Changed

Twelve

-TWELVE-

The room fell silent and the atmosphere was so heavy I think I can't breathe anymore. Lahat sila nakatingin sakin. Yumuko ako at huminga ng malalim. What she said keeps playing in my mind.

She almost killed you. She almost killed you. I almost killed him.

Yes. I almost killed him. Ayoko ng alalahanin pa lahat lahat kasi kahit hindi ko naman kailangang alalahanin. I'm not oblivious to it because there are people who knew what happened and will always remind me of what I've done.

Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling yung mga luha ko pero tuloy tuloy itong pumatak sa mga mata ko. Nasasaktan ako. Gustong gusto ko ng umalis sa lahat. I wanted to run away. Nung isang buwan it was Leo, then Xenon, and now both Xenon and Sage.

"Ano? Iiyak iyak ka nalang ba ngayon, ha?! Speak up! Dammit!" Galit na galit na sigaw ng ate niya. Umiiyak na rin siya. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin. Kung aalis ba ko o luluhod para humingi ng tawad?

"Enough, Elizabeth. Pabayaan na natin sila." Bago pa man makapagsalita ang ate niya, hinatak na ito ni Tita. She looked at me apologetically and mouthed sorry.

"Take me home, please," I said pleadingly. Ayoko na dito. Hindi na ko makahinga. Wala akong makapitan.

"Take you home? I can't do that. Suck it up, Amilyte." Umalis siya sa harapan ko ng may naglalarong ngiti sa mga labi niya. Nanglulumo akong pumanik sa taas at magkulong sa kwarto. Siniksik ko yung sarili ko sa mga unan. Galit silang lahat sakin. I'm shivering with fear. Tumagos sakin lahat ng sinabinng ate niya.

My eyes felt heavy when I woke up. The sun was rising beautifully. I heard the birds chirping and the sounds of the chimes that hang on the balcony. My stress faded for some time.

I faced the right side of the bed only to find Sage sleeping and tucked in his own blanket like a cocoon. I sighed heavily. Stress is here and in figures. He looks like an angel when sleeping. Sage has a long, curly eyelashes that girls will surely envy. People says that he's my twin. They say Im the girl version of him, vice versa. But I highly doubt it. Sage's more of a baby face. Like I said, angelic. Nabahidan niya yata yung word.

"Stop staring at my handsome face. Maiingit ka lang sa maganda kong pilik mata, matangos kong ilong, at perfect pinkish lips. Dont forget my eyes when I opened them." I rolled my eyes over his overflowing confidence. Tsk. Kung wala lang akong kasalanan sa kanya...

Umupo siya at ngumiti sakin. I shot my brows up and he frowned. He teasingly put his palm right to my face and pushed me with it. I just groaned and got out of bed.

"Oy. Take a quick shower and let's go home," he shouted at the door. See? Parang wala lang.

Paglabas ko naabutan mo siyang umiinom ng gatas sa may balcony. I brushed my hair and went to him. He offered me cookies.

"Thanks," I murmured before taking a bite from the baked cookies. Ang sarap ng cookies, lalo na pag nakatingin dito sa view. From here, you'll get a terrestrial view. No cars or skyscrapers. Just plain trees and birds. The air is fresh and sweet. You'll smell the scent of nature. Maaamoy din yung amoy ng cacao. Sage's family happens to have a wide plantation of cacao not far from the rest house.

As I was standing, admiring the view, someone hugged me from behind. I was startled but I did not turn around to know who. Sino ba gagawa nun? I'm stuck with him. Before I thought Sage was warm and he was my home.

"Nilalagnat ka ba?" I asked. Sage is so not clingy but he likes to hug, especially when he's sick.

"Im shivering. Alis na tayo." Hinatak niya ko bigla tsaka kami bumaba.