That One Mistake

Chapter 4: The Encounter

Ilang buwan na ang lumipas matapos ang engagement party na dinaluhan ko. Bumalik sa dati ang pamumuhay ko dahil hindi ko na muling nakita si sir Jeserr. Nothing really significant happened to me the past months except for that one whole week na inakala kong buntis ako. My period was delayed for a week kaya kinabahan ako. Mabuti na lang at walang nabuo. Jeez, hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko pag nagkataon.

Things went well with me, but not with my best friend Aivanah. Something happened to her kaya nandito ako ngayon sa ospital kasama ang isa pa naming kaibigan na si Igon.

Doubling my steps towards the ER, hindi ko mapigilang di mag-isip ng masama. What if? What if something worst happens to her? Jeez! Hinding-hindi ko kayang mawala si Vanah.

"Anong nangyari kay Aivanah?" The first question that came out of my mouth as soon as I reached Tancsc.

"She fell from the stairs."

"What? H-how? Paano? Nasa Cofer lang sya, paanong maaksidente pa --" Naguguluhan pa ang isipan ko habang iniisip ang nangyari nang makita ko ang presensya ni Ivanah, Vanah's twin.

"You!" Blood's rushing through my veins as I strided towards her. "You pushed her, didn't you!?"

"I didn't. It was an accident. I-I swear! She was holding my arm. I j-just want her to let go of me."

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko't nasampal ko sya.

"Winey!" Their mom shouted in shock.

"How dare you hurt her." That was a whisper. "You want her to let go of you? Alam mo ba kung gaano ka hirap para kay Aivanah ang gawin yan?"

"Winey, enough."

"No, Igs! This bitch needs to know what she doesn't know."

"You have everything the world could offer. Have you ever think of what was deprived of your twin?" I paused for a second. "You guys have no fucking idea how broken my best friend is! Hindi nyo man lang ni minsan kinamusta ang kalagayan nya nang ipatapon nyo kami sa Manila."

Nanginginig ang kalamnan ko habang iniisa-isa sa isipan ang lahat na paghihirap ni Aivanah.

"You blamed her for Alle's death."

"We never blamed our daughter, Winey." Tita answered back. Isang malungkot na ngiti ang pinakita ko.

"Yes, tita. Maybe you never said it to her but your treatment tells it exactly. Walang gabing hindi umiiyak si Aivanah. Do you know she brings sleeping pills wherever she goes? I bet not."

"Sleeping p-pills?"

I told them everything I know that they didn't know. Alam kong wala ako sa posisyon para sabihin ang mga bagay-bagay sa kanila pero kahit na ako'y napupuno na rin. I may not be as strong and brave as Aivanah, but I have my limits.

"Wine, tama na." Tancsc butted in.

"Believe me."

I looked straight to Ivanah's eyes.

"When she wakes up, the first thing she'll ask will be about you. Ganyan ka kamahal ng kambal mo. Too bad, you're just taking her for granted."

Hindi na ako nagtagal pa. Gusto ko mang hintayin ang paglabas ng doctor mula sa ER, ay di ko na kaya pang pigilan ang bigat na nararamdaman ko. I stormed out of the hospital and cried my heart out.

"NANDITO KA NGA."

Agad akong nag-angat ng tingin nang marinig ang boses ni sir Jeserr. He's looking down at me with his angry eyes.