22 Summer Fight Club

"I can't believe you went with a total stranger and in an unfamiliar place at that!" Justine said, frustration evident in his voice.

"Excuse me, I know how to read people too, you know! Why is this even an issue?" Alexis shot back.

"It could have been worse, you know!" Justine insisted.

"Bro! Just to be clear, I admit that my fault was playing a prank with my bodyguards and the girls by not telling them where I went," Alexis reasoned. "I don't think it's wrong to make new friends," he added.

"This is not New York, Alex! Here you should be conscious of your security or even how you conduct yourself in public," Justine lectured further.

"Well, excuse me, I didn't receive the memo! If you treated me even remotely as an adult, you should have told me I should act a certain way." Alexis angrily spat.

"You're smart Alex, you should have known! If only your were a bit mindful of your behavior!' Justine shouted back.

"What's wrong with my behavior? Why do you always think there's something wrong with my behavior?" Alexis shouted, even more livid now.

"You know that's not what I mean!" Justine thundered.

"Danny, pull-over please." Grandpa Anton ordered his driver calmly. The brothers stopped arguing.

The Land Cruiser we were on board on our way home pulled-over on a safe side of the road. Grandpa Anton got out. Uncle Jan, Grandpa Anton's close-in aide hurried out of the vehicle as well as the driver, Uncle Danny. Grandpa told us kids to get out of the vehicles too. We got out, puzzled.

The other vehicles on our convoy where our friends and their parents were slowed down, but Uncle Danny signaled them to go ahead of us. Except for a pick up truck that also pulled over but stayed a respectable distance from us. The passengers also got out, alert. They were part of Grandpa's security detail.

"Give them your toys," Grandpa instructed to his aides.

"Sir?" chorused Uncles Danny and Jan.

"Give them your toys!" Grandpa repeated.

The two men got something from their sling bags. Uncles Jan and Danny handed something to each one of the brothers. My eyes bulged when I saw the 'toys'. Guns!!!

"Whoa. You can't be serious Grandpa!" I said, alarmed.

"Why not? They might as well kill each other from the way they bicker," Grandpa said in all seriousness.

Justine took the gun but pointed it to the ground. From the way he handled it, it seemed he knew how to hold a gun properly. Alexis on the other hand didn't touch the gun. He looked at the ground, fidgeting.

"I'm so sorry Grandpa. We were wrong. I was wrong." Justine said, handing back the gun to Uncle Jan. Grandpa nodded at his aide. The aide took the gun.

"I can't believe you'll make us kill each other Grandpa over a petty argument!" Alexis said.

"Ah, so now you realize it's petty???" Grandpa asked. Alexis kept looking at the ground.

"Do you think you don't kill me every time you bicker? I die a little every time you do this. I was very close to losing you too, do you know that? The earthquake might not have affected me physically but it tortured me no end not knowing what happened to you. Don't do this to me my grandsons, please. Your Grandpa is an old man. Can you cut each other some slack at least for my consideration? Is it too much to ask from both of you be a little kinder to each other? A little bit more understanding?" Grandpa said with an almost breaking voice.

My heart ached for Grandpa. I had never seen him this vulnerable. Justine approached him and took his hand. He looked at Alexis and coaxed him to come closer. Alexis went to Grandpa and hugged him.

"I'm sorry Grandpa. I didn't mean to worry and hurt you. I'm sorry." Alexis said. He brought Justine to his embrace. Justine put his arm on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry too bro. I need your guidance, please. You know I'll listen to you. You're my big brother after all" Alexis added talking to Justine.

"I'm sorry. I was just too worried for you. I won't forgive myself If I lost you too, Alex" Justine said, his voice cracking.

"I'm here bro. You didn't lose me. I'm here." Alexis said, hugging his brother even tighter.

I heard Justine asking forgiveness from Grandpa as I went back to the vehicle to give the family some semblance of privacy. I noticed the 2 aides went a distance away too. The family talked some more. I saw the brothers nodding on every word Grandpa said. When they boarded the Land Cruiser, they were already bantering. We continued with our journey.

"I can't believe you gave us guns, Grandpa! You're crazy!" Alexis said. "And you complain that we have a temper when we clearly got it from you!" He added.

Grandpa laughed heartily. "Of course the guns are empty. My aides know what to hand you. I was only bluffing."

"I knew the guns were empty, Grandpa. You taught me how to handle guns, remember? I learned from the best" Justine said.

"Whut? Are you really gonna shoot me???" Alexis asked, incredulous. And he went on and on and on with his petty but charming complaint. Grandpa couldn't help but laugh some more while ruffling Alexis hair.

Grandpa searched for me at the back of the vehicle and said, "Don't marry neither of my grandsons Nina, I'm giving the farm company to you!"

It was Justine's turn to laugh heartily. He said, "I will have to work extra harder then so Nina will marry me."

"As the farm company owner, I will marry whom Grandpa chooses." I declared. Grandpa laughed even harder, pleased with what I said.

"Hah! Be careful what you wish for Nina. You'll end up with a Rodriguez, I'm sure!" Alexis warned.

"Hmnn, we'll see about that." I said, laughing with them.

The Land Cruiser became more peaceful with the brothers' reconciliation. Alexis continued to recount his story about how he got out of the the mall and how he was found by his bodyguards after several agonizing hours. Justine didn't even once interrupted him. He listened to his narration, engaged and respectful. We found out from Alexis's story that he had not slept a wink when we saw him having coffee at the Huang's backyard kitchen. Our hearts went to him. Grandpa kissed his forehead. Alexis finally succumbed to fatigue and slept on his grandfather's lap. Justine found some blanket and put it on his brother. Grandpa patted the former's shoulder.

"I love you, you know that," Grandpa quietly said to Justine.

"I love you more, Grandpa." Justine lovingly said.

"Oh, you can't possibly love me more, Justine" Grandpa said with a quiet chuckle.

"I'll just love Nina more then" Justine said, teasing

"Yes, you do that." Grandpa agreed, still laughing while he adjusted Alexis blanket. He leaned back and closed his eyes.

Justine spread a blanket over the two of us too. I leaned on his shoulder. He put his arm around me. I felt so blessed to be part of this family at this moment. I squeezed Justine's hand.

"I love you more." I whispered.