Help Me Survive

VII: The Twin

Chapter 7

Okay, this guy here is really creeping me out.

Ngumisi ba naman ng pagkalaki-laki. Sino hindi ma-cre-creep out doon?

"Oh! Forgive me miss. I have forgotten that I haven't introduced myself to you. It's not too late for formalities naman diba?" He asked, still smiling.

"I'm Peace Juckser Lacosta. Chaos' twin brother," he added while streching out his arms for me.

"I-I'm Myst. Tanleigh Mystic Rivera. Nice to meet you Chaos' twin," I said while shaking hands with him.

"Yeah, I know you," he said still smiling.

Wait, what? He said he knows me? Bakit pa ako nagtataka e ganiyang-ganiyan din si Chaos.

Mukhang mas magandang idea na siya na lang ang tatanungin ko hindi si Chaos. Tutal, itatanong ko lang naman kung pa'no niya 'ko nakilala.

This guy might give me the answers. 'Di ko na pahihirapan ang sarili kong hanapin si Chaos kung mayroon namang puwedeng makapagbigay agad sa akin ng sagot.

"Earth to Tanleigh," he waved his hand in front of me. Great, I just spaced out.

Umayos ako ng tindig bago nagsalita, "can we talk somewhere away from here? It's  a private matter."

"What's being private with asking Chaos' whereabouts?" His brows furrowed and his smile faded.

"Actually, I just want to ask him something. But I guess you here, can give me the answers I'm seeking," I said habang pinapantayan ang intensidad na binibigay ng kaniyang mga mata.

"Alright. West reading nook. Mauna ka na magpapa-excuse lang ako sa susunod na klase," ani niya.

He then quickly turned his back on me and walked to his desk. Mukhang kakausapin niya ang katabi niya para i-excuse siya kung darating man ang teacher nila after nitong break.

Imbes na hintayin, sinunod ko 'yong sabi niya na mauna na sa west reading nook. I actualky love it here. The coziness of the nook and it's style is giving me victorian era vibe.

Open space siya pero medyo may pagkaliblib. Just enough to smell the open air and enjoy the scenery in front.

Napagpasyahan kong umupo sa isang ottoman at nagpakalumbaba sa mesa.

Habang hinihintay, naisip ko 'yong itsura niya. 'Di ko alam anong pumasok sa kokote ko at talagang itsura niya ang naisip ko.

His features almost the same as Chaos. His hooded eyes that gives so much intensity, his brows perfectly shaped. And his lips, his luscious lips.

Kung kay Chaos katulad nang kay Jacob Elordi, this Peace here have lips like Hero Fiennes Tiffin.

'Yon ang kaibahan nila ni Chaos. Pati yung aura. Kung kay Chaos parang nagsusumigaw ng danger. Siya, nagsusumigaw ng safety. Para bang kapag malapit ka sa kaniya ay nasa safe zone ka gano'n.

Another difference na nakita ko he's smiling too much. While his twin, ni hindi alam no'n ang salitang ngiti. By the way pati body built nila magkaiba. Well his physique is more manly.

'Di ko sinabing hindi manly si Chaos a. Pero kasi kung si Chaos, normal lang ang kaniyang body built. Hindi masyadong slim, hindi rin mataba. Just the stereotype. Peace is like an athlete. Though nerdy type siya alam ko obvious naman. He have this muscles na hindi too much a. Saktong muscles lang na para bang nag wo-work out.

Gosh! Why am I thinking like this? Kanina iniisip ko lang ang itsura niya tapos ngayon kinukumpara ko na siya sa kambal niya.

But it's a good distraction though. Hindi ko masyadong naiisip ang pressure at disappointments ni mommy at daddy sa akin. This is just a distraction for the mean time, I know. Kapag natapos na 'to balik ulit sa dati na overthinking everywhere ang motto ko.

Natigil ako sa pag-iisip ng nakaramdam ng tapik sa balikat. Andito na pala si Peace. Take note he is smiling again.

"Why are you always smiling? Alam mo bang ang creepy mo na tingnan kaka-smile diyan?" I blurted out without second thoughts. Pasensya na talagang curious lang.

Napatawa naman siya at umiling-iling na para bang nakarinig ng isang napakalaking joke.

"Alam mo ba na sa lahat, ikaw lang nagsabi na creepy ang ngiti ko? Pero sige, hindi na ako masyadong ngingiti para hindi na creepy sa paningin mo. Anyways, ano? Ba't mo piniling lumayo? What's that private matter all about?" He asked. Ang daming tanong a.

"Well, I'm about to ask Chaos how he knew me. But since you've said no'ng nagpakilala ako kanina na you also know me, might as well ask you nalang. How did the both of you knew me? Care to give me answers?" I told him while my eyes are forming a line na para bang pinag-aaralan ko siyang mabuti.

"Well, let's just say na we've known you for who you are. You do you. That's what makes us curious and interested in you. Also for the fact that you look and act like her," he said avoiding my gaze.

Her? Sinong siya? And you do you? Really? E hindi nga ito ang tunay na ako.

"Maybe you're wondering why I've said you do you. We've seen you being carefree. 'Di mo napapansin pero minsan nakikita namin ang tunay na ikaw. Not the facade, not the mask, not the pretensions but as yourself."

Wow! I cannot believe he just said that. It's new to me. A person saying that he's interested because of who I really am. I'm deeply moved by his sentiments. It's like soemone saw my true self's worth na kahit ako hindi makita 'yon. Naiiyak ako sa saya at the same time sakit.

But now is not the time to be emotional I need to get answers.

"O-okay, that's new to me. Thank you for that. But I want to know. Who is the girl you've been talking about?" I eyed him curiously with moist eyes.

"That my friend, is not my story to tell. Ask Chaos. You can find him in the abandoned building just across the massive garden at the back of your building." He stood up and with that he left me hanging and processing the words he said.