Smile for me

UNO

Sevi's POV

(FLASHBACK)

"Huy! Savannah! Why didn't you wake me up!?" I shouted frantically as I hurriedly grabbed a plate of rice. Savannah had already finished eating and was sitting at the dining table, probably waiting for me to finish.

She didn't answer, just looked away as if she hadn't heard a thing. I rolled my eyes and glared at her. This brat!

Savannah was my twin sister, my only sibling. We've been inseparable since birth-same school, same class. Our parents were always so busy with work, often away on business trips. That's probably why my twin and I had so much freedom, always left alone at home.

No one would check on us if we stayed out late or even disappeared for days because our parents rarely came home. I'd be lying if I said I didn't resent them. But it was also because of their hard work that we could buy anything we liked. Still, I wished they would spend more time bonding with us.

**(At school)**

"Mr. Aguilar! I know you're still grieving, but that doesn't excuse your behavior. This is the fourth time this week that you're late." I looked down, too afraid to talk back. Late na naman kasi ako pumasok, and it's all because of Savannah! Hindi ba man lang ako ginising nito! Nakakainis!

Though, I didn't quite understand what my teacher meant by "grieving." Hindi naman kami namatayan. Or was she talking about how my parents didn't attend our card day? I don't even resent them for that-they were busy. Besides, card day lang naman yon. I'd have felt bad if it were our graduation.

I stood in front of the classroom while my teacher lectured me about coming to school early, etc. I didn't really hear much of it-I wasn't listening. My eyes were focused on my twin sister, looking at her with envy and anger.

She was sitting at her desk, looking away from me as if she were embarrassed. We were both late, yet I was the only one who got in trouble. I knew my twin sister was an academic achiever, but that didn't mean she should be treated differently. She should have been lectured along with me, but instead, she was at her desk, avoiding my gaze.

"I'm sorry po," I said softly. I heard my teacher sigh, so I looked up, only to see her looking at me with pity, as if she felt bad for something I didn't know.

"Maupo ka na, Mr. Aguilar," she said gently, gesturing for me to sit down. I walked to my chair near where Savannah was sitting and glared at her. Madaya talaga! May favoritism ba naman si Ma'am. Both of us were late, yet I was the only one who got scolded.

"This is all your fault, Savannah! Kung ginising mo sana ako, hindi sana ako napahiya sa harap!" I snapped at her as I sat down, still pissed. She simply turned her head away and focused on our teacher's lecture.

My friends in front of me looked at me weirdly, like I'd said something wrong. They seemed terrified and were whispering to each other.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked, but they just gave me a pitying look and shook their heads.

"It's nothing, Sevi," Angelo said before turning back to the board. I'd known Angelo since elementary; he was probably the oldest friend my twin and I had.

Angelo was calm, someone you might call basic. But once you got to know him, you'd see his real personality-medyo makulit at madaldal. Once he started talking, he wouldn't stop.

"A-are you okay, Sevi?" Mikha asked, looking at me with concern. I was confused. Why would she ask me that? Was it because I got in trouble? Hmm... most likely.

"Yes?" I replied, questioning my own answer. She looked at me sadly and nodded slightly before turning to whisper something to Angelo. What's wrong with them? Are they hiding something from me? Nakapatay ba sila?! If they did, I hope they don't involve me. Ayokong makulong!

Mikha was an energetic girl. I don't quite remember our first encounter, but we met at the start of high school. We've been classmates since first year, so we became close.

I shrugged off my curiosity and tried to listen to the teacher, even though it was boring. If I didn't, wala akong matututunan.

After what felt like a million years, class finally ended. Most of my classmates were chatting with friends, deciding where to eat. I looked up when I saw Mikha and Angelo walking toward us.

"Sevi, tara, kain na tayo sa may canteen," Angelo invited. I was waiting for them to call Savannah, but they ignored her, focusing only on me. Matagal ko na itong napapansin sa kanila-they've been ignoring Savannah these past few days. Ako lang ata ang iniinbitahan ng mga kaibigan namin; they haven't been acknowledging my twin. Savannah didn't seem to care much either; she's been ignoring them too.

Both of them seemed angry at Savannah, and my twin felt the same way. I packed up my things and put them in my bag.

"Saglit lang, aren't you going to invite Savannah too?" I whispered so Savannah wouldn't hear. She could get hurt if she did-soft-hearted pa naman yun.

They froze, as if shocked by what I said. I looked at them, confused, but they just laughed it off.

"Yeah... haha," Mikha said awkwardly, looking away as if uncomfortable. Angelo looked at me sadly, his eyes trembling as tears began to form.

"Okay ka lang, Angelo?" I asked, worried. This guy rarely cried-something must have happened.

"Oo naman! Wala 'to," he replied, turning his back on me. Mikha gently touched his back, as if comforting him.

"Let's go?" Mikha invited again, and I nodded. They seemed uncomfortable when I mentioned Savannah... Is their fight that serious?

"Huy! Tara na daw," I called to Savannah, but she didn't respond and just started walking. I followed her, but none of us spoke the entire way to the canteen.

After buying our food, we found a seat and sat down.

"Are you not gonna eat, Savannah?" I asked, and she just nodded. Nagda-diet siguro to. Payat-payat na nga, tapos may nalalaman pang diet. I shook my head and set my tray on the table.

"Wait here, I'll buy you food," I told Savannah, but she didn't respond. As I was about to leave, Mikha suddenly grabbed my shoulder to stop me.

"Who?" she asked, her eyes slightly panicked. "Huh? Yung bibilihan ko ba ng pagkain? Syempre si Savannah. Siya lang walang binili kanina," I replied casually.

There was that look again-pity mixed with sadness. It was starting to get annoying. Couldn't they just tell me what was going on?

"What's wrong with you two? You've been acting weird since this morning," I said, genuinely worried. They didn't usually act like this, so it was rare to see them this restless.

"Sevi..." Mikha whispered, starting to sob. Angelo hugged her to comfort her, and I was left alone, confused. I had no idea what was going on.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" I asked, sitting next to her and rubbing her back to comfort her. This girl was usually energetic-she rarely cried. But instead of calming down, she cried even harder.

"Sevi... Savannah's gone," Angelo muttered weakly. He looked like he was about to cry but tried his best not to. My eyes widened-how... How could they say that? When Savannah was literally sitting in front of us, looking at us?

"W-what do you mean? Savannah's here! She's right in front of us!" I said loudly, not believing a word he said. He looked away as tears slowly slid down his face.

The moment he spoke the next words, my heart broke. It was unbelievable, something I wished wasn't true. Yet it was...

"No... y-you don't get what he meant. Savannah's dead, Sevi! Y-you... killed her..."

"Haha... I killed her?" My hands started to tremble as memories from that night flooded my mind. My eyes shook, growing wetter. Before I knew it, Angelo and Mikha were holding me, whispering that it wasn't my fault... Yet I knew it was.

I looked down, squeezing my hands together, crying as I blamed myself over and over. Everything that happened earlier was just an illusion, a hallucination I created because I wished to see her again. No, it was my guilt. I refused to accept that I killed her, so I made myself believe she was still alive, still here by my side.

Haha... Right... It was all my fault. I killed her.