Shei's POV
Mahigpit ang kapit ko sa kamay ni Claw nang dumating kami sa lugar kung saan niya sinabi ang plano niya. Medyo may kalumaan na ang gusali at halos walang katao-tao sa paligid maliban sa mga maliliit na tindahan at establisyemento na hindi rin naman kalayuan dito.
Pumasok na kami sa loob at tumambad sa akin ang tambak ng mga stuff toys at iba't-ibang makinang sa tingin ko ay panggawa sa mga laruang iyon. Mula kanina, wala pa akong nakikitang tao o manggagawa sa loob.
Nilagpasan lang namin iyon at umakyat sa sementadong hagdan papunta sa ikalawang palapag ng gusali kung saan nandoon ang sa tingin ko ay pinaka-opisina ng gusali. May couch doon kung saan ako pinaupo ni Claw.
Claw told me about his plan that day on the coffee shop. He convinced Sheen to go here by telling his fake plan and make Sheen fall on his bait. He will open up all her secrets and make sure that Kai will hear all of it. But he's still not telling me how did he managed to convinced Kai got here on the right time.
He gave me a glass of water before sitting at my side. "Kinakabahan ako, Claw."
"Don't be. I will be always here and everything will be alright."
"Bakit mo ba ito ginagawa, Claw?"
"Because I can do it." sagot niya katulad ng dati. Pero alam ko na hindi iyon ang sagot, parang meron pang iba.
"Claw, bakit mo nga—"
"Because I love you," pagputol niya sa tanong ko at naging dahilan para maitikom ko ang bibig ko. I was caught off guard.
"With all the years that I'm leaving in this earth, I used to be selfish. I was afraid that I will be left alone in the end that's why I'm doing everything to get what I want. To imprisoned every person that I like to stay with me. Not until I met you."
"Claw..."
"I liked Sheen that's why I chose to gave her the favor she wants from me and in that way, I will be able to take her on my grip. But then you came and put my system into a mess."
"Akala ko ba, selfish ka. Bakit mo ako tinutulungan?" Sa wakas ay may nabuo nang mga salita ang bibig ko.
"Well let's just say that you're my good karma," he chuckled.
"If you really love me, let's not continue this. Masasaktan ka lang, Claw."
Yumuko ako. Aminin ko man o hindi, alam kong may malaking parte na ng buhay ko ang nasakop ni Claw. He's always there for me. When I'm on the process of healing, when I'm mourning because of my father's death, when I was down, until now.
"I am willing to be hurt, Shei. I'm not afraid of pain especially if it means my love and my brother's happiness."
My forehead creased because  he mentioned his brother. Bakit naman nasali ang kaligayahan ng kapatid niya rito?
Magtatanong palang sana ako nang makarinig kami ng ugong ng sasakyan mula sa labas. He immediately went to the window to check the person outside.
"She's here." I went on the place Claw told me to hide in no time.
Not too long when I heard footsteps on the cemented floor made by heels. I tried to calm myself because of the nervousness I'm feeling inside while trying to avoid making any noise.
"Bakit dito pa kasi? Pwede namang sa isang malayong restaurant nalang?" I heard her complained.
"This is the place where Kai won't possibly visit."
Thanks to the small hole in this wall, I got an access to watch what was happening outside.
"Just spill your plan now so that I can go." Sheen placed her arms in front of her chest.
"Tsk! Bad tempered girl. Why don't you just request for a drink first? Here's your favorite wine." I saw my sister looked on the glass but didn't bother to touch it. "Don't worry, that's safe."
"I'm not here for the chitchat, Claw. Tell me your plan and we're done."
"Okay, just promise me that you won't interfere when I started to talk unless I asked you or told you so."
Tumango naman ang kapatid ko bago sinimsim ang wine na binigay sa kanya ni Claw.
"Let's start on the time when your Dad took you away from your Mom."
"What? Why? Anong kinalaman noon sa plano mo?" naguguluhang tanong ni Sheen.
"Then, the time when you started to enter gangs?"
"Bakit kasi hindi nalang yung mismong plano mo?" Sheen raised her voice.
I heard silent footsteps on the stair near the place where I am hiding. So, I waved a small red flag just like what Claw told me earlier to signal him.
"You killed human being, right?" Claw's tone suddenly changed.
"And so?" Napabuka ang bibig ko na agad kong tinakpan bago pa ako makalikha ng ingay. Totoo nga? "Ikaw rin naman ah? Pumatay ka rin."
Napansin kong lumingon sa gawi ko si Claw. Ito ba yung sinasabi niya dating masama siya?
"Correction, Sheen. My people killed them not me. No one ever die in my bare hands, unlike you."
A human figure stand near in front of me but is not enough to cover the scene from my sight. I am eager to get up on my knees and ran to that person but I forced myself to hold back. I shouldn't ruin the plan.
Sheen's hand turned into a fist above the table. "Ano ba ang gusto mong palabasin? Akala ko ba sasabihin mo lang sa akin ang plano para mawala na sa landas namin ni Kai si Shei?"
Nakita ko ang pasimpleng pagsulyap ni Claw kay Kai na nanatili lang na nakatayo at nakikinig sa usapan ng dalawa.
"Sorry to say but there's no plan, Sheen. The plan you're saying is not existing."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't help the person who is trying to steal the happiness of the person I love." Muli siyang tumingin sa pwesto ni Kai. "I can't also help the person who killed a friend of my brother."
"S-sino ba ang kapatid? W-wala akong pinatay?" Napayuko si Sheen at sinabunutan ang sarili.
Gusto kong tumakbo papunta sa kanya pero napako ako sa kinalalagyan ko. I also have questions in my mind and I can only see the answer from Claw.
"Bruce McKenzie, remember him? The guy you stab the back nine times until he died?" Matalim na tumingin si Claw kay Sheen. "You killed Kai's friend."
I immediately cover my mouth to stop any sound that may escape my mouth. S-si Bruce? Yung kaibigan ni Kai namatay nung nasa college pa lang kami? My twin killed him?
A tear escaped my eyes. Bruce and I was never been too close but we used to talked before because of Kai. He's kind that I can't accept the fact that Sheen killed him. Sa dami ng gagawa noon kay Bruce, bakit yung kapatid ko pa? Bakit si Sheen pa?
My gaze averted to Kai when he started to move and walked towards the two.
"Y-you killed him? S-sheen?"
I can clearly see that Sheen was stiffened on her seat. Claw stood up but stayed in his position. While Kai started to walk briskly towards Sheen and grab her arm making her stood up.
"K-Kai..." Nanlalaki ang mga mata ni Sheen na nakatingin kay Kai. "Please, let me explain."
"Explain what?" mariing tanong ni Kai. Kita ko kung gaano kahigpit ang kapit ni Kai sa kapatid ko.
I wanna go out from the place where I am hiding but I'm afraid. I don't know who should I take side if ever I got out.
"H-hindi totoo yung kung ano mang narinig mo. He's just a big liar, making nonsense stories. Umuwi na tayo Kai." She tried to hold Kai on his arm but he avoided it by swaying his arm.
"Who are you?" Nakita ko ang luhang pumatak mula sa mga mata ni Sheen.
"I'm She—"
"I said, who are you?" pasigaw na tanong ni Kai.
"Her real name is Sheen, Shei's sister, twin rather," pagsingit ni Claw dahilan para mapalingon kami sa kanya.
"Kilala mo siya kuya?" Tumango lang si Claw. "Then where's Shei?"
Pakiramdam ko sasabog na ang utak ko. Una, ang pag-amin dahil sa nalaman kong ang kapatid ko pala ang pumatay kay Bruce. Tapos ngayon, si Kai? Si Kai ang sinasabi ni Claw na kapatid niya?
Kanina ko pa gustong lumabas sa pinagtataguan ko kaya nang makita ko ang senyas na ginawa ni Claw ay dahan-dahan akong nagpakita sa kanila. The three of them are showing me different emotions when they saw me.
"S-shei?"
I can't swallow the lump in my throat and I became tongue-tied. All I can do is to let my tears continuously fall down and nod at him.
I was taken aback when Sheen suddenly laughed. She wiped the tears fell from her eyes earlier.
"Ano 'to, reunion? Masaya kayo?" Biglang nawala ang pagtawa niya at muling tumulo ang mga luha. "Iiwan niyo na naman ako? Mag-iisa na naman ako? Bibilang na naman ako ng ilang taon bago maging masaya?"
Wala sa aming nagtangkang umimik at sumagot sa kaniya. Matalim siyang tumingin sa akin dahilan para napaatras ako.
"Ikaw!" Dinuro niya ako. "Ikaw ang laging bida! Lahat nalang ng pabor, kaginhawahan, kasayahan, lahat nalang nasa iyo! Habang nagpapakasasa ka sa kayamanan ni mommy, naghihirap ako para mag makain ako. Habang kung ano-anong make up ang hawak mo, tinuturuan akong humawak ng mga baril at patalim para mabuhay!"
Ramdam ko ang hinanakit ni Sheen. Wala akong kaalam-alam na ganoon ang pinagdaanan niya. I pity my twin.
"Wala naman akong balak na kuhanin ang yaman na tinatamasa mo." Lumambot muli ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya. "Si Kai lang ang hinihiling ko."
I looked at Kai who's also looking on me now. Now that he's near me, within my grasp, I don't think I can give him up.
"Please, iba nalang." Sa wakas ay nahagilap ko ang boses ko.
"Just let them, Sheen."
"A traitor is talking. Nabulag ka na rin ba ng babaeng ito? Kilala mo ako Claw, ang akin ay akin!"
"Hindi ako sa 'yo!" Tila naging isang dagundong ang boses ni Kai na umalingawngaw sa buong kwarto.
Inakala ko na magiging dahilan iyon para umamong muli si Sheen pero nagkamali ako nang may kinuha siyang isang bagay sa loob ng bag na dala niya. Napako ang tingin ko sa hawak niyang iyon at kahit bata, alam na baril iyon.
"At kanino ka, kay Shei? Sa tingin mo papayag akong mapunta ka sa kaniya sa kabila ng mga pinagdaanan ko? Siya pa rin ba ang pipiliin mo kahit alam mo na ngayon at malinaw na sa iyong iniwan ka niya?"
I bit my lower lip. She just stated a fact that I can't deny and it hurts me so much.
"Sheen, haya—"
"Claw!/Kuya!" Pagsigaw namin ni Kai nang unti-unting bumagsak si Claw sa sahig na agad din naming dinaluhan. Meron pa siyang malay pero hinang hina ang katawan niya.
"One down!" Lumingon kami kay Sheen. "Akala mo ba Claw ganoon mo lang ako maiisahan? Masyado kang kampante na wala akong magiging laban. What a shame. Ikaw pa naman ang nagturo sa akin maglagay ng gamot sa inumin. Happy viewing nalang, Claw."
Tumingin siya sa gawi namin ni Kai. Pakiramdam ko ay unti-unting nanlamig ang buong katawan ko nang iangat niya ang baril at itinutok sa akin. Hindi ako makagalaw. Siya ba talaga ang kapatid ko?
"Kayong dalawa, tayo!" utos niya na agad naming sinunod. "Nakakasakit naman kayo. Maghiwalay nga kayo!"
Magkatabi kami kaya naman minabuti naming dumistansya sa isa't-isa. Ngayong ilang hakbang ang pagitan namin, tila mas nangatog ang tuhod ko.
"May isang bala lang rito at hindi ako papayag na hindi ito magagamit sa isa sa inyong dalawa." She laughed before pointing the gun alternately on each of us.
"Miney, miney miney, mo. Sino ang babarilin ko?"