I embraced myself as I walked along the beach, feeling the cold breeze of air on my skin.
Everyone is now inside the resthouse. For Zack, on the other hand, I have no idea where he went, if he had plans, or when he would return.
"Irryn?"
I turned to face the person who had called me. Ryle was walking near to me.
I smiled at him. "Ryle!"
"What are you doing here? It's late already, and it's cold here."
"I'm just enjoying the sound of the waves and the cold wind."
He smiled, too. "Is that so? Then would you mind me joining you?"
"I don't mind."
He walked beside me, grinning widely. We went for a walk together.
"You love seas, don't you?"
"Hmmn..." I agreed. "No one doesn't."
"So, we're basically the same. I suppose you're always going to beaches, don't you?"
"We're different in a way, Ryle. I don't get to go to the beach all the time. I went to the beach for the first and final time when I was in kindergarten. This is only my second time doing so."
He stared at me, a look of complete surprise on his handsome face. "Really? Is this your second time going to a beach?"
I nodded. "Yes. Aside from not being able to afford such seaside resorts, transportation fees are outrageously costly. Instead of wasting money on unnecessary spending, we must save for our everyday needs as well as for my school's finances."
"Wow. I can't believe I hear this mature reasoning from a sixteen-year-old like you! Are you really just sixteen?" he sounded so impressed.
I chuckled. "Sure! Don't I appear to be?"
"Speaking from looking simply at your appearance, you look younger than sixteen, but the way you think at things looks like you aren't just sixteen. You speak more maturely than your actual age."
"Are you kidding me?" Still smiling, I shook my head. "It could just be that we'd had a particularly rough go of things in life. When my dad passed, I had to put my own interests and desires aside since I had to consider firstly what was best for my mother and me."
"But now, Irryn, we're here for you both. Rhian, my father, and I. We're here for you, and we're now family. You must enjoy things while you are still young. You don't have to think about it all that much. You don't have to think about the critical and complicated problems that only adults should think about. "Enjoy your teenage years while they last."
I felt grateful. "Thank you so much, Ryle. Thank you for accepting us to be part of your family."
He smiled at me and nodded.
I then remembered the seriousness of his expression when his father and my mother had previously discussed getting married.
I'm concerned about how he feels about it, but he couldn't explain himself clearly enough to give his honest opinion.
"Anyway, I observed you were silent and serious when uncle Alanson and my mother were discussing their wedding plans. I was concerned because you didn't say anything. Is their decision okay for you?"
"How about you?" he asked in response to my question. "Is it okay for you to see your mom marry someone else after your late father?"
"My father has been gone for three years. My mother never abandoned me and never stopped caring for me. She supported me entirely on her own. I believe it is time for her to be happy again."
He smiled as he glanced out at the sea. "Even though it's only been a year since we lost mommy in a car accident, dad never failed us, nor did he neglect us. Even though he lost mom, he still chose to stay strong for us. If auntie Fidelia is the one to bring back the happiness in dad's eyes, I will have no problem with their marriage, and I will approve it wholeheartedly."
"You mean you're not against their marriage?"
He glanced at me with the affection of a sibling.
He looks exactly like his younger brother, but he's a little taller, and he's the gentle and kind version—almost having an aura of a good angel.
"Ryn, I have no reason to be against it. I've seen how pleased Rhian gets and how excited she is to look forward to daddy remarrying another woman who has a lot of potentials to be our second mother. Rhian is very young, and she primarily needs the care of a mother."
I was relieved. Knowing that Ryle is not going against our parents' wishes is a great relief for me.
A strong wind blew, and I embraced myself since it was so cold.
Ryle took off his coat and put it on me, which surprised me.
"Ryle, you don't have to—"
"It's always been cold here, especially in the middle of the night. Let us take a seat on the bench."
I agreed as he brought me to one of the benches in front of the cottages.
"I haven't asked you this question yet, Ryle, and I hope you don't mind. But how old are you already?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Twenty-six. Way ahead to go over the calendar digits!" he joked around.
I laughed. "Hey, you're being exaggerated! Twenty-six is still young!"
He nodded, never disagreeing with me.
"How 'bout, Rhian? How old is the youngest?"
"She's only twelve years old and will begin Grade 7 in June. So, how about you? "I'm guessing you're in grade 11?"
"Yes. You? You're through with school?"
"Been years already since I got my degree. I have been in charge of this resort's operations for some time now."
Speaking of the resort, I saw that there had been no other tourists or travelers since we arrived this morning. It was just mom and I and the Lamonts.
"I haven't seen any guests here since mom and I arrived. Why?"
"Dad intended to close this resort today for tourists. He reserved it just for his family." I was surprised. So, that was the reason why this place was limited to only a few people today.
When I noticed the fishing boat approaching us, my heart began to race. I couldn't go wrong with whoever was driving the aforementioned watercraft. Standing tall on his boat in that white t-shirt, faded jeans, and wet boots. He looked like he was the king of the seas and oceans.
"Zack! Did you have fun on your boat trip all by yourself?" Ryle humorously remarked.
The boat stopped at the shore, and he went down. He ignored his brother and, again, pretended to be deaf as if he didn't hear anything at all. He fixed the boat's rope and tied it to the nearest tree's trunk.
Without a trace of a smile, his aura was as dark as usual when he came passing us by. He would probably go back to the resthouse.
"Where's Rhian, bro?" he spoke to his brother, at last!
"She's already inside the resthouse, Zack."
"Glad that you didn't bring her here to witness your night of passion. It's already late at night," he said mockingly.
Wait, what did he say? Night of passion? Was he implying that Ryle and I were having a romantic affair with each other?
Oh, he must be kidding! The two of us, actually, the four, including him and Rhian, are about to become siblings! I'll be about to be their stepsister!
Before he left, he merely smirked and stared at me sternly.
I felt like I was totally blown away. What wrong did I do it felt like he had a wave of anger towards me."He was with mom when they had an accident, but he survived, and mom didn't ..."I looked at Ryle at what he just told me."What do you mean?""He was a second-year college back then when it happened. There was a parents-meeting at school, and just like usual, mom was always the one attending for us. That time, mom and dad were arguing about something. Mom was driving the car while Zack was beside her hearing her exchanging yells with dad. It was too late when they realized there was a truck ahead of them. Mom tried her very best to avoid the accident, but she didn't succeed, so she, instead, used her remaining
I WAS out of the resthouse when I got up in the morning to go for a walk on the beach. My mom and I have been staying with my uncle Alanson and his family on General Santos for three days now. The resort has been opened for the tourists.I went for a walk. I've seen numerous faces, and some have even smiled at me without my knowledge, or if I was aware, I smiled back. The majority of them have been staying at the resort since yesterday, staying in hotels, cottages, cabins, and even in their own tents, while the others have only come today. Yes, there were a lot of people, but not so many that it became crowded. The resort's beauty and tranquillity have been well-appreciated.Almost everyone is plainly rich, exactly like the people I've met as newcomers who are now bonding with Zack and Rylan.
My heart felt like it had been torn to shreds, and my feet felt like they were glued to the sand. Weird. When I saw him kiss a girl in front of me, my heart hurt for no clear reason.Zack's hold of the girl took longer than five seconds and was so sudden that it left her gasping for air."Damn lucky girl!" The other girls envied."Zack, kiss me, too!""I deserve that kiss more than her!""Please, Zack, give me another kiss. I beg you, try it again just once more!"He just laughed at them all but he had always been so dangerous."Where are you going! W
“You live here, Irryn?” I smiled a little and shook my head to Ives’s question. Ives was a current guest at the resort, and I had just met him. “I’m actually from Sta. Cruz in Koronadal City.” “I see. So, you're here for this summer vacation?" I nodded. “Almost like that.” "How come almost?" You're not sure how long you'll be staying here?" Durand, on the other hand, laughed. “The truth is I’m here with my mom because her fiancé is living here.” "Oh, here to bond with your stepfamily, huh?" It was Ives. I nodded. “Exactly. How about you? Do you actually reside here, or are you just visiting for the summer?” We were talking for almost a few hours and it was almost dawn. Ives and Durand are cousins, almost like real brothers because they’re really close. I met them earlier when they came near me and gave me a turtle, which made me immediately liked them. After that, they introduced themselves to me and we started being friends and talking a lot. I could see they’re kind and fri
With what he just said, my heart skipped a beat. However, Ives and Durand were confused. So I continued what he was about to say."He is speaking the truth. Durand, Ives, he's my stepbrother."Incredulous, Ives shook his head. " Despite the fact that he is your stepbrother, he still has no right to treat you badly."Zack's jaw clenched in rage. He was as if ready to murder the two."Please, Ives! Durand? Please leave now!" I wanted to cry as I begged them to leave.I don't want any of them to get hurt, so I avoid adding fuel to the fire as much as possible.To keep up the resort's good name, Zack must not cause any harm to the visitors staying here. I wouldn't have the guts to confront Ryle, the resort's manager, if something bad happens or anything is ruined because of me! I just can't take the thought of staining Lamont Beach Resort's image."Ryn?" Durand was worried about me being in danger while I was with my arrogant stepbrother.Although I had only just met them, I already cons
“I CALLED your attention to be here today because I want you all to know that your aunt Fidelia and I will be getting married this coming first Sunday of May before we ever go back to our hometown in Koronadal,” uncle Alanson announced when we were all gathered in the veranda of the resthouse."After you'll get married, both auntie Fidelia and sis Irryn will be living with us in our home at Koronadal, dad?" Rhian asked in joy and excitement.We had settled into the center of a large rattan sofa. My brother Ryle and I sat facing our parents, who were joined by Rhian sitting between us."Of course, dear. Both of them would be living with us."“And that means sis Irryn will also attend the same school as mine?” she continued asking and turned to look at me smiling.I smiled back happily.I am so thankful that she treats me like a real sister, as well as Ryle does. Only one does not."Yes. You, your sis Irryn and your brother Zackarius will go to school together every morning.""Great! I'
After breaking my heart, Zack walked out. He went out of the veranda and walked to the shore."Zack! Rocio Zackarius!"On the other side, I could not feel anything other than absolute pain. The whole idea of him brutally stating in front of his family that he would never like it if I became his sister was so distressing to me that I had to stop thinking about it.This anguish was so intense that I thought I could burst! As a consequence of this, the next thing I did was chase after him.“Irryn, where are you going? Irryn!” Mom called me, but I continued running after my ruthless stepbrother.“Ryn!” Ryle also called me.Nobody was able to stop me! I was so determined to talk and confront Zack!“Wait, Zack! Wait!”I didn’t care anymore if my tears were rolling down my cheeks and if he could see them!And there, he continued walking not even turning his back to look at me like he was pretending to be deaf.I increased my speed in walking so that I could reach him, and the moment I did, I
I didn’t say anything yet, but Rhian suddenly sensed what was on my mind.“Just not sure if he's here now. Sometimes, he’s late because he wakes up late in the morning, or sometimes, he’s just being lazy. But most of the time, he’s really here at this hour to manage this business.”We reached the second floor and then we have finally seen Zack.So, he’s really here!He was sitting on a black sofa while sweating maybe because he had just finished working out. I have noticed the two brunette girls at his side flirtatiously chitchatting with him."There he is! Big bro!" Rhian called his attention, so he looked at us coming to him.Even the two girls turned gazes at us.I followed Rhian when she walked near her brother. I could already feel my stepbrother’s dark eyes directed straightly in my direction."Rhian, there you are! How are you, baby?" smilingly approached by the girl who was wearing a gray sports bra with a pair of the same color cycling shorts. She even kissed my sister like t