Cold hearts

07

Chapter 07: A game of basketball
***

Three weeks have passed since that night, Saoirse became more distant and quiet than before. She can sometimes be seen in Dawn's apartment, in Manila Polo Club, or just in the Village's gymnasium.

It was exactly 5:10 am in the morning, the sun is still not setting, not everyone is awake, Saoirse can be seen packing sandwiches and energy drinks in the kitchen.

As she was about to get the granola bar on the pantry, the front door opened, startling her. "Isn't it too early? Teka mag lalayas ka ba?" Saoirse rolled her eyes at her brothers who just came home the other day.

Meeting them was very awkward of course, she didn't even bother talking to them. She ignored them and continue doing what she's doing.

"Jersey? Nag babasketball ka?" Alfonso asked her while opening the refrigerator to drink some cold water. "Ay hindi, mag gogolf ako, common sense lang please." She said, and Alfonso wasn't even shock at her attitude.

She indeed got it from their mother.

"Mind if we join you? Let's call the rest na rin, the more the merrier." Luis then said before jogging upstairs, "we'll be right back, mag papalit lang kami, we know that you're impatient, but please wait for us." Alfonso said before following his brother.

Saoirse was left dumbfounded and speechless in the kitchen as she watched her brothers run upstairs. Shaking her head, she went to the living room with her bag to wait for her brothers. She sat on the couch and browsed in her social media.

She looked at the time on her wristwatch, then to the stairs to see if her brothers are done changing. "Ang tagal naman ng mga yun, ang riritual pa ba sila?" She decided to check on them and to see if they're still ok.

She reached the second floor and she saw her mother's bedroom slightly open. "Yung pawis ha, wag nyo hahayaang matuyuan kayo ng pawis, boys." Irene said while giving the both of them some towel.

"Mom, hindi na kami bata, we're now grown men, no need for pampering." Luis said while folding the towel, "oo nga mommy, Luis is right, matatanda na kami." Alfonso added.

"Kahit na, before leaving, give mommy a kiss."

"Mom!" Both Luis and Alfonso groaned, Irene pinched the both of them in the ears. "Isa!" Irene counted.

"Fine." Alfonso and Luis groaned before kissing Irene in the cheeks, "ingat kayo, and don't forget my bilins." She said and the two boys nodded.

Saoirse, on the other hand, is watching them in pure jealousy. "Did she never expected a daughter? Gusto n'ya lang ba talaga ng sons? Am I an accident for her but a blessing to daddy?" She asked herself.

"Kanina ka pa ba jan?" Luis asked Saoirse when he opened the door, Irene glaced them and met Saoirse's gaze. "U-uhm n-no, I just passed by, ang tagal nyo kasi, the time is running." Saoirse excused.

"Really? Ganun na ba kami ka tagal? Sorry ha, mommy is very nakakainis na naman binebaby na naman kami, so blame her." Alfonso said while walking with his siblings.

"Napansin ko nga." Saoirse said sadly, it was her dream, her childhood dream. Sadly, it's now a past dream.

"Si Pap- daddy- da- ok lang ba na tawagin namin siya na daddy?" Luis asked Saoirse for reassurance, he don't want her to think that he's stealing Greggy away from her.