Chapter Text
While Justin was walking to their house, entering their subdivision.
“Jah! Sakay ka na!” Justin was surprised because he was so deep in thought with all his schoolwork.
“Kuys! Buti na lang nakita mo ‘ko, di na ako maglalakad papuntang bahay.” Justin happily hopped in Josh’s car.
“One year na lang, Jah pwede ka nang magdrive ng ikaw lang. Bibilhan ka naman ng kotse nina ninong di bah?” tanong ni Josh.
“Opo! Kakatamad maglakad papasok sa subdivision kada di nila ako masundo. Ayoko din magtaxi kasi ang mahal, nag-iipon ako eh!.” excited naman na sumagot si Jah.
“Napakabait mo talagang bata,” sagot naman ni Josh.
“Hoy! Di na ako bata noh!” pagmamaktol na sagot ni Justin.
Justin hated being called a kid by Josh. Even if Josh was five years older, Justin believed he could still keep up with his maturity. He wanted to make sure Josh saw him as an equal. In fact, he would have stopped calling Josh "kuya" altogether if Josh hadn’t corrected him once.
That moment was still clear in Justin’s mind. It happened at a family gathering. Justin saw Josh arrive and immediately felt a surge of excitement; he had something important to tell him.
“Josh, halika! May ipapakita ako sa’yo!” Justin called out eagerly.
“Josh? Kelan pa nawala ang respeto, Jah?” Josh frowned, his tone serious.
“Wag na kasi akong mag-kuya sa’yo. ‘Di ko na type,” Justin shot back, a bit more confidently than he felt.
“Aba! That’s so disrespectful, Jah!” Josh replied, visibly upset.
With a sad look, Justin explained, “Di naman sa walang respeto. Malalaki na tayo, ‘di na tayo bata para mag-kuya pa ako sa’yo.”
“Kahit na,” Josh countered. “Nag-kukuya ka pa rin naman kay Kuya Yani, ‘di ba? Ako nga, kahit two years lang tanda ni Kuya Yani sa akin, nag-kukuya pa rin ako sa kanya. Wag mong wala-in yung pag-kuya mo sa’kin. Remember, Jah, kinakapatid natin ang isa’t isa, parang magkapatid na rin tayo,” Josh said firmly.
Since then, Justin had convinced himself that Josh would never return his feelings. But no matter how much he tried to let go, his emotions for his older godbrother lingered, refusing to fade away.
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Since Josh had decided to pursue a degree in Law, Justin seized the opportunity to attend the same university after graduating high school. He hoped that now being in the same school would change the way Josh viewed him. Although Justin already had a car, he chose to accept Josh’s offer to drive together on his first day. Like Josh, Justin also wanted to study law, which is why he enrolled in a pre-law program. More than just following in Josh's footsteps, he saw this as the perfect chance to spend more time with him and have a valid reason to ask about school.
“Oh my gosh, kuya! Ang daming tao! Pwede hatid mo ‘ko sa classroom ko? Baka mawala ako. This is so overwhelming!” May takot ngunit excited na bulalas ni Justin.
“Sure, Jah! Halika nah, same building lang naman tayo eh. Mas madali natin mahanap yung classroom mo since familiar naman ako dito. Yung map ng school na binigay ko sa ‘yo dala mo bah?” tanong ni Josh kay Jah.
“Opo! Tinulongan din ako ni Kuya Yani na gumawa ng plan paano ko magtransfer from one classroom to another. Buti na lang wala akong class na lilipat sa iban building.” sagot ni Justin.
“It’s good that you’re ready. College is far different from high school, Jah. ‘Di pwedeng papeteks-peteks ka dito.” Josh warned him sternly.
“Never naman akong nagpeteks-peteks kahit sa high school, Kuys. Kaya nga grumaduate akong valedictorian di bah?” sambit ni Justin habang tinataas baba ang kilay.
“Oo nga pala. You’re very deligent in your studies. Ganyan dapat, di madali ang Law, Jah maraming mga sleepless nights. Pero alam ko naman na kaya mo, ikaw na ‘yan eh. Proud ako palagi sa’yo, my baby brother!” pangungulit ni Josh.
“Yuck, Kuys! ‘Wag ka nga sa baby brother! College na ako, ano ka bah?” angil ni Jah.
“Oh! Hindi na nga. Ito na classroom mo, pumasok ka na. Focus sa lessons ha, wag sa classmate na maganda.” natatawang sabi ni Josh.
“Di ko type magaganda, pogi gusto ko, parang ikaw.” mahinang sabi ni Jah sa sarili habang tinitingnan ang paalis na si Josh.
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As time went by, Justin gradually adjusted to college life. He remained classmates with some of his peers from high school and also formed good friendships with his new classmates. Thanks to his outgoing and friendly personality, he quickly connected with his professors as well. When it came time to choose organizations, he sought Josh’s help to ensure he selected one that would be beneficial for his future studies in Law.
"Jah, magjoin ka sa Pre-Law Society at Debate Society. Maganda ang exposure mo dun, lalo na if you want to build connections early. Although di mo pa naman kailangan mag-focus sa orgs kasi first year ka pa, mas okay kung makapasok ka na ngayon. Kilala ko yung mga professors na nagme-mentor sa societies na ‘yan, pwede kitang i-recommend through them." offer ni Josh kay Justin.
“Thank you, Kuys! Pero ‘wag mo na akong tulungan makapasok. I want to enter with my own merits, kaya ko naman siguro. If di ako matanggap this year, I’ll try again next year. Maybe then, I’ll ask for your help if necessary.” tanggi ni Justin.
“I’m really proud of you, kid! Gusto mo talaga pinaghihirapan ang mga bagay bago mo makuha. That’s a great attitude, lalo na’t life won’t hand you everything on a silver platter.” Josh responded proudly.
“Ayan nanaman tayo sa “kid”, eh!” Justin raised his hands, making air quotes as he spoke. “Di na nga ako bata, Kuys! Makakagawa na nga ako ng bata eh!” dagdag ni Justin.
“Hoy! Anong gagawa ng bata! Paluin kita d’yan, isusumbong kita kina Ninang ha. May iniisip ka na palang ganyan.” gulat na sagot ni Josh.
“Joke lang, Kuys! Si sumbong ka naman d’yan.” depensa naman ni Justin.
“Pero sa totoo lang, Jah baka may crush ka na ha?” tanong ni Josh.
“Crush? College na ‘ko, Kuys di na ako high school na nagkakacrush. Tsaka matagal na akong in love sa isang tao, pero di naman nya ako nakikita.” malungkot na turan ni Justin.
“Hey! You wanna talk about it? Jah, tandaan mo, Kuya is always here for you if you need to get something off your chest. Gusto ko lang malaman mo na you can tell me anything. Please, don’t keep secrets from me, sigurado ako I can help you with whatever it is,” Josh replied.
“No! I can manage. Bakit ba tayo napunta sa ganitong usapan, org pinag-uusapan natin ah! Off topic na tayo, Kuys.” kabadong sagot ni Justin.
“Oy, si iwas! Parang napapaisip tuloy ako, Jah. kilala ko yan noh?” tanong ni Josh.
“Kuuuuuys! Tigil na! Wala akong sasabihin sa’yo. Alis ka na. Thank you for your help.” sabi ni Justin sabay tulak kay Josh.
Josh walked away, shaking his head, wondering who Justin could be in love with. A dull ache settled in his chest, fearing the day Justin might reveal the person and leave him heartbroken. If only he could be with Justin, the one he had secretly loved since he was 13. But that could never happen. His mother had made it clear: Justin was family, and nothing more.