"Luke don't move"

Zaffiro said talking to his cat. Nasa loob ito ng blocks na pinagpapatong patong nya.

Napangiti nalang si saphire sa pinaggagagawa ng anak. Isang linggo narin nang tumira sila sa vacation house at naging tahimik naman ang buhay nila.

Napailing iling nalamang sya habang pinagpapatuloy lang ang tahimik na pagmamasid sa anak habang katext ang kapatid. Napahikap pa ito saglit saka unti unti ay bumigat ang talukap ng mga mata nito.

Her vision slowly blured as she finally fell asleep.

"Luke! Quiet mom might wake up"

Zaffiro said in a whisper then carried his cat out from his blocks. Inihiga nya ito sa sarili nitong higaan saka dumiretso sa cr para mag tooth brush matapos ay pumunta na sya ng kama kung asaan ang mommy nya, inabot nya ang remote ng mga ilaw saka pinindot iyon para mamatay ang ilaw.

"Good night mommy,I love you"

Zaffiro said in a small voice with a smile on his face. Hinalikan pa nito si saphire sa pisngi saka humiga sa tabi nito at niyakap ang mommy nya saka tuluyan ng nakatulog.

Matteo groaned. Sawakas ay nakarating rin sya sa isla matapos ang limang oras na byahe. Inabot sya ng isang linggo bago matapos lahat ng trabaho saka nagfile ng one month leave. He was so stressed from work and just needs to rest for awhile. Sa isang lugar kung saan alam nyang di iisipin ng mga magulang nyang pupuntahan nya.

He doesn't like this Island that much, ang sakit kasi sa ulo ng mga trabahador nito. Pero mas gugustuhin nya namang mapunta dito kaysa makipag date sa mga babaeng sini-set up sakaniya ng mommy at auntie nya.

Women are complicated

He said to his mind.

"Magandang gabi po ser"

Bati ng gwardya, napangiwi nalang sya nang mabasa ang pangalan nito sa name tag nya.

Kilala narin sya ng mga tao sa isla dahil minsan na syang nakarating doon. Tinguan nya lamang ang guard saka nagtuloy tuloy ang pagpasok. Hindi pinapansin ang mga maids at buttlers na bumabati sakaniya.

Masyado syang pagod at inaantok narin sa byahe kaya ang unang kwartong nadaanan nya ang kaniyang pinasukan. He restlessly dropped his traveling bag on the floor as he removed his clothing. At tanging boxers lang ang itinira niya.

Madilim ang buong paligid at halos wala siyang makita sa loob, pero hindi nya alintana iyon. Bagkus ay pagod na pagod na humiga nalang sa kama at ipinikit ang mga mata.

May naramdaman pa siya sa tabi niya, pero ipinagwalang bahala nya nalamang yun dahil sa sobrang antok, gawa ng pagod.

***

Saphire felt something hard poking her ass and strong arms encircled on her waist.  Saph moaned sleepily as she felt that tingling warmth hugging her from behind.

"Mommy?"

Zaffiro called her while sittinh beside her.  She half opened her eyes then looked at her son with a sleepy smile.

Hindi nya pala namalayang nakatulog sya kagabi. Mabuti nalang talaga at ang contact lense na suot nya pwedeng hindi tanggalin kahit isang buwan pa. It was an aqua contact lense that are designed to be worn continuously, even while sleeping, as determined by your eye care professional. The lenses are FDA-approved for daily wear and extended wear for up to 30 nights.

"Yes baby?"

She sleepily said, zaffiro looked at her weirdly while his little forehead ceased.  Confusion were purely visible from his krystal clear, ocean blue eyes.

"Who is he?"

He asked.

Kumunod ang noo ni Saphire sa sinabi ng anak kahit antok na antok parin ito.

"Huh? Who's he?"

She asked again sleepily.

"That man beside you, I woke up in between the two of you"

Zaff pouted, but then a sudden realization hits her. Para bang nawala ang lahat ng antok niyang agad na napaupo.

She imidiately shrieked as she pushed the man away.

Dahilan para mahulog pa ito sa kama.

"Fuck!"

The man cursed loudly, Zaffiro just shook his head on the two of them. Saka nya binuhat ang pusa nya at naglaro nalang building blocks sa tabi.

Matteo suddenly froze when he saw Saphire's face, same with Saphire.

Parehong nanlaki ang mata ng dalawa, both hearts were beating crazy as both met each other's intense gazes.

That face....

They both said at the back of their minds.

What happened 5 years ago replayed on their memories clearly as they look at each other with both shocked expressions.

But then her currently green eyes, caught matteo's attention.

"G-Green?"

He unconciously asked.

"W-who are you?What are you doing here?!"

Saph managed to ask. Kahit pa hinding hindi nya malilimutan ang tabas ng pagmumuka ng lalaki ay nagmaang maangan siya, nagbabakasakaling hindi sya nito makilala.

'It's been five long years, imposibleng naaalala pa ako nito.'

Umaasang sambit niya sakaniyang isipan.

"Your eyes...It's green"

Muling saad nito. Saphire calmed herself before answering, tinaasan nya ito ng kilay.

"Who are you? and what are you doing in our room!"

Iritang sabi nya saka pinasadahan ng tingin ang kabuuan ni matteo na kasalukuyang tulala padin sakaniya. Baka magahasa nya pa ito ng wala sa oras.

Marahas siyang napailing doon.

"I will call the guards!"

Sambit niya saka binalingan ng tingin ang binata.

"Teka nga ako nga dapat nagtatanong, bakit kayo andito?"

Kunot noong saad ni matteo habang nakatuon parin ang atensyon sa mata ni Saphire. Wala syang maintindihan sa mga pangyayari. Saph looked at him hiding all her emotions with a calm emotionless face.

"I am Kristine Imperial's best friend and she allowed me to stay here. Now get out of here or I'll call the  security."

Malamig na saad nya.

"Your eyes....why is it green?"

Parang tangang tanong nito, Saphire rolled her eyes on him.

"Cause it's green, Ano lalabas ka ba o hindi?!"

Napatiim bagang nalamang si Matteo at tinignan ito ng matalim. He is silently hoping that she is that woman 5 years ago.

"5 years ago....I-I met this woman who has beautiful blue eyes"

He paused then look at her face for a moment.

"You have the same face....but different eyes, who are you?"

He asked, Saphire bit her lower lip as she look at him.

"I don't know who you are so it's not me, pwede bang umalis ka na?! why are you suddenly asking questions!"

Iritang sabi nitong nagtataka pafin sa presensya ng binata.

"Answer me, are you that woman?"

Seryosong tanong ng binata.

"You must be talking about my sister"

She stated.

"Your sister?"

Kunot noo at may pagdududa paring saad ni matteo.

"Twin sister." She corrected, "Her name is Saphire, 5 years ago, dalawang taon din syang namalagi. So I think si Saphire nga ang babaeng tinutukoy mo. I'm Emerald by the way"

Saphire did a victory dance at the back of her mind nang mukang nakumbinsi nya naman ang lalaki. Saphire is really good at lying and hiding het emotions. She can pretend perfectly, while her twin emerald is best at controlling other people's emotion. Their other twin sister Ruby has perfected the art of manipullating. The three of them has this different dangerous masks they always wear with them. At sakanilang tatlo masasabi nyang sya na ang pinakamatino.

Napangiti nalang sya sa naiisip. The Masks of pretending, controlling and manipulating is really their specialties. Dahilan kaya hindi sila natutunton.

"Where is she then?"

Madilim ang mukang tanong ni matteo na nagpangisi kay saphire.

"Tell me who are you first and what the hell are you doing here, saka magdamit ka narin."

Saphire said to him calmly, she even glanced at her son na mukang wala namang pake sa mga nangyayare at naglalaro ng cross word puzzle habang nilalambing sya ng pusa.

Saphire smiled. Hindi naman nya siguro mahahalata? Saad nya sakanyang isipan.

Hindi man lang nya namalayang nakapagbihis narin pala si matteo na ikinahinga nya ng maluwag nakakabother kasi tignan kanina yung nakasaludo nitong kaibigan.

"I am Matteo Imperial. I'm Kristine's brother's that's why I'm here."

Poker face na sabi nito, she silently cursed on her mind and managed to hide the shock perfectly.

Kristine did say she has an older brother, pero wala siyang kaideideyang ang lalaking iyon ang kuya niya! She never any of her family member despite of being long time friends. Kadalasan kasi ay nagtatago siya at palipat lipat pa.

"Weh?"

Sabi nalang niya dahilan para pukulan sya nito ng masamang tingin.

"Do I have to even show you my birth certificate?"

Bakas ang pagkairitang saad nito, kalaunan ay sumeryoso.

"About me being in your room, I sincerely apologize, hindi ko alam na may gumagamit ng kwartong ito. Masyado akong pagod kagabi at basta nalang pumasok sa pinakamalapit na guest room. Hindi ko namalayang may tao dahil hindi na ako nag abala pang buksan ang ilaw, I'm really sorry, miss"

He explained and apologized, kalmado lamang na napatango doon si Saphire, kahit kanina pa malakas ang kabog ng kaniyang puso sa sobrang kaba.

"Now tell me, Where is your sister?"

He asked impatiently, Saphire shook her head.

"Close ba tayo para sabihin ko sayo?"

Tinaasan nya pa ito ng kilay. Hindi niya alam kung bakit hinahanap siya ng lalaking ito at kung paanong naaalala padin niya ang dalaga, gayong napakatagal ng panahon, muka ng huli nilang pagkikita.

That's their first and last encounter so she has no idea, why he is asking her about her whereabouts.

"Mabuti pa ay lumabas ka na sa kwarto namin."

Saad nya pa saka pinuntahan si zaffiro at binuhat ang anak. Kunot noong napatitig si matteo sa bata na kumakaway at nakatitig din sakanya habang buhat ito ng ina.

He looks familar, hindi lang nya maalala kung sinong kakilala nya ang kamuka nito.

Inis na sinundan nya ang dalawa hanggang sa makarating sila ng kusina. Naabutan nyang sabay na nagtu-toothbrush ang mag ina sa lababo, the scene somewhat melted a part of him, pero marahas ding napailing nang marealize nya iyon.

"Why can't you just tell me?"

Inis na sabi nya nang matapos ang mga ito, hinarap sya ni Saphire na nakapoker face lang sakanya. Mahina lamang siyang napamura sa isipan nang mapadako ang tingin sa mayamang dibdib nito.

"Eyes up here Matteo"

Malamig na sabi nito, nanlaki ang mga matang namumula ang mukang tumingin sya sa muka ng babae. Napalunok nalamang sya nang makita ang maganda at maamo nitong muka. Ilang beses nalang syang napamura sa isipan para pakalmahin ang sarili.

'Is it because she looks exactly like that woman?'

He asked himself.

"Bakit ko sasabihin sayo ang kinaroroonan ng kakambal ko, gayong kakikilala ko lang sayo? tanga ka ba? I don't trust you enough to tell you that information."

Diretsahang sabi niya habang seryoso lamang ang muka ni Matteo.

"I see."

Napatiim bagang na sabi niya saka dumako ang tingin sa tahimik na bata.

"Your son?"

He asked Saphire who is disguising herself right now as her twin sister, Emerald. Mabuti nalamang at madalas ang pagpapalitan nila ng identity ng kakambal.

"Yes."

She manage to say calmly.

For an unknown reason matteo somewhat felt dissapointed. Maganda it ato hindi malayong may asawa na siya na ama ng batang ito.

'But I don't see a ring, is it her boyfriend's?'

He thought.

"So sasabihin mo na?"

Pangungulit nito na nagpairap lamang sa babaeng kaharap nya.

"No."

She gave him a deadpan look.

"Ano bang mayroon at gusto mong malaman ha? did my sister drop her glass slipper so you're trying to find her?"

Kunot noong tanong ni Saphire na nagpangisi kay matteo.

"Something like that, but it's not slipper."

He chuckled, bahagyang nag init ang pisngi doon ni Saphire nang maalala kung ano ang naiwan niya.

"Saka may ninakaw sakin ang kambal mo"

That made her annoyed, but managed to hide it.

'Bukod sa damit wala akong ninakaw sakanya!'

Gustong gusto iyong sabihin ni Saphire pero pinili nyang manahimik nalang.

"Kung ano mang kinuha sayo ng kapatid ko ay hindi ko na problema iyon"

Kalmadong sabi nya habang pinaghahanda nya ng makakain si zaffiro.

"Then just wait till I make you spill the beans Emerald. You will tell me where she is in a matter of time."

Matteo clenched his jaw as he said that, Emerald smirked at him.

"Make me."