"Brother… I don't know where to start," Julie said softly, looking at Chris.
Her hands trembled in her lap. She tried to steady them, but her lips quivered anyway.
"Julie, if you're not comfortable sharing yet, that's okay," Kelly said gently.
"N–No," Julie shook her head. "I really need to share it. I just… don't know how to begin."
She glanced at Kelly, then at the familiar faces around her—Melissa especially, who watched quietly, patiently.
I didn't know it would be this hard, Julie thought.Kelly once said speaking up takes courage. Jonathan said the same.
She exhaled slowly.
You need to do this, Julie.
Cielo squeezed her hand, ruffling her hair softly."We'll wait until you're ready."
Gabriel let out a quiet sigh.
"Julie and I weren't in the same school back then," he began. "I went to the States for primary school. We just heard Uncle enrolled Julie at Aurora Crest Academy."
Chris nodded. "She was supposed to attend St. Benedict. But Mom and Dad couldn't process her documents in time. They thought being late would be fine—but St. Benedict's strict with cut-off dates."
"So Mom tried Aurora Crest instead," Chris continued. "They were still accepting students."
"Oh," Dave said quietly. "So that's why Julie didn't study here back then."
Chris smiled faintly. "We were only in Grade One."
"And that was when Kelly and Kevin were still best friends," Jonathan added teasingly.
"Do you really have to bring that up?" Kelly snapped.
Julie chuckled softly.
"I was happy when I got enrolled," Julie finally said. "But also sad. I thought I'd study here… with Cielo. And since I transferred, I couldn't visit their house anymore."
Kevin nodded. "So that's why."
"I was really nervous," Julie admitted, laughing shyly.
Her mind drifted back—
She still remembered that morning.
"D–Dad," little Julie said, gripping his hand tightly.
Her father smiled down at her."I know you're nervous. You wanted to study where Cielo is, but we missed the cut-off. Still, I'm sure you'll make friends."
He gently pinched her chubby cheeks, making her giggle.
"Go on. Your teacher's waiting."
Julie looked toward the teacher, who smiled warmly.
"Come on, Julie."
She glanced back at her father."Dad will be here before class ends," he reassured her. "I love you."
She nodded, holding back tears as the teacher led her inside.
"Julie, introduce yourself," the teacher said kindly.
Her heart raced, but she smiled anyway.
"M–My name is Julie Marie Navares. N–Nice to meet you."
The teacher smiled and led her to an empty seat.
"H–Hello," Julie whispered to the children nearby.
No one answered.
Instead, whispers followed. Snickers.
Julie quietly ate the lunch her mother packed.
Then a girl approached.
"What's your name again?"
"J–Julie Marie."
"Oh." The girl smirked. Two others stood beside her.
"What's your name?" Julie asked innocently.
"I won't tell you."
"Why?"
"Because you're fat."
Julie blinked.Fat?
"D–Do you not like fat people?" she asked, confused.
"Ew. We might catch your fatness," the girl laughed. "You're a pig. A piglet."
The teacher entered, and the girls scattered, still laughing.
Julie stayed quiet.
After five long hours, her father was waiting.
"Your mom made dessert," he said cheerfully.
Julie hugged him tightly.
That night—
"Brother!" Julie ran to Chris.
"How was school?"
"Brother… how's Cielo?" she asked instead.
Chris chuckled. "He's fine. And you'll make friends too."
At dinner, her mother noticed her silence.
"Julie?"
"Mom… do I look like a pig because I'm fat?"
The table went still.
"Who told you that?" her mother asked gently.
"Someone at school."
Her father exchanged a look with her mother. Chris ruffled Julie's hair.
"Don't listen to them."
Julie pouted."I want to talk to Cielo. Even if he's annoying, at least he answers my questions."
Her parents smiled sadly.
"Sometime soon," Chris said. "You'll see him again."
"Okay!" Julie beamed.
Back then, she didn't know yet—
That being called nameswas already cruelty.