It was my Brother Jun's first day at his new work. He started working immediately after graduation. A lot has changed about him ever since our grandparents died. He became stricter with me, but I don't mind. I can feel his stress pheromones when he gets home.
He doesn't talk much anymore, but I try to be there all the time. I just hope he gets a wife soon. We don't talk over dinner so much anymore. He's too busy with a lot of things. I try to take care of him as much as possible, making dinner, preparing his lunch to go, and cleaning our home to make it cozy when he gets home. When he gets home earlier than expected, which means I'm still up, I try to hug him or massage him.
Now I'm with Max. We made it in front of a building where he currently works. Before we find our way in. I brought a small cake to celebrate his first day.
"My goal is to go home together."
"Do you think he's in there?" While we looked up at the skyscraper building, Max squinted his eyes a little while asking me.
"Well, this is the company he talked about" I shrugged, answering him.
"I hope there are beautiful people in there. If they do, I'll plan my future to get there". I poked Max's shoulder to tell him to stop.
"Can't you plan for your future without thinking about looking for a partner?"
"bleh…"
"He's such a lover". Then I felt my phone vibrate from a message.
I texted Bro Jun before we stepped off the bus.
"How are you? You didn't get lost, didn't you? I was starting to type back for a reply when my phone rang.
"Hello…" We greeted him at the same time and I squealed to congratulate him.
"Congratulations on your first day!" Max saw me, and he put his ear next to mine where my phone was. I was conscious, but I didn't let it get to me.
"Congratulations Brother Jun! Do you have good-looking workmates in there? Can you take them out with you?" I can imagine the gesture Bro made on the other line upon hearing that.
"You can come up… I'll show you around." Then we heard the person striding towards us. When we saw each other, Bro Jun hung up.
I hugged him, and he tapped Max's shoulders.
"Thanks for coming along, let me treat you guys, we have a pantry up on the 6th floor. Visitors can enter that" I was so excited, and then Max handed me the small cake he'd been holding this whole time.
We walked into the building and an elevator. Jun kept looking at his watch several times and I got a little worried.
"Are we bothering you, Kuya? We could wait for you outside if we have to" I asked, then Jun shook his head.
"No, it's fine. I was just checking if I could clock out once we got up there. But I still have time. I'll let you settle for a table first before tapping out on my floor"
"Where's your assigned floor?" Max asked.
"I'm on the 32nd floor. I'm not busy yet really, I'm still looking around. The manager gave me a tour earlier, but that's just about that for today. Just a small briefing for the tasks and it will be a few more days before I get settled and grab my first project", Kuya Jun explained as we got out of the elevator.
I can see he's a bit agitated. I just realized that he is capable of being nervous too. I grabbed his other free hand when we entered the pantry.
"You're okay Kuya, you look great, and you're doing good." He's touched by my gesture and I can see it on his face. We can't hug in here though.
"Wow! This place is amazing!" Max reacted first.
It is a great space. The whole floor is like a mall, not just an ordinary food court, it has class and smells amazing, not grimy, street food at all. I can smell coffee and there is this corner that has a full-functioning coffee bar. Then the sofa seats are arranged symmetrically in rows beside the ceiling-to-floor glass wall where you can see the view from outside. You can watch the hustling and bustling busybodies from here.
"Go find a seat Chuna, do you want a drink with that cake you brought?" I nodded and found a seat for us. Kuya Jun took Max with him to choose what he wanted.
When they got back, Max was holding a tray of drinks and sandwiches. Then he sat beside me.
"I should get back and clock out, I can't take you there, visitors are only allowed on this floor." We just nodded to Brother Jun, who didn't take a seat anymore. We were just looking his way but when he stepped back from us, there was a person behind him who was holding coffee and accidentally bumped into him.
Brother Jun jumped a little before he could get back on his feet. I think he stumbled on the person's feet too. That's why he lost his balance. We saw the hand of the stranger wrapped around Brother Jun's waist. I was worried about the coffee that could hurt them, while Max made a face for the scene we had just watched, with matching grabbing my elbow too.
"I can feel him giggling…" I poked him with my elbow to stop.
"Are you okay, Kuya Jun?" But before he could answer, the man behind him supported Brother Jun's footing first with the hand on his waist before he could face him. They were looking at each other for a second.
Then, when we saw the situation, we saw the coffee stains on the stranger's dark suit. I could see Brother Jun's embarrassed face. The man is a head taller than my brother, wearing an expensive-looking suit, sharp and professional, and he's holding the coffee where the lid has been opened.
"Oh! I'm really sorry!" Brother Jun reached out for the napkins on our table and started wiping the man's clothes. But he stopped his hand from excessive wiping. It will stain nonetheless.
"It's okay, it's my fault. I avoided the passing group of people that were walking fast and didn't notice you from the side"
"The man is still good-looking. I bet that's what he was thinking," I thought while catching a glimpse of Max's reaction,
"And I'm never wrong with him. His face is saying it all"