The Zodiacs

Chapter 4 - Tomas Gemn

Tomas Gemn

After hearing those words from Tam, I immediately looked down. If she only knew what is going on in my mind. I wish I could tell her what's been bothering me so much but I can't do it because it's obvious that the Upbringing is the only thing she cares for.

I know she's feeling what I am feeling, we're twins. I feel her emotions, pain, and some other things that non-twin people don't experience. But right now, I know she's filtering it so she doesn't have to experience the same thing I am experiencing too. She doesn't want to connect. We have a great relationship before but as the Upbringing goes by us, that is where it all started to crumble.

The pressure for her just got intense when the whole house have been preparing for the event that Tam is dying to win. It's a tradition for us in the House of Gemini to be paired with our twin and fight with other twins in the house. I witnessed how Tam worked so hard to practice and enhance her abilities. Walang araw at gabi na hindi ko siya nakikita sa likuran ng bahay nain na hindi pinapalakas at sinusubukan ang sarili.

I mean get her, for almost a century the male one in the twin has always been in the council. Tam felt pressured and I know that because she doesn't fail to remind me how badly she wants to defeat me. And if you're thinking that I don't feel the same pressure she's experiencing, that is where you got it wrong because I do. I do feel pressured, not because for the same reason. It's something else that I don't know if I can even escape and resolve.

Sinubukan kong hawakan ang kamay ni Tam pagkatapos pero agad niya itong binawi at inilagay sa gilid upang hindi ko na maabot pang muli. Hindi ko gusto kung paano niya ilayo o idistansya ang sarili niya sa akin para sa isang bagay na hindi ko naman gusto na mangyari o makuha. Naiinis ako dahil pakiramdam ko ay inilalayo na kami ng tuluyan sa isa't-isa ni Tam dahil sa Upbringing na 'to. I don't care for that, I don't care for a seat in the council. I just want a life far from this. I wish could tell this to them. I wish I could tell them that I don't want to fight in the Upbringing.

"Tam, please don't do this," I asked her.

Sumagot siya habang habang nakatingin pa rin sa mga tao, "Not right now. Good luck, Tomas."

Tuluyan ko nang itinigil ang ginagawa kong pakikiusap kay Tam. I don't want to force her to talk to me. That's the last thing I want to do. I just hope that she realizes that I am not her enemy, that I am not someone she should be looking like someone who will defeat her. I am her brother. I will always look after and care for her. I would never hurt her.

Ipinagpatuloy ko nalang sulitin ang nangyayari ngayong kasiyahan. Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo at piniling makipagsalamuha sa mga bata. Lumapit ako sa kanila habang may bahid ng ngiti sa labi ko. I remember how innocent I was like them before. I wish I could back time and not have this responsibilities weighing on my shoulders. Gusto ko nalang na magising isang araw na wala akong iniisip na pangalan na kailangan kong ipagmalaki at ipaglaban. Gutso ko nalang na isang araw ay magising nalang ako at ang unang maabutan ko ay ang mahal ko sa buhay at hindi ang mga gamit na kailangan kong sirain para sa araw na iyon dahil kailangan ko para sa pag-eensayo.

I wish I could be like these kids.

"Hello! Anong nilalaro niyo diyan?" Bati ko sa kanila at nakisali na rin sa mga ginagawa nila.

Natigilan silang lahat sa paglalaro at masayang tumingin sa akin. Ang iba naman ay nagsitalunan at nagsiyakapan sa mga paa ko. Natawa ako sa mga ginawa nila at umupo nalang din para maabot nila ako at makita na rin namin ang mukha ng isa't-isa.

"Oh! You're Tomas Gemn! I wish to be like you when I grow up!" Masayang banggit ng isang batang babae sa akin sabay ipinilit niya ipakita sa akin ang kakayahan niya. She tried to make a force of air but it just popped out, making the other kids laugh.

Napangiti ako sa ginawa niya at hinaplos ang ulo niya, "You will be if you have a twin. Mayroon ka bang kakambal?"

Gumilid naman ang iba nilang mga kasama para ipakita ang kakambal na lalaki ng bata. Napangiti ako dahil nakayuko lang siya at mukhang nag-aantay ng sasabihin ko. I decided to wave my hand a little bit to form a circular force of air around the kid to make him float.

Nakita ko kung paano unti-unting nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya. The other kids started cheering aand jumping because of joy. They kept saying they want it's their turn. Pinagpatuloy ko ang pakikipaglaro ko sa mga bata hanggang sa napagod na ako dahil sa sobrang daming bata na pumapasan sa katawan ko. Nagpapaalam na ako sa kanila na kailangan ko nang umalis at bumalik sa kakambal ko pero ang totoo ay nagdesisyon muna akong mapag-isa sa pinakamataas na parte ng gusali na 'to.

While I was looking down, I could see how massive the House of Gemini is. My see-through clothe started to fly against my face and body but I handled the win like it's a part of me. The wind is a part of me. It always has been.

I lifted up my forefinger and swirled a little bit to manipulate the sky above, making me my own cloud that pours rain. I started to feel the water flowing and touching my skin. I closed my eyes as I feel my cloth clinging to my tight skin, revealing more of my body. The feelings that the water and wind give to me are immaculate. I could live like this forever and be contented.

Napatigil ako sa ginagawa at binuksan muli ang mga mata ko nang maramdaman ko ang paglapit sa akin ng isang tao. Lumingon ako sa likod at doon nakita ang naglalakad na si Oli.Nakatingin lamang siya sa akin habang naglalkad nang mabagal na para bang nasa kaniya ang lahat ng oras sa mundo.

"What do you want, Oli?" agad kong tanong sa kaniya.

We have already talked, why is he here? Ano bang kailangan niya?

"I just want to see you." sagot nito sa akin.

Napalayo ako ng tingin at nagpigil ng sarili. Pagkatapos ay tuluyan na akong tumayo at humarap sa kaniya.

"No, no. You can't do this, Oli. You can't." at agad na nilisan ang lugar.