"Ku...kuya you're...home." Nadatnan ni Julie ang kuya RJ niya sa living room, siyempre with his laptop in front. He simply glanced at her at bumalik ulit sa ginagawa, too focused to give a shit.
"Naku ate, kumusta naman yung buong araw kong hindi nakasama yung friends ko dahil may body guards ako." Joana erupted from the stairs. Julie glanced back at brother.
"Joana, we've talked about that. At ikaw Julie, you'll have your body guards din. Mom told me to keep an eye on the both of you."
"But kuya not in this way."
"I've brought some of our body guards to keep their eyes on you. Final decision, irrevocable." He firmly said.
"Kuya malaki na kami ni Joana, or at least ako. Can I just do my stuffs na walang inaalalang nakabantay sa akin?"
"Teka ate bakit mo naman ako iiwan sa ere? Kuya matanda na kami ni ate to have some bodyguards roaming around us."
"As I have said, final na yung desisyon ko. I asked mom for it and she happily gave her permission."
"But kuya..."
"No more buts okay? Hali nga kayo dito, didn't you miss your big brother?" He opened his arms offering both of them a hug. Agad na ngumiti ang dalawa at yumakap sa kanilang kuya.
"Nakakatampo because you two are so used to not having me around." Their kuya pouted.
"Huwag oa kuya RJ, ikaw itong busy sa buhay not even calling tapos kapag tatawag kay mommy lang." Joana rolled her eyes. Agad na natawa ang kuya nila.
"Alam niyo naman I have to keep our business going." He said.
They have a family business, even if their dad was a retired policeman. Actually business iyon ng mommy nila and when their mom finally retired sa company ay si RJ na ang humalili dito. He is in Singapore for almost 5 years now, kasi may expansion siyang inaasikaso but their business is solely based here in the Philippines.
"Napag-isipan mo na ba yung offer ng company sa iyo Juls?"
"Kuya you know naman na I will never accept that. Kaya mo na yan." Julie responded making her brother harbor a deep sigh.
"Anyway, Juls let me introduce you to your bodyguards." Agad na sumimangot si Julie.
"Really kuya? You're doing this? God for Pete's sake 26 na ako! Kaya ko naman ipagtanggol sarili ko so why the need for them?"
"As I have said, to look after you. I might be physically present pero alam niyo naman na busy ako so just follow the protocol." Agad na inaya ni RJ si Julie papunta sa kinalalagyan ng kanilang mga guard.
"This is kuya Max and this is kuya Isko. Mga kuys, si Julie kapatid ko. Siya yung babantayan niyo." RJ introduced them to eachother.
Julie awkwardly said hi and immediately went back inside calling her mom. Her mom answered on the fifth ring.
"Sorry mom did I disturb your sleep?"
"No Juls actually pagising na rin naman ako. What's up? Nandiyan na raw ang kuya niyo." She immediately rolled her eyes when she heard the word "kuya".
"Do you know anything about this mom?"
"Haven't you talked to him?"
"I did. Why? Sobrang OA!"
"Well wala naman ako'ng nakikitang mali. I wished you goodluck before Juls." Her mom cackled making her more irritated.
"Para naman kaming may death treat myy! Sobrang OA na talaga. Tell kuya to drop this kind of act!"
"I'm sorry dear but I can't. We both talked already about that and I can't easily persuade him. Alam mo naman ang kuya mo, firm on the inside and on the outside. He'll do what he thinks is best."
"Pero mommy!"
"Maiba ako, 'di ba ngayon yung first day sa Battles prep niyo? How did it go?"
"Well we already had pairs for it, tapos may song na rin kaming kakantahin. Don't change the subject mommy."
"Come on Juls, deal with it. Isang buwan lang naman yang mga yan, tsaka that's how your brother shows his care."
"Fuck his care. Mommy please talk to kuya."
"I'm sorry Juls, I can't change his mind." Her mom ended the call. She heaved a deep sigh, not knowing how to get rid of those.
She's in the middle of her overthinking when her phone vibrated.
Elmo calling
"Hey you home? Katatapos lang ng interview ko."
"Yeah I am."
"Oh ee bakit parang badtrip ka. Kanina lang ang sweet sweet mo ha? I know you miss me already Juls. Sabi mo nga 'di ba tiis tiis lang."
"Pwede ba Moe huwag mong isabay lang landi mo dito sa sitwasyon na kinakaharap ko."
"Why what's going on ba?"
"Kuya is home, Moe. He is back."
"So? Hindi ba kayo close ng kuya mo?"
"Close naman kami, pero kasi ugh! I hate him now."
"Ano ba kasing meron? You could start by telling me what's going on. Come on."
She told Elmo all the things that had happened.
"What? Are you serious? May body guards talaga kayo?"
"Oo nga, paulit-ulit? Nakakainis pa rin."
"Maybe it's his way of protecting you two. Sabi mo nga busy siya sa pagmamanage ng business niyo, hindi naman niya kayo kayang bantayan for 24 hours."
"Pero OA nga kasi di ba?"
"Deal with it Juls. Hindi naman siguro basta basta haharang harang yung mga guard whenever you go out."
"Kahit na. Parang invasion of privacy na kasi."
"Chill ka lang okay? Tsaka look on the bright side. At least safe ka 'di ba? Para ka na ring artista ngayon ha? Daig mo pa ako may body guard ka na. Pa-autograph naman po miss."
"Sira ka talaga. Sayo na yung mga body guard ko, saksak mo sa baga mo." She irritatingly said.
"Teka Juls I have to end this na. May kailangan lang ako'ng kausapin. I'll call you when I get home. Cheer-up na okay? Everything will be fine." And he ended the call.
Julie threw herself on her bed together with her frustration. Pinipilit talaga niyang tignan yung bright side sa nangyayari ngayon sa kanya but apparently her mind is failing.
