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Joaquin


"Mom, you're spoiling her na!" I scolded my mom as she pays for my sister's third Chanel bag purchase.


"Ano ka ba, Miggy?! Investment 'to!" Jorelle said and rolled her eyes, "Palibhasa, you know nothing about fashion and luxury stuff." She's currently checking another bag, again!


"Ang alam ko lang, spoiled brat ka at you want to show off on social media." Sabi ko at kinuha ang paper bags na bitbit ni mom. Hindi naman kami sinusuway ni mom ngayon, nakangiti lang siya samin. Hindi talaga kami laging nag-aaway ni Jorelle pero may mga bagay kaming hindi napagkakasunduan, tulad nito.


"Just say you're inggit and go!" Jorelle smiled at me, "Gosh Miggy, I told you investment nga 'to. Let's say, after I don't know how many years I decided to sell that bag, it costs a lot."


"Tama nga naman ang kapatid mo, Miguel." Kinampihan pa nga ni mom 'tong kapatid ko. I rolled my eyes at them at lumabas na kami ng shop para pumunta sa train station. Gusto kasi ni Jorelle kumain sa ramen house na malapit sa hotel na tinutuluyan namin.


Dapat sa States namin sasalubungin ang Pasko, hindi ko lang alam kung bakit naisip ni Jorelle na sa Japan mag-celebrate. Naiwan naman sa Pilipinas sila Nanay Esang, bukod sa wala silang passport mabilis silang mapapagod kakalakad dito sa Japan. Pansin ko lang kasi na mas prefer ng mga residente dito na maglakad kaysa commute kung within the area lang naman ang pupuntahan. Umakyat na kami ng overpass, nauuna maglakad si Jorelle habang ako naman inaalalayan si mommy.


"Just let your sister enjoy na lang, Miguel." Mom said, "Pasko naman at minsan lang tayo magsamasama." She smiled at me.


"Mom, alam ko naman 'yon but if masanay si Maxine sa ganitong lifestyle for sure mahihirapan siya mag-save in the future." Pagrarason ko, totoo naman kasi. Just because we have money in our accounts doesn't mean we have to spend it all for luxury. Mabilis maubos ang kayamanan sa hirap ng buhay ngayon.


I know Maxine is mature enough to handle herself but she still needs to learn how to save for the future. Madalas kong nakikita ang Instagram niya na puro siya shopping at luxury items, balak pa nga lumipat ng L.A. after graduation. Hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng connections yung sinasabi niya but I trust her that she'll make the right choices. For now, I just want to be there for her as her brother.


"Oh my gosh!" I heard my sister squealed at biglang tumakbo papalayo.


"Maxine!" I called her by her second name. Nang makaakyat na kami, I saw my sister talking to someone at inaalog pa niya 'to. 'Tong batang 'to talaga! I ran towards them, "Jorelle!" Pagsuway ko.


Napahinto ako sa pagtakbo at napamura nang makita kong si Sayuri pala ang ginugulo ng kapatid ko. She's here? Of course, she's here! Half Japanese nga pala siya. I awkwardly made my way towards them. What an unexpected encounter.


"Sige na! Sama ka na!" Jorelle pleaded, ano ba 'tong ginagawa ng batang 'to? Nakakahiya!


"Maxine." I warned her and my sister pouted like a kid, hinila ko siya papunta sakin and smiled sheepishly at Sayuri, "Sorry sa pangungulit ng kapatid ko." I laughed awkwardly.


"It's fine." Sayuri answered.


"KJ ni Miggy!" Sigaw ni Jorelle at sinaway ko siya, "Ate Sayuri, please come with us na! You look lonely kasi! Please na! Please na!" Pangungulit na naman ni Jorelle, hindi makasagot si Sayuri. Mukhang busy siya and doesn't want to be rude to my sister.


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