The Zodiacs

Chapter 3 - Tamsin Gemn

Tamsin Gemn

As I closed my both hands after performing the traditional gesture of the entrants who won The Selection, I could hear their applause. A wide smile formed on my lips as I focused on their amusement of what I can do and offer to them, but the smile on my lips and their applause evaporated as Tomas' turn went on. I watched him move his hands delicately. The scared twin air sphere formed in between his palms and in just a blink of an eye, he burst it all over us. People applauded him louder than mine as the sparkling and the breeze of air covered the whole palace.

After he did that, I can see how amazed he was by himself. He looked at me but I immediately looked the other way and faked a smile and clapped a little bit for the public to see. Once the traditional gestures have been performed by the twins, meaning us- the feast has started. Tomas and I are seated on the twin chair on top of a three-story stage. The Chancellor, Elders, Lords, Leaders, Performers, and other respectable persons in the House of Gemini are here. They're watching and preaching for the winner. Yes, a winner. They only think that one of us can win a seat in the council and that is Tomas. I'm here but I feel like I'm an outcast in my own feast and triumph. They're making me feel like I don't deserve to be here.

Uminom ako sa basong nasa harapan ko at nagsimula nang kumain kasabay ng mga taong nandito ngayon. Kahit hindi ko tignan ang nangyayari sa gilid ko, alam kong kinakausap ng mga Elders at ng kung sinu-sino si Tomas ngayon. Nagpatuloy ako sa pagkain hanggang sa natapos na lang ako ay walang kumausap o nagtanong man lang sa akin sa nangyaring Selection. Their focus and eyes were only directed to Tomas. I glanced at him as he talk to the Elders, I think he felt my sight that's why he glanced at me too. I saw that he's not smiling anymore, he's just nodding to them and everything as if he doesn't care about what they blabber about. Napa-iling ako sa kaniya at nagpasyang tumayo para pumunta sa palikuran.

Iniwan ko ang lamesa namin at dire-diretsong umalis doon. Narinig ko pagtawag ni Tomas ng pangalan ko pero hindi ako lumingon at nagpanggap na lang na binabati ang mga taong nadadaanan ko para ipakita na hindi ko naririnig ang ginagaw aniyang pagsigaw ng pangalana ko. Pagkapasok ko sa loob ng palikuran, agad akong humarap sa malaking salamin. I can see the figure of my body in this see-through white dress. The twins who won The Selection are required to wear this kind of clothing. They want us to be in this kind of dress because we have to be pure in front of the Geminians. I focused on the features of my face, I traced them with my fore finger. Once I did that, my sight went to the bruises I got in The Selection. I parted my long dark hair to the side so I can clearly see the bruises on my neck. I don't know why they think Tomas can only win in the Upbringing, I have proved myself to that competition. I showed to them my powers, that I can also do what he can do also, that I can surpass him but everything I do is just meaningless to them because their eyes are all focus on his abilities. They only think of me as a back up and nothing else much more.

The frame of this massive mirror in front of me tells how the male twin has been dominating the girl twin of the Gemini for a long time. The male twin is either on the top, in front, or solo in the carving leaving the girl twin behind. It has been like this for centuries, they think of the girl twin as submissive. A thing that they can resort to once the male twin has failed. I scoffed and smirked, I will break that stigma. I will show them that I am not something that they can back up and just throw away when I have no use anymore. I will stand until I can see everyone lower than me, pledging that I am the strongest twin and not Tomas. They will regret that they treated me this way. They will.

I watched in the mirror how I lifted only one finger to make a strong wind force, it was so strong that it broke the mirror in front of me and made the doors of the cubicle close and open. My dress and hair were flying away from my body as a smile formed on my lips and recognized how strong and powerful I am. I am definitely going to win and defeat Tomas.

Pagkatapos no'n ay nagpasya na akong lumabas ng palikuran at bumalik na sa main hall. Pero hindi pa ako nakakalayo ay halos tumalon ang puso ko sa kaba anng marinig ko ang boses ng Chancellor sa likod ko. Agad ko siyang hinarap nang may gulat sa mukha pero nang pumasok na sa akin ang lahat ay dahan-dahan akong yumuko sa harap nito para magbigay ng galang.

"Chancellor," I called.

Tumango naman ito sa akin at itinaas ang kanang kamay bilang pagsang-ayon nito sa akin sabay ngiti sa akin sa paraang hindi ko gusto. What is he doing? What does he want? Does he have something to tell to me, if so then why don't he tell it to me in front of other people so they can see how interested the Chancellor in talking to me?

"Your performance was quite astonishing, Tamsin Gemn. You are clearly one of a kind," he compliments.

I don't know if I just lack approvals and praises but it never ceases to amplify me when someone gives me one. I nodded as I showed my gratitude to the Chancellor and waited for him to say something more than that because I know he's got more than a compliment.

"I want you to purposely lose to Tomas and to the other entrants in the Upbringing, Tamsin Gemn. The Odiacus Council doesn't need someone like you there. The House of Gemini needs you more. Be one of the leaders, train under me, and someday you might be the next Chancellor of this house," he offers with great enthusiasm in his words and tone as if it would make me agree to his preposterous words.

Kumunot ang noo ko at hindi nagdalawang isip na umiling sa kaniya at tanggihan ang inalok niya sa akin. Only the insane would accept his offer and what does he mean 'something like me'? What like me? Why would I even ask and wonder why he's asking me to lose purposely. I already know the answer. They think I'm weak, that I'm not capable of bringing the House's name. I should have seen this coming, I should have. Huminga ako nang malalim at pilit na pinakalma ang sarili kahit gusto ko nang sumabog sa galit dahil sa sinabi ng Chancellor.

"The offer is remarkably great but I'm afraid I have no interest in becoming a Chancellor and train under you. I want to be in the Odiacus Council and I will prove to all of you that I'm capable of doing that because I'm stronger and powerful than Tomas. I have already mastered my power and the Linking is the only thing that is missing so I could reach my full potential to become one of the Protectors. So please accept my apology for declining your offer, Chancellor. I will go back to my table now," sambit ko rito sabay yukong muli bago siya tuluyang iwan doon.

Pagbalik ko sa lamesa ay nasaksihan kong nag-iisa na si Tomas at wala nang mga umaaligid sa kaniya. Pinagpatuloy ko muli ang pagkain at umasta na wala akong katabi ngayon sa harap ng maraming tao. I pretended that I was the only one that the people can see in front of them, that Tomas doesn't exist.

"Why are you doing this, Tam? Please don't act this way, hindi ko 'to ginusto."

I didn't react to what he said and just continued eating my food. I don't know how long he will pretend to hate this kind of treatment but clearly, he likes to be praised by these aristocrats. He always wants to show off to everyone, show that he can do anything and everything. He has always been like this when we were kids. Pretending to be the victim so he could have their sympathies and focus. I hate him so much, he's double-faced.

"What do you want me to do, Tam?"

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya at dahan-dahan na ibinababa ang hawak kong kutsara at tinidor. Pinunasan ko ang labi ko gamit ang telang nasa harapan ko sabay tingin sa kaniya nang may mawalak na ngiti sa mukha.

"I want you to lose in the Upbringing, Tomas. That's what I want you to do,"