That One Night

Chapter 30: The Sea

Pabalik-balik lang ako sa buong silid habang iniisa-isa ang lahat na nangyari. Hindi ko pa rin maintindihan. Why is Ivanah introducing herself as me? Bakit sya nagpapanggap? For what? I thought things are fine now. Hindi pa rin pala?

Napahinto ako sa kalagitnaan ng aking paglalakad sa silid niya nang bumukas ang pinto. Pumasok si Ivanah dala-dala ang emosyong taglay ko sa tuwing hindi ako mapakali. Should I award her for being a perfect copycat?

"What the hell?" Di ko mapigilang magtaas ng boses pagkasara na pagkasara nya ng pinto. "Anong laro na naman ito? Hindi pa ba tapos, Ivs?"

"Umupo ka nga. Masyado kang naiistress." napanganga ako sa sinabi nya. How can she say that to me? How can she be this calm amidst the trouble she just caused?

"Are you crazy? Hindi ako nakikipagbiruan, Ivanah!" I angrily made my way to her, grabbed her arm and pulled her. "You have to tell them the truth!" Hinila ko sya patungo sa pinto pero mabilis nyang inalis ang pagkakahawak ko.

"The game has started, twinny." This is her. That is how she speaks! Her tone always sounds sweet but at the same time evilish. Ganyan ang boses nya! Now the mask is off. She's being herself againm

"Anong game ang pinangsasabi mo? Hindi ako nakikipaglaruan sayo--"

"Have you forgotten already? Hindi ba't ikaw ang nag-advice sa akin na ipaglaban ko ang taong gusto ko? I just did it, twinny."

"Ano?"

"Yes. Tan is the guy I like. Mula noon, hanggang ngayon." She sat on the bed and crossed her arms an legs. "Alam mo ba na simula nang umalis ka, his full attention shifted to me. Wala naman sana akong balak sumali sa kompanya ni dad but because of Tan, I did it. Tancsc helped me all throughout the months and years of working in Cofer. He only has me. Wala ka, walang Aivanah."

"..." I refused to answer what she just said. Hindi ko pa rin maintindihan. Why does she has to pretend as me? If she likes him, then she must tell him. Hindi iyong magpapanggap syang ako. And to correct her, I did give her an advice but I clearly told her to fight for her love without stepping unto people.

"Alam mo ba ang pakiramdam na may taong palaging nasa tabi mo, na palaging nakikinig sa mga kwento mo, na parati mong nakakasama? Tan gave me the feels. When our parents longed for you, Tancsc is with me. Not only him, actually. Dahil sa umalis ka, nakilala ko rin nang maiigi sina Igon at Winey. How lucky my twinny is! Naisip ko. You have everything the world could offer, Aivanah. Caring parents, a guy who will love you forever, friends who will never leave and betray you, may nana at dada ka rin na natatakbuhan. I thought, it's better to be you than be me."

"Y-you're sick." Hindi ko mapigilang sabihin. "Dalawang taon na ang lumipas, hindi ka pa rin nagbabago. Inggit pa rin ang dugong dumadaloy dyan sa pangangatawan mo. Ivs, grow up! Hindi na tayo bata para mag-inggitan pa. You have what you have. I have what I have. You have your own life. I have mine, too!"

"But I want your life! Akala ko rin magiging maayos na ang lahat sa atin, Aivanah but I was wrong. It will never be okay as long as you have everything!"

"What do you want me to do?" Disappointed, I looked straight to her eyes. "Gusto mo bang ibigay ko ang lahat sayo at hayaan kang maging masaya?"

"Yes."

A dismayed chuckle left my mouth.

"I would do that with open arms, my dear twinny ..."

"R-Really?" Her eyes glowed. Hindi ko mapigilang maawa.

"Yes, I would .. two years ago, not now." Hinawakan ko ang kamay nya. Iwinaksi ko muna pansamantala ang presensya ng singsing na nasa daliri nya. "Two years ago, you asked me to find myself and bring it back. I've found it, Ivs. Nang tuluyan ko nang makilala kung sino talaga ako, marami akong natutunan. Isa na roon ay ang dapat na ipaglaban ko ang taong mahal ko. Ipaglaban ko na walang inaapakang tao."