Athena’s P.O.V.
“Nothing. He just said that you can tour me around your house,” sagot niya. Nakakaloko lang talaga ‘yong mga ngiti niya.
“Look, I don’t know what you did to make my dad treat you this way—there’s nothing special on you. But once he learns the fact that you are competing with me in terms of becoming a valedictorian, he will be mad at you.” I smirked.
“I already told him,” he winked at me.
“What—” I was shocked. I didn’t expect it, pero agad din naman akong nakabawi, “-ever! Hindi ka pa ba uuwi?”
“I told you, I will wait for your father before I leave. He allowed me to get in here. I guessed, he’s the only one who can ask me to leave. So can you tour me now, princess?” he teased me.
“Stop calling me princess, nakakadiri!”
“Okay, can you tour me now, Miss Walkout Queen?”
“Stop calling me names, duh! Okay, fine! As if I have a choice, tara na nga!” I gave up. Lumabas na kami ng Study Room na parang walang nangyaring asaran sa aming dalawa.
Checking the time, it was already three in the afternoon. More or less, Daddy would be home by dinner… so matagal-tagal ko pa palang makakasama ang mokong na ‘to.
“This is my room but you are not allowed to go inside,” I said when we stopped in front of my room at the third floor beside Study Room. “It was a typical girl’s bedroom covered in red, bahala ka na lang mag-imagine. That door at the end belonged to my parents and the locked blue door beside them belongs to Athena.”
Well, katabi talaga nila Daddy ang bedroom ni Helena. After the accident, at least, Daddy respected my decision not to transfer to her room. That would be more than enough for me to do. Aside from white, she also liked the color blue… and I hated blue!
Mabuti naman at hindi na nagtanong pa si Cristoff tungkol sa kakambal ko. Tumatango-tango lang siya habang nagsasalita ako. Bumaba kami sa second floor at pinakita sa kanya ang aming Movie Room pati na ang sarili kong Music Room.
“Athena loves watching movies while I really loved music. It seems like I can’t live without it. I can play the violin, piano and guitar. I love to sing and dance, and those were my hidden talents. But I guessed, it was no longer hidden because you already saw me playing the guitar.”
Helena was a certified moviegoer while I was the singer. Minsan nga, hindi ko siya ma-gets kapag napakabilis niyang umiyak over movie scenes na wala man lang kaunting kurot sa akin. Maybe because I had a heart made of stone, I didn’t know.
When I started living under the pretense of being Helena and if Dad was here, I had no right to stay in the Music Room and that caused me a little frustration. Nahahawakan ko lang ang mga instrumento ko kapag wala siya. He just wanted me to watch unlimited movies with him, because that was what Helena loved to do.
“Wow, so you’re really talented when it comes to music!” he complimented me. “Pero hindi pa kita nakikitang sumayaw!” habol niya.
I just nodded, “Hmm… if that’s what you call it. Anyway, huwag ka nang umasa na makikita mo akong sumayaw dahil hinding-hindi darating ang araw na ‘yon!”
I could still remember the days when my father had been so against to my music hobby. For him, music was just a noise. But Mommy defended me and brought me instruments that would fully enhance my talent. I was thankful that she brought me everything I needed, even the adult instruments, before she died when I was only six.
When we reached the ground floor, we went straight to the swimming pool. “You want to use the pool?” tanong ko sa kanya no’ng nasa gilid na kami ng pool.
“Can I?” he asked me. His eyes were somewhat sparkling.
“Okay lang, basta lilinisin mo rin mamaya ha? Tingnan mo oh, tadtad ka na ng libag! Naligo ka ba?” tinuro ko ‘yong leeg niya. Wala naman talaga siyang libag eh, gusto ko lang siyang asarin nang makaganti naman sa mga pang-aasar niya. Muntik na akong humagalpak nang tawa sa nakita kong reaksiyon niya.
“Ang yabang mo ah! Sino kaya ang hindi naligo kasi may trangkaso?” tumatawang ganti niya. Nagulat pa ako nang lumapit siya sa akin at inamoy-amoy pa ako. “Ang baho mo na, parang hindi ka babae…” tumatawang sabi niya.
At dahil sa napikon ako sa kanya ay bigla ko na lang siyang tinulak sa swimming pool without even thinking. It was too late for me to panic.
Oh no! Wala nga pala siyang pamalit! What will I do?
“He-Helena, tu-tulong… hi-hindi ako ma-runong luma-lumangoy!” Kahit na lubog-litaw ang ulo niya sa tubig ay pinipilit pa rin niya itong iahon para lang makasigaw.
Oh my God! my mind screamed. My palms were on my mouth while my eyes were wide open.
Kung naiinis man ako sa kanya kanina, ngayon naman ay nababalot ako nang kaba. My heart throbbed in fear and panic. Pagkatapos nang pagkamatay ni Helena ay ngayon na lang ulit ako nakaramdam nang takot. Bakit hindi niya sinabi agad na hindi pala siya marunong lumangoy?
What the heck? Anong gagawin ko ngayon?
There was no intercom but Daddy was working on placing one here. The kitchen and the maid’s quarter were far from the swimming pool so if I would still go there to ask for their help, baka wala na kaming aabutang buhay na Cristoff pagbalik namin dito.