Splitting Hairs

Thirteen

Was it the end of the world? Was it a clash of good and evil? Kung alam niyo lang, dinadasalan ko na ang lahat ng santo. Tinatawag ko na si Darna at si Batman. Pati ata si Sailormoon. Pero wala talaga! I could only save me, myself and I.

"Julian... I—"

"Vincent may pupuntahan pa tayo 'di ba?" My twin, Jean wagged the man's arm. Halata ko ang takot sa mga mata niya. The guy smirked at him. Ang sarap hampasin ng mga insensitive na lalaki sa mundo. Iumpog ang ulo sa pader para matauhan.

"We're not yet through Sunico."

Julian gave him a mocking smile. "Afraid of the little woman? Oh... The tough Vincent Gonzalo was afraid of his... wife? You've never bested me before... what now?" Inilahad nito ang kamay. Conceited jerks!

To our astonishment Vince started laughing. "Wife?"

Hinawakan ito ng mariin ni Jean. "You promised me..." She whispered. No. More like pleaded.

Gusto kong lumubog sa kinatatayuan. I was wishing the floor would cave in and eat me whole. Vince grinned maliciously at me. By God, he... knew. Anong pangako iyon? Napatingin ako sa kakambal ko. She was just shaking her head.

"Julian—" Hinawakan ko ang braso niya. Pero tinabig lang niya 'ko. I opened my mouth to shout at him.

"Vince... 'yung tyan ko!" Jean sobbed and cupped her stomach gently.

Pati ako hindi malaman ang gagawin. The two men looked astounded. Lumapit agad ako sa kakambal ko. Niyakap ko siya. Bigla akong natakot. Kahit na nga ba gusto kong sakalin ang kapatid ko... kahit na nga ba minsan hiniling kong sana una ko na lang nakilala si Julian kaysa sa kanya. I wasn't that bad to wish for her to have a miscarriage. Foul 'yun no. I play fair.

"Julian!" I screamed in panic. Vince looked at my sister in mixture of shock and horror. Gusto ko silang pagumpugin dalawa. "I'll call you. Jeannie... I won't go back to... Julian. Ever." Bulong niya. Natatakpan ko siya mula sa mga lalaki kaya hindi nila narinig. Then she purred— groaned aloud. Napangiwi ako at nag-aalalang tinignan ang hita niya kung may sign ng dugo.

That took Vince out of his reverie. Mabilis nitong niyakap si Jean at binuhat. May tatlong lalaki sa likod nila ang dumating out of nowhere. Bodyguards.

I opened my mouth to say goodbye. Then Jean— winked at me!

My jaw almost dropped. I was an idiot. I should have known. Ngayon ko lang na-realize. Talaga bang nasa pamilya na namin ang sinungaling? Or we were just made to be a good actress?

I felt a caress on my back. Marahan akong lumingon. "Don't worry about her. Vince may be a bastard son of a bi—tch. But he's responsible. For years, lagi na lang siya nakikipagkompitensya sa 'kin. He even courted Tricia." He smirked. "I don't know if I should be thankful, he didn't get to seduce my wife."

Muntik na akong mapaubo. If you only knew Julian. Kung sa bagay, kung i-seseduce niya 'ko. Hindi ako ipokrita para sabihing hindi ako mate-tempt. I smiled sheepishly. Landi.

"You didn't tell me... they're together?"

Bumuka ang bibig ko. Pano ko sasabihin sa kanya ang isang bagay na kahit ako ay hindi ko alam? Pano ako mageexplain ng hindi ko alam? "Ah..."

Hindi pa rin talaga ako pinapabayaan ni God... my phone started ringing.

"Halleluja, praise the lord. CM? I love you!"

Julian glared at me. He took my hand and gave me keys. "What's this?"

"Obvious ba? Susi ng sasakyan." He hissed and turned his back on me. "Julian, where are you goi—"