RAYOS was enjoying her coffee when her twin sister, together with Nicha and Jillian arrived. May sariling sundo si Jillian kaya nauna na ito na umuwi sa kanilang tatlo.

"Tagal naman ng driver natin!" reklamo ni Nicha.

Bahagya na hinila ni Vyrlle ang dulo ng buhok nito. "Kapag narinig ka ni Kuya Laur, lagot ka talaga."

She hummed softly, agreeing to her twin. Lumingon sa kanya si Vyrlle at matiim na tiningnan ang kape na iniinom niya.

"Saan ka bumili niyan?" she asked.

"Bigay. Gusto mo?" Inabot niya ang hawak na kape sa kambal.

Imbes na kunin 'yon, lumapit lang sa kanya si Vyrlle at sumipsip ng kaunti bago bumalik ang atensyon kay Nicha na panay ang reklamo. Kanina lang ay mahihimatay raw ito sa gwapo ng teacher nila, ngayon naman ay nirereklamo na niya ito.

"I can't believe it! Bakit sila nag assigned ng teacher sa isang subject na walang alam sa subject na 'yon? What was that reasoning? So we can learn together?" Nagkamot si Nicha ng ulo.

"Nicha, first day pa lang naman. Give your handsome teacher a break, a benefit of doubt. There's a reason why majors are existing, and there's also a reason bakit siya ang in-assigned na teacher sa subject na 'yon. Ayaw mo noon? Sabay kayo matututo. Lamangan mo na lang ang mga kaklase mo para ikaw lagi ang mapansin." Pang-uuto niya sa pinsan.

Rayos playfully winked at her twin. Alam na nito ang gagawin para tumigil ang bunganga ni Nicha.

"Don't worry, yung mga possible points ko sa recitation sa subject niya? Sayo na 'yon. Babawi na lang ako sa written exams."

Nicha's eyes widened and covered her mouth as she looked at her twin. "Totoo?" she asked.

Tumango lang si Vyrlle at tumawa sa reaction nito. Nicha was too happy that she hugged her twin while jumping like a kangaroo, nasasakal na nito ang kambal niya pero dahil sa sobrang saya nito hindi nito 'yon napansin.

"That's enough. Kuya Laur is here…" humina ang boses niya nang makita ang crush ni Vyrlle sa shotgun seat. "Kuya Light too."

Napansin niya na agad namula ang pisngi ni Vyrlle. Rayos sighed and glared at Nicha, warning her not to tease Vyrlle in front of them. Vyrlle was not confessing for a reason. At kapag nalaman 'yon ng manhid na Kuya Light nila, who knows what will happen to her twin.

Nicha raised her hand and pretended she's zipping her mouth.

"Siguraduhin mo, Nicha." Pagbabanta niya sa pinsan.

Nicha nodded her head aggressively. Ngumiti siya sa pinsan at umirap lang ito sa kanya.

"How's your first day, girls?" asked Laur.

Si Nicha ang pang bato nila sa kwentuhan kaya hinayaan nilang dalawa ni Vyrlle na ito na lang ang magsalita. Hindi rin naman ito nauubusan. Rayos was sitting comfortably and the cake was on her lap when she felt someone was staring intently at her.

That kind of stare na parang may ibinabaon na pako sa ulo niya. And no one can give that kind of stare to her aside from her twin.

"Where did you buy that cake? May sarili tayong Café, Cay."

Pasimple siyang napalunok nang marinig na tinawag siya nito gamit ang second name niya. She always called her 'Ion', maliban na lang kapag naiirita siya or seryoso. Same with Vyrlle. Vice versa.

So, she doesn't have any choice but to answer her honestly.

"Binigay rin," she answered in a low voice. Ayaw niya na marinig siya ng Kuya Laur nila dahil sigurado na makakaabot 'yon sa overprotective nila na kapatid. Tsismoso pa naman ang pinsan nilang lalaki.

Sumiksik sa kanya si Vyrlle at ngumisi. "Sa atin lang 'to, promise! Is someone courting you?" she asked in a low voice.

Mabilis siyang umiling bilang sagot. Binigyan lang ng cake at kape, someone's courting me agad? Advance talaga mag-isip ang kambal niya. Dinaig pa siya na madalas magbasa ng mga romance book.

"Then… bakit ka binigyan ng cake at kape? Cay, hinatid tayo ni Kuya kanina. Wala ngang lumapit sa akin tapos sayo meron?" hindi makapaniwala na tanong nito sa kanya.

Rayos rolled her eyes at her twin. Pasimple siyang tumingin sa harap at nakita ang Kuya Light nila na nakatingin sa gawi nilang dalawa ni Vyrlle.

"Vyrlle Ion Clemente. Walang lumalapit sayo dahil una, kasama mo si Jillian sa room. Second, kapag may lumalapit sayo palagi mong sinasabi na kapatid ka ni Jyrelle Vraxx. Third, yung gusto mo nakatingin sa atin."

Sumimangot sa kanya si Vyrlle pero halata pa rin ang pamumula ng mga pisngi nito. It was Vyrlle and her unrequited love for Light Perez against the world. Rayos glanced at the man again and smiled innocently. He looks harmless yet dangerous.

"Kuya Light? Ano ang tipo mo sa babae?" Rayos asked.

Bahagya ito na lumingon sa kanya, "study first!" he laughed.

Right, he's still studying Architecture. Last year na nito.

"Ulol! Study first, bulok!" Laur, their cousin, snorted.

Pasimple siya na tumingin kay Vyrlle. Nakayuko lang ito habang kinakalikot ang cellphone. May nilalaro ito but she's so bad at it. Laging namamatay ang hero na gamit nito, but she's improving lately.

"Don't ask him, Cay. Sa akin ka magtanong, alam ko ang sagot." Nagyayabang na sabi ng Kuya Laur nila.

Rayos chuckled and shook her head. "No thanks, Kuya."

Maski si Nicha ay natahimik dahil sa sinabi ng kapatid nito. Rayos saw her glancing at her from time to time. Pilit siyang ngumiti at bumaba ang tingin sa kambal niya. She was hurting and she feels the same, mahirap din para sa kanya na makitang nasasaktan ito.

She caressed Vyrlle's back. Letting her know that she's always on her side. If she wants comfort, she'll give it to her.

Nang makauwi sila sa bahay humalik lang sila sa Mama nila bago umakyat sa kwarto nila. Their brother wasn't around. He started working his ass off after graduating.

She was worried about her twin. Hindi ito nagsasalita at basta na lang na humiga sa kama nila at niyakap ang isang teddy bear. Rayos bit her lower lip and let her rest for the meantime. Lalapit din naman ito sa kanya kapag maiiyak na talaga ito.

Rayos changed her clothes first before she slumped on her study table. Before she decided to study for their subjects tomorrow, tinaas niya ang mga paa at pinatong sa upuan bago pinulot ang cellphone niya.

She was browsing the internet looking for materials she can use for studying. Hanggang sa mainip siya at napunta sa Instagram. She's not a fan of Social media but because of her twin, napilitan siya na mag-install nito.

Good thing she was very creative. Nagawa niyang pagandahin ang Instagram feed niya.

Napaayos siya ng upo nang makita na may dalawang account na nag follow sa kanya. Rayos admits that she's sort of famous, thanks to Nicha and Ion.

"Leo and Leo Erese?" she asked herself.

Leo with a zodiac sign emoji and Leo Erese was just a simple name. Hindi siya madalas mag follow back, naka block din sa kanya ang isang kaibigan ng kapatid nila na may Instagram account. Light Perez.

She immediately followed back the other account, Leo Erese. Pagkatapos ay ini-stalk ang Leo na may zodiac sign emoji.

Her lips parted. Grabe ang effort niya para lang mapaganda ang feed niya but this guy Leo with zodiac sign emoji made it looks effortless. Like it was too easy to edit the pictures. Planado ang feed nito. Kumunot ang noo niya nang makita ang picture ni Leo na nasa café.

"So, it's his…" she uttered.

Rayos unconsciously followed his second account.

Leo ♌: Hi, Vraiose! How's the cake?

Rayos glanced at the cake placed on her study table. Hindi pa niya 'yon nagagalaw. She also scared to put it in their refrigerator, baka makita 'yon ng Daddy at kapatid niya. Tandem pa naman ang dalawang 'yon sa pagka protective sa kanilang dalawa ni Vyrlle.

Kinuhanan niya ng picture ang cake sa lamesa niya and send it to Leo.

Vraiose Cay: Hindi ko pa natikman

Leo ♌: Sayang, ilalagay ko sana sa customers feedback.

Customer feedback? Do I look like a customer to him?

Vraiose Cay: You have two accounts?

Leo ♌: Yes, this one is for our café promotion. The other one is my personal account. Wait, hindi pala dapat ako dito nag cha-chat sayo haha

Natawa siya sa 'haha' nito sa dulo ng chat. So, the zodiac sign was more talkative when it comes to chat?

Rayos chuckled when he literally chat her using his other account. His personal account. He was fun to talk with, nakalimutan niya na ang balak niya na mag advance study para sa mga subjects nila kinabukasan.

Hanggang sa magising ang kambal niya at kumain sila ng dinner, hawak niya pa rin ang cellphone.

"Vraiose Cay." Tawag sa kanya ng Daddy nila.

Nabitawan ni Rayos ang kutsara na hawak niya nang makita kung paano tumingin sa kanya ang Daddy nila, even their brother was looking at him intently. Phone was prohibited during meal time.

"Itago mo ang cellphone na 'yan." Utos ng Daddy nila at agad niya 'yon sinunod.

Her brother just shook his head and motioned her to continue her meal. Hindi na niya nagawa na reply-an si Leo, but after their dinner she made sure to chat him back.

"Cay…" masuyo na tawag sa kanya ng Mama nila.

"Ma?" she asked.

Ngumiti ito sa kanya at masuyo siyang hinila papunta sa kwarto ng mga ito. There's a small room connected to their room, it was their brother's room before, at naging kwarto rin nila noong baby pa sila.

"Is someone keeping my baby busy?" her mother asked. Straightforward. As usual.

Marahan nito na sinusuklay ang buhok niya.

"Ma, it's not what you think. We're just… friends."

Naningkit ang mga mata nito sa kanya. Huminga ito ng malalim nang makita na hindi siya basta titiklop. 

"We're just friends. I swear!"

☕