Another Us in Parallel Universe

Chapter 12

Beginning

"Are you sure?! Why? What happened?"

She stood up and walked towards me. I pulled her hand and we both sat down on her bed.

"Mom is gone," I spoke and cried horribly. She opened her arms and embraced me.

Sobrang sakit. Akala ko naiyak ko na lahat sa mama niya pero hindi pa pala, parang hindi yata mauubos luha ko. I feel like my heart was crumpled like a paper inside. Ang sakit, sobra. I never had the chance to meet her, hug her, even talk to her. I would even love to spoil her after I finished school, but how can I spoil someone who's not here anymore?

Pangarap ko pa na sana someday magka-ayos kami 'e, pero paano na maayos 'e wala na siya?

Hindi pa kami nag-uusap. Hindi ko pa nasabi sa kaniya na mahal ko siya. Hindi ko pa nasabi sa kaniya kung gaano ko siya kagusto makasama.

"Parang gusto ko na rin mawala," I whispered enough for her to hear it.

"Heather, no. Please be strong," Heather said softly.

I pushed her a little to loosen the hug.

"Really, Heather? Strong? Do you think I can be strong in this kind of situation?! How can you say that to the person who's currently experiencing discomfort?"

She just looked at me blankly.

"I am not telling you to stop crying, but I am telling you to be strong somehow. You still need to be strong, Heather. Wishing not to be existed is not the solution. Cry it all out. Let it all out. Shout, punch and throw something to ease the pain. Do whatever you want you think might help you to remove the thorns in your heart. But please, please after doing that, please be strong." I can see the sincerity in her eyes but I just let it slide.

"Madali sa'yong sabihin 'yan kasi hindi mo ako naiintindihan. Mama ko nawala. Hindi gano'n kadali 'yon! Wala na akong mama..." humagolhol ako. "Ikaw meron pa," I added, almost losing my voice. "Ikaw meron pa, may mama ka pa."

"Not everything needs to be understood, Heather. I may don't understand what situation you are in, but I feel your pain." She trailed off, held my chin and look directly into my eyes. "I feel your pain. I am here with you. You are not alone."

Somehow, I felt relieved.

I hugged her and cried.

"And please don't tell me na mama ko lang, it's also your mom. Mama natin," she corrected and even hugged me tightly.

Nakatulog ako at gabi na ako nagising. I just saw Heather sitting on her study table. When she noticed that I'm already awake, she stood up and fixed her things.

"I didn't go to Earth, anyways please drink water."

Bumangon ako at kinuha ang isang basong tubig sa lamisa malapit sa kama nito.

"Bakit? Mag-s-switch life na tayo, hindi ba?" Tanong ko at ininom ang tubig. Ngayon ko lang kasi naramramdaman ang panunuyo ng lalamunan ko.

"Yeah, but I don't wanna take advantage to your weakness. Do you really need to swap lives? Maybe, you're just pressured and wanna do it because you're alone there?"

I looked at her and she seemed so serious. Masaya ako kasi ito 'yong mindset na mayroon siya. She knows how to deal and handle people. Kanina nga hindi ko namalayan na sa kaniya ko pa 'yon naririnig, sa kaniya ko pa naramramdaman ang comfort. I felt like I have sister for real. Kahit na hindi kami magkadugo o ano siyang klase "tao" which I am not really sure because she came from other dimension, hindi 'yan humadlang sa kung anong relationship mayroon kami ngayon.

Tinuring niya ako hindi lang tao, kundi pamilya niya na rin.

Umiling ako. "I wanna swap lives because..." bigla kong naalala si Asher. Argh! That asshole. "I wanna swap lives because of your— my mom," I corrected.

Hay, naalala ko na naman 'yong tungkol kay Asher. Sana naman hindi maging awkward 'yong next namin na pagkikita. Anyways, hindi na sa akin 'yan mahalaga ngayon, ang mahalaga sa akin ay 'yong makapagpalit kami ng buhay ni Heather kahit pansamantala lamang.

I looked at her.

"Please.. give me this time. Gusto kong ma-experience man lang ang magkaroon ng ina," sensiradad kong wika.

She smiled at me. Lumapit ito sa akin at niyakap ako.

"You sure? No one is stopping you."

Tumango ako sa kaniya.

"Okay, deal!" She shrugged. "But before that, let's do the question and answer first to avoid confusion of others!" She added.

Tumawa rin ako. "Okay!"

Na-excite ako kasi finally, mas mahaba na ang oras na mailalaan ko kay mama. Babawi talaga ako ng bongga. Kapag makita ko siya mamaya at yayakapin ko nang napakahigpit. Kahit diyan man lang ay maranasan ko man lang ang yakap na inaasam ko mula sa kaniya.

She snatched her phone inside her pocket and went to the note area. Binigay niya kaagad ito sa akin at nakita ko ang ilang katanongan about sa akin, papa at Logan. Nagulat ako kasi prepared na prepared siya.

"I wrote it after I got the allergy! Baka kasi maulit muli 'yong katangahan ko edi patay tayong dalawa," she laughed, kaya natawa na lang din ako sa kaniya.

I asked her to send it to me first so that I can copy it. We both exchanged and answered all of the questions.

"Really? His favorite sport is swimming? Logan's favorite sport here was tennis!" She laughed reading the answers.

"Dito nga kay Asher, favorite niya ang basketball, doon sa amin, sa pagka-alala ko, he's good at playing badminton. Doon nga siya nakilala 'e because he represented our school."

Tumango siya.

"Inloveee!!! He's also good at playing basketball. In fact, here he's an MVP!! But I just don't like him. Mas bet ko si Logan!"

Tumawa siya kaya natawa na lang din ako. So, athletic din pala si Asher sa mundo nilang 'to.

"Basta 'yong mga favorite at hate ko ha! And 'yong pananamit ko please lang, si Sofie, kung alam mo lang kung gaano 'yan ka bully sa akin, dapat mas matapang ka rin sa kaniya. Okay? Kasi spoiled na bata 'yon."

I nodded my head. Pansin ko nga.

"Pero close naman kayo right?" I asked.

Kaagad naman itong tumango at ngumiti. "Yep! We are just like that. Maybe that is our way to show our love with each other."

Napangiti na lang ako nang matipid. Sa akin naman, 'yong kapatid ko ay ayaw na sumama sa amin. Parang mas gusto niya pa roon, sinabi ko kay papa na kunin si Sofie pero siya man mismo, ayaw lumapit sa kaniya ng kapatid ko. Sabagay kasi, doon na nagkaisip si Sofie. Hindi niya nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na makilala si papa kasi never naman bumisita si mama sa amin. Kaya gano'n na lang siya ka distance sa amin. I can't blame her, doon siya lumaki 'e. Saka gusto niya roon which means, nata-trato naman siya ng tama, mabuti nga 'yon.

Nakakainggit lang. Gusto ko rin maranasan magkaroon ng kapatid.

Pagkatapos ng patatanong namin sa isa't isa, we sneaked out both to the house para maturuan niya naman akong magmaneho.

Lumayo-layo kami sa bahay at sa loob lamang ng subdivision kami nag-iikot. Si Heather ay naka-cap lamang habang ako ay bonnet rin para somehow magkaiba naman kami. Pero wala naman tao kay comportable kaming nakapag-aral.

"Yes, pindotin mo lang 'yan if parking kana para ma-locked okay?" Tumango ako.

"When stopping, yes— just step on that. At habang magsisimula ka na ay step that one slowly, always remember that when yoh are driving, never ever cross that line. Dapat nasa loob ka lang ng linya kasi baka ma-ticket-an ka at mapahamak pa, you understand?"

I nodded my head in response. "Cleared!"

"Good."

Ilang beses na ako muntikan mabangga dahil pressured ako, pero mabuti na lang na kaagad ako na-guide nj Heather. Ilang beses pa ang na-fail bago ko magamay ang bagay bagay. Hanggang sa tuluyan na nga ako nakapag-drive na hindi ako lumalabas sa linya.

"WOOOOHOOO!! You are so galing!!" Masayang sigaw nito.

Masaya rin ako kasi sa wakas ay dumagdag kaalaman ko. Actually, Logan already taught me how to drive pero sadyang takot lang talaga ako magdrive. To be honest, nakaka-drive ako pero matagal na rin kasi noong last niya pa tinuro sa akin kaya nakakalimutan ko, at noon parang hindi ko pa gets, pero ngayon ay sure na ako na alam ko na ang pagmamaneho.

Huminto kami hindi kalayoan at napatingin ako sa kaniya.

"Thank you ha? You have been so good to me," I said.

Umiling siya. "Sus! Don't worry about it. You deserve the kindness of the world."

Naghintay lang kami nang ilang minuto bago bumalik sa taas. Siya muna ang pumasok bago ako, at buti na lang pagpasok ko ay walang tao sa dining area, living area at malamang ay nasa kitchen sila since maghahaponan na at nag-re-ready na sila for dinner.

It was successful and we both rested on the bed.

We just talked and laughed until we both got tired. We have decided to just meet outside, at the backyard, or puntahan na lang namin ang isa't isa kapag available time namin. Kailangan lang namin maging careful at dumeritso kaagad sa kwarto kapag bumisita kami para hindi kami mapahamak. Sinabi na rin naman mga dapat naming gawin, like sa kaniya, sinabi ko na si papa umuuwi sa gabi galing trabaho niya. At kapag umaga naman ay minsan nag-iiwan ng breakfast si papa at kailangan niya 'yon kainin para hindi masayang ang effort. Tuwang-tuwa naman siya kasi si mama niya lang lagi nagluluto para sa kaniya. Habang ako naman ay iniwanan niya lang ako ng bilin tulad ng paglabas ko rito, dapat ay confident ako lagi. Hindi dapat ako 'yong Heather na soft kasi baka apihin lang ako. Madami pa siyang sinabi at naintindihan ko na man.

Saka wala rin naman akong planong lumabas labas at kumausap ng iba. Tama na 'yong sinabi niya na hindi ko sila papansin. Baka madulas naman ako 'e at mapahamak ko siya. Ngayon, mas kailangan ko mag-ingat kasi ako mismo humingi sa kaniya ng oras para mag kalive swap kami.

Mabilis gumalaw si Heather kaya napatravel siya kaagad sa Earth. Ilang minuto nang pagkawala niya ay may kumatok na kaagad sa pinto.

"Heather? Baby, dinner is ready!" Ramdam ko ang pagliwanag ng mukha ko.

Tumalon ako sa kama at kaagad na binuksan ang pinto. As soon as I opened it, my mother showed up. I instantly hugged her! Ugh!! This feels so good!

"I miss you, mom!" She looked so confuse but she just let me hug her.

"What's with today? You seem so clingy, huh," she spoke. I loosened the hug and intertwined my hand to hers. We went downstairs and I saw Sofie and dad looking at our hands. Tumawa ako at tumakbo kay papa at niyakap ulit ito, saka si Sofie pagkatapos.

"Yak, what's wrong with you?" She cringed, almost laughing. Oo nga, bully talaga 'tong si Sofie.

"I just miss you, guys! Is there anything wrong with that?" They looked at each other and shrugged, as usual.

Bahala kayo diyan!

"Ano ba nakain mo?" Natatawang tanong ni mommy. Lumapit muli ako sa kaniya at niyakap siya nang sobrang higpit.

Mas lalo akong napangiti nang niyakap niya rin ako.

Somehow, gumaan rin ang pakiramdam ko. I love my mom so much, sana man lang maramdaman niya 'yon kahit nasa heaven na siya.

"My baby is already a grown up lady now," said by dad so I looked at him.

Kung si papa pa, dalaga na raw ako.

We ate dinners and talk everything. It was fun not until Sofie asked about our childhood.

"Diba ate?! You are so fat and you wished to wear that bikini!" She laughed. Nakitawa rin ako.

"Ikaw rin naman'e!"

Tumahimik ito. Damn it, hindi ko naitanong kay Heather about this.

"Nooo! I was skinnier than you!" Tumawa na lang ako ng pilit.

"But I love to tease you pig!" I laughed so hard. I just stopped when I saw them staring at me.

Sana tama 'tong pinagsasabi ko.

"You used to call me stick." She corrected again, fiercely. "Whatever, I still hate you 'til now." Then laughed.

I know for sure that I'm gonna have a hard time living in this world.

But I'm ready.

Kahit ano man 'yan ay haharapin ko.

I woke up from a loud noise inside the room, only to find out that mom was vacuuming my mat and sofa bed.

"Oh, sorry honey. Did I wake you up?" She asked sweetly, but I answered her with a smile.

"I'm sorry." She turned off the vacuum.

"No, mom. It's okay. The vacuum woke me up," I jokingly said and we laughed again.

Bumangon ako sa kama ko at niyakap siya ulit. Niyakap niya naman ako pabalik. I wished I have done this before to my mom. Hindi kasi ako nabigyan ng pagkakataon, ngayon na pwede naman maging ganito— hinding-hindi ko na sasayangin pa. Gusto ko lang maranasan magkaroon ng mama.

I just want to experience having a mom by my side.

Ang saya lang 'pag ganito palagi. Sana ganito palagi.

I hugged her even more. Nang natapos na ay I made myself ready after.

This will be my first time attending class to Heather, so I just wish I won't fail this time. Naligo na ako at nagsearch muna sa youtube ng tutorial ng make up since this is too early for me to go to school. Kinuha ko na 'yong mga make ups niya sa cabinet niya at inisa-isa sundin mga nakasaad. Unang make up ko ay napangiwi ako nang makita ko mukha ko sa salamin.

Sobrang itim ng eyebrow na para bang ako si Betty La Fea, tapos 'yong blush ko para akong kanina sa rice cooker na nilagyan ng hotdog dahil sa sobrang pula, tapos 'yong bibig ko naman ay kulay pink pa. Jusko!

Bakit maganda 'tong babaeng nag-make up samantalang ako ay hindi bagay sa akin?

Naghilamos na ako at tinignan ang oras. Alas sais pa lang naman ng umaga at 8 AM 'yong first period niya. So nagsimula ulit ako mag-aral. Lagay ng make-up, bura, lagay ng make-up bura. 'Yan lang ang ginawa ko hanggang sa nagpulo na lang ako at liptint.

Wala, wala talaga 'e.

Wala akong talent sa mga ganyan.

Magpapaturo na lang ako kay Heather.

Pero hindi ko naman bibigoin si Heather, naglagay ako ng concelear kasi 'yan lang 'yong alam ko kung paano maglagay, bago ko nilagyan ng pulbos. If anyone asked about my make up, sasabihin ko na lang na I am exploring.

Oh, 'di ba? Ready ba ang reasoning 101 ko. Mabuti na handa, baka matameme at mauutal na naman ako kakaisip.

When I am already contented of my looks, I went to her closet. Halos lumuwa mga mata ko nang makita kung gaano kadami ang mga damit niyang nakahang. OH MY GAD.

Hindi lang 'yon ay marami ring high heels na nakadisplay. Gosh!! I didn't see this coming! Grabe! Sobrang fashionista talaga 'yong version ko dito. Ito 'yong isa sa mga utak ko lang 'e, isa sa mga gusto kong mangyari, tapos ngayon this is really happening now in this world, goshhhh, I cannot believe it. This is insane.

Since I still have time, I took the chance to wear some of them. Hindi lahat kasi hindi ko naman kayang ubusin sa sobrang dami.

I wore her expensive stuff and even practiced my walk. Gosh, I cannot with these high heels. It sucks!

Nang nakapili na ako ay kaagad ko inayos sarili ko.

I am wearing the pink coordinates clothes, which the inner is a tube one, and has pink cardigan to cover myself, paired with pink skirt na sobrang comfy at kita 'yong curve ko. Then, of course, the glittering heels.

As fas as I know, Heather told me that she wears whatever she wants at wala pa kahit na sino ang sumawau sa kaniya, so I guess, I should really steal the show.

I should do what she is doing for the sake of this fake personality.

Kahit hindi man sanay ay napangiti na lang ako sa sarili ko.

There was a part of me that I wanted this time to come, at ngayon na nangyayari na ay kailangan ko na lang sabayan.

"Sobrang ganda mo!" Tanging sabi ko na lang at naipit sa kilig.

Bumaba na ako sa bahay with the pink small bag, at habang pababa ako ay napatingin sa akin si Sofie.

I smiled at her.

"Oh, so you are back being extra."

Kumunot noo ko.

"Akala ko kasi magiging 'simple' ka na lang." then she rolled herself. "I thought sinapian ka ng mabuting elemento na bigla kang naging soft."

OMG. Nahahalata niya 'yon?

Naalala ko sinabi ni Heather na napaka-observer nito kaya tinaasan ko na kilay ko.

"Ow, really? Share mo lang?"

Nagulat siya sa sinabi ko. Bakit? Mataray na 'yon ha?

"When did you learn how to speak jejemon?"

Tumaas kilay ko. Aba gagang 'to ah! Hindi 'yan jejemon 'no! Normal na normal 'yan sa amin kapag may gusto kaming sagotin na pabalang at pahiyain!

"Excuse me, it is not jejemon," I protested.

"Whatever, you loser," then she tongued out and ran.

What a bully kid! She deserves a slap! Charot.

Nagpaalam na ako kay mommy at pumunta na sa kotse. Kabado pa ako dahil ito 'yong unang araw na magmamaneho akong mag-isa. I trust my ability to drive, wala lang akong tiwala sa daan. Wow ha, isisi ko pa talaga sa daan. Lmao.

I signed a cross before before started the engine. Napahinga na man ako nang maluwag nang smooth ang aking pagmamaneho. Wag ako, fast learner ata 'to. Madali lang ako matuto kapag gusto ko talaga gawin ang isang bagay.

As I parked the car on the parking lot, ramdam ko na ang init ng mga mata ng tao. I feel like pati 'yong sasakyan ni Heather ay kilala nila dahil sa kaniya-kaniya nilang tingin sa kinaroroonan ko.

I made myself ready and I took a deep breath before opening my door.

Then, as I stepped out my feet into the ground, I heard someone shouted.

"Heather is here!"

And everyone came in front of me, smiling so widely. I closed the door of the car and took off my sunglasses then put it on my head.

I guess, this is the real beginning of pretending.