Mirror Mirror

Chapter 25: Conscience

She wiped her forehead and whispered to herself, "What's happening to me?"

Martina stirred awake, her gaze fixing on Alex, who sat at the edge of the bed, looking distant. The early morning light hadn't even begun to break the darkness outside. "What's wrong?" Martina asked, sitting up.

Alex turned to face her, her expression hesitant. "I had a dream," she said slowly. "But it wasn't just any dream. It felt... too real."

Martina tilted her head, curious. "What was it about?"

Alex hesitated, brushing a hand through her hair. "I was on an island. You were there. We spent time together, talked about things... but it was strange. I was wearing girly clothes—something I wouldn't normally wear." She paused, her voice softening. "And something happened between us. At least, it felt like it did. But it was one-sided because... because I didn't know how to tell you something about myself."

Martina's heart began to race. "What do you mean? What couldn't you tell me?"

Alex swallowed hard, her gaze dropping to her hands. "That I'm intersex. In the dream, I wanted to say it, but I couldn't. It felt like... I was scared of how you'd see me if you knew."

Martina's lips parted, her mind racing. The island. The girly clothes. The connection. It all sounded too familiar. Her heart sank as realization dawned. "Alex," she whispered, her voice trembling, "I've been to that island. And I met someone there. Akala ko nung una ikaw yun but then lumitaw si Lexy, I thought... it couldn't have been you. You were in surgery that entire week."

Alex froze, her confusion deepening. "Wait. Oo nga. Nakwento mo before. Kayo ni Lexy... but what if ako nga talaga yun? And those pills... pinapainom ako para makalimot."

Martina nodded, her eyes wide. "Yes. But it doesn't make sense. How could you have been there when you were in the hospital?"

Alex stared at her, processing the revelation. "None of this makes sense. But what if iniba lang din yung date—"

Their conversation was interrupted by a soft chime from Martina's phone on the nightstand. She reached for it, unlocking the screen to find a message from Lexy.

📱Lexy: Martina, I need to tell you the truth. Meet me as soon as you can.

Martina's hands tightened around the phone as she read the message, her chest tightening. She looked back at Alex, whose expression had grown serious. "It's from Lexy," Martina said quietly. "Let's meet her."

Alex frowned, her jaw tightening. "Baka masapak ko siya."

"I wanna trust her," Martina admitted, her voice low, "feeling ko importante sasabihin niya."

The sound of soft knocking on the bedroom door stirred Alex and Martina from their deep conversation. Martina glanced at Alex, concern flickering in her eyes before she got up to open the door. Standing outside was Ava, her younger sister, with Martin and Martha in tow.

Martin was clutching Martha's hand tightly, his face red and streaked with tears. Behind him, Ava looked slightly exasperated but concerned. Her burgundy-brown hair caught the faint light of the hallway, its subtle brown undertone glowing softly. 

"Ate," Ava began, her voice low but urgent. "Iyak nang iyak si Martin. Ayaw niyang tumigil. Sa akin binigay ni dad eh."

Martina immediately knelt to Martin's level, her heart sinking at the sight of her son's trembling frame. "What's wrong, baby?" she asked gently, placing a hand on his shoulder.