Photographs of Her

7. Welcome to the family

OCEAN'S POV

Medyo natataranta ako sa point na 'to dahil nagtext na si Kendrick na 30 minutes away nalang daw sya nasa bahay na namin sya. Mom was finishing the table setting while I'm nervously sitting here on our lounge with my niece Coral who's currently playing with her doll.

Ate Jade was in the kitchen,sila Kuya naman ay nasa poolside dahil inaayos nila yung barbeque. My phone beeped when I received a message from Kendrick. I immediately stood up.

"Mommy! I'm going to pick up Kendrick on the gate!" Sigaw ko habang palabas. Shore and Coral went with me. "Ate do I look good?" Kabadong tanong ni Shore napatawa naman ako ng koonti. "Yes, Shore you look dashing." He said he wants to impress his Kuya Kendrick, yes he call Kendrick Kuya Kendrick. Gusto agad nya si Kendrick kahit di nya pa nakikilala. That thought made my heart jump.

Medyo malayo pa kami sa gate ng magreklamo si Coral. "Tita I want buhat." Nakataas pa ang dalawa nyang kamay at hindi umaalis sa pwesto nya. I've no choice but to carry her. Medyo nagusot pa ang damit ko pero hindi ko na pinansin.

Malayo palang ay natanaw ko na si Kendrick, he's wearing a black buttoned-down polo pair with a white khaki shorts and a brown top sider shoes.

"Ate is that Kuya Kendrick?!" Excited na tanong ni Shore. "Yes, he is."Sagot ko pero ganon nalang ang gulat ko ng tumakbo si Shore papunta kay Kendrick, as in takbo ang bilis. Naiwan kami ni Coral na mabagal na naglalakad palapit sa kanila. Nakita ko lang naguusap na si Shore at Kendrick. All smiles naman silang dalawa, halatang tungkol sa soccer ang pinaguusapan nila.

Nang makarating kami malapit sakanila ay nagbeso naman ako kay Kendrick. "Hey." Bati ko. Pinunasan nya pa ang pawis sa noo ko kaya naman medyo napaatras ako. Pinawisan ako kakabuhat kay Coral.

"Tito pogi!" Coral giggled while hugging Kendrick's leg. I laughed a little before carrying her away from Kendrick's leg. "No Tita! I want Tito pogi!" Pagmamaktol niya, habang inaaabot ang dalwang braso kay Kendrick.

"Akin na." Nakangiting kuha ni Kendrick kay Coral. I gave him an apologetic smile.

"That is Coral." Pakilala ko sakanya kay Coral na karga nya. He just nodded and played with Coral

"Uh. Tara na?" Aya nya saakin bago kami nagsimulang naglakad. I held Shore's hand before walking with Kendrick and Coral, they are talking about her dolls.

"Coral stop wiggling." Saway ko sa pamangkin kong galaw ng galaw habang naglalakad kami palapit sa bahay. We stopped in front of our gate, I fixed Kendrick's collar because it got messed up by Coral. Nauna na ng pumasok si Shore kaya naman sumunod na rin kami.

Dumiretso na kami sa poolside kasi don kami magdidinner and I'm sure na andon sila Mommy.

"Feel at home." I told Kendrick before guiding him to the door that leads to our poolside. Doon bumungad saamin si Kuya Reef na hawak ang tong dahil sya ang nagbabarbeque, si Kuya Wave at Kuya Lake na kumakain ng marshmallows, si Shore na nakain ng hotdogs, si Mommy na katabi si Daddy habang nakangiti ng malaki kay Kendrick.

"Goodevening po, Mr and Mrs Alegre." Magalang na bati ni Kendrick kila Mommy. Lalo namang lumawak ang ngiti ni Mommy at naglakad papalapit kay Kendrick para bigyan ng yakap. Sumunod naman si Daddy sa likuran ni Mommy at tumikhim.

"Welcome to the family." Nakangiting sabi ni Daddy kay Kendrick. By the looks of it Kendrick was in a state of shock.

KENDRICK'S POV

Malayo palang ay natanaw ko na si Ocean,may kasama syang isang babaeng lalake na parang halos kaedaran lang ni Keana, at may buhat syang isang batang babae na nakapink dress. She's wearing a long brown skirt ending under her knees and a black high neck top tuck inside her skirt.