MY TWO FACED GIRLFRIEND

Chapter 4 -My Twin Sister

A week had gone by quickly yet still hindi parin mawala sa isip ko ang ginawa ng Javellana chick na yun sa akin when I have saved her for the second time sa soccer field. That really made me curious of her. Wala kasi sa mukha niya that she can act that way, she look so refine and well-mannered na parang hindi siya makabasag man lang ng pinggan. The whole week that had passed ay siya ang naging laman ng utak ko, ni hindi nga sumagi sa isip ko si Selena even a bit although I still see here around the campus pero wala na sa kanya ang attention ko. That mysterious girl occupies my mind at hindi ako matatahimik kung wala akong gagawin na action.

It's just minutes away bago mag-end ang class naming today, nagkataon pa na classmate namin ngayon si Javellana chick kaya naisip kong right after class ay kakausapin ko siya. I really need to talk to her para matapos na ang curiosity ko at makabalik na ang isip ko sa normal state nito. The moment our professor dismissed us ay mabilis kong iniwan ang mga kaibigan ko and walk fast para mahabol ko si Mystique Rose. Papunta siya sa locker area kaya sinundan ko siya dun and stand beside her the minute I get there.

"Can I talk to you for a minute, Miss?" she looked up and innocently stared at me.

"Pwedeng malaman kung bakit? Pauwi na kasi ako at baka nasa may gate na ang sundo ko." she murmured softly.

"Even for a while lang, Miss. I just really need to talk to you." I pleaded. She didn't reply but she nodded her head instead. Naglakad kami palabas ng corridor then walk towards the line of benches malapit sa may gate. Naupo siya sa isang vacant na bench before placing her bag on her lap, I sat just a few inches away from her. "May I know what it is that you wanted to talk about?" She asked politely.

"About the other day, Miss."

"Yung bang nangyari sa jeepney?"

"No, not that. The last one after that incident." tumingin siya sa akin with a confused look.

"What last one?" nagtaka ako sa sinagot niya. Does she have an amnesia or something? Bakit parang judging by the way ng mga tanong niya and how she reacts now ay parang hindi niya alam ang tinutukoy ko?

"At the soccer field? The time I have saved you from being hit by a soccer ball? Remember?" She remained clueless sa sinabi ko which I find quite odd. What's with this chick? Bakit parang wala siyang alam sa tinutukoy ko? "Have you forgotten, Miss? What had happened that day?" saglit siyang nag-isip then immediately jolted.

"Ah! Yeah right! I'm sorry it slipped my mind already. Yes I remembered now! You saved me from being hit by a soccer ball, now I remembered. Thank you for saving me that day Mr. Ynarez." Then she smiled meekly at me.

"You can call me Ivan." I extend my hand to her and waited for her to acknowledge it. Ngumiti ulit siya bago inabot ang kamay ko.

"Hi Ivan. I'm Mystique H.. I mean Mystique Rose Javellana. Pleasure meeting you." My smile broadens when she suddenly blush.

"Nice name. Can I call you Rose? Or do you prefer if I call you by your full name?"

"Rose is fine." tumango ako and look intently at her face. Maganda si Rose although simple lang ang features niya when she's here at school, malayong-malayo sa nakita kong features niya last Saturday. She has long curly eyelashes with brown almond shaped orbs, her nose is pointed and narrow plus she has dimples on both cheeks then her long jet black hair suits her as well. She looks like she came from a dignified and wealthy family based on her creamy white skin. "Ah, I think I should go. Nagri-ring na ang phone ko, my driver must be outside already." tumayo na siya before gazing again at me.

"Yeah sure. I do apologize for taking so much of your time, Rose."

"Ayos lang, wala yun. Thank you again for saving me that day. And I'm so sorry ulit sa nangyari." She flashes a sweet smile before leaving me behind.

Nakalimutan kong i-mention sa kanya about sa ginawa niyang pag-dirty finger sa akin, but I guess ayos na rin yun dahil nag-apologize naman siya after saying thank you to me. Nangingiti na naglakad ako papunta sa locker room ng mga varsity players, naabutan ko ang mga kaibigan ko dun who seems to really wait for me.

"Where have you been, bro? Kanina pa kami naghihintay sayo dito!" Silver said when I got in. Hindi ko siya pinansin and went to my locker. Pagsara ko ng locker ko ay nakamasid silang tatlo sa akin, all staring at me with question marks on their faces.

"What?"

"May nangyari ba na hindi namin alam Ivan that we must know?" Mervin ask momentarily. "You look like you're floating in mid air, bro! Anong meron?"

"Oo nga! Basta ka na lang lumabas ng room after class without saying anything then here you are now na parang lutang sa ulap! What's with you, bro?" Kurt uttered afterwards.

"Wala! Tara na, we better go home!" bago pa ako maka-hakbang ay pinigilan na nila akong tatlo. "What!"

"Spill the bean, bro! Ano yun? Sabihin mo na!" pangungulit ni Silver na hinawakan pa ako sa balikat. Huminga ako ng malalim and sigh in defeat. Ang kukulit talaga nitong mga kaibigan ko, lalong-lalo na ang best friend kong si Silver.

"Alright, alright! Matigil lang kayo!" they all grin widely and listen to me.

The following morning ay nakasabay ko ulit si Rose papasok sa university, she just get out from a midnight blue car. Unlike yesterday, her hair today is tightly secured in a high ponytail at napansin ko rin that she is wearing a light make up just like the previous week nang muntik na siyang tamaan ng soccer ball.

"Hi Rose! Anong first class mo today?" I greet her nang dumaan siya sa harap ko. Pero ganun na lang ang pagkagulat ko when she doesn't seem to have heard what I have said at tuloy-tuloy lang siyang naglakad. "Rose! Wait up!" I hastily run para makasabay sa kanya. "Hey!" I gently held her elbow at huminto siya sa paglalakad then gaze at me with an arching eyebrow.

"What's your problem, Mister?"

"Huh?" nagtaka ako sa sinabi niya.

"I said, what's your problem?" She stared at me with less interest.

"I just asked you something kanina lang but it seems na hindi mo ako narinig, Rose." mas umangat pa ang kilay niya before shaking her head and chuckled.

"Why would you ask me? Close ba tayo?" mataray niyang sagot pabalik. Then eventually walk away at iniwan akong nagtataka.

May dual personality ba si Rose? Maayos naman kaming nag-usap yesterday pero bakit ngayon ay parang hindi na naman niya ako kilala. Nawi-wirduhan na talaga ako sa kanya. She's kind and gentle yesterday tapos ngayon ay balik na naman siya sa pagiging b***h at mataray niya. Anong meron? Does she have a multiple personality? Is that even possible?

---

"What have you been doing at school lately, Hyacinth? Anong pinag-gagagawa mo sa university that I should know!"

"Wala naman, Rose, why?" I gaze at my twin who is standing at my room door with crossed arms. Ugali na talaga niyang basta na lang papasok sa room ko without even knocking. Napa-iling na lang ako before sitting at the edge of my bed.

"Anong wala! Somebody called me kanina before I can enter pa ng university! He called me Rose! I don't even remember who he is! Bakit niya ako kilala kung wala kang ginawang kakaiba sa school lately? Have you been flirting with that student Hyacinth? I've already warned you not to do stunts at my school right?"

"Hindi. Ivan just talk to me yesterday about something na nangyari sa soccer field the other day. Then nakipag-kilala siya sa akin. Since classmate mo siya at some of your subjects, nakipag-kilala narin ako out of courtesy."

"My God! Napaka mo talaga, Hyacinth! You knew so damn well that I hate making friends sa mga hindi ko ka-level! Nakakainis ka talaga! Huwag na huwag mo ng uulitin ang ginawa mo ha! Or I'll tell Daddy that you are escaping here most of the time and going to my school! Gusto mo bang makulong lang ulit dito sa mansion at dito ka mag-aral?" I shake my head in disapproval. "I thought so! Pasalamat ka pa nga ay pinapayagan kitang maging substitute ko kahit pa may pagka-bobo ka sometimes! You should be thankful and grateful to me because Daddy don't know our little secret at nakalabas ka dito even once in a while!"

"I'm so sorry, Rose, hindi ko na ulit uulitin yun. I promise not to do anything stupid again, just don't tell it to Dad please. Ayoko nang mag-home schooling, it's so boring here."

"Then do what I say to you! This is for your own good, twin sister!"

"Okay, I'm sorry again, Rose." lumapit siya sa akin then sit beside me and embrace me.

"I love you so much, twinny, alam mo yan hindi ba? You are my ever so kind and humble better half at ayokong napapagalitan ka ni Daddy. It hurts me as well. Hindi ko sasabihin kay Daddy ang ginawa mong pag-takas dito." I hug her back tightly and smile widely at her.

"Thank you, twinny, I love you more."

"And I will still pretend to be you kapag I am here at the mansion while nasa university ka. Pero isang pagkakamali mo pa, I am sorry but hindi na ako papayag na mag-change place pa tayo ever again." She immediately stood up and head towards the door. Her heels are tapping at the marble flooring.

"I swear, Rose, I will not do things that are against your will ever again and without your consent." She smirks then waves her hand goodbye before closing the door behind her. Huminga muna ako ng malalim before laying down.

I am 18 years old. Same age with my sister Mystique Rose since we are identical twins. But unlike her who is oozing with confidence and with high self-esteem plus loved by many, I grew up to be her opposite. I was and until now is still a weakling, a scaredy-cat frail lady who is wimp and coward. Sakitin kasi ako when I was a kid kaya madalas ay laman ako ng hospitals at dito sa mansion. Hindi ako pinayagan ni daddy na lumabas dahil konting pagod lang ay masama na sa akin, mahina kasi ang puso ko and I also have asthma. I seldom go out to various places, I haven’t been in malls and even at parties or bars. Either sa church lang ako or dito lang sa bahay ang destination ko palagi where I do home schooling.

Kaya one time na umuwi ng lasing si twinny from her night out with her girl friends, she asked me a favor the next day. A favor that thrilled me and made me said yes in an instant without much thinking. Sinabihan niya akong pumasok sa university where she studies and pretend to be her for that day kasi nga ay may hang-over pa siya and has a terrible headache. But she told me that I have to be cautious with what I will say and how will I act na hindi naman mahirap gawin kasi hindi naman talaga pala-kaibigan si Rose kahit saan. She has her very own sets of friends na lagi niyang kasama kung saan-saan except sa university kung saan siya nag-aaral now since transferee siya. That one time of pretending happened again, and again hanggang sa tuwing tinatamad siyang pumasok sa mga classes niya ay ako ang pinapapasok niya at siya naman ang nagpapanggap na ako dito sa bahay which is too easy for her na gawin. Magdadahilan lang siya na kunwari ay masama ang pakiramdam at hahayaan na siya ni daddy na magkulong dito sa room ko the whole day.

Never pa kaming nahuli ni daddy sa kalokohan namin ni twinny, who would? Kung magkamukha man kami even our voices and the small details of our features are alike. But there is one thing na magkaiba sa amin ni Rose, and that is our attitude. That differentiate us from one another, magkaiba kami ng ugali.

I am not saying na masama ang ugali ng kakambal ko, it's just that, mas exposed kasi siya sa outside world than I am kaya mas na-adapt niya ang culture and lifestyle ng surroundings niya unlike me. I am the tamer one, mas behave ako sa kanya and soft-spoken. I am domesticated than her and docile, while siya is the total opposite of everything that I have describe of myself.

But nonetheless, I love my twin sister regardless of her attitude. She is all that I have, kami lang dalawa kasi talaga and daddy. Our mom died giving birth to us kaya si daddy na ang tumayong both father and mother to us ever since with the help of our nannies. So since si Rose lang ang only sibling ko, I will not do anything that will displease her. As much as I can ay susundin ko siya because I love her so much and I knew that she also cares for me and my welfare. Nararamdaman ko naman na mahal niya ako dahil tinutulungan niya ako na makalabas ng bahay namin paminsan-minsan even when we were kids saka madalas ay binibili niya ako ng mga pasalubong or kung anu-ano kapag galing siya sa mall. I trust my twin sister at alam kong hindi niya ako ipapahamak kanino man.

------'--,-'--{@