I WAS SOLD BY MY BROTHERS

CHAPTER 11.RENZO TALKED WITH JULIA

Julia wiped her tears, still tightly holding Renzo’s hand.

“Le'ts go” she said with a smile in the middle of her crying. “Tell me more about your experiences while we eat at the fast food restaurant. I’m sure you’re hungry already,” offered Julia.

Renzo hesitated, staring at his dirty slippers and faded clothes.

“Julia… it’s embarrassing. Look at my dirtiness, they might drive me away,” Renzo said hesitantly.

“Hey,” Julia gently interrupted, “don’t say that. You helped me today. You even saved me. Let me be the one to thank you, even in a simple way. I’ll take care of you,” Julia said smiling.

Before Renzo could refuse, Julia pulled him toward the nearby fast food restaurant—a bright place that smelled of fried chicken and French fries.

As they entered, the cold air from the aircon hit Renzo’s face. He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling uneasy surrounded by people with clean clothes happily talking. Julia noticed that and smiled.

“Here, let’s sit,” she said, pointing to a quiet table in the corner near the window.

Renzo sat carefully, as if afraid to dirty the chair.

He looked around—the colorful menu board, the laughter of children, and the crew repeatedly shouting order numbers.

Julia stood up. “Just wait for me here, okay? I’ll be the one to order.”

He nodded quietly, watching Julia as she walked toward the counter.

A few minutes later, Julia came back carrying a tray full of food: two pieces of fried chicken, rice, fries, and two cold soft drinks.

Renzo’s eyes widened. “Julia… this is too much. I can’t—”

“Shh,” Julia interrupted with a smile. “You can. Go ahead, eat.”

He carefully picked up the spoon and fork and started to eat.

With the first bite, he immediately felt the warmth and taste of real food. He closed his eyes for a while, swallowing slowly.

When he opened his eyes while slowly chewing his food, Julia was still looking at him as if she had found something valuable on the street.

When Renzo choked, Julia immediately handed him the water.

“Here, Renzo, drink first,” she said while handing him the glass.

When Renzo took the glass from her hand, he accidentally touched Julia’s hand. They looked at each other and laughed.

Julia’s face slightly turned red. “You’ve changed a lot now, Julia, you’ve become beautiful,” Renzo said smiling.

“Thank you, Renzo,” Julia said with blushing cheeks while fixing her hair.

The joy was still visible on Julia’s face to see Renzo again unexpectedly. “You must have gone through a lot on the streets, huh?” Julia said smiling, but with a hint of pity on her lips.

Renzo smiled slightly while eating. “Life is hard… but I got used to it. The streets became my home.”

Julia nodded, tears slightly forming in her eyes.

“I didn’t forget you, you know? When my family found me, I told them how kind you were—how even when we had nothing, you made sure I had something to eat.

I went back many times to look for you, but you weren’t in our old place anymore,” said Julia.

Renzo stopped and put down his spoon. “To be honest, I also waited for you,” he said softly. “Every night, I thought maybe you’d come back,” replied Renzo.

“How about Jasper and Marlon, why aren’t you with them?” Julia asked curiously while eating French fries.

“Hmm, I miss those kids too, I’m sure they’ve grown up now,” Renzo said smiling.

“A few days after you left, their families also found them, so I was left alone on the streets. That’s why I moved to another place so I wouldn’t feel lonely,” Renzo continued.

“Ah, it’s good that they were also found,” Julia said softly. “Sorry, okay, for leaving you alone,” Julia said with a sad voice.

Renzo took a deep breath. “It’s okay, I’m happy for you because you were able to be with your families again.

As for my family, maybe they’re not really looking for me anymore and have completely abandoned me,” Renzo said softly.

Julia held his hand, and Renzo looked at her hand holding his. “Renzo, someday, you’ll also see your family again. Just have faith, maybe there’s a good reason why you haven’t found them yet,” Julia said firmly.

“Good reason?” Renzo said thoughtfully while looking up.

“Maybe, I don’t know,” Renzo said smiling. “Let’s not talk about them anymore,” he said while grabbing a French fry.

“Hmm, this tastes so good. Before, I could only taste this from the trash, but now it’s real,” Renzo said cheerfully.

Julia smiled at Renzo’s reaction. “Slow down, Renzo, you might choke again.”

Julia hadn’t finished speaking yet when Renzo choked again. The two laughed loudly while Julia handed him his water again.

After a few moments of laughter, Renzo started again. “So, what are you busy with now, Julia?” Renzo asked.

“Ahh, I’m working at a supermarket near the place where my bag was snatched,” Julia answered.

“Ahh, that big building over there?” Renzo asked again.

“Yes, I work as a sales lady. If there’s an open position, I’ll help you get in, okay?” Julia said cheerfully.

Renzo smiled widely, almost reaching his ears. “Really, Julia?! That’s a great idea! That means if I get in, we’ll see each other every day again?!” Renzo said excitedly.

Julia smiled while nodding and listening to what Renzo said. “Yes, Renzo, but I’ll just try, okay?” Julia replied.

After a while, her cellphone rang—Gabriel, a branch manager at the supermarket where Julia worked, was calling. Julia hesitated to answer the call in front of Renzo.

“Wait a minute, Renzo, my boss is calling,” Julia said, standing up and moving a bit away from the table.

A few seconds after the call, Julia returned to the table.

“Renzo, I need to go to work now. Let’s meet again. Just wait for me outside the building, THE GREAT OH PLAZA MERCHANDISING.”

“Okay, Julia, thank you for the food, I’m full,” he said while touching his stomach.

And Renzo became lively again and full of hope after seeing Julia again, who promised to help him get into her workplace.