AFTER a week of bonding together and preparing Serene to be her twin sister, the day has come.
"Ready?" bulong sa kanya ng kakambal niya sa kanyang likuran.
"As I'll ever be."
Dahan dahan siyang ipinaharap ng kakambal niya sa salamin. There, she saw another version of herself but the same version of her twin sister. Looking at herself, Serene thought she is seeing Serena. The former red curly hair is now a straight black one, cascading down her back. Her well trimmed eyebrow and green forest eyes are now hiding behind a pair of round eyeglasses. Lips that free of any lipstics. Face that free of cosmetics. Ears without any trace of piercings and her clothes. Pigil hininga niyang tiningnan pababa ang kanyang damit na suot. She's wearing a very uncomfortable green long sleeve shirt with a pair of below the knee white skirt. She can describe herself in one word.
Ang —Manang.
She cursed right then and there for inventing those kinds of clothes. People would think of her as an old version of Maria Clara. Her curvacious body is now hiding behind those ugly excuse for clothes, now she's like a walking wall. Straight from side to side.
"Are we really going to do this? You know just incase you change your mind...." hindi maiwasang subok ni Serene. Her eyes while looking at her sister is pleading.
Serena look at her sternly, seemingly already made up her mind. "I cannot back out now twin. Especially you."
Serene only nodded, deafeatedly. "I know. But — do I really have to wear this kind of clothing? It's amid summer after all. Ayoko namang maistroke na lang bigla or mahimatay dahil sa sobrang init. And don't you think it's wierd twin? I'll probably the only person wearing this clothe while other's will be in a short short and sando. Couldn't I wear just a little bit higher skirt? You know, above the knee? Or better yet mid thigh length skirt? And my top, couldn't I wear a shirt?"
Mukhang napaisip naman si Serena sa mga sinabi niya. Tinitigan siyang mabuti ng kapatid hanggang sa dahan dahan itong pumaikot sa kanya.
"Okay...." Serena agreed when shes finally back at her front. Serene's eyes lighten up and she was about to hug her sister for her good consideration when Serena raised her palm stopping her from doing so. She then realized that there is something more that her sister will going to say.
"But — you must promise me that you will act according to my personality, attitude and behavior. You will do no such thing as throwing a tantrum, talking back or misbehaving. I know you twin, between the two of us, you are the most imapatient, trouble maker and uncontrollable daughter. So please, make this act believable. You couldn't act like Serene and you will never act like her. That's just out of my persona. Lastly —no partying."
Serene groan looking up at the ceiling at the last condition of Serena before furiously brushing her face. As if it could help her from her helplessness towards the cruel requests of her sister. She's getting stress out at her sister's demands. But she couldn't do anything about it.
"Fine." She resigned, sighing deeply.
Matapos ang ilan pang paalala sa kanya ay nagcheck out na silang dalawa sa hotel na kinalalagyan nila. Ngayong araw ang simula ng pagpapanggap niya at ngayon araw din maglalaho ang totoong Serena. She just wished makasama niya pa ng matagal ang kakambal niya. Sumakay sila ng taxi pabalik sa Mansion ng mga Sarmiento — ang lugar na kinalakihan nilang dalawa.
"Where will you go?" bulong ni Serene kay Serena na katabi niya. Habang nadadaanan nila ang mga pamilyar na lugar papunta sa tahanan ng mga magulang nila ay palaki naman ng palaki ang pangamba sa kanyang sarili. After three years of not seeing them.....
Hindi maiwasan ni Serene ang paglaruan ang kanyang mga daliri na nasa ibabaw ng kanyang kandungan. Kinakabahan siyang makita ang mga itong muli. Nang huli niyang makita ang mga ito at makausap ay galit silang dalawa sa kanya. Sino nga ba namang kilalang magulang ang hindi magagalit kung halos sirain niya na ang reputasyon at pangalan ng pamilya nila na iningatan at ipinagmamalaki ng mga ito?
"Somewhere, not so far away."
When Serene looked at her sister, she noticed the far away looked she had in her eyes. She felt bad for her. Surely, ngayon lang makakaramdam ng kalayaan ang kapatid niya. Pero siya, matagal na siyang malaya. Dahil matagal na rin niyang hinubad ang korona ng isang Sarmiento.
Tumigil ang taxi na sinasakyan nila sa harap ng isang mala palasyong bahay. Napakalaki nito at napakalawak. Sa harapan ng gate ay may dalawang guwardiyang nakatayo, nagbabantay. Mostly of their classmates when they were still young, their home was called The Sarmiento Palace. Indeed, it was. Mula palamang sa sosyal na uniporme ng mga guwardiyang nasa labas, aakalain mo nang palace guard ang mga ito, hanggang sa gate mismong nakatayo na parang pinagbabantaan ang sino mang magtangkang pumasok. Their home was barricaded in a thick wall that is too high to see the front lawn of the house. You can only see the peeking Palace house behind. Napaisip si Serene kung maypagbabago ba ang loob ng bahay nila or even their whole house. The last time she remembers the color of their gate was painted in brown and black. But now it is painted in a warm gold and white. She knew the two guards but she's not sure kung kilala pa rin siya ng mga ito. She dont know too kung may napalitan ba sa mga tauhan ng daddy niya even the maids. She knew them all. And they all knew her.
"Ready Serene?" napatitig si Serene sa kakambal nang tanongin siya nito. It felt different hearing her sister's own name being called to her. She nodded her head.
"I am." Serene breathed shakily.
Serena smiled at her. Serene couldn't see her eyes for her sister was no longer wearing an eyeglass but a big dark shades. She still wanted to see it though even though they have the same color. The only difference is that her's is smaller while Serena is a bit larger. Nakasuot ang kapatid niya ng malaking jacket with a pair of black leggings and converse shoes. Ang buhok naman nito ay nakatago sa sombrerong suot niya. Kung iisipin ay hindi galing sa mayamang pamilya ang kakambal niya dahil sa paraan ng pagayos nito sa sarili. Hindi rin niya ito makilala dahil sa suot nitong disguise.
"Take care twin. I'll miss you." Serene said in a small voice.
Serena nodded in response.
"Will do. I love you twin and thank you so much for this." mahigpit siyang niyakap ni Serena bago siya nito pinakawalan. Inayos nito ang buhok niya at pinagpagan ang kusot ng kanyang damit bago iyon dumulas pababa hanggang sa mahawakan nito ang dalawang namamasang kamay niya.
"Im counting on you, Serene." muling sabi ng kakambal niya. Serene nodded and squeezed her sister's hand.
They pecked each other's cheek before Serena ushered her out of the car."Time to go."
When she finally got out of the car, she watched it roared to life with her sister's blurry form inside,also watching her. As the car slowly drive away, Serene felt as if she was left behind by her only savior.
"Ma'am Serena?" a voice behind her asked.
Serene inhaled deeply trying to calm her wrecking nerves before turning around and facing the two guards looking at her curiously, waiting for her to respond.
"Hello guys." She smiled tightly at their startled expression. She quickly clamped her mouth shut thinking that her twin sister will never great their gurads informally. Serene mentally kicked herself at slipping without even lasting for three minutes that she's standing there. She started to advance at them meekly trying to relax her strained smile.
God only knows how much she just wanted to throw herself and hug these two burly men beside her. Asked them questions about their life through the passing year that shes not around them, but she restrained herself from doing so. Sampong taon ang tanda ng mga ito sa kanya. Sa nakalipas ng isang taong hindi niya sila nakita ay napakalaki na ng ipinagbago ng mga ito. Walang bakas ng ngiti o kasiyahan sa kanilang mata para sa kanilang trabaho na noo'y palagi niyang nakikita.
Automatic na bumukas ang malaking gate matapos makipag usap ni Albert sa kanyang earpeice habang tahimik namang nagaantay si Emil di kalayuan mula sa kanya. Rules. Napailing na lamang si Serene nang maalalang bawal sakopin ng mga ito ang personal na espasiyo niya. And when she thought space, it is five steps away from her.
Noong kabataan niya lahat ng rules na ginawa at ipinatupad ng mga magulang niya ay sinuway niya. Ginawa niya ang kabaliktaran ng mga ito magawa niya lamang na inisin ang mga ito. Kaya naman napalapit siya sa mga tauhan at mga kasambahay nila dahil bukod sa kakambal niya,sila lamang ang maituturing niyang kaibigan at tanging sila lamang ang naniniwala at sumusuporta sa kanya.
Isang kotse ang agad na pumarada sa harapan niya upang ihatid siya sa mismong harapan ng kanilang bahay. Tumingin muna siya sa dalawang guwardiya para sana magpasalamat ngunit ay nakabalik na ang mga ito sa puwesto nila. Ang ngiti sa labi niya ay bahagyang naalis nang mapagtantong napakalamig ng pakikitungo nila. Hindi tulad ng dati na masayang nakikipagkuwentuhan muna sa kanya o di kaya'y pinapanood muna siyang makasakay habang may ngiti sa kanilang labi. Ngayon ay blankong ekspresyon lamang ang natanggap niya. Ni hindi man lang siya matingnan ng mga ito sa mukha o magawang makipagusap sa kanya ng hindi pormal.
She sighed. Well, she's not Serene at their eyes. But rather, she is Serena. She dont have a choice to act out of her sister's character. Sumakay na siya sa nagaantay na kotse at hindi man lang niya napansin ang ilang minutong byahe bago sila makarating sa mismong tapat ng palasyo ng mga magulang niya.
Nanginginig ang kalamnan niyang bumaba ng sasakyan. Agad na yumuko sa kanya ang dalawang men in bkack na siyang nakabantay sa may pintuan at binuksan iyon. Tinitigan ni Serene ang nakabukas na double door ng kanilang bahay. Muling pumasok sa isip niya ang ala ala ng pagalis niya. Hating gabi iyon at dala lamang niya ay isang maliit na backpack. Malakas ang ulan ngunit hindi iyon naging dahilan para hindi siya matuloy. Sa mismong pintuan na iyon, nakatayo ang kakambal niyang umiiyak. Nagmamakaawa sa kanyang bumalik siya roon at huwag itong iwan.
Nabalik sa realidad si Serene nang salubungin siya ng isang maliit at sopistikadang may edad na babae.
"You're back, sweatheart!"
Indeed mother.