Kissing the Flames

Kabanata 1

Sweet but Psycho

"This is Eveline Navarette, the first born of my twin." My Mom said as she introduced my twin to our visitors. She looked at me and reached for my hand. "This is my Avalon Navarette, say Hi to our friends." She softly command us.

"Hello po!" bati ng nakangiti at bakas ang tuwa sa mukha ng aking kambal at kumaway ito. Hinila niya ang kamay ko para makalapit sa kaniya, "Me and my twin will be your server for today po!"

Nagtawanan ang mga matatanda dahil sa giliw na pagkasabi ni Eve, yumuko naman ako kaunti, tanda ng paggalang sa kanilang presensya.

"Server? Why will you serve us? You have people to do that, hija!" Bakas ang tuwa sa boses nito.

"Hay naku, Thalia. We are training them to serve na dahil balang araw at sila din ang maghahandle ng resorts and hotels namin. It's better to start in basics, kesa naman turuan namin agad mamahala." Kuwento ng aming ina.

Nakaupo kami ngayon sa aming tanggapan ng bisita, ang sala. Inaayos pa ang dining area para sa aming pag-kain.

"They are so sweet and responsible, Amelia, nakakatuwa naman. I wish i have a daughter like them. But i love my sons, don't get me wrong." Nakangiting sabi ni Tita Thalia. "Ay! Speaking of sons. Oo nga pala. Nakalimutan ko ipakilala ang aking mga anak, masyado akong natuwa sa kambal mo."

I looked at the old woman in front of us. She has a fair skin, no sign of aging. She has a sweet smile. Soft features. Masyado itong malamyos kumilos. Maaakit ka sa bawat salita nito na tila ba handa kang gawin ang lahat ng iuutos niya.

"This is my sons, Easton and Weston." Simpleng pakilala nito. "My husband can't make it today, he's busy with some deals in Manila." May bahid ng pagkadismaya sa boses nito pero ngumiti pa rin sa amin.

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang dalawang tahimik niyang mga anak. They look so formal and serious. Ashton, the youngest has a small smile plastered on his lips as he pays attention to our mothers. And as I averted my eyes to the eldest, he's cold and ruthless are on me. It's as if he's watching my every move. His expression were unreasonable, but one thing is for sure... kung may mali akong maikilos ay tila sisinghalan ako nito.

"Ava..." Nabawi ko ang tingin ko sa nakakatandang anak ng aming bisita at nilingon ang aking kambal. "Let's go to the dining room, we'll prepare the table." Maingat nitong aya sa akin. Tumango lamang ako at sumunod sa kaniya.

Ang aming bisita ay mananatili dito sa aming mansyon para sa isang linggong bakasyon. Base sa kuwento ni Mommy, matagal na silang magkaibigan. They never lost their communication. And somehow... i want that kind of friendship too.

Our lunch went smoothly. Pinagpahinga namin ang mga bisita sa mga kwarto sa mansion. We are known in this province since we're an old family here. We are respected and powerful in our place. One of our the rich families living in this peaceful province somewhere in Quezon.

Alas tres ng hapon ay tulog pa rin ang mag-iina, galing pa silang Maynila kaya paniguradong mga pagod ito sa byahe. My twin and mother are on their room too, resting. I was on our backyard again, spending my alone time.

I am sitting at our healthy green grass while sketching. My twin is a fan of music habang ako ay sa pagguhit. Madami kaming pagkakaiba ng aking kambal, tanging mukha lang ang pagkakapareha namin.

Her hair is straight, just like my father's. While mine is a bit curly, like mother. I am left handed and she's right handed. My twin is someone very opposite of me, but she's the only person, aside my parents, can handle me.

I am feared by others, iniiwasan nila ako dahil sa aking ginagawa. Pero ang aking kambal ay nananatili lagi sa tabi ko, walang halong takot. I remember one time, everyone was so scared of me. Because i killed a rat, using a scissors. I stabbed it multiple times.

"Avalon! What did you do?" Nag-aalalang tanong sa akin ni Mommy. Agad sila umuwi galing sa aming hotel pagkatapos marinig ang balita.

My clothes and hands are full of blood, the rat is the size of a kitten. Nakawala ito sa bodega noong araw na iyon. Everyone in the mansion panicked dahil pumasok ito roon. Nag-general cleaning ang mga tauhan doon dahil sa utos ng aming mga magulang. Natatarantang mga tao ang bumungad sa akin pagkababa ko noon.

"Dios mio! Elena... Donna! Halughugin niyo ang bawat sulok ng mansion, dapat bago makauwi rito ang mag-asawa ay nakita na natin iyon." Natatarantang utos ni Manang.

Curious about what's happening, i silently went down and search for the poor rat. I went to our dirty kitchen and saw the black cat-looking rat. I slowly walked inside while grabbing anything na mahawakan mo. It was a scissor. Nanghihina na ito kaya ng umupo ako sa harap nito ay hindi na ito nakatakbo. May maliit na sugat ako sa katawan. Tinitigan ko ito ng ilang sandali at napagtanto ko na ang maliit na sugat pala ay malalim, hindi ito nadugo dahil sa nabaong maliit na bagay sa sugat nito. Anytime, it will be dead.

I smiled at it and whispered. "Don't worry, I'll help you..." Unti unti ko inangat ang hawak na gunting at agad na binaon ito sa daga, it squeaked, so i stabbed it again. May tumalsik na dugo sa bandang leeg ko pababa sa aking dibdib.

The rat is big as a teen cat, kaya umagos ang dugo nito sa sahig. At first, i thought it was bad but also, the other half of my brain saying it's not that bad. I helped the poor rat.

I was about to stabbed it again, when i heard my twin's sweet voice.

"Ava..."

I looked at her with a blood on me, i was expecting her to shout in fear but instead, she walked closer to me and pulled my arm para makatayo. She took the scissors in my hand and put it somewhere away from me.

"What did you do, Ava?" Nag-aalalang tanong nito sa akin habang pinupunasan ang aking leeg na may dugo, gamit ang kanyang kamay. Just like how soft her voice, her touch is soft too.

"Ava, darling. Answer Mommy please?" Halos nagmamakaawang sabi nito sa akin. Naabutan nila kaming nasa ganoong posisyon. Eve's hands were full of blood too, they're scared na baka sinaksak ko ang aking kambal.

I sighed. "The rat was dying. I helped him." Malamig kong sagot. They let it pass that day. But, simula ng araw na iyon, i had a hot eyes on sharp things. Lagi nila ako naabutan sa ganoong posisyon. Blood on hands. Holding a sharp things. Dead rats, birds, and one time, a wild stray puppy.

They had me checked. The doctors nothing wrong with me. It's just that, I'm having a hard time to express myself, and the inner me were frustrated because of that, that caused me to vent it to something. Nothing's wrong with me. That's what my Mom always said.

While my twin is a rainbow and jolly to others, i am the shadow. The dark and expreionless one.

"You have a good hand in sketching for your age." Malamig na boses ang nagpabalik sa akin mula sa mga iniisip.

I looked at the boy who sits next to me. It was the son who has ruthless eyes. "Thanks..." Malamig ko ding tugon.

He stayed silent. Nakaupo lang at pinagmamasdan ang aming munting puno sa likod bahay. Nanatili din akong tahimik, bukod sa walang masabi, wala ako sa mood makipag usap. Nanatili ang pagiging tahimik namin ng binasag niya iyon.

Tumikhim ito. "Why are you here? Do you prefer the green scenery or the blue scenery?"

"I don't like the sound of water. I want peaceful place."

"Well, it's not that loud. You can even relax." Nagkibit balikat lamang ako bilang tugon sa kaniyang opiniyon.

"Why do you prefer water than grass?" Maingat kong tanong.

"Not really." Aniya.

Tumango ako at tinuloy ang pag guhit. I want him to leave my side, so bad. I want to be alone but I don't want to be rude.

"Loosen your grip on the pencil." Mahinahon niyang sabi. Doon ko palang napansin na sobrang higpit ng hawak ko sa aking lapis. Nabitawan ko ito. Suminghap ako ng pumasok sa isip ko ang posibilidad na mangyari. If he didn't said that, i probably stabbed myself or worst, him.

"Let's go, we're off to Polillo Island." Tumayo ito at hindi na hinintay ang pagsunod ko.

Ilang minuto ako natulala. I managed to delayed my action, and he stopped it beforehand. In a situation like that, no one can stop me. Even myself. I shooked my head and followed him.