Photographs of Her

8. It's always been, one for all, all for one.

OCEAN'S POV

The week flew by so fast. Masyadong maraming naging projects and requirements ang nakuha namin ni Nadine. Kendrick was also busy with his soccer practice and projects also but he would always find time to flood me text messages and call me from time to time just to check on me. At night we'll talk for atleast an hour before going to sleep. And then the next morning just the same routine. We hadn't seen each other for a week now. It made me a little sad but it's okay kasi were both busy with our studies.

"Ocean P.E. na let's go." Nadine said making me stand up. Nagdiretso kami sa CR para makapagpalit kami ng PE uniform. Our PE uniform is a royal blue shorts ending right above our knees, and a white shirt with the school logo on it.

Tamad na naglakad kami ni Nads papunta sa Gym kasabay ang ibang kaklase namin. Pagkarating namin ay pabagsak lang kaming umupo sa mga bleachers, napansin ko ring andito ang lahat ng Grade 12 STEM students kaya medyo nagtaka ako.

"Goodafternoon students, your 3rd and 4th quarter requirement on my subject would be a cheerdance. Lahat kayo ay magkakalaban, walanf hindi puwedeng hindi sumali dahil automatic 75. Walang project na ibibigay just to compensate your demands. Are we all clear?" Ani Miss Gaylon.

"Okay for our activity today, you're going to play volleyball." Yon lang at bumaba na sya sa stage at pinaline up na kami.

Maraming nagrereact about the cheerdance, gustong gusto kong magreklamo pero wala akong magawa kundi sumimangot. Wala akong ibang choice, no project will be given, kailangang sumali kahit pa ayaw mo. Sumama yata bigla pakiramdam ko.

"Hoy Ocean Aquiesha! Alam kong devastated ka dahil sa kanina pero magfocus ka matamaan ka ng bola e!"sigaw ni Nads sa malayong part ng court. I inhaled a large amount of air before positioning myself.

Pawis na pawis na ako pero tuloy tuloy pa rin ang pagsave at paghataw ko ng bola. I'm enjoying my new shoes, nakapit, safe.

Maya-maya pa ay pinatigil na kami ni Ms. Gaylon. Unti-unting naglabasan ang mga students,pero tahimik na naupo lang ako sa sahig ng gym.

"Hey! Cheer up! We'll do something about it okay?!" Nads saud comforting me. She always say that para lang mapagaan ang loob ko pero alam kong wala kaming magagawa sa katawan ko. Ewan ko ba! Dati kasi problema ko na talaga yung hindi ako marunong sumayaw, as in seriously hindi ako marunong sumayaw ay hindi ako sumasayaw. Chill lang si Nads kasi cheerleader sya.

I did different kinds of routine dati kasi sabi nya pampalambot daw yon ang bewang, I did the most basic one! It's the hoolahoop! Sabi ni Nads kembot lang daw ako para hindi bumagsak pero wala, kahit anong giling yung gawen ko bumabagsak talaga, mukha na nga ata akong bulate e! Noon palang tinanggap ko na ang katotohanang tuod ako. Oo tuod, hindi mo talaga ako mapapasayaw kahit para sa grades kasi dati may ibang options pero ngayon. Maybe it reallt is true that if you're good in something that not all people possess, you can't do the common things they can. Yes I can sing pretty well but I can't dance. Argh I want to cry.

"I'm going home." I told Nadine before standing up. Dumaan muna ako sa locker para kuhanin ang bag ko at nagdiretso ako sa parking lot. I swiftly drove my way home.

Pagkarating sa bahay ay wala ni isang tao kaya naman nagdiretso ako sa kwarto para maligo. Ramdam ko ang pagod sa paglalaro pero agad ring narelax dahil sa maligamgam na tubig.

After going out of the shower mabilis kong tinuyo ang buhok ko at humiga, hindi ko namalayang nakatulog na pala ako.

I woke up with my phone ringing on my study table. Inaantok man ay kinuha ko yon,dahil baka importante.

"Hello Kuya Reef?" I groggily answered. "Princess? We're calling you for like the nth time, kasi wala kang kasama jan sa bahay. Andito kami sa ospital." Parang naging alarm yung word na 'ospital' dahilan para mapamulat ako ng maayos.

"Why are you in the hospital?! Are you all okay?!" Tarantang tanong ko. Narinig ko naman ang tawa ni Kuya Reef dahilan para mapasimangot ako.

"We're all okay. It's just that Lake is in big trouble. Anyway, pumunta ka na dito wala kang kasama jan." With that binaba na nya yung tawag. Mabilis akong nagsuot ng yellow hoodie ko at lumabas na para makaalis na.

Medyo traffic pa dahil rush hour,pero nakarating pa rin naman ako ng safe and sound.

"Goodevening Miss Ocean!" Bati sakin ng guard, I just smiled at him,and looked for Kuya Wave kasi susunduin nya daw ako dito sa baba.

"Kuya!" Tawag ko sakanya habang pababa sya ng hagdan,mabilis naman syang lumapit saakin at hinalikan ako sa noo. "What happened? Why is Kuya Lake in big trouble?" Magkasunod na tanong ko.

"Pumunta muna tayo sa fastfood,walang food." Ani Kuya Wave kaya naman naglakad kami papunta sa KFC.

"Mom and I, went to Shore's school earlier for some ramdom meeting.We found out that Adelaide was a student teacher there,actually hindi pa nga namin malalaman kung hindi sya nahimatay e." Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi ni Kuya Wave, hinimatay?! Ate Adelaide is Kuya Lake's long time girlfriend.

"Hinimatay sya dahil buntis sya, stressed daw dahil biglang hindi daw kinakausap ni Lake Augustine, tapos busy pa sya sa pagsstudent teacher nya. Pero okay naman na sya." Pagtatapos ni Kuya Wave sa kwento.

Nakaramdam naman ako ng inis kay Kuya Lake parang gusto ko syang hampasin ng hard.

Pumunta kami sa 30th floor ng hospital namin kung saan nakaconfine si Ate Ade, I thought the room would we sad and gloomy and quiet but I failed in expecting that, dahil kabaliktaran non ang nadatnan namin.

May mga balloons, saying congratulations, marami ring pagkain at kompleto kami, Daddy was still wearing his lab gown and stethoscope. I greeted them all except Kuya Lake beside ate Ade.

"Ate Ade? Are you feeling okay na?" Alalang tanong ko after I hugged her. "Okay na ako Aquie, don't worry." She gave an assuring look. I glanced at Kuya Lake who's head was hanging low. I hit him really on his arms making him winced in sudden pain.

"Why did you do that?!" Naiiyak ja tanong ko,lalo lang syang tumungo. "Kuya! Why didn't think of me first before doing that to ate Ade?! Babae din ako kuya naiisang kapatid na babae mo! Paano kapag nabuntis rin ako tapos ginawa rin saken yung ginawa mo, anong mararamdaman mo?!" I shouted angrily while crying.

"I'm sorry,I just needed time to think before I act." He said is a small voice.

"Ofcourse Kuya! Your act should be a good father not a happy go lucky bachelor!" Naiinis na sigaw ko.

"Im sorry okay? Hindi na ako tatakbo at wala akong planong tumakbo, I will fulfill my duty as a responsible husband to Adelaide and father of our baby." He sincerely said, with that I gave him a tight hug.

All I want him to realize was it's wrong to do that, he should've accompanied ate Ade with her 1st month of pregnancy.

"GROUP HUG!!" Sigaw ni Kuya Wave bago yumakap. And well hugged in unison.

"KAINAN NAAA!!" Masiglang sigaw nanaman ni Kuya Wave kaya naman kanya nagsimula na kaming kumain.

I looked around and observed my family. I'm lucky because they're my family,everytime we are to encounter such problems, kahit anong ginagawa nila, kahit gaano kahectic ang schedule nila, kapag may problema ang isa tatakbo sila para lang damayan. I smiled at that thought. The strong bond we have, is the best gift the God had given us all.

It's always been, one for all, all for one.

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