Supportive Escort

JOSEPH's POV

"Maayong Buntag! JM University, I am Reina Joy L. Fuentes from Class Zero, your next Ms. Nutrition Month 2021! To count your vote, don't forget to click your bet on our Facebook school page, JM University, and leave a like, comment, and share. Our winnings depend on you. Thank you!" I smiled after I recorded her introduction. Kanina ko pa 'to pinapanood and I'm just so proud of her.

Wala na atang mas sasaya pa sa akin ngayon. Witnessing my sister getting bullied from her elementary school days to getting admired by many people, to getting accused by someone only to ruin her reputation, to getting abused by her friends, on her sad days, on her happy days, and now on her matured and beautiful days. I'm so proud of her.

Kaya nga kung makakaya ko, magiging supportive ako sa kanya kahit anong pageant pa ang sasalihan niya, maging ambassador ba siya o maging model. Kung pwede na ako ang maging PA niya, okay lang! Basta maging masaya siya.

"Here." Binigay ko kay Michelle yung paper bag ni Reina Joy at bumalik ulit kay Luiz para ayusin yung damit niya.

"Ano gusto mo? Ganyan lang or insert the shirt?" I asked. Tiningnan niya ang sarili niya sa full-length mirror na nasa harapan namin at ngumiti.

"Okay, na 'to. Maganda naman tingnan." I nodded my head at pinasuot sa kanya ang jacket ko. He's wearing Gucci's, Woven G Rhombus Cotton Jacket, Cotton Flare trousers, and Daisies Jacquard Viscose Shirt. Yun ang pina-gamit ko sa kanya. I don't want him to look plain and boring so yun ang naisip ko na ibigay sa kanya.

And I wasn't wrong when I said na pareho kami ng size kasi saktong-sakto sa kanya yung damit ko.

"Naks! Anak mayaman ah!" natatawa na sabi ni Shannon.

"Ganda ba?" Tumango silang lahat at nag thumbs-up pa.

"Picture!"

Umalis muna ako dun at hinayaan silang makipag-picture kay Luiz. Lumabas muna ako at dumiretso sa comfort room kung nasaan si Reina Joy at yung ibang babaeng contestants.

"Tapos na ba?" I asked, Michelle.

Umiling si Michelle. "Nahihirapan kami sa Zipper ng crop-top. Ayaw ma close."

"Ako na," Michelle smiled before she allowed me to get inside the cubicle.

"Kuya?"

"Hm?"

"Paki-ayos oh. Ayaw masara." Napa-irap lang ako. "Paano masasara yan eh sumabit ang zipper sa strap ng bra mo." Binuksan ko ulit yung zipper at tingal yung pag ka buhol nung strap ng bra niya sa zipper bago idrinag ang zipper pataas.

"Ayan."

"Hehehe thankies!"

Humarap siya sa akin at sinuot yong bonett kaya napangiti ako. Crop top suit yong suot niya and black trousers. Si mom ang pumili ng susuotin niya kasi gusto niya daw maging maganda ang only girl niya.

"Ayos ba?" Inayos ko yung crop top niya para ibaba yun ng kaunti at tumango.

"Naks! Sexy yarn?" natatawa niyang tinampal niya ang braso ko kaya tinawanan ko siya at naglakad napaalis sa comfort room para hayaan si Michelle na pagandahin si Reina Joy.

"Joseph," napalingon ako sa tumawag sa akin and I thought it's somebody else, si Theophany lang pala.

"Why?"

"Inaasar niyo ba ako?" natatawang tanong niya. I simply shrug my shoulder. "Bakit dito mo siya pinaaral. Alam mong nandito ako. Umalis ako kasi gusto ko nang magbagong buhay—"

"I didn't know that you're still here at umalis ka kasi pinaalis kita. Don't you lay a hand to my sister again, Theophany. Magkakasubukan tayong dalawa."

"My Kuya won't allow that! Isusumbong kita kay Kuya Kiefer!" she whines before she walks away. Napabuntong-hininga ako at bumalik sa com. lab 2 kung nasan yung mga lalaking contestant.

Parami na ng parami ang mga estudyante dito sa hallway kasi uwian na at siguro, nakabalita sila na may pictorial ngayon kaya punuan dito yung iba nga ay nasa may hagdanan. Some SSG officers even troubled to pass by dahil sa rami ng estudyante.

Yung iba ay may hawak na picture ni Reina Joy kaya hindi ko mapigilang hindi matawa. Dinaig pa isang artista eh. "Tapos na ba siya?" tanong ni Quintin sa akin when I reached the room. I kind of nodded my head. "Malapit na—"

"AHHHH!"

"sHE'S HERE NAAA!"

"I LOVE THE ATTIRE!"

"Girl same aHHHHH"

Binuksan ni Zack ang pinto and Reina Joy get inside with her hands on her exposed tummy. "Ang ingay nila," nakanguso niyang sabi. Napatingin ako sa Class Zero at sinirado ang nakabuka nilang baba.

"Have some d-drink first." Umiwas ng tingin si Mara at binigay kay Reina Joy ang Zest-O na hawak niya. Akala ko binili niya 'yon para sa sarili niya pero para pala kay Reina Joy yon. Kinuha yun ni RJ at nagpasalamat bago umupo sa upuan niya. "Kuya, pa bukas oh..." she said. I roll my eyes at kinuha yung zest-o niya para itusok yung straw and give it back to her.

Naging busy na naman ang mga makeup artists ngayon since kailangan nilang e-retouch ang mga clients nila. I sat on my chair and take a photo of Reina Joy then send it to mom since she told me to share the photos with her.

"Is that a zest-o?" she texted. Reaction at its finest. ''Obviously mom,' I replied.

Nagsimula nang magtawag si Jennie kasi nagsibalik na yung mga contestant. Una niyang tinawag ang Class Two. My eyes fixed on Reina Joy and spread her eye shadow a bit since it's overcasting her eyes.

Inutusan ko si Jasper na kunin ang bag ni Reina Joy since it's already 4 pm at baka gustuhin na niyang umuwi after the pictorial which he oblique. Michelle sprays a setting spray on their faces and after that, pinatingin niya si Luiz sa kanya para maayos yung eyeshadow and other stuff.

She moved on to Reina Joy to retouch her lipstick. My eyes darted to the monitor to look at the pose of the students. I scoffed when they copied the poses that Luiz and Reina Joy did in their uniform photos earlier.

"Kuya? paayos ng bonett please," I nodded my head, took the hairpins, and headed to her side.

Hinawakan ko yung bonett na suot niya at nilagyan yon ng mga hairpin para hindi mahulog. This bonett is my dad's bonett kaya malaki-laki to sa kanya. Maliit ang ulo niya that's why. She's not prone to wearing bonnets or hats or anything that can cover her crown kasi gusto niyang maamoy ng mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya yung buhok niya.

Lumapit sa kanya si Cath, the secretary, para mainterview siya, and I smile at how she answers the question well.

"Are you excited for the coronation and this month's celebration?" asked Cath.

"Well, Oo! Pero, mas excited talaga ako na ipakita sa inyo ang performance namin sa jingle contest Hahahaha! I heard that this is Class Zero's first experience with contests and pageants? so I'll do my best to win the crown and make my section proud!" she answers. Well, that's my sister.

"Lovely, Answer! Thank you, Reina Joy!" nginitian niya si Cath at uminom ulit ng Zest-O.

My eyes landed on Class Zero who's hugging each other proudly. These idiots.

"Class One!" Tumayo na sila Theo at pumunta sa harapan. Tinapos ko na yung ginagawa ko at pumunta sa harapan niya para tingnan kung maayos ba ang pagkalagay ko. "Hindi ba masakit?" Reina, shook her head so I smiled.

"Your choker?"

"Ito na po, susuotin na." Inubos niya muna yong Zest-O bago sinuot ang choker at ang kwintas na prinipare rin ni Mom.

"Okay na?" I made a face and nodded my head.

"Better."

"Smile," ngumiti ng malapad si Rena so I hurriedly press the shutter of my cam and smile. "Patingin!" pinakita ko sa kanya yung picture.

"Shoks! Ganda ko talaga!"

"Kapal ng mukha mo no?"

"Totoo naman!"

"Sinabi ko bang hindi?"

"Hindi... Hehehehe"

The door clangs open and our attention diverted to it. Niluwa nun si Kiefer na nakatingin sa paligid until he meets my eyes. He greeted me so I greeted him back. Dumako ang tingin niya kay Reina Joy so I instantly moved to cover my sister from his sight.

"Theo is waiting for your support," I whispered to him. Kiefer nodded disappointedly.

This is why I don't want him to interact with my sister. He is no good for her. His sister is not doing good for her either. I honestly don't like Kiefer but I just need to for personal reasons. I'm using him, he's using me too. Fair right?

"Yes, I feel sorry as I was busy." I wonder what makes him busy. After our class, we had nothing else to do and noted that our class ended early, that's why I arrived here in com. lab at 2 pm.

He can simply say that he doesn't support his sister but when his sister got into a fight or trouble, Even though his sister is the wrong one, he fights like she's the right one. I would never do that to Reina Joy. If she's wrong, she's wrong!

"Gotta go." I nodded my head and allow him to go away. I mentally rolled my eyes bago ko hinarap si Reina Joy na kumakain..... ng donut? Seriously?

It's their turn and now, the students behind me, including class zero are taking pictures with the monitor. Nagbubulungan pa yung iba na gusto din daw nila yung damit na suot ni Reina Joy ngayon.

"She's so stunning," Quintin commented.

"She always does," Shannon replied.

Tumili ang girls kaya natawa ako. "Gosh! Ang pogi ni Luiz!" They commented.

Luiz on the other hand is looking gorgeous as hell!

I can't believe that a show forced to eliminate him for what reason? grades. Dahil lang 'don! Other artists have bad grades too though and look at them, shining still. "Bagay sila no? Kinikilig ako!" Franco blinks his eyes on the monitor and whines as he shakes Gino's shoulder.

"A-aray! Nahihilo ako sa ginagawa mo!"

"Huwag ka nang umangal! Kinikilig ako sa kanilang dalawa!"

I shook my head and smiled before my eyes darted on the monitor. Mag-isa na si Luiz and he's doing his poses again for the individual shots. He did the pose that I asked him to do earlier and here go the girls behind me, screaming again.

"Ms. President. Ang ingay sa likod ko." Napakamot si Jennie sa ulo niya at lumapit sa amin.

"Shhhh!" saway niya. As if that shhh can shut them up.

After 10 shots, tumayo na si Luiz and now, inilabas ko na ang cellphone ko at itinutok ito sa monitor. Pinuwesto ni Zack ang highchair na hawak niya sa likuran ni Reina Joy just like the other girls and there she is sitting like a queen. She crosses her legs and placing her hand on her lap looking intensely in the camera.

"Picturan mo dali!"

"Gagi! TEkaa"

"Carlo, dali naa!"

"Teka lang naman bossing! nagla-lag cellphone ko!"

Her other pose makes me smirked, she's wearing trousers so it's okay if she spreads her legs. She spreads her legs and places her hands on the empty space in between her legs, leaning on the camera with her iconic straight face and smiles afterwards.

Pinicturan ko yun ng maayos at sana ito ang e post nila sa page. I will bet my house cause I know she will win kung ito ang e-po-post ng admin sa page. Tumayo siya sa upuan after that pose and Zack took back the chair.

Tumayo siya ng tuwid with her left leg on the front and her right leg at a standstill. She leans back a bit before the camera shutters and there again, the girls, including Class Zero. They can't stand not screaming because of her poses. Mga bakla ata tong mga lalaking 'to. Can't blame them, she's slaying.

Mabuti nalang talaga at maganda ang katawan nitong kapatid ko kaya napakadali lang sa kanya ng mga ginagawa niya. Plus her abs is shining as well. Her last pose make us smile. The camera lean close to her so what she did is, she place her finger on her chin and smiles to the camera

***

"Oy grabe! Ang sakit ng likod ko," I rolled my eyes. Kanina pa siya ganyan nang makasakay siya sa kotse. Masakit daw yung katawan niya kakabuhat sa school. Ang kapal talaga ng mukha. Kala mo naman siya lang yung maganda.

"Tumahimik ka nga."

"Kuyaa! Gusto ko ng buko juice—"

"Bumili ka." I cut her off.

"Libre mo ko hehehehe" Tumingin ako sa direksyon ni at napabuntong-hininga. Nag-maniho ako papuntang park para bilhan siya ng buko juice.

"Magkano po?"

"Sampo po." Binigay ko sa kanya yung bente ko kasi wala na akong baryang natira sa pitaka ko. "Keep the change nalang po," Itinaas ko na ang bintana at binigay kay kanya yung juice na pinabili niya.

"Salamat hehehe" I nodded my head and started driving again pauwi sa bahay. Her phone rang and said that she needed to answer the call. Nagmumukha akong manager nitong babaeng to. But it's okay, as long as I'll be here to protect and support her.

"Oh... Ewan ko, Baka nakay Orion.... Oo, bukas na. Isusulat ko nalang lyrics non.... E vm mo nalang sakin, ako na magsusulat.... Yes yes.... Bukas nga ng hapon kasi bahala malate tayo ng uwi, at least natapos natin yung kanta at yung steppings....Hahahah! Sige. Byeee"

"Sino yon?"

"Shannon," sagot niya sa akin at ibinalik ang cellphone sa bag niya. I nodded my head and turned the steering wheel to head home. We talked the entire ride, she also shared with me what she feels after her poses and introduction, ika nga sa kanya.

She feel superior. Kapal ng muks.

She even show me her phone kung saan nandun yung mga poses na ginawa niya kanina. She said, hindi daw niya nakita ang sarili niya habang tinatake yung pictures so I gave her my phone para doon siya mag browse.

Oh diba, may kwenta ang pag kukuha ko ng pictures.

Nang makarating kami sa bahay, ipinark ko ang kotse sa parking lot katabi ng kotse ni dad at sabay kaming bumaba. She's carrying her stuff of course, papagalitan ko yan kung ako pa papadala niya ng mga 'yon.

"Oh! Nakauwi na pala kayo." Nagmano kami kela mom and dad at ngumiti.

"Kamusta ang pictorial mo, nak?"

"It went well naman ma, I guess? Magbibihis lang po ako hehehe" Unang pumasok si Reina Joy at pumunta sa itaas para siguro magbihis since suot-suot niya parin yung attire niya.

"Can we talk with you for a minute?" I nodded my head and gave my bag to my maid then told her to place my bag in my room. "Sure thing, what is that about?" nagkatinginan silang dalawa at napa buntong-hininga.

"About Reina Joy and Theo?"

"Ma, I told you, hindi talaga siya lilipat kahit ano pa ang gawin mo," If I should've known sooner, Edi sana hindi ko na pinorsige sila mom na dito paaralin si Reina Joy. I know this is my fault. "Hindi mo ba talaga siya mapipilit?" tanong ni dad sa akin. I shake my head.

She's becoming close with Class Zero at kung iaalis ko siya dito, masasaktan ko na naman siya ulit. Just like what I did to her friend, Theo. Kahit masama at critical yung ginawa ni Theo sa kanya, when she figure out na ako ang dahilan kung bakit lumipat ng school si Theo, kinamuhian niya kaagad ako.

Hindi niya ako kinakausap tuwing magkikita kami and she acts like I'm a stranger. Masakit 'yon sa part ko because I just did it for her best and yet, I know I did something wrong. When she told me that she's not 14 or 16 years old anymore, I realized that it was time for her to think on her own.

Alam niya ang ginagawa niya. Mukha lang siyang bobita pero matalino si Reina Joy.

"Then, what if may gawin na naman si Theophany?" May halong pag-aalala sa boses ni Mama kaya niyakap siya ni dad. "Class Zero is there, I ask them to keep an eye on her at hindi siya dapat iwan mag-isa," I assure them.

"Pero iba kasi yung—"

"Ma, ayoko na ulit mangyari yung dati. Malaki na si Reina Joy, kung kailangan na turuan ko siya ng mga self defense na alam ko, gagawin ko. Huwag niyo lang siyang ilayo dito." Niyakap ni dad ng mahigpit si mom para hindi siya umiyak.

"Pero if worse comes to worst, we have no other option," I heaved a sigh before I nodded my head.

"Hi ate! Anong ulam?" Napatigil kami sa pag-uusap ng dumating si Reina Joy. Nginitian ko sila mom and dad bago ako pumaitaas.

***

We did our dinner while mom is scolding, Reina Joy again. Sino ba kasing tanga ang kakain ng dinner na naka-full make-up pa?

Todo aray naman siya tuwing dinidiin ni mom yung wipes sa mukha niya. "Aruuy! Baka masama ang pilik mata ko maa! Dahan-dahan naman!" Binatukan nga siya ni Mama.

GABAAN!

"Tumahimik ka! Galing ka dun sa kwarto mo tas hindi mo man lang to tinanggal?!" Hala, sige. Mag-away kayong mag-ina.

"Ang ganda ko kasi pag naka make-up—AGAY! Masakit!"

"Tahimik!" Ngumuso si Reina Joy at pumikit nalang habang tinatanggal ni mama yung make-up niya.

"Yung buhok mo—"

"Ako na nito! Baka kalbohin mo pa ako!" Pft.

"Heh!" Tinapon ni mom yung mga wipes na ginamit niya bago bumalik sa upuan at tinuloy ang pagkain. Kumain na din si Reina habang nakabusangot ang mukha.

After we take our dinner, nagsipaghilata kami sa couch while Reina Joy is on the floor with her phone's speaker on her ear and notes in front of her, a ballpen on her hand. "Apaka pangit ng boses! Di ko maintindihan" Padabog siyang nag type sa cellphone niya at humiga sa sahig?

Tingnan niyo 'tong babaeng 'to. Humihiga sa sahig.

Pinakinggan niya ulit yung vm ni Shannon at sinulat sa papel yung mga naririnig niya. I guess para yan sa Jingle nila? Just like what she said sa interview, dapat daw abangan ng mga estudyante yung jingle nila. I wonder kung ano yung hinanda nila para sa jingle nila...

I'm sure puro yon kalokohan!

****************