MY TWO FACED GIRLFRIEND

Chapter 9 -Puppet

I am really troubled with what my sister has done to my friend. Until now, three days had passed, ay hindi pa rin ako mapakali sa ginawa ni Rose kay Ivan. Gusto kong makausap si Ivan, gusto kong kausapin siya at mag-explain sa kanya. Gusto kong humingi ng apology sa nangyari and somehow ease the commotion my sister has done. Kaya lang hindi ko magawa dahil mula ng makausap ni Rose si Ivan sa campus ay siya na ang regular na pumasok. She never approached me para sabihin na tinatamad siyang pumasok at ako muna ulit ang pumasok in behalf niya. That is why I haven’t seen Ivan lately at hindi ko pa magawa na kausapin siya ulit.

I just stayed here at our home doing whatever it is to keep me busy. Kapag wala akong home schooling ay nagbabasa lang ako sa room ko, but most of the time I was thinking. Thinking of things about myself, about Ivan and about my twin sister.

Today is my fourth day here at home. Unlike before na masaya ako kahit nasa bahay lang ako, lately ay naiinip na ako. The past few days have become boring to me. Yung dati na hindi ko nararamdaman ay ramdam na ramdam ko ngayon. Si daddy ay madalas na wala dahil my work siya that he has to attend to. So most of the time ay ako lang at ang mga housemaids namin ang nandito. Rose is mostly out as well. Right after her classes ay uuwi lang siya to change tapos ay aalis ulit siya at gabi na kung umuwi.

I wish I had my sister’s lifestyle. I wish I could do what she always does. Yung pwede akong lumabas na hindi na kailangan pang magpaalam kay daddy. That I can go home late because I went to a party with my friends. Kaya lang ay hindi pwede. Payagan man ako ni daddy ay either kasama ko siya or may kasama akong isang kasambahay namin. I can’t remember the time where I go to somewhere na ako lang, well except at school na patakas naman.

Biglang may pumasok sa isip ko that made me jolt. Kung lumabas kaya ako ngayon? Tutal naman ay wala naman si daddy. I am having second thoughts sa naisip ko. If ever kasi ay ito ang first time na gagawin ko ito. Lumipas ang ilang minutes until I have decided to take a bath. Hindi naman siguro ako pa-gagalitan ni daddy kung sakaling malaman niya na lumabas ako dahil hindi rin naman ako magtatagal. I just want to get out of here to refresh my mind at the same time ay alisin ang inip ko. The minute I got everything that I need ay mabilis akong lumabas ng room ko at dire-diretso lang na lumakad palabas ng mansion. One of our driver’s saw me pero hindi ko siya pinansin and headed to the gate. Nakahinga ako ng malalim the minute I am outside, lumakad pa ako ng konti before hailing a cab.

I have decided to go to the mall where Ivan and I went. Ilan lang kasi ang mga places na alam kong puntahan at para hindi ako ma-ligaw ay doon ko na lang naisipan na magpunta ngayon. There is fear inside my heart of my father’s anger the moment it came to him na umalis ako ng walang paalam but when my feet set ground at the mall ay nawala ang alalahanin at pangamba ko. Hindi ko pa man sinimulan ang little adventure ko ay iba na ang joy na nararamdaman ko.

I started at the ground floor. I am planning to go to all the floors para naman masulit ko ang aking paglabas. Halos lahat ng stalls ay pinuntahan ko. I also bought some stuff for myself na bihira kong gawin sa sarili ko. Right after the ground floor ay sa second floor naman ako naglibot-libot. Pumasok ako sa book store at bumili ulit ng ilang books that fancy me. After hours of walking and buying, kumain muna ako sa isang restaurant. As I wait for my order to arrive, I watch the people around me. Wala akong nakitang table na isa lang ang nakaupo. Mostly are in groups or in twos.

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng sadness and envy inside my heart. Nakakainggit sila. They looked so merry with the people they are with habang ako ay mag-isa lang ngayon. I can’t help but to feel alone all of a sudden. I can’t help but to feel envious of my surroundings. I don’t have someone whom I can call as my friends. I only got my sister where I consider my best buddy. Meron pala akong naging friends, sila Ivan, but sad to say because of what my twin did recently ay mukhang malabo na nila akong i-consider as one of their group.

I shook my head to remove the anxiety that is creeping inside of me. Mabuti na lang ay dumating na ang orders ko kaya tinuon ko na lang ang attention ko to my food. After satisfying myself ay muli akong naglibot sa loob. Pinuntahan ko ang mga shops na nakakuha ng attention ko.

I left the mall minutes after four in the afternoon. Pagdating na pagdating sa bahay ay inabutan ko ang kakambal ko na nakapamewang and looking straight at me.

“Where have you been?” She uttered with irritation.

“I just went to the mall, Rose.”

“At sinong may sabi na lumabas ka ng mansion? Does Daddy know about this? Nagpaalam ka ba to him?” I shake my head. “So, umalis ka ng hindi man lang nagpaalam kay Daddy. That’s new of you, Hyacinth. Since when ka pa natutong lumabas dito without Daddy’s knowledge? You should be ashamed of yourself, Hyacinth. Sinuway mo ang bilin ni Dad. He strictly told you not to go out, right?”

“I got bored here, that is why umalis ako. Hindi naman ako nagtagal, I just spent few hours at the mall.”

“Kahit pa. Gusto mo ba isumbong kita?” hindi na lang ako sumagot and start walking pass her. “Sinong kasama mo at the mall? That Ivan guy? I hadn’t seen him around the campus today so baka nagkita kayong dalawa and you spent hours with him.” napahinto ako sa paglalakad and look back at her.

“I didn’t, Rose. I was on my own. Wala akong kasama, mag-isa lang ako.”

“Really now. Are you sure, twin? Because you are not a pretty good liar, you know.” I inhaled deeply before releasing a heavy breath.

“Hindi ko kasama si Ivan, Rose. I haven’t seen him since the time you’ve talked to him at school. I already told you, I am alone at the mall. Wala akong kasamang iba. I don’t have friends anyway so sino naman ang isasama ko?” My irritation for her starts to stir up. She gazes at me sharply kaya napayuko ako.

Never in my entire existence have I answered Rose na irritable ako or galit ako. Pero kasi sumosobra na siya. She is accusing me of something that I didn’t do.

“Wow! My oh my, Hyacinth. Did you just raise a tone on me?”

“I am sorry, Rose. Nainis lang ako dahil you keep on insisting na kasama ko si Ivan when the truth is I am not.” I answered meekly.

“It seems natututo ka na to contradict me, twin sister. Parang gusto ko na yatang tapusin ang freedom mo in going to my school.” Her words immediately cause commotion inside my heart. Ayokong pahintuin niya ako na magpunta sa school niya. Ayoko na ma-stuck ulit ako dito sa bahay. Ayokong hindi na ako makalabas and mingle with other students. Sa university where she studies ay kahit paano nakakahinga ako at nakaka-labas ako on my own. Kapag tinapos na ni Rose ang aming little secret at hindi na siya pumayag na palitan ko siya paminsan-minsan ay mawawala na ang freedom ko na ayokong mangyari.

“Please don’t, Rose. I don’t want to be stuck here again. Please don’t do that.”

“Para kasing kaya mo na akong suwagin eh. Kaya mo na ba ako, huh Hyacinth?” mabilis akong umiling because of the fear of not being able to go back to her school.

“I am deeply sorry for what I said, Rose. Sorry. I didn’t mean it.” I said sheepishly.

“Alam mo naman kaya ako pumapayag na magpanggap kang ako sa school, right? You knew so well why. Ginagawa ko yun para sayo. Ginagawa ko yun para kahit paano ay makalabas ka. Then now ganyan mo na lang ako sagutin? After what I did for you?”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Eh kung sabihin ko sayo na hindi na ako papayag na pumunta ka sa school ko? What if I tell you now that I will no longer allow you to replace me? You want that, huh Hyacinth?” I looked at her with great fear in my eyes. My tears are at bay.

“Please don’t do that, twin.”

“You have to do better than that, my dear sister.” My eyes started to shed tears, it fell on both my cheeks as I stared at her. Slowly, I walked back to her and hugged her tight.

“I am terribly sorry, Rose. Please don’t punish me like this. I apologize for what I have said earlier.”

“More.” tinitigan ko siya as she point the floor. Huminga muna ako ng malalim before slowly kneeling down on my knees. Nang makaluhod ako sa harap niya ay inulit ko ang sinabi ko. “I want you to beg, Rose. Beg me so that I would change my mind at payagan pa rin kita na pumunta sa school ko.” tuloy-tuloy na pumatak ang mga luha ko. I hesitate to do what she commanded me to. “Ayaw mo? Madali naman akong kausap, Hyacinth. If you don’t want to beg then end of conversation. Say goodbye to the people you knew on campus and say goodbye to the university itself because you won’t be seeing it anymore.” She took a step back kaya mabilis kong hinawakan ang both legs niya.

“Rose, please don’t. Alright, you won again. I’m sorry, twin. Please I beg you not to prohibit me from coming to your school. Please, Rose, please reconsider.” hindi siya nagsalita kaya tinuloy ko pa ang pagmamakaawa sa kanya. “I will do anything that you ask me to. Kahit ano, Rose, gagawin ko basta huwag mo lang tapusin ang little secret natin. I will obey your every command, gagawin ko lahat ng ipinag-utos mo sa akin. Please, twin. I am begging you, please.” I said while my eyes continued to shed tears. I felt her hand gently stroking my hair.

“Very good, Hyacinth. Because of what you did, I will still allow you to attend school for me. Bukas ay ikaw na ang pumasok muna sa classes ko.” I quickly looked up with high hopes. Biglang nagkaroon ng tuwa sa heart ko.

“Really?” She nodded her head before smiling at me.

“Yes. But you are prohibited to go near Ivan. Don’t think of tricking me because I will know. Remember, they know you as Mystique Rose and not as Mystique Hyacinth. Kaya malalaman ko kung nilapitan mo ang lalaking yun. At kapag nalaman ko that you disobeyed me, the punishment is massive. Bukod sa hindi ka na ever makakapunta sa school ko, isusumbong pa kita kay daddy na tumakas ka ngayon without advising him. Am I clear?”

“Yes, twin. Gagawin ko ang mga sinabi mo. Hindi ko na lalapitan pa si Ivan. Iiwasan ko na siya. I promise.”

“Good. Better keep your promise so I will keep mine. Pasalamat ka dahil mabait ako sayo and I love you dearly.”

“Thank you, Rose. Thank you so much.”

Mabilis na siyang umalis kaya tumayo na ako mula sa pagkaka-luhod ko. I quickly went to my room with excitement. Finally, after days of not being at her school ay papasok na ako tomorrow. Nawala lahat ng tampo ko sa twin sister ko at napalitan ito ng gratefulness because once again she gave me a favor.

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I went inside my room with extreme happiness and overflowing satisfaction. Kahit kailan talaga ang napaka-daling utuin ng kapatid ko. Alam ko naman ang kayang-kaya ko siya hawakan sa leeg niya with just the right bait. I knew how she loves to go to my school, that gave her the freedom she craved for long ago. And now na kumagat siya sa bait ko, I had her where I wanted her. Mas madali na ngayon sa akin na kontrolin ko si Hyacinth. Kahit nga siguro sabihin ko na she kiss my feet ay gagawin niya without hesitation. That really makes me happy now.

Kung noon ay ginagawa niya pa akong suwayin, I don’t think she will do that to me now. She wouldn't dare to defy me this time. I had her where I wanted, not just her will but even her soul as well. Now I can dictate her easily, I can control her anyway I want. She will be my very own puppet, dancing with the sway of my hand.

The thought of it excites me. Sa ngayon ay hahayaan ko na muna siya sa konting freedom na binigay ko sa kanya. I will let her enjoy the little freedom she has. I will use her someday for my own benefit. She will be my mini toy who will obey my every command.

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