The Dog Convention
Chapter Eight
"YOU'RE WHAT?!"
For a quiet guy like Lupinex, projecting that outburst was a feat in itself.
Julia sighed heavily. She had been expecting that kind of reaction. "I know it's extremely bad timing but...I can't help it!"
All the European teams were bunched up in the Majestics trailer. Julia had begged them to meet because of a problem of life and death. The only person who was absent was Raul, who had gone to the convention tents to brood.
"Julia say this is a joke," said Claude sternly. "Because it's not funny!"
"And why would this be a joke?" the senyorita retaliated sharply.
"It's unnatural for anyone to bring up a subject like that in the middle of a situation like ours," answered Miguel in a mild tone.
"He's right," said Cenotaph. "Even if you've said you piece, what would you get out of it? For sure you'll be rejected, both of you will get hurt and your brother will lose all respect for you."
"Hey," interjected Robert. "What's the big idea behind all of you ganging up on Julia all of a sudden? Is there a crime in confessing she loves Raul? Regardless of place and time!"
"But that's the problem! Time!" said Mathilda heatedly. "We've already mentioned before that her confession is what's inopportune."
"The reason we're annoyed is not because of you per se, Julie," said Sanguinex in a more or less comforting tone. "It's the nerve of you saying that when you of all people very well know what's going on."
"What were you thinking?" reprimanded Claude.
"Stop that!" protested Oliver, wrapping an arm around Julia. "You're making her cry! What's it to you that you're all angry?"
The pale fellow Frenchman ignored him. "I'm asking you a question...what were you thinking?"
Dazzling emerald eyes were now dull and lifeless, identical to her twin's but only glazed with unshed tears.
"I'm really sorry," Julia began. "I didn't know what hit me. Raul was so down because he knew that Tala loved someone else...it left me feeling helpless because there was nothing I could do to make him happy. I was angry at Tala...more over, I was angry at who he loved, because he caused my brother so much pain. I vowed to be the one Raul would find happiness in, for that way he could guarantee that he would never receive less than what he asks for. Besides, this isn't the first time I've seen him like this..."
Everyone fell silence as they listened closely to the brunette's story.
"The first time was my fault," she continued. "We were barely older that five years old. That time we were still working full time in the circus then. Since we had no biological parents to lean on, its entire crew was our family. Our foster brother Romero provided everything we needed...everything except real care and love...like what a mother would have for her child. Raul and I were to search for that for ourselves. It came to a point where our image of love became so distorted that my brother confessed he loved me...by love he wanted that bond a couple shred; he had seen a lot of them in the audiences during our performances."
"I was terrified that day...disgusted...disbelieving that he was my twin. The thought scared me beyond doubt and I...I rejected him. Just like you guys, I got so mad I even beat him. But Raul didn't say a word...he just acted the way he's acting now. How can I forget the expression on his face that day? It drove a stake through my heart and kept bothering me till we got older."
Julia paused for a moment, reminiscent, before continuing. "I grew to love Raul as more than my twin. He became the focus of my life that I because protective, domineering. I couldn't confess because I lack the courage my brother was born with. I kept my mouth shit till it was too late. A few months ago, he told me he liked Tala...and I knew. My Raul would be happy with this guy and so I'll help him the best I can for him to find his happiness. Now, in this convention I realize how my efforts have been in vain..."
She slumped in Oliver's slackened grip, shaking with the force of her sobs. "Raul is only getting more pain!" There followed sharp, irregular intakes of breath. "I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LOVE AND NOT BE LOVED BACK!"
Her story ended, for the wretched girl can continue it no longer. She cried before her speechless group of friends.
"Punyeta, Julia..." Miguel said reproachfully. "Why now?"
"Punyeta ka rin Miguel! Punyeta right back at you!" Julia barked, standing up and pointing a threatening finger in his face. "I don't see any of YOU doing anything to solve Raul's problem! The fartherst you can go is discussions, discussions that yield no productive results! It's time I did something...I'M going to be the one whom my brother shall be happy with. If he can't have Tala, he has ME! ...it's time I redeemed myself anyway and YOU aren't stopping me!"
"Jules please!" came Mathilda timidly. "Be reasonable. Think of what Raul would say..."
"WHO DO YOU THINK KNOWS RAUL BETTER, HUH MATTIE?! ANSWER ME THAT!"
"JULIA!" Johnny lunged at the Spanish girl before she could lash out and do damage.
They collapsed on the floor, panting.
"You guys just had to push and push, didn't you?" said the Scot before whispering to the breathless Fernandez in his arms. "Don't listen to them. Don't be affected by what they say."
"You're your own boss," added Oliver.
"You know what I think is a good idea?" smiled Enrique. "You telling Raul how much you love him. I mean, it may not get you anywhere but at least you got the load off your chest and you wouldn't feel so guilty about hurting him all those years ago."
"We'll make the guys understand," said Robert, helping her up. "Go get him!" And he pushed the elder twin out the door.
--
All the dogs, not just the Europeans, overheard the dramatic exchange. They were bent on helping Raul. He was the only one who wasn't happy with whom he was with...not that there was anyone to BE with in the first place. Tala was now out of the question, but Julia was there to take his place.
Everything had to fall in place with Raul not knowing Kai and Tala were together and before the end of the day or else the chance may never pass by them again.
Plus, its time this huge mess was brought in the clear and straightened out.
Howls resonated in the blood red sky of the setting sun. That evening, their call was so irresistible that not only were the competitors once more drawn out of their trailers, but also people visiting the convention went to the generous space given to the international teams to see what the commotion was about.
"Raul!" Julia exclaimed, having been thrown out a trailer by the Majestic team captain in it.
"Julia," the younger redhead smiled. "What's up?"
His sister sighed. "Listen...I have to tell you something..."
Julia took Raul's hands in hers and steered him such that he had his back to the rest of the trailers where the noise was coming from.
"I..." the mocha-haired girl began.
"Raul! Julia!" Gracie and Daisy began barking in unison. "DON'T TURN YOUR HEADS!"
Raul almost did the exact opposite. His curiosity was terribly irked by what could be possibly behind him.
"What—"
"Raul..." Julia cupped the other's cheek tenderly to keep his focus on her, but she lost the words once more.
"Julia!" the Europeans in the trailer she was thrown from were gesturing wildly. The elder Fernandez looked past her twin's shoulder and gasped.
The scene was curious. Dogs were everywhere, making incredible noise. The moon was whole and huge, dazzling a number of loving couples, one of which was Tala and Kai.
"You're kidding," Julia breathed.
"What?" Raul asked once more, now impatient.
He took his sister's wrist and tried to pry it off his face when she came to and kissed him right then and there.
"MmMmMph?! Julia!" the Spaniard exploded when they pulled apart. "What the hell as gotten into you?!"
The brunette bowed her head as the redhead finally found out the truth.
Tala was snogging Kai...and a number of canines tried to hide them by tackling the pair to the ground. Too late though, for Raul already saw.
"NOOOOO!"
People in the vicinity stopped to look.
"Raul are you alright?" asked Michael as he helped get hyperactive dogs off two Russians.
"Tala..." he replied weakly as he sank to the ground by his twin's feet.
"What?" several voices asked.
"WE CAN EXPLAIN!" two shouted.
The night was getting more and more exciting. Audiences, not just the competitors, were on the edge of their seats...metamorphically speaking of course...they were standing.
Heads wheeled about to find a pair of figures silhouetted against the moonlight.
It was Mystel and Hiro.
TBC
A/N: I love the next chapter...its has a Kyo Kara Maou cameo...x3...enjoy!xD and ciAo...
