In The Midst of Pain

ITMP : C.1

Astraea

Napangiti ako ng mapakla nang pagdating ko sa burol ng kakambal ko, lahat ng tao na nandito ay nakangangang nakatingin sa akin. Hindi ko sila masisisi. Areia and I were identical twins, our personality and attitude differs us but physically, we seemed like the same person.

"Oh my! Is that Areia's twin? They really looked alike!"

"Creepy."

"This is the first time that I know na may kakambal pala sya!"

"Ba't ganun? Kakaiba ang aura nya kay Areia?"

"Malamang! Kasi kahit magkamukha sila, magkaibang indibidwal pa rin sila noh?"

"Ano kaya ang reaction ni Greyson?"

"I bet it would be hard for him."

"Agree."

Hindi na ako nag react sa mga narinig ko. Simula nang dumating ako sa bansang ito , tulad nalang non ang mga narinig ko. Could anything get worst?

"Areia, anak." Napatingin ako sa nagsalita. It was dad's wife, technically, our step mom. I heard that she's fond of my twin. Napasalubong ang kilay ko. Why not? The woman was looking at me while calling my twin's name.

"Astraea is the name." I replied grumpily.

Napansin ko na natahimik ang lahat dahil sa isinagot ko lalong lalo na sa mga relatives ko na nandito na hindi ko man lang alam kung ano ang mga pangalan. They can't blame me though. I grow up with my mom in Britain and this is the first time na napadpad ako sa bansang ito which was opposite to Areia since dito talaga siya lumaki. My parents broke up even before we were born. They decided that both of them will have a child each when they learned that Mom was pregnant with twins. That was the reason why Areia and I got separated. It was a good thing that our parents told us the truth since it made us understand everything.

"S-Sorry," paumanhin ng step mom. I just nodded at nilapitan ang kabaong ng kapatid ko.

It felt creepy dahil parang ako lang din yung nakahiga sa loob. Actually, this is not the first time na nakita ko ang kambal ko sa personal. We've met for several times. Bigla ko nalang nakita ang nga luhang nagsipatakan sa salamin ng kabaong.  Damn you, twinny! Iniwan mo ako! Ang daya! Sabay pa tayong ikakasal sa simbahan someday diba?

I simply wiped my tears. Maraming mata ang nakatingin sa akin ngayon kaya dapat ayusin ko ang kilos ko.

"Astraea, anak?"

"Daddy."

Nilapitan nya ako at niyakap ng napakahigpit. A father is a father. He would never gets confused about our identity and would never treated us like we were the same person in which people here should do.

"I miss you," malungkot nyang wika. Hindi ko sya sinagot at marahan syang itinulak palayo. I hate showing affection especially in front of people. I find it dramatic.

"How's your life there in Britain? I heard that you're quite famous over there." I secretly rolled my eyes. Can't they notice that I'm not interested to talk with them? If only I didn't respect my twin's burial, I would've shut this bitch's mouth using my infamous magic words. I ain't a saint, if you're gonna ask.

"Ah." 'yan nalang ang isinagot ko. Nasa  upuan kasi ako nang bigla nalang ako nilapitan ng step family ko. Irritating.

"Dito mo rin ba tatapusin studies mo?" My step brother asked. He got the same age as ours based on what I heard. His question pondered on my mind. Oo nga noh, ba't hindi ko ito napag-isipan? Kakatapos palang naman ng first semester kaya makakahabol pa ako if ever na mapagdesisyonan ko na dito mag-aral.
"Dunno," that's the only answer that I could think of. I don't want my conversation with strangers last longer. Yes, for me they are strangers. Hindi naman kami close at wala naman akong pakialam sa mga trip ni Daddy sa buhay so why bother treat them like a family? That's absurd.

Meanwhile, another group of teenagers entered. Well, knowing my twin who possessed great congeniality, this isn't surprising. That's why the venue is bigger than a basketball court. My twin had a lot of friends. Depending whether all of them were true to her. Who knows, majority of these people only came here to show fake sympathy.

The crowd got silent unlike my entrance na kung saan napuno ng bulong- bulungan ang lugar. Well, seemed like this group wasn't ordinary. Well, whatever. As if I care. Since I'm sitting in front of my twin's coffin, probably eight meters away, I was able to look at them. I'm kinda bored kaya sinuri ko nalang sa tingin. In that group, may isang babae, isang bakla at tatlong lalaki. Napansin ko agad ang mugtong mata ng babae at bakla habang ang tatlong lalaki ay napayuko. Trying to suppress their tears eh? Then, the girl cried at inaalo naman sya ng lalaki na may reddish na buhok. Ang bakla naman ay halos maglumpasay na sa sahig kakaiyak na agad namang dinaluhan ng dalawa pang lalaki. As if on cue, nagsiiyakan ang mga tao. Napataas ang kilay ko, weird but gusto kong tumawa. Not like I find this funny but dahil halata naman kasi sa iba na napipilitan lang. Some even took a video. They are disrespecting my sister. That's it! Ubos na ang pasensya ko. Tumayo ako at pumunta sa harap at kinuha ang mic sa podium. It created an unpleasant sound kaya napatingin sa akin ang lahat. Saglit na natigil ang drama.

"A-Areia?" I rolled my eyes.

"To those bitches who took a fucking video on my twin's wake, get the fuck out of my sight before I could drag your asses out here." I said seriously. I'm freakin' mad right now. Gusto kong manuntok sa sobrang inis. I heard gasps.

"Now!" I yelled angrily. As if on cue, lahat ng nagkuha ng video ay agarang tumayo at nagsilabasan. Good. Akala ko kailangan pa ng sampalan bago masunod ang gusto ko.

"Also, let me fucking remind you assholes that I'm ASTRAEA NICOLET GRANGER and NOT AREIA NICOLE GOMEZ, IS THAT FUCKING CLEAR?!" Napataas lalo ang kilay ko nang walang sumagot at nakanganga lang silang nakatingin sa'kin. Yuck. Baka babaho ang venue, air-conditioned pa naman.

"I'm asking a damn question." I said coldly kaya agad silang napasagot ng 'oo' 'opo' 'yeah' 'fine' and such. Some just nodded while looking down. I smirked. That's better. If my twin is an angel, I'm the devil. That's exactly what differs us. I was about to leave when I felt a warm embrace. A guy hugged me tightly while putting his face on my neck and sobbed. What the!

"Oh em! Si Greyson!"

"Geez!"

"Hala!"

Who the hell is Greyson and why is he hugging me like this?!

"B-Baby. P-please t-tell m-me that you're a-alive and t-this is j-just one of y-your pranks. I-I l-love y-you," for the first time in my life, I was dumbfounded. What the hell!

•Black_Aphrodeath