ESMERALDA could hear Jeremy's laughter from the balcony of her room. Her room was facing the beach, so she could clearly see how her brother happily played with the wave with his friends.
Costa Aurora was an expensive resort. No one would think that it was still in the Philippines because the structures and cottages were colorful, just like the villages in Italy. It was facing the Pacific Ocean and a good place for surfing.
She will never get used to that kind of luxury from Amadeus. She felt like her hands were cuffed, and her neck was wrapped in a chain.
Esmeralda jumped when Amadeus knocked on her door. “Esmeralda, it’s time for your surfing lesson.”
She opened the door, frowning. “I’m not joining your surfing thing,” she said. “I still have to cook barbecue.”
She was fine with acting rude rather than fantasize about him in his cream singlet and black boardwalk shorts. His muscles flexed under his thin shirt. She could not concentrate on the surfing lesson if he was flaunting his body.
“Don’t worry about it. I have sent it to the kitchen.”
Her expression darkened. “Why are you messing with my barbecue?”
“You can’t cook at the beach. Everything should be done in the kitchen. And you can only order food from the resort. That’s the policy.”
“It’s allowed in other resorts.”
“This is Costa Aurora,” he replied casually.
“I get it. The resort of the rich people,” she murmured when she grabbed the bag that contained their belongings.
“I’ll carry your bag,” he offered.
She pulled her bag to her body. “No, thanks, señorito. Carrying a bag of a poor like me does not suit you.”
He sighed. “Look. Can you forget that I’m Amadeus while we’re here? Can you treat me as Richard?”
“What? You want me to play the fool for you?” she asked and stopped walking. “Why don’t you just hit my head on the wall so I could forget everything you’ve done to me?”
"I just want to make your neighbors happy—your brother. If they can’t see you happy with me, they won’t be happy, too. Just this once. I hope the issue between us won’t ruin the fun. You can hate me again afterward.”
She heard Jeremy's laughter once again. He ran toward her and pulled her hand. "Sister, let's go! Join us. I want to go surfing already." He held Amadeus's hand on the other. "There! You can teach me the bottom turn now."
"Oh! We'll just start with the basics. There's no need to hurry," Amadeus said.
Jeremy's energy and happiness were one of a kind. It was the first time Esmeralda had seen him not pail, and his skin was glowing. She knew her brother was happy. He was lively and as if he had no sickness at all. It was the Jeremy she wanted to see.
For her brother’s sake, she’d put up with Amadeus’s presence.
ESMERALDA lay on the sarong unfolded on the sand. Surfing was more exhausting than she had imagined. That was worse than doing a huge pile of laundry or cleaning the house all day. She only lasted a few minutes contending with the wave, but she already ran out of strength.
She attempted to balance herself on the surfboard to stand and surf the wave, but she found herself falling into the water. After a couple of attempts, she always failed. She would fall back into the water before she could even stand to balance. So after drinking gallons and her sinus aching after sniffing saltwater, she finally walked out of the water as a loser.
She did not know if it was only her who hated surfing because Jeremy was better than her. He did not stop until he could stand on the surfboard. He was braver than her. His condition could be a huge difference. He learned to fight. He learned not to give up.
Did that mean that she gave up on life that easily? No. She only gave up on surfing and Amadeus. They were not meant for her.
She was surprised when her phone rang inside her bag. She picked and felt nervous when she read Aiden’s name.
She closed her eyes and waited for a moment before answering the call. "Hello, Aiden. How have you been?"
She felt guilty. There she was enjoying with Amadeus in his resort while Aiden had no idea that the wedding was not happening.
“I am great. Really great. You won’t believe what I’m going to tell you. It’s like a miracle happened.”
"What is it?" she asked and got up to continue watching Jeremy. He was sitting with Amadeus, cheering Topher, who was paddling on the water while riding the surfboard.
“I received checks from my brother and a contract. He agreed to lend me money to start the cut-flower farm. He will not put an interest. According to the contract, I can pay him whenever I want.”
She sucked her breath. “That’s indeed a miracle.”