana, John and Yasser were eating. Julie was merely staring at full plate in front of her.
Natigil ang pag-galaw ng mga kubyertos ng pamilya.
Si Yasser ay napatingin kay Julie Anne na saglit na napayuko.
Ana sighed as she was the first one to speak. "Nag-apply pala ito si Julie Anne sa Patterson School of Design and Art. And she got in."
"Really?" Gulat din naman na sabi ni John. His expression changed from being troubled to being surprised. "Where is it?"
Julie sighed. Muhkang ito na talaga ang magiging usapan ngayong gabi. So alam niyang wala na siyang kawala.
"I just tried it, Papa. Hindi ko naman po inakala na makakapasok po pala talaga ako."
"But still! Kailan ba ang start ng semester? Matagal na dapat itong napaghandaan." Ani sa kanya ni John na hawak hawak pa rin ang mga kubyertos.
Julie sighed as she looked at her dad. "Pa...Hindi naman po ako tutuloy."
"What? Anong hindi? It's a great oppurtunity anak!" Ani John. "Bakit naman hindi ka tutuloy?"
Hindi kaagad nakasagot si Julie Anne.
Hindi niya kasi alam kung papaano niya sasagutin ang Papa niya. Kung papaano niya ipapaliwanag ang dahilan kung bakit hindi na siya tutuloy.
Pero muhkang alam naman ng Mama niya ang tumatakbo sa utak niya. Kaya naman ito na ang sumagot sa mga tanong ni John.
"She's thinking about Elmo." Tanging nasabi ni Ana.
Julie sighed. Here it goes.
At pati si John ay napabuntong hininga habang si Yasser ay tila nanunuod ng sine sa lahat ng mga nangyayari.
"Anak..." Simula ni John. "This is a very big oppurtunity. Hindi kita pinipilit na sumunod sa yapak ko para sa kompanya, pero ito, yung mga ganitong opurtunidad, hindi pwede palagpasin."
It was true. Everyone expected that she'd work under San Jose Industries where they owned multiple businesses. But her parents didn't pressure her about that.
Nang hindi sumagot si Julie ay nagsalitang muli si John.
"Anak, bata pa naman kayo ni Elmo. And it's just a few years. And why did you even try in the first place?"
"E Papa hindi pa naman po kami ni Elmo noon." Mabilis na dahilan ni Julie. Which was true.
"You can still continue with your relationship overseas."
"Pa rare lang na gumagana ang LDR." Napatingin sila kay Yasser na for the first time sangabing iyon ay nagsalita.
Sinimangutan ni John ang anak na napatungo na lamang.
Julie sighed as she looked back at her father. "Yasser is right, Pa. Nung nalaman pa nga lang ni Elmo na binalak ko pumunta doon..." Hindi niya natuloy ang sinasabi. Masyado pa kasi siya malungkot.
She didn't have the chance to speak with Elmo since her mother started lecturing her after the guy walked out.
John sighed yet again. Nakailang buntong hininga na kaya ito sa buong usapan. Inabot nito ang kamay ni Julie Anne bago mahinang pinisil. "Anak alam ko bata pa kayo. But if Elmo really cares for you then he'll support you in whatever decision you make."
BINABASA MO ANG
Just Enemies
Fanfiction"You two are always together...what are you?" Julie and Elmo looked at each other before chuckling and shrugging their shoulders. "Just enemies."
