MY TWO FACED GIRLFRIEND

Chapter One- Sino Ka?

I am so stressed. One week ng nagkaka-problem ang marketing status ng business ko at one week na rin na hindi ko masikmura ang kagaspangan ng ugali ng asawa ko. Hindi ko malaman kung ano ang problem niya at parang palagi na lang siyang galit sa akin. She is always agitated at home at parang palagi na lang ay gusto niyang lumabas ng bahay namin. It seems she hates seeing me and my presence. I don't get her, although noon pa man ay alam ko na naman na may dual personality siya but it worsen the minute we got married. I am trying to understand her because having a miscarriage is a difficult thing to deal with especially if it is our supposedly first child that was lost. But the more I try to understand what she is dealing with, the more na parang naging complicated ang mga bagay-bagay sa aming dalawa. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung ano ang tumatakbo sa isip niya lately. May times na hindi siya natutulog sa bedroom namin and she seems so far from me, but there are also times that she fulfills her duty as a responsible wife to me.

Kagaya na lang last two weeks ago ay magkasundo kami. We even spend a weekend together na masaya kahit pa hindi niya ako napagbigyan to make love to her everytime that I lay beside her at night. Yet still, her loving and tranquil attitude plus they way na asikasuhin niya ako last two weeks ago somewhat justifies ang mga times na hindi niya ako mapagbigyan sa kama. But last week is far different from the previous one, ibang-iba talaga siya kaya nagtataka na talaga ako. The way she speak last week was different from the previous week, ganun rin ang mga gusto at ayaw niya. It is like I am dealing with two different persons judging on the way she acts and say things.

Nag-aalala na talaga ako kay Rose. I want to help her dahil mag-isa na lang siya sa buhay since her dad died and no one will help her but me na asawa niya. Kaya lang sa tuwing I am trying to reach out to her, she is shutting me down at para bang ayaw niya akong maging bahagi ng mundo niya. It frustrates me na naging ganito kaming dalawa, na nagiging magulo ang pagsasama namin. I didn't expect my marriage will be like this. Ayoko siyang sukuan dahil one way or another ay mahal ko ang asawa ko, mahal ko si Rose.

I already have her checked before sa isang specialist who deals with emotional imbalances, but according naman sa specialist ay wala naman daw mental or emotional problem ang asawa ko. In fact, she is mentally and emotionally healthy. He just told me na baka daw stress lang ito dahil nga sa nakunan ito just a few months ago, he even suggested to me to take her out somewhere para makapag-relax ito and to unwind. Kaya right after the session with the specialist ay hinanda ko kaagad ang weekend get away namin out of town. I thought maayos na ang lahat dahil she is joyous and light spirit during our get away, pero bumalik ang pagiging self-centered niya and her rough attitude the day after our short vacation.

I really planned to talk to her later when I arrive home. Gusto ko siyang makausap ng masinsinan dahil hindi na healthy ang nangyari sa amin as a couple. As much as possible ay gusto kong mag-workout ang marriage namin kahit pa sabihin na naganap ang kasal namin because I got her pregnant. I know that she is just adjusting, ako rin naman since wala pa kaming one year na kasal. But we have to work it out, kailangan namin pagtulungan dalawa na maging maayos ang pagsasama namin dahil ayoko ng broken family and I also sworn on her dad's grave that I will take care of his daughter and look after her.

Pagdating ko ng bahay ay inabutan ko si Rose na nasa kitchen with our maid assisting her on something that she is cooking. I stop and gaze at her, she looks like an angel wearing an apron while laughing with Millet.

"Honey, you're here. Why so early?" hinubad niya ang apron na suot and walk towards me before giving me a chaste kiss at my cheek. "How's work?" She smile sweetly at me before taking my hand and leading me at the stove. "Taste my cooking. This is your favorite kaya I want it to be perfect for dinner." kumuha pa siya ng teaspoon before scooping a portion mula sa niluluto niya, she even blow it first bago nilapit ang teaspoon sa bibig ko.

"It's delicious, Hon. Where did you learn to cook?"

"Marunong naman talaga akong magluto, Honey." She even giggles when my forehead creased. "Head upstairs and change, para magpahinga ka muna. Itutuloy ko lang itong ginagawa ko."

"Alright." pero bago pa ako makalayo ay nagsalita siya ulit.

"And guess what's for dessert!" napatingin ulit ako sa kanya with a questioning look. "Double Dutch ice cream! Our favorite!" napatango na lang ako before smiling back.

I head to our bedroom with deep confusion. Naguguluhan na talaga ako kay Rose. How can she say that she knew how to cook kung nasabi na niya sa akin noon na hindi siya marunong magluto at hate na hate niya ang pagluluto? And how come favorite niya ang Double Dutch ice cream kung noon na pinasalubungan ko siya nito ay hindi niya nagustuhan ang lasa and even threw it at the trash bin? I remembered her telling me na hindi siya mahilig sa mga desserts especially ice cream. This is really confusing. Isa pa kanina bago ako pumasok sa work ay sinabi niyang late na siya uuwi dahil magkikita sila ng friends niya, so why is she here now? Anong nangyari sa asawa ko?

After a sumptuous dinner ay niyaya ko siya sa library to finally talk to her. I want to clear things with her, I want to know what is happening to her. Honestly ay naguguluhan na talaga ako at gusto ko siyang tulungan kung may problema nga siya with herself. I ask her to sit at the cushion but she prefer to stand beside the window.

"I want to talk to you, Rose. Don't get me wrong but I want to clear some issues between us." hindi ko alam kung paano ko sisimulan ang lahat. I don't want her to misinterpret me.

"About what, Honey?"

"Naguguluhan na kasi ako, Rose. If you have a problem about anything, sabihin mo sa akin. I am your husband and I should be the first person na nakakaalam kung ano ang nangyayari sayo."

"I don't understand. What's happening?"

"You tell me what's happening, Rose. Ikaw ang magsabi sa akin kung ano ang nangyayari sayo." She look dumbfounded. "The way you act lately, how you treat me lately. Minsan maayos kang kausap at minsan hindi. Minsan parang napapaso ka dito sa bahay and there are times na at home na at home ka just like now. Enlighten me Rose dahil gusto kong tulungan ka kung may problema ka or worst ay kung sakit ka."

"I am not mentally ill, Ivan. I am fine."

"If you are fine then bakit ka ganyan?" hindi ko maiwasan na tumaas ng bahagya ang boses ko dahil nahihirapan na ako na intindihin siya. "Was it because of your miscarriage? Is that it?"

"No, Ivan. I am perfectly fine."

"Paano mo masasabing you are perfectly fine when you are not, Rose?" umupo ako sa cushion and exhaled deeply. "Tulungan mo ako na tulungan ka, Rose. You need help, you have to admit it."

"I said I am perfectly fine, Ivan!" napatingin ako sa kanya when she suddenly start to look nervous and her hands start to shake. Alam ko sa sarili ko na may hindi siya sinasabi sa akin. Alam kong may tinatago siya sa akin and I must know it if I want this relationship of ours to work.

"I don't know, Rose. But it seems na hindi kita kilala. Paiba-iba ka! Your wants, your likes! Tell me please dahil naguguluhan na ako sayo!"

"It's just mood swings, Honey." She was stuttering with unexplainable fright. Naging malikot ang mga mata niya kaya mas napatunayan kong may tinatago siya.

"Umamin ka nga sa akin! Sino ka ba talaga, Mystique Rose? Naguguluhan na ako dahil sa iba't-ibang ugali mo na pinapakita mo sa akin! It's like I'm being with two totally opposite women in one face! It's like I have married two different women in one body dahil sa papalit-palit na treatment mo sa akin!" nanatili siyang tahimik and just looking outside the window. I am frustrated to know the truth, I need to know the truth. "Please say something, Mystique Rose, anything!" I heard her sigh heavily then finally, she glance at me.

"I am so sorry, Ivan, I really didn't mean to confuse you. It was never my intention to connive with my sister's wrong doings. It's just that she forced me to pretend. She forced me to lie to you and to deceive you." mas naguluhan ako sa narinig ko at nalito when she suddenly looks worried. Her lips begin to quiver as her tears are at bay.

"What are you saying? Anong your sister forced you to pretend ang sinasabi mo? Who forced you to lie and deceive me, Mystique Rose? Do you still have a sibling? I thought solong anak ka? You've told me na solong anak ka!" I massage my nose bridge upward as my head starts to ache. Muli siyang napabuntong-hininga saka naglakad palapit sa kinatatayuan ko.

"I am not the woman whom you have married, Ivan Lex Ynarez. I am not her. I am a different person." literal na lumaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. Ano raw?

"Then who the f**k are you kung hindi ikaw ang babaeng pinakasalan ko! Tell me! Sino kang impostor ka kung hindi ikaw ang asawa ko!" I harshly held her elbow and shake her body. "Sino ka! Kung hindi ikaw si Rose, then sino ka? Tell me! Who the f**k are you!" tears from her eyes falls freely as she look at me apologetically.

"Sorry, Ivan, I really do. Sorry but I am Mystique Hyacinth Javellana. I am your wife's twin."

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