Chapter 10: Friends and Bullies.

KIKI.

Seeing the same handsome but rude guy who had paid five thousand dollars for a bracelet that didn't worth four hundred, I was riled up all over again. I didn't want to speak but since I was probably going to get sacked anyways, I thought I might as well let it all out and let him know of all the challenges that we have been facing in their stupid company. At least, it'd help others if not me.

I picked up my phone to call my boyfriend of several years, hoping to get some words of consolation from him. I've been dating Julian since I got out of high school, he was someone I'd call my first love. He was the most popular guy back in school due to his singing and rapping abilities, he also danced pretty well. I remember always telling him that he was sure to become a big artist one day and he was already halfway to it as he was signed by a big record label the previous month. Because of this new feat of his, he had been so busy that he barely had time to call me but he makes sure to pick my calls whenever I do.

Julian was the kind of handsome that got into my bones, that spoke to me of olden times before he'd even said a word. Claire often said he was a two when it comes to looks, probably due to his chubby self, bald head and bushy beard. He grew his beard as soon as he could, it was his way of saying to himself and to the world that boyhood was gone and he had arrived in his days of manhood. However, it doesn't matter how Claire saw him, to me, he was handsome from the depth of his eyes to the gentle expressions of his voice. He was handsome from his generous opinions to the touch of his hand upon my own. I loved the way his voice quickened when he sparkled with a new idea, or was so enjoying one of mine that he lost himself for a moment and quite forgot the mask he wore for others. So I gave him my heart and kept his safe, that's the way it was for us.

After calling the third time, he finally picked my call.

"Hey baby." He slurred with a sleepy voice that made the hairs on my skin stand.

"Hy boo. We haven't spoken in hours, are you still on bed by this time?"

"Definitely, you know how stressed I was yesterday. Since I started to gain more fame, I started to get more gigs and all. Yesterday was the height for me, I almost snapped at a fan who wouldn't stop bugging me for pictures. And you would not believe who I met too?" Julian blabbering on as I couldn't help but imagine how his eyes would be sparkling as usual with excitement.

He was always one to always talk about himself and his day leaving little to no room at all for me to talk about mine. But I usually do not mind since I loved listening to him.

"Let me guess, you met with Kanye?" I said, already feeling excited for him.

"Uhm, no, not yet but soon, I hope. I actually met with Lil Jay, that guy that sold out Maddison square last year, remember?"

After talking for almost an hour, he hung up abruptly saying he suddenly got called by his boss, thus I had no room to talk about my day either. I sighed as I stepped into my little apartment, looking around the house that had several childhood pictures of my siblings and I. As I was about to collapse on my bed, someone rushed in, looking scared.

"Clara, what is it?" I questioned, wondering what was wrong with my brother's one and only friend.

"Uhm... Thomas and others have started bullying Jojo at the community playground again." The teenager rushed out, still panicking, a panic that immediately transferred to me with immediate effect.

I rushed out of the apartment as Clara followed suite. Our environment might be one of the poor ones, but our playground was one of the best in its own way. As we neared the playground, I could already see my baby brother being teased and even slapped repeatedly, I had to try to rotate the rage that rushed through me as I finally reached the spot where the bullying was happening. As soon as they saw me, they stepped away from him although still maintaining their stance.

"Oh, the imbecile's sister is here to save the day." One of the girls announced as I resisted the urge to slap her till she becomes sensible.

I hugged my brother immediately. "Are you guys still waiting for me to pounce on you? And let me tell you this, let this be the last time you'd bully my brother else I'll get you reported again."

"Oh, come on. Nobody can do anything to us, we were just trying to tolerate him by playing with him, it's not our fault that he doesn't play like a normal human, is it?" Thomas, the head of the clique retorted.

As soon as I moved closer, they all scrambled in fear.

I led my brother to the nearest seat as I wiped his dusty clothes. Jojo almost never cries, but that is because he cries in a different way. So when he is emotionless he is most emotional, it's when he actually needs help the most. Perhaps think of it as a sort of overload reaction - there is too much emotion to process and so his brain edits it out, the same way his brain edits out fear when it has no purpose. And what you'll see if you are really looking is that despite shutting off the emotions for self preservation, he's still saving you, helping you, loving you... in a way that is enhanced by the lack of emotions. He might be autistic but he understands the world and shows his emotions in a different but great way.

"Kiki, Would I really be doing you a favour if I die?" He suddenly asked as I immediately looked him in his eyes, immediately feeling his sadness despite him not really showing it.

"Jojo, no, you'll make me the saddest person on earth If that happens. Sweetheart, it is a myth that the strong bully the weak. It is those who cannot handle their stress with grace, who attack the gentle natured. No person can tell you who or what you are, for you build yourself with your own choices, as do they. With every choice to be unkind, they build themselves to be unkind. You're different. That's good. With every choice you make to be kind, you build yourself into a kinder person. A lot of great person I know was bullied as a child. That which makes you a target now, will make you great in your lifetime. You're beautiful, you're unique, you're amazing, listen to me and filter the negativities." I pep-talked to my brother as usual.

"Yes, I hope to be great too. I want to become an artist." He said, his emotion going from sad to excited in seconds.

"And an artist you will be. But before then, let's go and make your favorite cookies with Clara."