The election is nearing. There are tons of articles about arguing citizens because of their chosen candidates. Saying that their candidates are more qualified than the candidate of the other. Can't they campaign in a nice way? Can't they endorse their chosen candidate for presidency in a way that they're not bashing or saying negative things to the other party? Can't they just state why their candidate/s is/are qualified for that position without attacking the other party in a negative way?
While scrolling on my social media I clicked a video about someone scolding an ordinary citizen. The guy is peacefully minding his own business when a woman approached him and confronted him why would he vote for the candidate that once destroyed the nation, the son of a dictator rather, just because the guy is wearing a facemask with the face of the other candidate in it. While finishing the clip, my blood suddenly boiled. Son of a dictator, huh? Whose the dictator now, then?
They exchanged arguments about why and why not should he and she vote for their chosen candidates. I salute the guy of how he managed not to raise his voice at the woman and didn't attacked her physically. Poor lady, she's barking at a wrong tree.
We have the same candidate as the guy but I'm not bias. I know my chosen candidate for presidency has a dark past and his surname was tainted with blood by most of the Filipinos who suffered from martial law. But why can't they look at the other side?
The late president dictated Martial Law because of terrorists attacking our nation back then. The soldiers abused their power by torturing, raping, or even killing innocent or not innocent citizens back at that day.
Tragic, how I hated how martial law works before. Now I even wished for martial law to happen again, not just in some parts of the Philippines but the whole nation instead.
It's weekend so I busied myself surfing at different social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and even Tiktok that I barely open. I must say that Instagram and Youtube are less toxic than the rest. My feeds on Facebook, Twitter and Tikok are all about politics — about supporters arguing at each other, throwing works and credentials. They even cat call each other, how childish and toxic.
I decided to stop scrolling and mind my own problems instead. I opened social media because I want to divert my attention on something to freshen up but politics is draining me.
I should've just read the diary my sister wrote back then. Yes, she mentioned at the first pages that she is Zhyrll Kate Park. The twin sister of Viennese Park, me. How old am I? Well, I'm already 22 based on the birthdate that Zhyrll wrote.
It's been weeks or maybe a month or two since I stopped reading her diary. My heart hurt so bad, we didn't grow together and I bet I didn't even have the chance to see her in her wake and burial.
I confronted my parents about this weeks ago and they give me a brief explanation but still isn't enough. I am not satisfied, I need more... and deep.
They mentioned that I was suffering a brain tumor back then and some of my organs were nearly to shut. I'm a weak baby, and I can't live in a tropical country so they sent me to L.A where my grandparents resides. My twin and I only communicate through facetime, since phone calls are expensive. That made the picture or the girl in the cabinet looked familiar. We have some similarities, that's why one of my mother's kumares mistakenly called me Zhyrll.
Zhyrll died when she was about to come to me at the hospital for my surgery, because finally I already had an organ donor. Kidneys, lungs, liver, and brain to be specific. But then, I never knew that she will be my donor. She became the replacement of my original organ donor. That explains why I frequently saw the little girl in my room, it was her.
A knock on my door made me back to my senses. "Miryenda?" Kuya Von asked behind the door. "Kanina ka pa hindi lumalabas, it's almost 10 hours since breakfast." He added. I sighed and got up to open the door. I looked at my digital clock at my study table and it's already 4 in the afternoon. I heaved a deep sigh again when I realized it's late in the afternoon and I haven't even taken a bath and lunch.
"Who are you?! What did you do to my sister?!" Kuya Von acted hysterical the moment I opened the door. Scripted, eh?
"Cut it off, pun." I coldly said.
"Hanggang ngayon ba naman malamig pa rin pakikigungo mo sa'kin?" He asked while tailing me.
I'm heading at the kitchen since he called for snack. I smelled a freshly fried french fries, burger, fried chicken smells like... McDonald's? Gumuhit ang kaunting ngiti sa aking labi. I rushed because of the excitement of finally I will be able to satisfy my cravings. Hindi nga ako nagkamali, narito nga ang mga naamoy kong putahe, nadagdagan pa ng Mcfloat, Mcflurries and Sundaes.
"A little token for you to not be mad at me anymore." Kuya said it in a hoarse voice. He sounded... sad.
I tuned to him and smiled wider this time and a genuine one. I am no longer mad at them... for keeping Zhyrll's connection about me a secret. I know and understand now that it was for my own good.
"Thank you!" I said happily and hugged my brother tight.
"No... thank you." He whispered. Our parents are not here, they ran some errands that's why.
"I guess I know now the reason why you also pursue criminology." Kuya Von snorted out of nowhere.
"Is it because I have Zhyrll's brain?" I asked.
He chuckled. "Gaga, hindi. Kasi kambal kayo, you have the same taste after all."
"Gano'n ba 'yon? Hindi ba puwedeng nagkataon lang?" I chuckled too.
Nagkibit balikat na lamang siya. They didn't told me about Zhyrll's cause of death but I will find it out soon.
There are more things about my past that I need to know. I can feel that Zhyrll didn't got an accident, but my parents didn't confirm it though. I need to find things out. I MUST find things out. After all, only this heart that pumps inside me isn't hers. It's mine. Since there's no sign of stitches unlike my abdomen.
