I struggled to write this chapter for days because emptiness makes it difficult to find the right words to make the feelings real. I hope you still have fun reading. Thank you for patiently waiting.
Ultimate Chapter
"What is future Attorney Pantaleon doing in Baguio?"
Ngumisi ako agad nang makita si Aidan na nakahalukipkip habang pinagmamasdan ang tanawin sa labas. The fog had rolled in since night is starting to fall. Kagagaling ko ng isang party at dumiretso ako kaagad sa café na napili ni Aidan.
Nag-angat siya ng tingin at ngumisi nang malingunan ako. Hinintay niya akong maka-upo sa kaniyang harapan bago sumagot.
"I'm sorry if it's a short notice. Kaninang umaga lamang kami nakarating. I'm with my classmates from Beda. We're here for school-related works at babalik din ng maaga bukas." Aniya.
Nagulat nga ako sa mensahe niya kaninang tanghali. I'm at a friend's celebratory party and he wanted to meet up because he is in Baguio. No'ng nakaraang buwan lamang ay binabati niya ako dahil sa pag-top sa boards, ngayon ay nasa harap ko na siya.
"Hindi ka nagbago ah," tumawa ako at umiling.
The sides of his lips rose, "gwapo pa rin."
"Sino ba naman ako para kontrahin 'yon?" Nagkibit ako ng balikat at ngumisi.
As we engaged in our conversation, we ordered coffee and some snacks. We had a lot to talk about that wasn't included in our communication for the past two years.
"I saw him last month when I visited Tagaytay with a friend," Aidan replied when I asked him about his twin.
Huminga ako ng malalim at tumango bago sumulyap sa labas ng bintana. Madilim na sa labas at dumarami na rin ang tao sa kalsada.
"You two are good, now?" I glanced at him.
His lips twitched, but he didn't smile. "Still the same, I guess."
Tumango ako at hindi na tinuloy pa ang usapan. Alam ko naman ang ibig niyang sabihin. Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko maitatanggi sa sarili at sa kaniya na marami pa rin akong pagsisisi, lalo pa nang masira ko ang relasyon nilang dalawa.
Aidan tried to explain to his twin what happened two years ago. Months after the accident, he went home, discussing that with Aiden. Honestly, I wasn't expecting anything from Aiden because I knew his anger would never be appeased. I was right, though.
"Aidan," halos magmura ako, "sinabi ko naman kasi sayong hayaan mo na. May kinalabasan bang maganda? Wala 'di ba? Nadamay ka lang sa galit niya."
"He needs to know, Malik. I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for him. He needs to realize his mistake here." He muttered coldly.
"It's still fresh to him, Aidan. You know your brother more than anyone, so you should know that he won't accept anything for now." I growled in frustration.
"And I also know that he will realize things later on. Mas mabuting maagang nasabi sa kaniya. You know I don't tolerate mistakes here, Malik, even if it's my twin."
Hindi ako sang-ayon sa ginawa niya pero wala rin naman akong magawa. At nang nalaman kong nagkalayuan sila ng loob dahil do'n, mas lalo lamang akong nakaramdam ng pagsisisi. Taon man ang lumipas, hanggang ngayon, ramdam ko pa rin 'yon.
Even if he didn't do it for me, I still feel indebted to him. He tried to clean my mess, but he was just dragged into the mess. Ngayon ay pati sa kaniya, galit na si Aiden. I ruined the relationship between them. And I hate to think that Aiden feels like his twin betrayed him.
