The Divorce

Chapter 81: She Might Be Wrong

Hinawakan ni Adrienne ang isang kamay ni Samuella. Hindi man niya maalala kung sa kanan o kaliwa ba, basta ang alam niya may palatandaan si Samantha sa kanyang pulsuhan. Sabi ni Samantha noon, it's a mole. Hindi pinagdudahan ni Adrienne ang kaibigan. May pagkakataon pa nga na gusto niya rin sanang nagpalagay noon pero nang malaman niyang gagamitan iyon ng karayom para maging permanente sa balat niya, kaagad siyang nag-back out.

Hindi naman nagwawakas ang friendship nilang dalawa ni Samantha kung hindi niya gayahin ang birth mark nito sa katawan.

Kaagad niyang hinanap ang dalawang middle dot sa pulsuhan ni Samuella at hindi nga siya nabigo. Pero nang makita niya ang hinahanap, nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita ang kanyang hinahanap.

"Bakit tatlo na 'to? When did you add one? Or ..."

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Adrienne. "You're not my Sammy,"

The temperature in the room dropped suddenly, sending an involuntary chill through Adrienne’s body. It was as if the air had thickened around her, causing a ripple of goosebumps on her skin. She could feel her hair practically standing on end, as if it sensed the unease hanging in the atmosphere. When she turned to face the man sitting across the table, his intense stare enveloped her like a dark cloud, his eyes narrowed and filled with hostility. The tension in the air was obvious.

Adrienne swallows hard.

But for the sake of her best friend Samantha, she steeled herself, she's determined not to retreat. She had to confront the situation head-on, fueled by a mix of confusion and urgency.

How could there be a woman who bore such a striking resemblance to her best friend? This elegant woman had the same unmistakable birthmark, yet where her friend had two dots, this woman had three. The mystery left Adrienne restless, igniting a fierce desire to uncover the truth behind this uncanny similarity. What in the world was going on?

"Who are you? Where's Samantha?!" seryosong tanong ni Adrienne. Mukha lang siyang matapang na nilalang sa panlabas niyang anyo pero pasalamat talaga siya dahil nakaupo siya, dahil kung hindi, baka kanina pa siya humandusay sa sahig. Adrienne can feel her knees getting weak. The man's gaze is really frightening! Why does he look at her like she's already a dead meat?!

★★★

Huminga ng malalim si Samuella. Nakikita naman niya kung gaano ka-concern ang babaeng kaharap para sa kapatid niya. Unlike her, who doesn't have a friend, Samuella is happy knowing that her twin sister has this kind of friendship.

"It's a long story. I will tell you everything so please, don't tell anyone,"

Hindi sumagot si Adrienne. Pero ihinanda na niya ang kanyang sarili. Dinampot niya ang tubig na dinala ng waiter saka iyon inisang lagok. Nang matapos siyang uminom ay seryoso siyang humarap kay Samuella na nagsimula naman kaagad sa pagkukwento.

"I'm Samuella Eclypse Allejo. I grew up with my grandfather..."

Halos kalahating oras yata ang dumaan bago natapos ang pagkukwento ni Samuella.

"You're an Allejo, while Samantha is de Ayala... you're blood related..." napakunot-noo si Adrienne habang bumubulong.

Sa kanyang makulay na imahinasyon ay kung anu-anong senaryo na ang naglalaro.

"Alam na ba ni Sam?"

Umiling si Samuella. "Hindi pa kami nakakapag-usap. At first, wala akong balak sabihin sa kanya ang tungkol sa mga Allejo, but then things escalated to this point. I can't do that anymore. I'll be a bad person kung hindi ko kikilalanin ang kapatid ko," ani Samantha sa tonong tila ba sinisisi ang sarili niya.