Chapter 1

“Katie!” A loud shout echoed all over the shore. A girl suddenly stopped painting and turned around to see where the voice came from. When she saw who it was, she smiled and waved. It’s just Victoria, her BFF, Katie said to herself.

   She motioned her to come closer and Victoria came immediately.

    “What is it?” said Katie and continued with her work. Katie was too focused that she didn’t even notice the nervousness on Victoria’s face. Victoria was still gasping for air as she gazed at Katie’s painting.

    “Wow, that’s a piece of art. I thought you’re already finished with that?” Victoria asked curiously while still looking at the painting. To her amazement, she had forgotten why she went to find Katie.

    “Yes, but I haven’t finished it yet. Whenever I looked at it, there seems to be something missing and I don’t know what it is.” Katie laughed while looking at her work. She keeps looking back and forth at it and the sunset. She sighed and continued painting the beautiful view.

    “You’re still not satisfied with that?” Victoria sarcastically said while rolling her eyes in disbelief. “Sister Maya is looking for you. She’s worried you’ll spend your night again painting here in the beach,” Victoria uttered with a hint of warning in her voice.

    Katie loves to paint the beach especially the sunset. She frequently spends her night in there and sometimes, she camps in the beach which makes Sister Maya furious and worried.

    Hearing what Victoria said, nervousness suddenly creep into Katie’s system.

    “Okay, okay! I’ll just finish this tomorrow,” Katie said disappointedly and started to put her things in her favorite tote bag lazily. Seeing how slow Katie is, Victoria decided to help her out. After everything, they went back to the orphanage.

    Before the two could get close, they saw Sister Maya outside of the orphanage waiting for them. Katie sensed that she would be scolded again so she looked at her BFF to ask for help. But before she could even say anything, Victoria spoke.

    “Good luck, BFF,” Victoria said while holding her laugh. She knew that Katie will be scolded again so she left immediately. Katie glared at her but Victoria just laughed back.

    Katie slowly looked at Sister Maya. She’s so nervous that she thought her heart will escape from her chest.

    “Sister Maya,” Katie said and smiled nervously. She knew to herself what will happen next.

    “Where did you went off again?” asked Sister Maya.

    “Just here and there,” Katie replied with a nervous laugh. She’s afraid of how Sister Maya would react if she’d know she went to the beach again.

    Sister Maya stared at Katie for a long time. Katie, on the other hand, was sweating with nervousness as she waited for her to be scold.

    “Come in and help us set the table so we can already eat our dinner.”

    “Yes, Sister. I’ll be there in a minute.” Katie breathed a sigh of relief when she managed to get away with Sister Maya’s anger.

    They finished eating their dinner. Katie and Victoria already finished putting away the cleaned dishes and went on their separate rooms. Katie happily lay down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. But as her mind settled down on peace, sad and confusing thoughts started lingering in her mind. She doesn’t know what her plan will be if her painting can’t get in the contest.

    A sigh escaped on her lips as she got out of bed. She looked at her painting perched near her bedroom window. A dim light coming from the moon acts as a light for her to see her masterpiece.

    “I will reach my dream soon. I just need to work hard,” Katie said with a smile on her lips as she tries to cheer herself. A deafening silence is her music as she blankly stared at her painting. Sleepiness gradually visited Katie and she dozed off.

    After hours of sleep, Katie awoke to the loud crowing of a rooster. She stood up lazily, made her bed, and went downstairs to help with the orphanage work. Giggles and laughs of children echoed the whole orphanage that made the whole room brimming with warmness. The children suddenly stopped laughing and giggling when they saw Katie.

    “Good morning!” the children at the orphanage greeted her happily.

    “Good morning,” Katie greeted with a smile. The children briskly walk away and continued giggling. While looking at them, Katie suddenly remembered her days growing up in this orphanage.

    “Earth to Katie!”

    Katie almost jumped when she heard a voice from behind, snapping her out of reverie. She didn’t even notice she was lost in her memory lane while staring blankly on the wall.

    “Huh?” she asked Victoria and gave her a glance. She didn’t paid attention so she doesn’t know what Victoria has said. Victoria stared at Katie seriously, frustration was obvious in Victoria’s gaze. Katie nervously swallowed. She knew Victoria despises when she doesn’t get the attention she wants when she’s saying something, especially important matters.

    “I said I’ll go to the city. Will you come with me?” Victoria repeated. It is obvious in her voice that she’s annoyed.

    “I’m sorry, Vicky, but I already promised Sister Danica that I’ll help her with the tasks here today,” Katie replied shyly and made a peace sign. She suddenly felt guilt. She was the one who invited Victoria to come over in the orphanage so they could take a vacation together yet she couldn’t accompany her with the tour around the island. Blame her busy schedule.

    “It’s okay. I understand. Do you have anything in mind you want me to buy for you?” Victoria asked as she adjusted the clothes she was carrying. She took it with her so she could hang it outside, Katie smiled while looking at her best friend. Even though her best friend is rich, she’s kind, down to earth and helpful.

    “Ice cream?” said Katie, unsure.

    Vicky stared at her. “Is that all?” she asked, waiting for Katie to say more. Katie sighed as she understood what her best friend wanted to hear.

    “And some swimsuit,” Katie said helplessly and rolled her eyes. Vicky grinned with achievement. Ever since they arrived here, Vicky won’t stop pestering her to buy a two-piece.

    “There’s nothing to lose, Katie,” Vicky said enthusiastically that her smile still lingered on her lips.

    “Yeah yeah, right. And oh, hang those clothes outside so it will dry quickly.”

    “That was actually my plan.” Vicky chuckled. She’s still smiling at her foolishly while wiggling her eyebrows as she left. Katie just laughed and shook her head at her friend’s behavior.

    Katie spent the whole morning helping with household chores. And after everything, she tiredly sat on a swing under a tree and sighed. She then looked around, savoring the fresh air brushing on her face. Then suddenly, her cellphone rang. She looked at it and she saw a text from Victoria that says she will be home in a minute.

    “Oh, it’s already 3 PM,” Katie muttered under her breath while looking at her cellphone. She got up and decided to go back first to meet Vicky before going to the beach. And just like what the message said, Vicky arrived just in time when she entered the orphanage.

    “What took you so long?” Katie greeted Vicky with a question who had just gotten out of the car.

    “Sorry, it took me a while to shop,” Vicky said and went to the passenger seat to open the door. Katie followed her and was greeted with a large number of paper bags.

    “Victoria Marie Candella,” Katie said with a warning tone, gazing at Victoria angrily. Victoria turned around with a frightened look and awkwardly laughed when she saw the annoyed Katie standing behind her back. Katie knotted her forehead in frustration. She just forgot that Victoria loves to shop and is a big spender. She regretted that she didn’t accompany and stopped Victoria for buying so many things in the city.

    “Money—” Katie was about to scold her when Victoria spoke.

    “Money doesn’t grow on trees. You spent a lot of money again, Vicky. May I remind you that your mom can freeze your account anytime she wants? You want that to happen again?” said Vicky while copying Katie’s words and tone with complete hand gestures. Katie crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow that made Victoria’s face crumpled in fright. After all, Katie was the one who took care of her budget.

    “I know, I know! But I just bought them for a cheap prices!” Victoria defended and smile wryly.

    Katie stared at her deeply, scanning if she’s telling the truth.

    “Okay. But next time, I’ll really come with you. I really can’t let you shop alone.” Katie surrendered while glaring at Vicky. The latter just smiled and hugged her. Katie then helped Victoria carry the paper bags inside the orphanage.

    “What are these things you bought, Vicky?” Katie asked curiously as they were about to put the last paper bags inside the orphanage.

    “Clothes and toys for the children,” Vicky replied with a smile. Katie suddenly stopped when she heard what Victoria has said.

    “For the kids?” Katie asked in shock. Victoria was not very fond with kids so she was shocked by what her best friend, Victoria, did.

    “Why are you so shocked? It seems like what I did was impossible,” Victoria said with a chuckle.

    “I didn’t meant it like that. I thought you hate kids?” Katie asked laughingly. They put down the last paper bag they were carrying and sat down.

    “I hate kids. Spoiled rich kids, to be exact,” Victoria defended with a shrug that made Katie laughed out loud.

    “Oh, okay! Ms. Not-a-rich-kid,” Katie joked while holding back a laugh.

    “Hey, I’m rich but I’m not spoiled?” Victoria defended angrily and glared at Katie. Katie, on the other hand, was amused by Victoria’s reaction.

    She knows that Victoria is a rich kid, but she’s not a spoiled brat. Victoria was always generous to the point that many bullies abused her kind nature and made her their personal ATM machine.

    “Yeah, I’m just teasing you! Chill out!”

    Vicky rolled her eyes. “And oh, before I forgot, the ice cream is in the trunk,” she said when she suddenly remembered what she bought for Katie. Vicky was about to get up to get the ice cream in her car when Katie stopped her.

    “I’ll go get it,” Katie volunteered.

    “Are you sure?” Victoria asked. Katie nodded and stood up. She got out and went to Victoria’s car. She had already taken the ice cream when she noticed that Victoria had bought a lot of ice cream. Instead of getting angry, she just shook her head in silence. Katie was about to enter again when she saw Sister Maya approaching.

    “Is Victoria back?” Sister Maya asked as she approached. She also took the other ice cream tubs on Katie’s hands to help her.

    “Yes, just now.” Katie replied politely.

    They went in and gave the children the ice cream. Katie and Victoria were eating ice cream when Sister Maya called them. They immediately finished their food and went to Sister Maya.

    “What is it, Sister?” Victoria asked.

    “Can I ask a favor from you two?” Sister said as she stared at them. The two looked at each other and nodded.

    “All right, Sister. What is it?” Katie asked.

    “The son,” Sister Maya started. “Of the owner of the townhouse a couple of blocks away will be arriving tomorrow to have a vacation. If only the two of you could tour and accompany the owner’s son around the island, it will be a huge help. Their family helped the orphanage for so many years so I can’t easily refuse.”

    “It depends… Is he handsome? If he’s handsome then I would be happy to tour him!” Vicky said enthusiastically while giggling. Katie was just shocked by her best friend’s hoeness and smacked her. Vicky rub the back of her head with her hand while pouting her lips. Katie just rolled her eyes and focused at Sister Maya.

    “All right, you can count on us!” Katie agreed. But deep down herself, she doesn’t want to go. She couldn’t even tour her best friend around! What more a stranger?

    She knew to herself that she just agreed as a payback to that someone. She knew how that family helped the orphanage. She’d been hearing them since she was a girl.

    Their conversation with Sister Maya ended. Katie just thought that it would be nice if it would be a girl so that they could get along more easily. The two were on their way to the beach because the sun was about to set. Katie was carrying painting supplies. They both love to paint but Katie paints more on landscape and Victoria paints portraits. Katie sucks at painting faces.

    “Katie, do you think the owner’s son is handsome?” Victoria asked while busy scrolling on her cellphone. She’s multitasking alright! She’s walking and using her phone at the same time.

    Katie just sighed and looked at her best friend helplessly. “Victoria, please stop me or I might hit you again,” she threatened her. Victoria just laughed and ran closer to the sea.

    Katie put down her things and started painting while Victoria swam in the ocean.

    After settling everything down, Katie stared at the sea. She was amazed at its beauty as it glistens in the sunlight. The sunset always amazed her whenever she stared at it every day at the beach. She never get tired of watching and painting it.

    Katie was busy painting when she heard a shutter sound of a camera. She was about to turn around to see where it came from when the rain suddenly poured. Katie quickly hid her painting.

    “Katie! It’s raining!” Victoria shouted and ran towards her. They hurriedly got their things and ran to the orphanage. They even ran under the rain for a couple of minutes, blaming the beach for being far away from the orphanage. While running, Katie remembered what she had heard at the beach and the figure of a man running away.