Living Lies

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Keys

STEFEN

The first thing I did when I open up my eyes is to find my twin Steph. But I'm too scared to know that we've been separated for this challenge. At first, we thought to each other that no matter what happen we'll stay together and now this happen. I don't know what to do, she's half of me. Everything I did was for her. It's like I lost a part of me, when she doesn't near with me.

I'm too lost here.

My hands were tied, hindi ko alam kung paano tatanggalin 'to. Sinubukan kong tumayo, there's a dim light that could give me sight to see things. Until I bump with a table. Noong una ay hindi ko pa ito pinansin pero nang marinig ko ang ilang tunog mula doon ay binalikan ko iyon. Nang tingnan ko iyon ay sari saring mga susi ang naka-kumpol sa ibaba ng mesa. Kahit madilim ay inaninag ko kung may pinto ba sa paligid.

And I was right, there's a door with five locks on it. At ang mga susi na makakapagbukas doon ay hindi kumulang nasa isang daang piraso. Habang inaalam ko kung paano ko gagawin iyon ay sumagi naman sa isipan ko ang mga ginawa namin noon ni Steph.

"What are you doing, Steph?!" usal ko sa kanya.

She's tying up my hands behind my back. I don't know what she up to pero natutunan niya daw iyon sa sinalihan niyang sorority noon.

"Ayan, okay na." aniya at hinarap naman niya ako.

"What the, Steph? What are you trying to do?"

She rolled her eyes, "it's for you to get out from the ropes. Get yourself out from it, Stefen."

I raised my brow, "I don't know how!"

She sighed, "I'll show you how."

She positioned herself at my back then suddenly, she broke my arms. I screamed in pain for what she did to me. I cursed her for doing that and being that, I can easily get out myself from the tie. And when I look at my arms, binalingan ulit iyon ni Steph then she returned it like nothing happened.

"How did you do that?" hindi ko makapaniwalang tanong sa kanya.

She smirked, "not anymore twin but that's something you can do."

Without hesitation, I brake my arm. Kahit sobrang sakit ay tiniis ko iyon para magawa kong alisin ang pagkakatali sa kamay ko. Mabilis ko iyong nagawa at binalik mula sa dati. Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago ituloy ang susunod na gawain. Pinuntahan ko naman ang pinto at sinuri ang mga padlock na nandoon.

Pagbalik ko sa table ay parang may natapakan akong basa. Nang umalis ako doon ay hindi naging iba ang pakiramdam ko hanggat sa na-realize kong aapaw ang tubig sa kwartong ito. At kapag hindi ako nakalabas ay tiyak na dito na ang katapusan ko.

I started to panic at simulant ang pagtry ng mga susi sa padlock. And in everytime I failed to find the right one, parang nawawalan ako ng tsansa na makalabas pa dito. I worry too much to my twin. Ano na kayang nangyayari sa kanya ngayon? Is she safe? Sana.

Before we came to this situation. There's no warning or any signs that first thing in the morning, as we open our eyes. We'll face our judgement. But we can only save ourselves if we took it seriously, like if we survive. We do get hope.

This is not the phase of giving up anymore, it is where you to find your strength and skills to realize how much you are worthy.

"Gotcha!"

Hindi ako makapaniwalang nabuksan ko ang isang kandado but still there are more keys to look for. Nararamdaman ko na ang tubig papunta sa aking tuhod. Things much getting harder, mas nagiging mabagal ang kilos ko kaya natatagalan ako sa ginagawa ko. I carry few keys para hindi na ako magbalik balik at mas madali iyon para sa akin.

I need to see my twin.

"Fuck you, I got you!"

Sa pangalawang pagbukas ng pinto ay mas lalo akong nahirapan. Mas naging komplikado ang lahat sa akin dahil umaakyat na sa aking bewang ang tubig. For me to do things faster, I swim back and forth. Nakampante ako ng mabuksan ko ang third and fourth lock but I am no lucky nang sa huling kandado na lamang ang natitira.

There's still more half of a hundred to try.

When everything seems impossible to do, I'm finding my courage to give the best I can. Hindi ako magpapatalo dito. This is only the first thing to do, hindi pa ito ang umpisa. And if I passed this challenge ay makakasama ko na muli ang kapatid ko.

I go up above the water where air is still free.

"Fuck, nasaan ka na ba?!"

When five keys left and small space air to breath. My luck has no sense at all. The last key I'm holding on, for sure this is the key. I immediately go up above to breath some air but on the other hand, the key slip off of my hand.

I took a breath and dive back and search to the key. When I found it, I immediately put it on the lock, and gladly it opened. Nang bumukas ang pinto ay sumama na lamang ako sa agos palabas nito.

Sa bawat malalim na aking paghinga ay hindi naalis sa isipan ko ang aking kambal. So I stood up and search for her but the next thing I saw was another four wall. Napaluhod na lamang ako at tumulo na lamang ang mga luha ko.

Where should I go find myself out when there's no way out?