Helena’s P.O.V.
I was no longer in the mood to attend the next class, that was why I called our family driver to fetch me up. Last subject na rin naman ‘yon at second day pa lang ng school year, so I guessed I could still skip my class. In fact, I could skip classes whenever I wanted and no one could ever stop me! Now boarded in our limo, Mang Carding was taking me home.
Hindi ko dapat sinabi ‘yon do’n sa freak guy na ‘yon. Oh, what was his name again? All I could remember was his surname, and that was Rivera. But do I have a choice? He creeped me out! Sunod nang sunod na parang stalker! Bakit kasi hindi na lang niya ako lubayan? Masyado ba siyang nagagandahan sa’kin? Anyway, I didn’t want to be friends to whoever because I already learned my lessons well.
Kahit sa dati kong school, walang ibang ginawa ‘yong mga classmate ko kung hindi ang bully-hin ako. Parang kaligayahan na nga nila sa pang-araw-araw nilang buhay ang sabihan ako ng kung ano-anong masasakit na salita like teacher’s pet at strawberry—meaning sipsip. Isa raw kasi akong malaking threat sa iba pang mga estudyanteng gusto ring maging class valedictorian.
As if I care with those ugly bitches and damn scumbags!
Pero hindi naman sana mangyayari ang lahat nang ‘yon kung hindi kami naaksidente ni Helena. Aksidenteng hanggang ngayon ay pilit pa ring nagmumulto sa aking isipan.
Yes. All those bullying and criticisms that I had to endure for one year were for the real Helena. I was, I am and I will always be Athena Cari Delgado… and Helena Mari Delgado was my identical twin sister.
Wala kaming pinagkaiba sa physical appearance namin—height, skin, hair color and length? Lahat magkatulad. We also shared the same eye color, green, which we inherited from our pure Spanish mommy.
Helena was just wearing a pair of eyeglasses because she had conditions such as *Computer Vision Syndrome and **Astigmatism. If not, you wouldn’t be able to find out who was Helena and who was Athena. But I guessed, those were in terms of physical items only.
When it came to attitude, she was way far better than me! As in super far! Sa sobrang layo nga ay umabot na sa Mars. She was and will always be kinder than me! She was almost perfect. Mabait, matalino, matino… at ako?
Well, who cared about me? I was just the fabulous and richer version of the word bitch! Outgoing, extrovert, and rebellious… but I must say… pretty and gorgeous bitch!
We were still young when our mother left us but even though Mom was still alive, Daddy had always been in favor of Helena. She was so smart to the point that she always got the top rank… and me? Oh! Like Helena, I was also consistent to be on top!
Daddy’s top pain of the ass!
Ako lang naman ang numero unong sakit ng ulo niya. For him, I was nothing but always the black sheep. Anak na wala nang nagawang matino sa mga mata niya. Anak na kahit kailan ay hindi niya gugustuhing iharap sa mga kumpadre at business partners niya. Anak na hindi niya maipagmamalaki kahit kailan.
Pero kahit gano’n, hindi ako kailanman nagtanim ng inggit kay Helena. Kahit gustong-gusto kong mainggit kung paano siya paboran ni Daddy sa lahat ng bagay gayong kambal naman kaming dalawa, hindi ko ginawa. We remained as best friends despite the fact that she was, she is and she will always be Daddy’s favorite.
She always wanted our father to give the same love and attention to me. Pero okay lang kahit hindi, hindi ko naman pinagsisiksikan ang sarili ko kay Daddy. It just came to a point that I didn’t care anymore. I would never please him to accept me. If he loathed me for a reason I didn’t understand until now, then so be it. End of story.
But everything had changed when that dreadful accident happened, fourteen months ago…
We were on our way to Las Albas para magbakasyon. It was also our Dad’s treat to Helena for getting the highest rank again. As usual, Helena was at the front seat katabi ni Daddy. Ako? Wala namang bago, palagi naman akong nasa likod at sanay na sanay na ako.
“Athena, dito ka na lang sa harap. Gusto ko kasing humiga para matulog eh, I can’t sleep here…” kunwaring inaantok na sabi ni Helena nang nasa stop-over kami. Sinabayan niya pa talaga ito ng malakas na hikab. “Sige na, pretty please?” Kumindat pa ito sa akin—hudyat lang naman ‘yon na gusto na naman niya kaming paglapitin ni Daddy.
I just sighed. How could I say no to her?
Hindi naman nagsalita si Daddy kahit pa alam kong labag sa loob niya ang gustong mangyari ni Helena, pero dahil sa lumipat na sa back seat ang paborito niyang anak at pinagtulakan na rin ako nito palabas ng kotse, ay wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang lumipat sa front seat at mag-seatbelt.
“Helena, anak… careful ha! Matulog ka na lang nang nakaupo para may seatbelt ka pa rin,” puno ng pag-aalalang bilin ni Daddy bago niya muling pinatakbo ang kotse. He didn’t even mind me.
It’s just fine, Athena. Don’t mind him as well! I told myself.
Minsan, nakakainggit din talaga ’yong atensiyong ibinibigay ni Daddy kay Helena. Kung paano niya ito ituring na prinsesa na kahit yata sa panaginip ay hindi niya magagawa sa akin. ‘Yong feeling na parang si Helena lang ‘yong nag-e-exist? Pero, pinipigilan ko ang sarili kong mainggit.
Lagi kong tinatatak sa isip ko na kahit gaano pa ako kasamang tao, hindi ako pwedeng mainggit sa kapatid ko. She was my twin sister and God knew how much I loved her.
And for her, I was so willing and more than willing to sacrifice.
I pretended to enjoy the tranquility of our trip. Dad did not pay any attention to me throughout, so I just covered my ears with my Bluetooth headset. I enjoyed listening to my playlist and the music was loud enough that up to the middle of his drive, I could say that everything went fine.
Nakatulog si Helena sa likod ngunit nakahiga siya at hindi na nakapagsuot pa ng seatbelt. Sa paulit-ulit na paglingon ni Daddy to check on her and as if the rearview mirror was not enough, hindi na niya napansin pa ang rumaragasang truck opposite our way.
“Daddy!” sigaw ko pero huli na ang lahat.
Masyadong mabilis ang mga pangyayari. Ang huli kong natatandaan ay bumangga kami sa truck at sa lakas nang pagkakabangga, nasira at nalaglag ang sasakyan namin sa bangin.
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Computer vision syndrome (CVS)* is a condition resulting from focusing the eyes on a computer or other display device for protracted, uninterrupted periods, and the eye muscles being unable to recover from the constant tension required to maintain focus on a close object.

Astigmatism** is a common and generally treatable imperfection in the curvature of your eye that causes blurred distance and near vision. Astigmatism occurs when either the front surface of your eye (cornea) or the lens, inside your eye, has mismatched curves.


Author’s Note: Do not be confused. I intentionally used Helena’s P.O.V. here to avoid the readers from quickly catching the twist. Succeeding chapters will use Athena’s P.O.V.