Bente Kwatro

11. Mom's Warning

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!"

"Aaaaaaaahhhhh-- what the hell?!" Nagsalubong ang aking kilay at naputol ang pagsigaw ko nang sa pagmulat ng aking mga mata naka face to face ko ang taong kamukhang kamukha ko. "Why are you shouting Xander?!"

Pinitik niya ako sa aking noo at napailing-iling. "You were the first one to shout, Alex!" Tinalikuran niya ako at naglakad papunta sa isang pinto na sa hinuha ko ay ang banyo.

Nilibot ko ng tingin ang buong silid. Where exactly am I? Napatingin ako sa picture na nasa ibabaw ng bedside table.

My lips automatically formed a smile. It was a picture of me, my twin brother, Xander, and my mother. So what am I doing in Xander's room?!

"Xander!!" Ano bang date ngayon? Saan na ba ang cellphone ko?! Kinapa ko ang shorts ko pero wala naman itong laman. "Xander! What the hell are you doing there?! Can you come out!"

Alexander or Xander for short is my fraternal twin. We all have the same features, except of course for our gender. But what's really ironic about us, is our sexual preferences. Yes, obviously I'm a lesbian and Xander happened to be a gay. That's why our mother who happened to be widowed since we were eight gets really crazy dealing with both of us.

"What do you want Alex?!" Salubong ang kilay nya. Nakatapis lang siya ng towel at tumutulo pa ang kanyang basang buhok. One more thing that we have in common, kahit bading siya hindi naman siya nag aact or nagdadamit pangbabae kagaya ko na hindi rin naman nagdadamit ng panglalaki. "Isn't its obvious that I'm having a shower?!" Pagdating sa kaartehan parehas lang kami.

"What's the date today?" I gave him a wry smile and ignored his outburst.

"You were shouting as if there's a fire and then you will just ask me about the date?! Why don't you just get out of my room?!"

I laughed at his expression. Namimiss ko itong bangayan namin ni Xander kahit tungkol pa sa mga walang kwentang bagay. "Just answer me!" I shouted again when he was about to go back inside the bathroom.

He rolled his eyes and sighed! Gosh, I really see myself with him. Ang gwapo ko pala kung naging lalaki talaga ako.

"April 28, 2014! What else do you want?!"

I can see that he's pissed kaya lalo akong napangiti ng nakakaloko. I think I should visit him one of these days. I mean, in present time.

He pointed out the door. "Get out! You don't have any business here!"

I shrugged and winked at him. "Xander, I think you'd better change your sexual preference! For sure magkakagirlfriend ka agad!" Pasigaw ko pang sabi habang papalabas na ako sa kanyang kwarto.

"Shut up! Ikaw ang gumawa dahil ikaw ang nakaisip!" Balik sigaw din nya bago ako tuluyang nakalabas sa kanyang kwarto.

Hindi ko na naalis ang ngiti sa aking labi habang naglalakad ako sa pasilyo ng bahay. Hmm, April 28.. What's with the date?

"Alexandra inaasar mo na naman ang kakambal mo! Mamaya mauwi na naman kayo sa bangayan!"

Napasulyap ako sa may living room nang marinig ko ang boses ni Mommy. I was supposed to go to my room but decided to have a chat with my dearest mother. Baka magka-idea ako kung anong nangyari. "Mom, what's keeping you busy?" Niyakap ko siya mula sa kanyang likuran.

Hindi pa muna nya ako pinansin at kinausap si Manang. "Manang, mamaya dadating na iyong mga tables. I-aarrange na 'yon sa garden."

"Opo, ma'am. Kami na po ang bahala."