The old woman spoke. She was asking her. Nai stood there with her eyes that went bigger. She moved her hand and pointed her forefinger at herself. The woman smiled in return. Nai suddenly felt shy to what she just did. She acted a bit foolish. 
She wanted to sprint, to ran outside the house she just entered because of the feelings of shame that slowly made its way to creep into her. 
“I am sorry.” She smiled sheepishly. She looked at the seat and took the empty space. She was making taps on both of her knees trying her best to still smile the woman although she can feel her nerves getting riled up. 
This is making her feel nervous. 
She grabbed her nape, moving it to briefly touch it with her fingers before putting it back above her right knee. She looked at the front door only to see her father that is still talking to the old man. He wasn’t looking their way so she went back to stare at the woman in front of her. Pouting her lips, her eyes went back on her father. She slowly squint her eyes at him. Her eyes moved as she checked them. She felt betrayed. Her father left her alone to deal with all of this what she saw as an interrogation. She then exhaled a breath. Why does she feel nervous at something trivial as this? She moved a bit while she was still glued on her seat. She composed herself. 
Her eyes caught a figure that is coming their way. The girl looked like she only is after the Chihuahua who suddenly barked. She did not even spare them a glance. She looked at the woman to see her reaction. She only smiled at her when Nai’s eyes went towards her. 
The girl was trying to stop the Chihuahua from barking. She was placing her finger on her mouth, trying to shush the small dog. She then took it, carried it like it was like a bag that served as an accessory before she walked towards the door and step outside. His father’s head turned. His eyes light up and he started petting the Chihuahua. It calmed down just by her father’s touch. She then wondered whatever magical energy her father had just done that made the dog stop barking. 
She smiled at her father. “You like them?” She was shock that her father can make a dog calm down. She did not know that her father a dog type of person. Her father smile widened upon hearing her voice. He nodded and kept smiling as he turned his body to make her see It more clearly that he’s now carrying the dog. 
Shinai then made a silent comment. She mentally thought how her father looked like a bit of a fool while he was trying to make faces and sounds for the dog. She kept raising her eyebrows at him and back at the poor thing in his arms who had this look like it was so done with the act. She stared at the woman again. 
The woman looked at her back. Her face softened. “How’s your mother, Shinai? Where is she?” For Shinai the woman looked so composedly elegant as she asked her. 
“She’s good. She’s with a friend.” She simply stated the truth. Her mom just made an excuse to not join them today. 
They were supposed to go here. All three of them together but her mom stopped looking excited when she knew about the details of their so called not so family day slash bonding time together. She backed out. And of course, said her excuses which Nai think isn’t lame statements anyway because for her it had sense. She can never really know what was her reasons for backing out because Nai’s mother was so fast to forget that they even agreed to go somewhere upon knowing her father’s answer. It was a weird thing. 
She stared at the guy who’s sleeping. He’s like a mermaid. She never saw someone sleeping like that. She mentally scolded herself for thinking that the guy looked like a mermaid as he fake slept. He’s a guy. He’s a merman that is sleeping. 
The old woman started chuckling. Shinai stopped her staring. The woman then composed her voice. “That is Scott.” Her eyes left before it went towards the girl outside. “And that one is Eunice.” 
Shinai stared at them and a light bulb moment came into her mind. They are his siblings! She said to herself. Erinoi. They are Erinoi’s siblings. Speaking of that one, her eyes went back to the woman before she prepped a question in her head. “Uhm.” She was hesitating. “Uhm Erinoi.” She said. Stuttering. 
“Ahh-yes!” It was her father who replied. He heard her. Nai’s head turned towards him.
“He’s there. At the resort.” He exclaimed proudly. Nai couldn’t get why he looked proud when it was just Erinoi who is at the resort. 
She arched her eyebrow. “He went skinny dipping? I mean he went swimming?” She asked with sarcasm. “Without me?” She questioned her father. How dare he! He could’ve chatted me that he was already there! 
His father shook his head while he was happily chuckling. “He works there as a lifeguard. Only as his part time job, it was his side hustle.” 
She then raised her eyebrow. Looking like she couldn’t believe what she heard she then started laughing. And now all the eyes were on her. Including the not so sleeping merman who rose from laying down to stare at her too. She ignored his stare. He must’ve think that she’s going crazy. 
“I mean-“ She waved her hand. “Don’t mind me. I’m just happy that he has a job.” She looked at his father still trying to stop herself from too much happiness from laughing. “Can I go there?” She asked. 
His father stopped petting the dog and gave it back to the girl. “Sure. I will take you there. But first you have to change clothes.” His father made a suggestion. 
She was nodding. He was right. This is not the clothes to wear on a beach resort. This is something you’ll wear while you were shopping in the mall, trying to find goods on sale. She scolded herself mentally again. This is too much nodding in just a day. She felt like she is slowly becoming like her father. Shinai is getting his mannerisms. 
“Show her the room, Eunice.” The woman said. “You can change your clothes there, Nai.” The woman uttered that made Nai think it sounded with warmth on her tone. Enough to make Nai feel the warmth too in her heart. 
Ignoring the feeling, she bowed her head to excuse herself. They went to the said room. The girl left her without saying anything. She then ignored the feeling she got. She ignored the feels. Shook it and changed her clothes. The air of the comfort room suddenly changed and Shinai felt chilly. She slightly covered her body with the upperwear she’ll wear. She mouthed a short prayer. She called the name of the Lord to protect her and her mind and she went out of the room, walking fast. 
Phew!
She got out. She felt thankful. She thanked God that nothing burst into the room. She then bid her goodbye. She bid her goodbye first towards the woman by bowing at her. And to the older man, the old man hugged him and Shinai went to kiss him on the cheeks. She stared at her father but the man looked so happy. She couldn’t understand why he had that reaction.