RAYOS FELT bad for the guy he rejected but after a day of staring at her, no-he was glaring at her. She felt like punching him but opted not to as long as he's not doing anything that can possibly harm her, she's good.

And ever since she announced that Leo was the only guy her brother approved of, wala na ni isang lalaki ang lumapit sa kanya. Hanggang sa matapos nila ang Grade 11 at mag Grade 12 sila.

She had a hard time dealing with that guy during their second semester, but she had a secret ace. And that made him shut down.

Mas naging malapit silang dalawa ni Leo sa isa't isa. They're still competing with each other but unlike before, she can now control the worst attitude of her. They always review together, kaya hindi na nakakapagtaka na pareho lang ang score na nakuha nila.

They're still dominating their classmates when it comes to graded recitation. May mga oras din na napipikon na sa kanilang dalawa ni Leo ang mga teachers nila.

"Sa garden tayo?" Leo asked after their class.

"May baon ka? I forgot to bring mine," aniya at kinuha ang bag niya.

Leo nodded and showed his small bag. Doon nakalagay ang pagkain nito-nilang dalawa. Nakakahiya na palagi siyang nakikihati sa baon na dala ni Leo kaya pati siya ay nagbabaon na rin. Nakalimutan lang niya na ihanda 'yon kanina.

"Quick. We're having a long quiz later right?"

She smugly glanced at him, "Taasan mo ang score mo."

"Papantayan kita." Leo assured her.

Rayos felt something was being stirred inside her. Kumunot ang noo niya dahil alam niya sa sarili na hindi 'yon ang pagiging competitive niya. She's not pissed. She's bothered. Of how close they were.

Nasa tabi niya si Leo habang naglalakad sila. The back of his hand sometimes made contact with the back of her hand. Pasimple siyang tumingin sa kamay nila. Leo wasn't doing anything weird.

As far as Rayos can remember, she's comfortable with Leo. She still feels the same. Nag-iiba lang talaga kapag sobrang lapit na nito sa kanya.

"May notes ka?" He glanced at her while preparing their snacks. Ipinatong niya ang bag sa lamesa at kinuha ang notebook at iPad niya.

"Alin sa dalawa ang gusto mong hiramin?" Itinaas niya ang dalawang kamay na hawak ang notebook at iPad niya. Her right hand was holding her notebook and the left one was holding her iPad.

They're allowed to use their gadgets for taking notes and researching purposes. She preferred taking notes in her iPad first and transferred it to her notebook after to avoid erasures, to make her notes clean.

Itinuro ni Leo ang notebook niya. "This one, mas naiintindihan ko ang sulat kamay mo."

Naiiling na inabot niya kay Leo ang notebook niya. He really adored her hand written notes. Well, sobra ang effort niya sa pagsusulat, she'd stay all night and used different colors of highlighter to make her notes aesthetically pleasing. May plus points kasi sila kung maayos ang notes nila.

Inusog ni Leo ang lunchbox nito sa kanya. As usual, he brought lots of Sandwich. Kumuha siya ng isa at kinain 'yon habang nagrereview sila.

Rayos was oblivious to her surroundings as she read her notes thoroughly. Marahan lang din ang pagkain niya sa sandwich na hawak. Humiwalay lang ang tingin ni Rayos sa iPad niya nang may cake na binigay si Leo.

"I only have one fork..."

She snorted. "I don't mind using it, Leo."

Kinuha niya ang tinidor sa kamay ni Leo. Rayos scooped a small amount of cake and ate it, she's not looking and her hand slipped a little. She clicked her tongue when she felt a cold icing on the side of her lips.

"Ako na." Leo stopped her wiping the icing using her thumb.

Her heart skipped a beat when Leo leaned forward and wiped the icing with his handkerchief. Rayos stilled and doesn't know what to do. Pakiramdam niya ay umakyat lahat ng dugo niya sa ulo. Her face was hot.

Nanuyo ang lalamunan niya at bahagya na lumayo kay Leo. Her eyes were following his every move. Parang wala lang dito ang ginawa nito sa kanya. Was it one of his friendly acts? It feels different.

He feels different. It was bothering her.

"Rayos? Ayos ka lang?" He worriedly asked. Akmang lalapit ito sa kanya para timplahin ang temperatura niya sa katawan. He probably noticed how red her face was.

"I'm good," natataranta na sagot niya. She even raised her voice a little.

That weird feeling didn't leave her. She was mindlessly answering their long quiz but still got a perfect score. Hanggang sa makauwi siya sa bahay nila, ayon ang nasa isip ni Rayos. The question was still lingering in her head. Why was she feeling bothered... lalo na kapag magkatabi silang dalawa ni Leo.

She feels conscious.

"-Cay? Can we switch? Ang boring sa amin ngayon!" Rayos came back to her reverie when she heard her twin sister's voice, asking her to switch.

Palagi nila 'tong ginagawa. Normally, Rayos would say 'no' especially if Leo was not planning to skip their class. That guy sometimes skips classes because of his father. Leo said his father's job was a bit difficult. Kaya kapag umuuwi ito at napapasakto na may pasok sila, it doesn't matter if it'll affect his perfect attendance. A-absent ito.

Wala sa sarili na tumango si Rayos sa kambal niya. "Last na 'to ah?"

"Yes!"

RIBBON. Leo started to ask himself when did Rayos wear such clips or ties? Nonetheless, it looks good on her hair. Nilapitan niya ito at mahinang tinapik sa balikat para kunin ang atensyon nito.

Leo smiled. "The ribbon suits you."

Hinawakan ni Rayos ang ribbon sa buhok nito at nagtataka na tumingin sa kanya. He laughed a little when she tilted her head to the side and suspiciously looked at him. Her eyes were not leaving him. Hanggang sa makaupo siya sa pwesto niya.

"Rayos, I need a little help with this one... hindi ko maintindihan." Leo took out his notes and showed it to her. May isang topic sila kahapon na hindi niya nasundan.

"Sure..." mahinang sagot nito at lumapit sa kanya para matingnan ang notes niya. "Alin dito?"

Itinuro niya lang ang topic na hindi niya maintindihan. He was attentively listening to Rayos while she's explaining that part, malinaw 'yon at madali lang niyang naintindihan but after hearing her voice for more than a minute or so. Leo started to feel bothered. Something was different.

Hindi na siya nakikinig sa itinuturo nito at tumitig na lang sa babae na nasa harap niya. She really looks like Rayos, but something felt so different. Leo watched the way she moved, and it was far different from Rayos.

Kapag nagtuturo si Rayos, her arms were always rested on the table. Ang babae na nasa harap niya ngayon ay laging may hand gestures. Her voice was a little bit rough, para siya nitong inuutusan. She's also used sarcasm when giving examples.

"I'll treat you. Let's go?" aya niya rito.

Tumaas ang kilay nito. "Gets mo na?"

Leo just shrugged his shoulders and stood up. Maaga pa naman at mamaya pa ang start ng klase nila.

"Tara?"

Pinanood niyang mabuti ang ekspresyon sa mukha nito. Confusion was written all over her face. Yes. This wasn't his Rayos.

This is her twin.

"Where's Rayos?" Nakapamulsa na tanong ni Leo.

Tumigil ito sa paglalakad at hindi makapaniwala na tumingin sa kanya. She even laughed like there's something funny.

"I'm here?" She answered sarcastically.

"Do you like coffee and cakes?" Leo asked.

She stepped forward and faced him. Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Leo nang makita na kulang na lang ay kuminang ang mga mata nito nang marinig ang cake, saka ito sunod-sunod na tumango sa kanya.

"I'll treat you coffee today, then. Bukas na ang cake. Wala akong dala." He smiled. They're not close but Leo found himself patting the lady's head in front of her. "In exchange, please, stop pretending to be your twin sister. I don't like it."

"Wait, what?" Nanlaki ang mga mata nito na tumingin sa kanya. Itinuro nito ang sarili at hindi makapaniwala na tumawa.

Rayos twin sighed as her shoulders fell. Nauna itong naglakad sa kanya papunta sa cafeteria ng school.

"Coffee with sandwich. Hindi pa ako nag-almusal," she grumpily said.

"May dala akong sandwich. Lucky?" Leo chuckled.

She stopped pretending to be her twin in front of him, but not inside their classroom. Surprisingly, the two of them always switch places at hindi 'yon alam ng mga teachers nila. They'll be in a tight spot if ever na mahuli ang dalawa.

Hindi ito sumabay sa kanya pauwi which was good because Leo doesn't know how to act friendly around her. Nagiging pala salita lang naman siya dahil kay Rayos.

"Leo..." A familiar baritone voice made his steps halted.

Humarap siya sa pinanggigilan ng boses. He smiled a little and bow his head to acknowledge Rayos' brother. Tumuon ang mga mata ni Leo sa kasama nito. The man next to Rayos' brother was handsome, with his hands on his pants pocket, he looks like Kuya Jyrelle. It's just that... Jyrelle was more muscular.

"Oh, he's my Dad. Our Dad." He introduced his father with a smirk plastered on his lips. That kind of smirked, was he supposed to feel scared?

"Good afternoon, Sir. I'm Leo Erese Davis, Rayos friend." Leo introduced himself and bow his head a little. Nahihiya siya na mag-abot ng kamay dito.

"Dad, siya yung sinasabi ko sayo."

Leo rolled the tip of his tongue over his dried lips. Bigla siyang kinabahan nang tumingin na ito sa kanya. His eyes were scanning him from head to toe.

"You're nervous," anito. He wasn't asking. He was saying it like he was really sure about it. "My daughter... Do you... like her? Romantically speaking."

Leo gasped for air. He wasn't expecting that question. But might as well come clean.

Am I attracted to her? Yes, of course.

Do I like her? Romantically speaking? Yes.

The answer will always be 'yes'.

Without breaking eye contact. Leo composed himself and answered her father. Confidently.

"Yes, Sir. I like your daughter."

Rayos father sighed. "Bata ka pa. May tendency na magkagusto ka sa iba. You see, I am overprotective when it comes to my twins-"

Leo knows that it was disrespectful of him. But his mind was working on its own. He didn't back down. He knows what he wants. If he wasn't sure of how he feels about Rayos then he won't pursue her.

"If one day my feelings for Vraiose change... If one day I'll make her cry... ako po mismo ang lalapit sa inyo. Feel free to beat me up."

☕