To Lie and Pretend

Chapter 1: Reunion

January 8, 2012

Hailey's POV

"Hailey!" Ang agarang bati sa akin ng kambal kong si Heather pagkalabas na pagkalabas namin ni Mom mula sa NAIA terminal nung umagang iyon.

Isang masayang ngiti ang agad na namuo sa mga labi ko nang masilayan ko ang aking kambal, at sinalubong ko siya gamit ng isang mahigpit na yakap.

"Long time no see Heather." Ang nakangiting bati ko.

Bumitaw siya sa akin, tumatawa.

"Oo nga eh. I can't believe that it's already been three years since we've last seen each other. But still, you haven't changed at all Hailey. You're as pretty as always." Kindat niya.

Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang tumawa rin.

"Siyempre naman noh. Ako pa." Sabi ko. "Pero of course, kung maganda ako, siguradong ikaw rin. Tutal, kambal nga tayo diba?" Grin ko.

Nagtawanan na lang kaming dalawa pagkatapos.

"Hay, it really gladdens my heart to see the two of you so happy." Bigla namang sabi ni Mom habang nakangiti sa aming dalawa.

Agad na lumapit si Heather sa kanya at sinalubong siya nito ng isang mahigpit na yakap.

"I missed you a whole lot, Mom." Sabi niya.

"I missed you too, Dear." Sagot ni Mom.

Maya-maya'y dumating si Dad na dala yung kotse namin, at nagkaroon kaming pamilya ng isang maikling reunion. Pagkatapos nun, agad kaming dumiretso pauwi sa bahay. The long flight from America to Philippines was really tiring eh. Tsaka kailangan ko na rin talagang magpahinga. Magkasama kami ni Heather sa backseat ng kotse, si Dad yung sa driver's side, si Mom naman yung sa passenger seat.

Oo nga pala. I almost forgot to introduce myself to you guys. I'm Hailey Jane Buencamino, sixteen years old and supposed-to-be fourth year high school student this year. Ah, bakit "supposed-to-be" lang? Simply because of the fact na homeschooled lang ako simula pagkabata. Sakitin kasi ako kaya madalas, nasa ospital ako. Lagi rin akong tumatanggap ng medications dahil sa hina ng katawan ko. Kaya sa huli, naisipan ng parents namin ni Heather na mag-private tutor na lang ako kesa mapagod sa physical activities sa school. Three years ago, lumubha nang sobra-sobra ang kondisyon ko kaya dinala ako ni Mom sa States para doon na lang magpagamot. Fortunately, mabuti na rin ang kalagayan ko ngayon kaya umuwi na kami. Pwede na nga ata akong mag-regular school eh. I hope. (^_^)

"Heather, what's this I hear about you getting a scholarship grant from your school? Hindi ka nagkukwento sa amin ni Hailey ah!" Ang biglaang pagreklamo ni Mom, nakatingin sa kambal ko.

Napatawa naman si Heather, brushing aside her pouting face.

"Hindi pa naman po sigurado Mom. First, I have to maintain my good record and ace the final exams. Tsaka kailangan ko rin pong ipagpatuloy yung perfect attendance record ko. Kaya I have to work twice as hard before everything is fully assured." Sabi niya.

Napangiti si Mom.

"Of course everything will be assured! Namana mo pa naman sa amin ng Dad mo yang katalinuhan mo!" Dekalra niya.

Napatawa kami nina Dad at Heather. Mom has always been so cheery and optimistic. Katulad na katulad talaga sila ng ugali ni Heather, always so bright and positive.

Maya-maya'y nagkaroon na kami ng kanya-kanyang mga usapan, sina Mom and Dad, tapos kaming dalawa naman ni Heather.

Hay, minsan tuloy hindi ko talaga mapigilang mainggit sa kambal ko. Kung tutuosin kasi, Heather was practically perfect. Valedictorian siya since pre-school. Lead actress ng Drama Club nila since elementary school. Tapos Student Council President since third year high school. Dagdag pa dun, I heard that she's currently dating the captain of their school's swim team. So yeah. To make things short, my twin sister is the most popular girl in their whole school. So normal lang namang makaramdam ako ng kahit konting inggit sa kanya diba?

And with those thoughts on my mind, I gave a wholehearted sigh.

"Oh, ba't parang ang lalim ng buntong-hininga mo diyan? May problema ba?" Tanong ni Heather sa akin, nag-aalala.

Umiling ako at binigyan siya ng isang mapaniguradong ngiti.

"Wag kang mag-alala. Wala namang problema. It's just that...I can't help but be envious of you, you know that?" Sabi ko.

Binigyan niya ako ng isang naguguluhang ekspresyon.

"At bakit ka naman magiging envious sa akin?" Tanong niya.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"I mean, look at you. Look at what you've achieved. Look at your position right now. Kahit sino naman gugustuhin ring maabot ang lahat ng nakamit mo. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang isipin na parang ang layu-layo ng level mo sa akin." I muttered.

She slapped my shoulder in response.

"Eto talagang si Hailey oh." Reklamo niya sabay eyeroll. "All those stuff doesn't really matter to me. I don't care about my position, and you shouldn't either. So don't think that way, okay? I'm still the simple, ordinary Heather that you all know and love." Sabi niya.

Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang ngumiti dahil sa mga sinabi niya. Heather always knows how to cheer people up immediately.

"Kung tutuosin, tama ka rin naman. I guess I'm just too self-pitiful. For once, I just want to experience the life that you have. The schoolgirl life." I admitted.

Napatingin si Heather sa akin at tinitigan niya ako nang maigi.

"You want to experience my life, you say?" Tanong niya.

Tumango ako.

"Well yeah, I guess. Even if it's just for one day, I would definitely be happy." Sagot ko.

Napatigil na lang ako sa pagsasalita nang makita ko ang ngiting namuo sa mukha niya at ang paraan ng pagtitig niya sa akin. I knew that look all too well. I've seen it countless times already. It was Heather's infamous "bright idea look". And I'm sure that she was definitely up to something at this moment.

"Ano na naman ang pinaplano mo diyan?" Tanong ko.

Heather's smile only got wider after that.

"Simple. Let's switch places. I'll be you, and you'll be me."