Photographs of Her

21. Incompetent and Inhumane

OCEAN'S POV

"Aquie are going to the site?" Kuya Lake asked out of nowhere in the middle of our breakfast. I just nodded simply and continued eating.

"I'm not sure Kuya, I'm planning to hangout with Nads today, kasi ngayon lang kami magkakaron ng oras na walang ibang pupuntahan, but I'll see to it later if I am going."

After breakfast, I received a call from Ate Jade, asking me if i can pick Coral later from her ballet classes and said yes because I missed hanging out with Coral.

"I don't want you to go to Germany again Ate..." Shore suddenly said, napatingin ako sakanya habang nakaharap sya sa TV, I can see him longing for me back then, he's longing for an older sister and I refused my obligation and responsibility for him, in order to make myself feel better even if I am away from my family, missing special and important occasions with them.

"I'm so sorry Shore, I promise after I settle everything, my work there, the house I plan to buy here, I'll settle down. Dito na ako magtratrabaho but for now, Ate needs to fix everything muna ha? I'm so sorry my baby." All he could do is to hust nod and hug me back.

Maya-maya pa ay nagkayayaan kaming umakyat muna at magayos ng sarili dahil gusto rin daw nyang sumama pagsundo kay Coral sa ballet class sa downtown.

Ilang sandali muna ang binilang ko bago ako nagdesisyong maligo na dahil nagkalikot muna ako ng cellphone, I checked my notifications and some of my emails.

"Manang nakababa na po ba si Shore?" Tanong ko sa kasambahay na naglilinis sa taas paglabas ko ng kwarto. Bahagya naman syang ngumiti saaken bago sumagot. "Opo Ma'am Aquie, pinapasabi din po si Sir na bumaba na daw po sya at nasa garahe sya nagiintay." Tumango naman ako at nagpasalamat bago ako tuluyang bumaba.

Wearing my simple ripped boyfriend-jeans and my black cropped statement shirt saying "pretty hot" I went down to look for Shore. Bago magdiretso sa labas ay namili muna ako sapatos na gagamitin at kinuha ko na ang susi ng sasakyan ko sa likod ng pinto.

Dumiretso na ako sa garahe at nakitang handa na si Shore sa pagalis ako na lamang ang inaantay, ng makita nya ako ay dali dali syang tumayo at naghanda na na sumakay. Pinatunog ko ang sasakyan upang mabuksan na nya  at mabilis naman akong pumasok para makaalis na kame.

"Let's pick Coral first before eating lunch." I said while manouvering out of the garage. Shore and I talked about his soccer achievements, his adventures with Keana, it turned out that they've became bestfriends since and I can tell that Shore treats Keana more that just bestfriends, because the way his eyes light  up with joy while reminiscing the funny things and the troubles that him and Keana experienced, all I can do is to just smile with happiness for my brother.

Shortly after that we arrived at the studio where Coral Jaden is enrolled for ballet. agad ding kaming lumabas ni Shore pagkadating para salubungin na si Coral at makalabas na agad. Habang naglalakad kame ni Shore papunta sa loob ng studio rinig namin ang mga bulong ng mga tao sa paligid tungkol saamin lalo na saakin dahil dati ay nafeatured ako sa ilang mga balita, dyaryo. at mga interview sa talkshows.

"Good day Ma'am, guardian of?" bungad na tanong saakin nung guard,I smiled at him and said that I am here to pick Coral Alegre up.  Mabilis naman syang tumango at pinapirma ako sa logbook na naandon sa desk niya, bago kami dumiretso papasok ni Shore, kita ko na agad ni Coral na nakikipaglaro sa mga kaibigan nya, they are all wearing little pink tutu skirts together with their small ballet shoes, I smiled when I saw Coral Jaden laugh showing her incomplete teeth.

"Hey, CJ!" Shore caught Coral's attention, she shotrly look around para hanapin kung sino ang tumawag sakanya, pero sadya atang agaw pansin ang kulay asul at mahaba kong buhok dahilan para mapatili si Coral at mabilis na tumakbo sa direksyon namin.