Circe Isle Andino is one of the most decorated professional surfer. Surfing is her life. During the day, she spent hours and hours riding the waves, and at night she lay contented on her bed sleeping peacefully.
There's nothing she want more in her...
Nasa akto ako nang pag-iinat nang mamataan ko ang mga tao na ngayon ay nakasalampak sa living room ng bahay ni Tala. Still disoriented from sleep, I just stood there while watching the people who hadn't noticed my presence yet.
Bukod kay Coal na kasalukuyang kandong si Kaise ay kasama rin nila ang sister-in-law ng binata na si Ember na karga ang sariling anak at ang mga kapatid niya na sina Trace, Domino, at Luna.
Kaise looks like she's having the time of her life. Napapaligiran sila ng mga gift wrapper at mga regalo. Almost all of them have sharks on them, so it's no wonder she's having a blast.
Tinignan ko ang wall clock. Seven pa lang ng umaga. Usually nagigising ako ng mas maaga dahil inuunahan ko talaga si Kaise. Tala probably turned off my alarm so I could sleep more.
Napailing na lang ako nang makita kong sinusubukan ni Coal na subuan ng pagkain si Kaise pero tinabig lang ng bata ang kamay niya na hindi magkamayaw sa pag-abot sa mga laruan na nagkalat.
"Hi, idol!"
Kinawayan ko rin pabalik si Domino na siyang unang nakapansin sa akin. All eyes went to me, but only one pair made me want to fidget from where I was standing.
I gave them a smile as I approached them. Sa tabi ni Coal ay nakita ko ang toddler grip dish ni Kaise. There are bananas and French toast in it, cut into bite-size pieces. Dumukwang ako ng bahagya at inabot ko ang kamay ni Coal na may hawak na pambatang tinidor. May nakatusok doon na maliit na piraso ng toast.
"Oooh, what's this? Yum!" I exclaimed exaggeratedly while chewing to get Kaise's attention. "Look! Daddy's going to feed the shark too."
I gave Coal a pointed look when he didn't move. He looked frozen for a second while looking at me. Pagkaraan ay tumikhim siya at kumuha ulit ng piraso ng tinapay at umakto siyang pinapakain ang hawak ni Kaise na laruan. Is it just me, or does his face look flush?
Inangat ni Kaise ang mga kamay. "Babi's turn!"
Napapangiting umupo ako sa sahig nang makita kong nagsisimula ng kumain ang bata. Kung patigasan lang ng ulo, mahirap manalo kay Kaise.
"I like your shirt."
I looked at Domino, and I found him looking at the print on my black long t-shirt sleepwear. Nagbaba ako ng tingin sa suot ko. On my chest, written in white letters, are the words "Beach please".
"Gusto mong bulagin kita?"
Parehas na nagtatakang napamata kami ni Domino kay Coal na masama ang tingin sa kapatid niya. Trace chuckled, and then he patted the back of his younger brother. "Makaka-relate ka rin someday."
