My Twin Sister's Secret

Chapter I - Faithful Encounter

Era's POV

"Ms. Era Lhor Sullivan?"

Pagtawag sa akin ng babaeng naka assign sa registrar office, hudyat na ako na ang susunod. Naninibago man ay pilit kong isinantabi ang iniisip at agad na lumapit sa tapat ng opisina.

"Here, this is your schedule for the whole semester. This also includes your student handbook and a map of the whole campus. I hope you enjoy studying here." saad nya sabay abot ng isang brown envelope.

"Thank you, ma'am" was all I could manage to say.

I scanned my loadslip which contains all of my subject for the whole semester, 32 units all in all. School's gonna start in two days, and I can't seem to find the excitement I used to feel back then. I used to love first days, the anticipation to experience something new, meet new people, seeing your friends again after a long vacation, and of course, boys from the freshmen makes my adrenaline flow all over my body. But, this time it's different. I feel lifeless, I feel alone and sad? Empty is more appropriate.

Mabigat man ang pakiramdam ay binilisan ko ang kilos para makauwi agad sa tinutuluyang apartment. Pagdating ay agad akong naghanda ng hapunan kahit medyo maaga pa, para naman paggising ko mamaya e kakain nalang agad. Dalawang palapag itong apartment na tinutuluyan ko at nasa ikalawang palapag naman ako, sakto lang ang laki, may sala na medyo malaki laki naman, may isang kwarto na may double sized bed, may kitchen din na may kasama nang dining area at maliit na dining table, at ang CR naman ay katabi lang ng kitchen. Ang CR at bathroom ay iisa lang, tanging shower curtain lamang ang nagsisilbing bakod sa dalawa. Matagal ko nang pangarap ito kung tutuusin, yung tipong hawak mo lahat ng oras mo, independent kung baga, pero somehow, I can't seem to enjoy this kind of independence. Maybe because, cutting ties with everyone back home wasn't what I originally planned after all. Specially losing my own identity.

Time flew so fast na halos di ko namalayan na lunes na pala. New school, new life. Time check: 7:05am, first class? 8:00am.

 Wtf! I'll be la-a-a-te, jusko naman first day na first day mukhang male-late pa 'ko neto! Double time! Double time! Double time! Paulit-ulit kong sinasabi sa isip ko, umaasa na baka, well baka lang naman mas bumilis pa ang kilos ko. At dahil nga nagmamadali ako, I just wore what I was able to grab at the very moment which is a denim shorts na mga kulangkulang 5 inches above the knee and a black V-neck shirt and decided to just wear a simple flat black strap sandals. Wala nang almusal almusal, derecho na agad sa sakayan ng jeep pagkatapos ko hablutin ang rasta patterned sling bag na nakasabit sa may pintuan ng kwarto. Buti nalang talaga at sinipag ako masyado kahapon kaya naisipan kong ihanda ang gagamitin kong bag kinabukasan kasama ng mga school supplies. Pagkababa sa jeep ay agad ako kumaripas ng takbo papunta sa first class ko. Time check again 8:15am shit late na!

"Okay class, so I guess we're all here already – excuse me? Miss?" biglang pagtawag ng atensyon ng instructor sa'kin.

"Uhm, hi." I greeted awkwardly. Eto yun eh, yung pagkakataon na gusto mo nalang lamunin ka ng lupa. Ugh! Makalingon naman ang mga to akala mo hindi pa na experience ma late ever, tsk. Kung hindi ba naman kasi ako puno nang kagagahan at naisipan ko pang gumapang papunta sa bakanteng upuan sa may gilid, dahan dahan akong tumayo at humarap sa instructor na nasa harapan.

"And you are?"

"Sullivan, ma'am. Era Lhor Sullivan" the instructor then scanned her laptop.

"I don't think you belong in this class, miss Sullivan. You're not on my list."

Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig.

"Isn't this CTED-01?"  kinakabahan kong tanong sa guro.