Crossover | ✓

CHAPTER 53

Elena's POV (May)

Dahil sa pag-uusap naming ni Winter ay naalala ko ang librong isinulat ni Mama. Hindi ko alam kung may kinalaman ba iyon sa nangyayari sa amin o talagang paranoid lang ako pero dapat kong mahanap iyon. Baka iyon ang magiging sagot sa aking katanungan, baka iyon ang solusyon para maibalik ang lahat sa dati.

Hawak hawak ni Winter ang isang maliit na notebook at binabasa ito, "So, in the movie I saw yesterday, it's a boy-girl thing, and in order to return to their original bodies, they have to be pals because they were mortal foes but I doubt you are a mortal foe of my sister. Meanwhile, in a fictional story I read, they couldn't switch back because the other body died. That was terrible and pointless."

"Sa tingin mo ba gagana 'to Winter? Palabas lang naman ito lahat at kathang isip lamang ng mga tao," tinitigan ko ang laptop na nagpeplay ang isang series na Mr.Queen ang titulo. Isang Kdrama series na ukol din sa soul switch. Tatlong araw na kaming walang tulog kakapanood.

"We won't know until we try, idiot. That's why you can't be a Perez even in your second life," pagmamaktol niya.

"Bakit naniniwala ka sa akin?" Hindi ko mapigiling itanong.

"You probably think I'm just a kid, but I do have some evidence that I can use to prove my theory is correct against those retards but I higly doubt they'd accept it. Even if you shove evidence to their throat, they'd believe what they want to believe," kibit balikat na ani ni Winter.

"Kailan ka naghinala na hindi ako si Elena?"

"Well, I heard from dad that you messed up your brain but I wasn't really that convinced until I saw you and you looked like a complete idiot in that café," sagot niya na abala pa rin sa pagbabasa.

"Ibig sabihin doon palang naghinala ka na?"

"Nope. Are you kidding me? I don't really believe in this kind of thing," sinarado niya ang librong binabasa saka kumuha ng bagong libro na nagkalat sa higaan. "Well, not until May Gonzales showed up and I started observing both of you and how Luke and that Chase reacts."

"Gusto mo na ba talaga mabalik ang totoong Elena kaya tinutulungan mo ako at naniniwala ka sa akin?"

"Hmm, not really," ani niya na muling nagpakunot sa making noo. Kung ganoon, ay bakit niya ako tinutulongan? "I just hate not knowing things. For I am Winter Perez after all. I know everything." Nagsulat siya sa isang maliit niya na notebook. She's literally reading and watching Pure Love simultaneously. "To put it simply, in order for her to wake up, she must find three people who are not relatives who are willing to cry genuine tears for her. She has 49 days to finish the mission before her soul is permanently separated from her body. In her quest for her three genuine tears, she borrows the body of Song Yi Kyung, a young woman who is extremely dissatisfied with her existence..." Tumingin naman agad sa akin si Winter. "So, did Elena almost die and she just borrowed your body? But how about you? How did you end up in her body?"

"Kung may tao mang malapit na mamatay ay ako 'yon. Bilang nalang ang araw ko. Kahit anong oras ay pwede akong biguin ng katawan ko," ipinaalam ko sa kanya

"What do you mean?"

Hindi ako sumagot at nanatiling tahimik. Ano ng mangyayari sa totoong Elena kung bumigaya ang aking katawan?

"If you don't want to answer, so be it. Anyways we need to find three people to cry genuine tears for you," sambit niya at tumayo tila handa ng lumabas. "Give me three friends or someone you might know who would be willing to cry for you."

Kaibigan? Isa lang naman kilala ko eh, "Si Yummie lang ang kilala ko."

"Seriously? You're such a loser. Anyways, we need to try all these. I also already researched related stories and articles about soul switching," paliwanag niya habang nakatitig sa akin. "I need to go to the comfort room I'll be right back."

Isang oras na ang lumipas at wala pa rin si Winter. Nalunod na ata sa inodoro na imposible dahil napaka talino naman noon at talented para malunod lang sa inodoro. Bigla nalang bumukas ng napakalakas ang pinto at pumasok si Winter na naiiyak at si Misty na may mapaklang ngiti. Nag-away na naman ba sila?

"Why didn't you tell me anything about this you stupid old hag!"

"Why do I have to tell you anything you stupid brat?"

Pumagitna ako sa kanilang dalawa. Ano bang nangyayari sa kanila. Narinig ko ang sarkastik na tawa ni Misty.

"This is the only thing I can do for both of you," Hinawakan ni Misty ang kamay ko. "You always try to shoulder all the burden on your own. I should be the one doing it, I should be the one protecting you but all these years I am protected by you. This time, I will protect you, Elena." Anong ibig niyang sabihin? Bakit malungkot ang kanyang mga mata? Anong nangyari? Nilingon niya si Winter. "And stop following me and being a brat. Get dressed already you stupid brat."

Wala akong masabi dahil hindi ko naman alam kung ano ba ang nangyayari. Masama na tingin ang ipinukol sa akin ni Winter. Parang kanina lang ay ayos lang kaming dalawa ha? Ano ba talaga ang nangyayari at galit na galit siya sa akin?

"Anong ibig niyong sabihin?" Tanong ko.

"I am being sold to some shitty old man," sagot ni Misty na may tonong hindi nagbabago.

Being sold? Anong ibig niyang sabihin?

"You! If just you didn't do something weird then Misty, Misty she would be still free! If just—This is all your fault! The company is nearing bankruptcy because of you!" iyak na wika ni Winter.

Nagugulahan akong tumitig sa kanila. Parang kanina lang ayos lang kami ni Winter, anong ibig niyang sabihin? Nagulat ako ng biglang sampalin ni Misty si Winter. Agad akong lumapit pero tinabig ni Winter ang kamay ko

"Stop being a brat and blaming everything on Elena, Winter! This is not her fault!" galit na sigaw ni Misty.

"I am not blaming Elena because she is not Elena!" Natigilan kami sa biglang sigaw ni Winter.

Salubong naman ang kilay ni Misty na tumingin kay Winter. "Stop saying absurd things. This is what makes you a brat"

"Nagsasabi siya ng totoo," pag-amin ko naman agad.

"You don't have to cover up for this brat, Elena. Go back to your room and get dressed," malamig na utos ni Misty kay Winter.

Marahas na pinunasan niya ang kanyang mga luha, "Do you think the real Elena would not do something about this?"

"Go back to your room Winter," pasigaw na utos ni Misty.

Pumagitna ako sa kanilang dalawa. They are the closest, they can't be fighting now. "Pero—"

"I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU MISTY! I HATE YOU, YOU STUPID OLD HAG!" umiiyak na sigaw ni Winter saka tumakbo palabas ng kwarto ko.

"It's strange how my chest hurts so much but no tears are pouring," tumingin siya sa akin at tinitigan ako. "I can finally do my job as your elder sister."

Hindi ko napigilan na yakapin si Misty. Nagkakagulo ang magkakapatid dahil sa akin. Kasalanan ko 'to. Patawarin niyo ako. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko, ni hindi ko magawang takbohan ang lahat ng ito dahil hindi ko totoong katawan ang na sa akin.

"I'm sorry. Kasalanan ko, patawarin niyo ako. Hindi ko ginustong mangyari 'to," hikbi kong iyak

Malambing na pinunasan ni Mistya ng mga luha ko, "This is nobody's fault. I enjoyed my freedom, I enjoyed the freedom you gave me, Elena."

Hindi ko mapigilang lalong maiyak. Nang una kong makita ang magkapatid na Perez ay akala ko hindi nila gusto ang isa't isa pero lahat sila may rason at mahal ang isa't isa. Hindi man nila sabihin ay nararamdaman ko iyon. Simula ng makasama ko sila sa iisang bubong.

"Hindi ako si Elena, maniwala ka. Wala akong sapat na ebidensya para mapatunayan sayong tama ang sinasabi ni Winter pero—"

"Promise me, one thing Elena. I want you to be happy, to be happy with someone you love. I want you to be happy with Luke. Don't ever let go of his hands," pakiusap niya at hinalikan ang aking noo. "Now, you need to get changed too."

Wala akong masabi at nasabi hanggang sa tuloyang isinara ni Misty ang aking pinto. Anong gagawin ko kung nabitawan ko na at galit siya sa akin ngayon?